Newsletter October 16th 2023

Our Parents’ Association are organising a Halloween Movie Night this coming Friday October 20^th in Scoil Niocláis Naofa at 6.30pm. Children are asked to be in the school at 6.20. Cost is €5 which can be paid before Thursday to Christine in the office.

Hard luck to our U11 footballers who were defeated narrowly by Milltown, last Tuesday in the Kildare league semi- final. Hard luck also to our senior hurlers who were defeated on Thursday by the same opposition in their semi-final. Our 5^th/6^th class boys are due to take part in a football blitz in Baltinglass on Friday at 11am. Please contact the office if you are available to drive.

Nominations have been received for the role of parents’ nominees on the Board of Management. Further information will be issued to all families later in the week.

Our Parents’ association will hold their AGM on Wednesday October 25^th at 8pm in Scoil Niocláis Naofa. (Please note date change) We would encourage as many parents as possible to attend.

The annual Cumann na mBunscoil Cross Country event will take place in Valleymount on October 17^th. 4 boys and 4 girls have been chosen from each class to represent the school. Children that are going are asked to wear their school tracksuit and white polo shirt and runners. They can wear shorts under their tracksuit if they wish to run in shorts. Lunch should be brought in a separate bag. Each child is asked to bring €5 for the bus.

Patrick Hunt will visit our school on Tuesday and Wednesday. He will be looking at the great outdoors with 1st/2nd/3rd classes on Tuesday and 4th/5th/6th classes on Wednesday. Children can wear their school tracksuit on the appropriate day.

We would ask all parents to refrain from parking in school car parks, or in the bus bay in the morning or evening. We would also ask you to remind children not to exit the school grounds through either car park for their own safety.

Christine is currently taking orders for Folens Christmas annuals in the office. Cost is €3.

We would like to remind parents about any outstanding school charges. If there is any difficulty with payment please contact the principal.School payments can be made in cash, by cheque or by on line payment as per details below

BIC AIBKIE2D

IBAN : IE56 AIBK 933244 65921015

We have organised an internet safety talk for children in 3/4/5/6 classes on November 9^th. There will also be a talk open to all parents in the school in the evening. We would highly recommend parents attend. (time to be confirmed)

Please see information below on Internet safety

Internet Safety

Digital devices (Ipods, Ipads, Phones, Laptops etc) should only be used in family/living areas in the house, no devices in the bedrooms.

Digital devices should be left downstairs at night

Internet time should be limited by parents

Once something is posted on line it can be accessible forever… this can be ultimately damaging, what was funny at age 11 may not be so funny at age 21.

Employers are now looking at social media sites – your reputation is literally ‘on line’

A rule of thumb ….Don’t post something you wouldn’t like your mother to read

If you post a nasty comment you can’t see how upset that person is…. Would you make the same comment to a person’s face?

Never share personal information on line

If you are unsure of where a text or message has come from….don’t respond. NEVER engage with a stranger.

Remember, you control the digital device….it doesn’t control you!

Many primary school children are on social media apps. Children of primary school age are not mature enough to deal with many of the things which they and other children are posting. Upset caused by such posts often spills into school life and is very difficult for teachers to sort out.