Welcome Back!

Welcome Back! August 2024

We hope you are all safe and well. We look forward to welcoming all of our students back to school. As we begin a new academic year, we encourage all students to engage fully and positively with school life, building positive relationships, developing new skills, seizing the opportunities that come their way.

Please note the following important information ahead of the resumption of school next week:

The School Day

The school day starts 08.21am and finishes at 15.15pm (12.40 on Friday).

Please note the following reminders:

• The school building will open from 08.00am each morning. Students will not have access to the school building before this time. Students must wait in the GP area until 08.10am.
• All students are expected to be in their seat in their Tutor room by 08.15 for morning registration.
• We strongly encourage students to walk or cycle to and from school where possible and students are reminded to ensure they have a suitable lock for their bikes and wear a helmet.

Code of Behaviour

Positivity is at the core of what we believe and our Code of Behaviour is a positive one. Please see Code of Behaviour here .

The pillars we live by are Respect, Excellence, Teamwork and Resilience and the task of ensuring our school pillars are reflected in school life falls to all members of the school community. In this light, we encourage all students to treat those around them as they would wish to be treated; with kindness, care and empathy, to take responsibility for helping to shape a positive experience for all in the school year ahead.

Uniform

Our school uniform is a core element of our culture and identity and. Students are required to be in full school uniform, including only the permitted school jacket and shoes. If a student is wearing the incorrect uniform, parents will be contacted and asked to drop the correct uniform to school, or the student can borrow from lost property.

A reminder that the school uniform policy is available here.

Mobile Phones

A reminder that, where students choose to bring a mobile phone with them to school, it must remain switched off and out of sight at all times while on the school site.

A reminder that the Acceptable User Policy is available here.

Accessing the school - Traffic Management

Please see information on traffic management, parking and accessing the school here.

Please note that, other than for pick-up and drop off, parking on the school site is restricted to staff only. Students who drive to school are not permitted to park on site.

Student Direct Contributions

If you have yet to pay your student direct contribution for the coming year, we would ask that you do so as a matter of urgency using MIT.

If you are experiencing financial challenges and unable to pay the fee, please contact the school in confidence to let us know urgently.

Books & Equipment

Junior Students will be issued with their books and equipment under the new scheme on their return to school next week. A huge thank you to all the staff who have put in trojan work over the summer in ensuring that the enormous task of getting all this ready is done on time.

Please see policy here. Junior Cycle parents will receive a VSWare notification reading acceptance of policy.

Parent Teacher Student Meetings 2024-2025

Please note the following dates of PTS Meetings this year. More information about PTS Meetings will be communicated prior to the meeting. All PTS Meetings run from 15.45pm – 18.15pm.

A reminder that, should you wish to speak with any of your child’s teachers at any time, please let them know using your child’s Journal.

• 1st Year – Wednesday 22nd of January 2025
• 2nd Year – Monday 10th February 2025
• 3rd Year – Tuesday 19th November 2024
• 5th Year – Wednesday 11th December 2024
• 6th Year – Thursday 24th October 2024

Return to School Dates & Times

A reminder of the dates and times for the return to school for all year groups:

We are especially looking forward in particular to welcoming our new First Year students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) on Thursday afternoon. We will welcome our new First Year students on the steps outside the school (weather permitting). For those who haven’t experienced this before, please note the following:

• We anticipate that First Year students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) will arrive from approximately 13.30.
• Please note, parking is extremely limited in the school, so we ask that parent(s)/ guardian(s) of new First Year students walk/cycle to the school where possible and utilise the Car Park on the Avenue if necessary.
• If the weather is nice, we will be able to spend some time outside taking photographs, including the traditional photo of all new students on the steps of the school. Full uniform to be worn from the first day.
• After this, our new First Year students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) will move to the Sports Hall where the students will be introduced to their new teachers and SNAs, their new Year-Head, Ms Robyn Reilly and the school Management. Students will then be assigned to their new Tutor group.
• We expect that students will finish for the day on Thursday at approximately 15.15.

Calendar

The school calendar has been updated for the 2024-2025 academic year and is available here. The calendar is also shown near the bottom of the website home page. Note that dates and times of calendar events are subject to change.

Please note the following dates of school holidays and closures throughout the year:

• Monday 30th September 2024 – School Closed
• Tuesday 22nd October 2024 - School Closed - Staff training
• Monday 28th October – Friday 1st November 2024 – Mid-Term Break
• Monday 9th December 2024 – School Closed
• Monday 23rd December 2024 – Friday 3rd January 2025 – Christmas Holidays
• Monday 3rd February 2025 – School Closed
• Monday 17th – Friday 21st February 2025 – Mid-Term Break
• Tuesday 25th February - School Closed - Staff Training
• Monday 17th & Tuesday 18th March 2025- School Closed
• Monday 14th – Friday 25th April 2025 – Easter Holidays
• Monday 5th May 2025 – School Closed
• Friday 30th May 2025 – School year finishes

VSWare

This system is used to manage the day to day operations of the school, including the school timetable and school reports.

We would ask that all parents/guardians download the VSWare app to their phone and enable notifications. VSWare will be our sole communication tool this year and it is vital that you have access to it. Any issues with logins please contact the school office. Please ensure all permissions are signed on VSWare by accessing your account and the permissions tab.

If your child has an appointment or will miss a day of school please update this on your VSware app in advance.

We look forward to welcoming you all to school over the next few days and to a successful and positive school year ahead.

Office Opening Hours

The office will only be open for specific times during the day, see below:
8.00am – 9.25am
10.25am – 10.40am
12.40pm – 1.40pm
3.15pm – 4.00pm

Please note students are not permitted to phone home for forgotten iPads, and reception can no longer accept iPads from parents/guardians. Any forgotten lunches can be left in a box at reception for students to collect.

Yours faithfully,

Ms A Smith Ms C Punch Ms A Kinsella

Principal Deputy Principal Deputy Principal