May Newsletter 2025
Welcome back to the last term of this academic year. We hope the sun shines and the children get plenty of opportunities to play and learn outdoors.
Swimming Lessons
Swimming lessons for all pupils commenced las Friday and will continue up to and including Friday 6th June. Children are placed in different groups depending on their ability and confidence in the water. Each lesson is 35 minutes and the instructors follow the Irish Water Safety; Primary Aquatics Water Safety Programme (P.A.W.S.). Children are assessed on week six and will receive PAWS certificates. Each lesson starts at 11.50 and finishes at 12.40 with 15 minutes free play at the end of the 35 minute lesson. It’s great to see the children progress over the six weeks. Cold lunches are provided on the return to school (for those who avail of Fresh Today). Please remind your child/children that they are not permitted to bring money to the pool or use the vending machines.
Golden Friends Coffee Morning
We were very pleased to be invited to perform at the Golden Friends Coffee Morning in Hall Street today. The children sang two songs – ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘When I Grow Up’, which were chosen to link in with the theme of ‘Growing’. The Middle Room performed a poem while some members of the Senior Room read about Jesus growing up from Luke’s Gospel. The younger children shared their hopes and ambitions for the future. Each golden friend received a potted plant which we hope will remind them of our visit. We were delighted to receive crisps and drinks from Golden Friends.
Love For Life Talks
Thank you to those who replied to the survey regarding an information talk for parents entitled Face to Facebook – equipping parents and carers to support their children and young people in a digital world. This talk, along with talks for the pupils will now provisionally take place on Friday 17th October 1.30-3.00pm. Further information will be issued in September.
Amazing Journey
Many thanks to Paul McAdam and members of Keady Baptist Church along with James Robinson, Amazing Journey Co-ordinator for sharing the Amazing Journey with us. The children really enjoyed the interactive exhibition especially when they got to dress up in clothes worn during Bible times.
School Attendance
It is very important that if a child is going to be absent from school that parents put this information on Aladdin, otherwise it is recorded as unexplained. Teachers are not responsible for filling in reasons for absences. Any child who misses 20 days or more during a given school year or whose attendance patterns give cause for concern, the Principal is obliged to report the same to the Education Welfare Office in the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS). If you are collecting a child early from school or your child will be late arriving at school please put that information on Aladdin before 9.30am on the day in question. Teachers generally won’t see that information after they have completed the roll in the morning.
Standardised Tests
Standardised tests will be administered to all pupils from 2nd-6th classes during the month of May. Results of these tests will be available on your child’s school report in June. Test results from 2nd, 4th and 6th classes will be forwarded to the Department of Education.
School Tours
A school tour for Mrs Patton’s classroom has been arranged for Wednesday 21st May to Fort Evergreen Pet and Play Farm in Warrenpoint. Mrs Patton will issue details of the tour to parents in her classroom closer to the time. Ms McCarney and Mrs Pepper’s classrooms will be visiting W5 in Belfast for their school tour on Friday 13th June. More information will be issued next month.
Active School
All children are continuing to skip around Europe; this is the last week of the challenge.
We are planning an Active School Week for 3rd-6th June, each day children will take part in different activities.
School Closures
Monday 2nd June Bank Holiday
Friday 20th June School closes at 12.00 for summer holidays