SCHOOL NEWS in Brief…..

5^th September 2019

From the Principal’s desk:

As we finish up our first full week of this new year back at RMDS it is great to see everyone settling back in and adjusting to their new settings.

A reminder that Junior Infants will finish school at 1.10 p.m. from this Monday, 9^th September.

If you haven’t already, please go to the school website (www.rmds.ie) and return classroom requisites and school tours payments via the Easy Payment system as soon as possible. Click on the Contact cloud and scroll down to Online Payments. Thanks to all those who have paid already. Junior Infants and all new pupils have already paid this bill in full. Any queries, contact the office. Voluntary contributions can also be paid online.

Please ensure all absences are accounted for and children are in school at 8.30 a.m. Children will be marked late if they are in after 8.40 a.m.

Please note there will be an additional day of closure in Term 2 due to our Primary Language Curriculum In-service Day on the 9^th January 2020.

Please check for lost property at the gate in the morning. All items left at the weekend will be donated to charity.

A reminder that we are a nut free school – no peanut butter, nut butter, nutella or actual nuts in the lunchboxes please.  

Reminder once again - This is the time of year when headlice can become a plague! Remember anyone can pick up headlice. They are most common amongst young children as they often put heads together during play allowing the lice walk from one head to the next. Headlice do not reflect standards of hygiene. They are just as willing to live in clean or dirty hair. It is important that parents check their children’s hair regularly. This way lice can be found before they have a chance to breed. They can then be treated stopping them being passed round the family…or from family to family! The way to check someone’s head is called “detection combing”. This should be done regularly and in the case of a confirmed infection in one family member, the other members of the household should carry out “detection combing” twice weekly for one week. Please let the school know if you detect a case of headlice so that we can alert parents to check their own child’s hair. Everyone has a part to play!

Please ensure all bikes are locked – even those inside the school gate. Bikes can also be left safely locked to the racks outside the back gate.

Choir will begin again on Friday, 20^th September at 8.00 a.m. sharp! All are welcome from Rang 2 – Rang 6.

Orchestra Ensemble will begin again on Friday, 20^th September at 1.15 p.m. for children from Rang 3 – Rang 6. Please note this is for children who already play an instrument outside of school.

Class Meetings will begin next week as follows:

RANG 3:                      Tuesday, 10^th September @ 8.45am

RANG 6:                      Wednesday, 11^th September @ 8.45am

RANG 1:                      Thursday, 12^th September @ 8.45am

RANG 2:                         Friday, 13^th September @ 8.45am

All meetings will take place at 8.45 a.m. sharp in the Seomra Spraoi and will be finished by 9.40 a.m. There will be an opportunity for individual questions with the teachers after the meetings. Individual Education Planning (IEP) meetings for parents of children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) will take place before the end of October – SEN teachers will contact you directly to make arrangements. Individual parent / teacher meetings will take place mid November.

Rosemarie Stynes

From the PA:

Welcome back!

Back to School coffee morning:

The PA is hosting a coffee morning this Friday, 6th September from 08:30am to welcome new parents to the school and to catch up on the summer.

Any baking to go with the coffee gratefully received! Don't forget - no nuts!

Contact pa@rmds.ie with any queries.

Hope to see you there!

PA AGM - http://www.rmds.ie/about/parents-association/?cat=5

Our AGM will take place on Tuesday, 10th September in the Seomra Spraoi at 8pm. We look forward to seeing as many parents there as possible so we can plan to offer a range of events that will deliver something for everyone!

We'll be keeping you updated via the PA class reps and in this newsletter. Please get in touch at pa@rmds.ie if you'd like to be involved at any level.

The PA

Notices:

Extra Curricular Activities – Term 1:

Please note the ECA programme for Term 1 starts the week after next, Monday 16th September.

Extra Curricular Hockey, Coding and Soccer are full.

There are just a couple of places left in the FREE yoga taster class in the hall on Tuesday 10th, 2.15-3.15. To book email eca@rmds with your child's name and class before Friday.

RMDS School Calendar 2019/20

*Unless changes are required as part of contingency arrangements to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures, in which case the school may reduce the length of the Easter break.

RMDS School Age Childcare

Information from Caroline Percival on 085-1156506 or email childcare@rmds.ie.

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the school website - www.rmds.ie!