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December Newsletter 2020

December Newsletter 2020

Cash for Clobber

Many thanks to all who contributed to the Cash for Clobber clothes collection.  Over a tonne of clothes were received which results in approximately €400 for the school.  It was great to see past parents and people from the local community contributing also.

School Photographs

You should receive your school photographs this week.  If you wish to order photographs (and I am assured they will be back before Christmas), fill in the order form in your pack or order online.  There is no obligation to purchase photos.

Credit Union Art Competition

Congratulations to David Burgess in 5th Class who was awarded 3rd prize in the recent Credit Union Art Competition.  Unfortunately due to the current restrictions there won’t be a presentation night but members of the Credit Union will present David with his prize at school.

Caretaker

After more than 10 years’ service to the school as caretaker, Denis Parker has retired.  We thank Denis for all his work throughout that time, and wish him and his family well.

Christmas Walk to School

We will be having our annual Festive Walk to School on Monday 14th December.  On that morning children should be left at the Riverdale Hotel where they will assemble in their separate class bubbles.  Each class bubble will walk to school through the park – the departure times being staggered so as we can socially distance!  Children can wear a Christmas jumper, hat etc and we ask that all children bring €2 each which we will donate to Ballybay Cancer Society.  Later that morning members of the Parents’ Association will leave “brunch” into school for all the children.

Food Appeal

A box has been placed inside the front door for items of non-perishable food.  If you wish to donate please give items to your child to bring in to school.  This food appeal is always well supported and we look forward to donating the food to Claire Douglas from Hope Café in Monaghan, where it will be distributed to local needy families in the run up to Christmas.

Virtual Christmas Celebration

Children are busy practising items for our virtual Christmas Celebration.  Pupils in each classroom will be recorded separately and all will be put together onto a short video.  The video will be put onto the website on 21st December for viewing.  Please sign the consent form being sent home today giving permission for your child/children to be recorded.

Kris Kindle

It is the policy in our school that instead of the children exchanging Christmas presents with each other we implement Kris Kindle. Children have been given the name(s) of who to buy for.   Please wrap it and put the name of the person it is for (but not who it is from) on the label.  We ask that all presents are brought into school between 9th and 16th December.  In this way we can make sure presents can be left untouched before distributing them on 22nd December.  Please be mindful of the age and interests of the child your child has to buy for.  All presents will be left in a box in the hall until Tuesday 22nd when they will be distributed before children go home.

We have asked the children not to bring any Christmas cards into school for their friends this year due to the Covid situation.

Homework/Uniform

Thursday 10th December will be the last night of homework this term.  In the meantime please ensure that all homework tasks are completed by your children.  As we have moved to an online platform if your child is unable to complete homework on the night it is assigned it should be done the following night or at the weekend –                                                                             please speak to your child’s teacher if you have any queries regarding this.

Pupils may wear their own clothes to school from Monday 14th December onwards.

On Wednesday 16th December it is hoped to record the items for our Virtual Christmas Celebration and it would be nice if children wore festive items that day.

End of term arrangement

School will close at 12.00 on Tuesday 22nd December and reopen on   Wednesday 6th January 2021.

 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

“And there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.”   Luke 2:8-9