Educating in a joyful, positive and secure setting 

Killavullen N.ewS. Sept. 2019

The leaves are turning russet and gold and autumn is once again upon us. After four weeks we are in full swing and our calendar is looking rather full already. Here are some updates for your information.

Múinteoirí Mhic Léinn We have two students from M.I.C.E., Miss Ciara Bowden and Miss Marie Sheehan, working with us since the beginning of September. They have been observing classes and S.E.T while also sharing their expertise with us. From today, September 30th until October 18th, Miss Bowden will be on teaching practice in 4th/5th class. Miss Sheehan will teach 6th class for the same period.

DÚNADH SCOILE - SCHOOL CLOSURE Parents/Guardians are reminded that we close for a half day this Wednesday. Due to large numbers leaving at once, we will stagger the times that we release children from school.

● Juniors - 1st will leave at 12:25pm ● 2nd - 6th will leave at 12:35pm.

Please vacate parking areas as soon as possible to allow for further collections. Thank you.

Fiche Lá as Láthair / School Attendance & Punctuality Underneath is a further revision to our School Attendance Strategy (reviewed last year) which parents need to be aware of regarding taking children out of school during term time for family holidays. We ask that the procedures outlined in such circumstances be followed.

Revision of - School Attendance Strategy regarding children’s absences (Revised 2017)

● Parents have a legal duty to ensure that their child is at school every day that the school is open unless there is a genuine reason for absence, (The Education (Welfare) Act 2000 - Section 17). Consequently, we strongly disapprove of parents taking children on holidays during term time.

● Parents are encouraged to: i) Set high standards for their child in relation to attendance and punctuality, ii) Engage with the school if there is a problem about their child’s attendance and support plans to address the problem, iii) Ensure that their child regularly attends and arrives at school on time, iv) Avoid taking their child out of class unless there is a serious / genuine reason, v) Avoid taking their child on holidays during term time.

● In the case of a child being absent from school, parents are required to explain the absence by way of (i) a phone call or email, giving the reason for absence or (ii) a written note for prolonged absences, again, giving the reason for absence. The school may request confirmation in writing of a phone call/email.

● If a parent decides to take their child out of school for holidays during term time, a letter must be forwarded to the principal in advance of the absence, stating that the child will be absent and specifying the dates and reason for absence and that the parents are aware of the educational implications for their child. Parents need to be aware of the educational and potential legal impact of removing children from school for regular holiday absences.

Killavullen 

N.S. 

Eolaíocht

- 6th Class pupils travelled to Lifetime Lab on Wednesday 25th September, for a Science day with Una Leader. 5th Class will do the same on December 19th . This year they are investigating Light and Sound.

Treodóireacht 3rd, 4th & 5th class went on an orienteering training session in Doneraile Park on Thursday 19th September. Cork Schools Orienteering League begins in Doneraile Park on Tuesday, 22nd October, for 4th, 5th and 6th class. Cork Schools League 2 will take place in Fota Gardens on Tuesday, 19th November. Here’s hoping for another successful year of orienteering!

Nuacht Chumann Lúthchleas Gael All classes will have P.E. on Wednesdays, for the month of October as Martin Farrissey from Rebel Óg will take Infants to 6th class for GAA training. Mrs Cremin’s second PE day will be on Monday. Many Thanks to Ms. Dillon for organising and to Killavullen G.A.A for sponsoring this coaching.

● Football Training for 4th, 5th and 6th class boys and girls is held in the GAA pitch after school every Monday, for as long as we continue in Sciath na Scol competitions. Remind your child to bring gear, boots and mouth guard as phone calls home will not be permitted. Please collect children promptly at 4p.m. Thanks to Ms Dillon and Ms Hooton for training the children.

● Our former Schools’ Coach, Martin O’ Brien, visited us last week with the All Ireland Cup, which Cork won three weeks ago. He spoke about the determination, work ethic and skill of those players involved and also of the enormous benefits of being involved in team sports. Corcaigh Abú!!!

Cispheil Basketball coaching will continue to take place every Tuesday, until Mid-term break, in the school yard from 3.10- 4.00 for 4th, 5th and 6th classes. Míle buíochas to Ms O’Keeffe, Suzie and Mikey OSullivan from Mallow Basketball for training the children.

Accelerated Reader Accelerated Reader is an online resource that is designed to be part of a comprehensive reading programme. Every child from 2nd Class up gets an account and this provides data that helps the class teacher to monitor and personalise reading practice. It promotes wide reading, which is the most effective method for building vocabulary and it reinforces pupil effort. Children choose a book that matches their individual ability level and interests. When a pupil finishes a book, they take an AR Reading Practice Quiz on the laptop. This quiz assesses general comprehension of the book just read. The continued

quizzing after each book ensures that children are reading books that engage them at their own level. AR has been very successful in many schools and is now up and running in K.N.S. with the final Staff-training taking place this Wednesday from 12:30 - 5:00pm.

Griangrafanna The Quaid Gallery photographer will be in Killavullen N.S on Monday 7th October, if you wish to have your child’s photo and/or class photo taken. Please ensure your child is in full uniform, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this coming Monday!

Killavullen 

N.S. 

- Irishhomework.ie

As part of School Self-Evaluation we are continuing to look at Gaeilge and particularly Teanga ó Bhéil (Spoken Irish). Last year we piloted IrishHomework.ie as part of our whole-school efforts to breakdown the barrier to speaking Irish that we find children often have. This year we are implementing Irishhomework.ie from 3rd - 6th class. The ‘flipped classroom’, approach is core to IrishHomework.ie. Pupils are asked to self-study Irish content online at home, with user friendly tools, in a repeated format each evening following the steps outlined below. The tasks take about ten minutes.

1. Read/Listen to a couple of lines of every day dialogue. 2. Do some simple word matching tasks based on what they’ve read/listened to. 3. Record themselves speaking the lines.

The site uses a traffic light system so teachers can see at a glance, how successfully their students have learned the assigned material and what if any issues they may be having with it. The class then spend ten minutes doing role-play each day, using the dialogue learned the night before. In this way they see Irish as a working language. Irishhomework.ie has cleverly built in repetition of the 500 most used words in the Irish language in each lesson. A lot of the words used in lesson 1 will also be used in lesson 2 and 3 and 4 and so on, thus building confidence in their use and limiting the amount of new vocab to be learned. We are in the process of registering 3rd Class who will be up and running in the coming fortnight and hopefully all teething problems will be sorted out this month.

Coiste Thuismitheoirí Sean agus Nua (Parents’ Associations Old and New) Our Parents’ Association, comprising of Liam Dorgan, Neasa Howard, Pat Hegarty, Helena O’Donovan, John O’Reilly & Magda Watroba have reached the end of their two year term. A huge thank you goes to them for their Trojan work over the last two years. The 100km Cycle Sportif was an enormous success raising over €13,000 from which they donated €7,000 to equip our state-of-the-art Sensory Room and €3,163 to Marymount Hospice. Other fund-raising events organised by our PA were the Family Fun Day and Cycle, the Flag Days, Non-Uniform Days, etc. This

fund-raising allowed us to continue to grow our school library and subsidise buses to a myriad of school trips. However, their work behind the scenes is what bolsters all the school community events such as Guest Speakers, Info Nights for Parents, Grandparents’ Day, Communion for the First Time/Graduation teas, Coffee Mornings, Visiting Choir, etc. Of course the PA also manage aspects of the uniform (shirts/ties/crests) ensuring the best possible price for parents. A special note of thanks to Helena O’Donovan, who acted as Chairperson and the communication conduit between the PA and school. Míle, míle buíochas arís do bhaill an coiste, uilig!

Voting lists will issue this week for voting in our next Parents’ Association. The new PA will be ‘sworn in’ at the Parents’ Association AGM on Monday 14th October when we will also bid a fond farewell to our outgoing PA.

Éide Scoile Now that Autumn is well and truly upon us, the children are back to wearing full uniform (shirt, tie and jumper or full school tracksuit). Often we find there can be confusion over whether hoodies are allowed or not. Due to hoodies being repeatedly worn instead of the school top in the past, they are no longer allowed to be worn as coats. Hoodies are also very impractical in wet weather. Children should wear a coat, jacket or full zip top, (i.e. not a hoodie that pulls on over the head) in cold/wet weather. Coats and jackets must be removed before entering the classroom and when there is no zip, children end up leaving them on, as it is easier. Coats or jackets should not be worn as replacements for jumpers or school tops. Thank for your support in this regard.

Killavullen 

N.S. 

Child Safeguarding The Board of Management has reviewed, adopted and fully implements, without modification, the Department of Education’s ‘Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools’, in relation to Child Safeguarding as per the terms of Circular 0081/2017. Consequently, if there are matters of concern in relation to abuse of children, we are obliged to report this to the local Health Service Executive / an Garda Síochána.

Anti-Bullying The Board of Management has reviewed the school’s Anti-Bullying Policy in accordance with the Department of Education’s ‘Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary/Post Primary Schools’ and Circular 0045/2013. All instances of any form of bullying behaviour that are witnessed or reported to the staff will be dealt with in accordance with this policy.

We appreciate the understanding parents have shown towards the implementation of our Anti-Bullying policy and the Happiness and Wellness surveys as part of this. Míle buíochas for your ongoing support and please know that we strive for the best possible outcomes for all the children involved when unwanted behaviours emerge. If you feel your child is being bullied, please do not hesitate to contact their Class Teacher so that it can be dealt with immediately.

Tionól do Thosach na Bliana Fr. Condon held a Prayer Service in Mid-September to mark the beginning of a new school year, in St Nicholas’ Church two weeks ago. It set a calm and prayerful tone as those present prayed not only for themselves but also for someone else in the school community. We look forward to a positive and productive 2019/20.

Dátaí don Dialann

● Wednesday, Oct 2nd - Closing at 12.30 for Staff training ● Monday, Oct 14th - Parents’ Association AGM, ● Wednesday Oct 16th 7:30pm Communion/ Confirmation meeting in

Ms O’Keeffe’s Room (beside the Leabharlann). ● Tuesday, Nov 12th - Parent/Teacher Meetings ● Thursday Nov 14th - Parent/Teacher Meetings