Dear Parents & Guardians,

The school year 2019-2020 will never be forgotten. Covid-19 has presented many challenges to everyone nationally & globally. It is truly a life changing event. Out of great adversity we can often see the very best come out in people & society. I am proud of the way our country has dealt with the pandemic and our actions have saved lives. We have seen the importance of family & community and we are indebted to the front line workers.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking you and our staff for the efforts everyone has made to help the children with their education during this period. I realise that it hasn’t been easy and far from ideal. I believe that in some ways that the home-school links that have been created will benefit the children’s education well into the future.
Please find below some relevant information and details about school matters.

Seesaw: It has been decided by the staff of the school to start using the online educational platform Seesaw in September. Many schools have started using it as a way for students & teachers to communicate during the recent lockdown. It is a completely safe & regulated platform. We will be in contact in early September to get your consent if you are happy for your children to use it and with instructions on how to use it. If you’d like to get more information you’ll find it on their website at https://web.seesaw.me

School Book Rental: Monday June 22nd is the date set for the return of School Rental Books for children from 3rd-6th. The following books are to be returned on the day, Planet Maths, Exercise Your English, Small World Geography/Science, Small World History, Grow in Love, Essential facts & Tables (5th & 6th). Please see details of times for drop-off. Social distancing measures will be in operation in the school yard.
3rd class 11-11:30am.
4th class 11:30am-12pm.
5th Class 12-12:30pm.
6th Class 12:30-1pm.
Junior & Senior Infants have only 1 reader to return and they can be brought back if a parent is returning a sibling’s books from 3rd-6th. Otherwise we will collect the remaining books when we return to school in September. The children in 1st & 2nd do not have any Rental Books to return.

Educational Magazine 3rd-6th: News Flash & Primary Planet are two excellent educational magazines that some of the children have been using whilst working at home. As a result of this, we have decided to order them for the children from 3rd-6th class. There will be an increase of €10 in the Book Rental scheme for children from 3rd-6th to cover the cost of this. Each child in 3rd/4th will get News Flash every month & the children in 5th/6th will receive Primary Planet every month. The magazines have excellent articles on a variety of educational & current affairs topics with brilliant activities in English, Maths & S.E.S.E.

Swimming Lessons: We had completed 4 out of the 7 scheduled swimming lessons for 3rd-6th children this year. We will be reimbursing the balance of €21 to the 6th class children before they leave and to the rest in September.

First Penance/First Holy Communion: I am really sorry for our wonderful boys & girls in 2nd class who weren’t able to celebrate these two very special occasions this year. There has been no clarification as of yet as to how & when the children will receive the sacraments. All I do know is that when it eventually does take place we will be so happy for them & proud of them.

School Communication: The lockdown has shown us that the most efficient way for the school to communicate with you is via e-mail. We will be compiling a database of email addresses in September but in the meantime it would be helpful if you could send an email to the school email account kilchreestns1@gmail.com

New Infants: We had hoped to be welcoming our New Infants & their parents for their first day of school on Friday 19th June. Unfortunately, at the moment we may not be able to do this. We have 10 children due to start in September & we are really looking forward to them beginning their big school journey with us. We are also delighted to welcome our new parents to the school.

Graduation Ceremony: I am still hopeful that we will be able to have a Graduation Ceremony for the 6th class children & their parents on Thursday June 25th at 1pm in the school. I will be in contact with the children & their parents closer to the event.

Ms Burke & Ms Clancy: I would like to sincerely thank Ms Veronica Burke & Ms Niamh Clancy for the dedication, hard work & kindness that they showed to all our pupils who were under their care. I would like to wish them all the very best in their future teaching careers. Any school would be lucky to have either teacher on their staff.

Teaching Practice Student: Ms Katie Glynn, 3rd year St Patrick’s Drumcondra BEd student, will be doing her extended placement in our school. Ms Glynn will be with us from the 28th of September until the 11th of December.

A word of thanks: I would like to take this opportunity to thank our new Board of Management, who help to manage the school with great interest & support. We will have a busy summer getting the school ready with safety measures for our expected return in September. I would also like to thank the Parents Council who provide great support & assistance every year. I am also thankful to our fantastic Secretary Christina & to 4th class parent Vinny Mooney who has been looking after any maintenance issues in the school for the last few years.

Summer Holidays: The school is officially closing on Friday 26th of June & will reopen on Tuesday 1st September

On behalf of the staff in the school I would like to wish this year’s 6th class students the best of luck in Secondary school & for the future. We are very proud of their achievements & it has been our pleasure teaching them for the last 8 years.

I wish all the children & their families a safe & enjoyable summer & we really look forward to seeing you again in September.

If you have queries in relation to any of the above, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Yours Sincerely

Francis O’Connor
Principal