The following information was sent to all parents via the Eolas App and text message on 21st August. If you have not got the Eolas App or need help to install it please contact the school and we will be happy to help.
Return-to-School 2023/24
As the summer draws to a close and the return to school is fast approaching I`d like to welcome back all our pupils and particularly our new 3rd class pupils new to our school this year.
- School will reopen on Wednesday 30th August for all pupils from 9.00am- 2.40pm.
- 3rd class pupils are to come to the backyard at 9.30am on Wednesday 30th. This is so they can start off in a calm and confident manner. They will be directed to their new class by staff. There will be signs for where they are to line up so don`t worry!!
- There will be a full school day from Wednesday to Friday. There will be no staggered times as in previous years.
Contact Details: Please ensure that we have the most up to date phone number at which you can be contacted. If you have not provided an e mail address you can do so by contacting Mairead in the office at 4526555 or by e mail info@stthomas.ie
School Books: For the first time ever, the Government will provide free school books for all children enrolled in all recognised primary schools. This will include schoolbooks, workbooks and related classroom resources. We have all necessary resources ready for the start of the school year.
School Day/ Attendance/ Punctuality: The school day is from 9.00am-2.40pm. Full attendance is critical to the success of your child during these years. If they are in, they will succeed academically, socially and be exposed to all the wonderful extra curricular activities that take place in the school. It also minimises any behavioural issues as they are fully engaged in the school life due to full attendance.
Arrival: Children can arrive on the school grounds from 8.50am onwards. They will line up in the yard on arrival at their designated place and will be collected by their teachers. Staff members will be on the yard to help out. Please be assured that there will be plenty of staff on the school grounds in the mornings to help children get to their classrooms and become familiar with this. On wet days pupils will go straight into their classroom at the correct time.
Parents on School Grounds: We encourage a drop and go approach. It is important that the pupils get into their own routine as quickly as possible and we need to keep the numbers of people on the yard as low as possible for health and safety reasons. Please do not try to approach any member of staff in the yard as meetings between parents and teachers can only take place by prior arrangement. When the school day is over the following arrangements will apply.
Home Time:
- Pupils from 6th class will exit through the small gate at the front of the school beside the school garden.
- Pupils from 5th class can exit through the small gate at the front of the school beside the school garden or via the back gate near the church at Kiltalown
- Pupils from 4th class will exit through the back gate near the church at Kiltalown
- Pupils from 3rd class will exit through the back gate near the church at Kiltalown
Pupils should meet their parents outside the school gates where possible. The class teacher will walk their class to the gate and staff positioned at designated points throughout the grounds will also be helping out. Older pupils are not permitted to wait for younger siblings on the school grounds or collect them from the Junior School.
Visitors to the school: Visitors to the school must have an appointment and visitors will still be kept to a minimum. Only one person should be in the lobby area at any time. Visitors can only enter the school building if they have an appointment.
Support Teachers / Special Needs Assistants: Support teachers/ Special Needs Assistants will continue to support the pupils under their care in a withdrawal/ in class fashion.In class hygiene measures will continue to take place in regards wiping tables and chairs in support rooms using wipes/disinfectant in between different pupils or small groups attending. If staff are moving between classes they will observe agreed sanitising routines.
Uniform: Children are expected to be in uniform each day they come to school. They can choose to wear either the school tracksuit, school uniform and/or school shorts. There are no exceptions to this. There are spare jumpers/ tracksuits in the school that are washed and pupils will be asked to wear them for the duration of the day. Parents will be contacted if a child comes to school not wearing the school uniform and has not brought in a note. Uniforms are available through school warehouse- www.schoolwearhouse.ie
HSCL: We are very lucky that Julie McKenna is our Home School Liaison Community Coordinator again and will be linking in with you this year. She can be contacted at 083 009 2792
Collection of Children during the School Day: If a child needs to be collected during school time the parent/guardian should let Mairead the school secretary know beforehand by ringing 4526555. When the adult arrives at the school please enter via the lobby and your child will be brought from their class to the parent/guardian by a member of staff. The adult who is collecting will be asked to sign the child out at the lobby. No adult should enter the school building, unless by prior appointment or to collect their child.
I hope that the above information is beneficial to you and if you should have any questions/ issues/ concerns please do not hesitate to contact the school.
Kind regards,
John Rennick