Beginning of Year Letter

Dear Parent 

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and restful summer break. It is great to see all our children back, ready and eager for school. A special welcome to all our Primary 1, Nursery, Playgroup and Reception children who start our school this week. 

Thank you to all our parents and children for the fantastic support for our Summer Scheme during the summer break. 

Please find below information for 2013/14 academic year below.

School Dinners and School Milk
School meals remain at a cost of £2 per day for nursery children and £2.10 per day for children from P1 to P7. School meals must be paid for in advance on Monday mornings. Application forms are available from the school office. A copy of September's menu is available to download at www.stmarysbanbridge.co.uk. A hard copy will be sent home at the beginning of each month. Free School Meals entitlement information can be obtained at www.nidirect.gov.uk. If you think your child may be entitled to free school meals please contact the school office.

School milk now costs 22p per day for children from P5 to P7. A letter regarding School Milk will be issued to interested children. P1 to P4 snack money remains at £2 per week payable in advance on Monday morning to your child's class teacher. 

Parking and Playground
Parents are encouraged to drop-off children on Reilly Street (school side to avoid crossing the road) or to use St. Therese's car park and use the pedestrian crossing to access school.

Please refrain from using the car park or Reilly Park for dropping-off, stopping or turning at any time during the day. The school car park and Reilly Park become very congested, especially in the mornings with taxis, members of staff arriving to work and delivery vehicles all attempting to enter and exit the car park. We are aware this may cause inconvenience but the ongoing traffic congestion poses a serious hazard to pupils, parents, residents and staff. 

Due to the increase in the number of children lining up in the bottom playground at morning time, children are no longer allowed to run about or play chasing games before school.



Packed lunch 
If your child takes a packed lunch at school please supply a small bag for your child to take the remains of his/her lunch home. This is to enable parents to monitor what their child is eating and to help reduce the amount of waste collected in class.

Breakfast Club & After School Club
Breakfast Club is open daily from 7.45am and remains at a cost of £1.20 per child daily.

The After School Club is open from 11am for Playgroup children, Nursery and P1 children during the staggered intake. There will be a charge of £2.50 per child for children collected before 3pm and £8 per child for those collected after 3pm. The After School Club remains open until 6pm daily. Reductions are available for a second child and families. 

Dates
A copy of school term and holiday dates for 2013/14 is available to download at www.stmarysbanbridge.co.uk. A hard copy will be sent home with your child this week. Please check the school website for an updated calendar throughout the year. 

Friday Clubs
Friday Clubs for P5, P6 and P7 children will commence on Friday 13 September. All children are expected to participate in a club on Friday afternoons; each club costs £1 per child. Please note Netball and Table Tennis will take place at the Leisure Centre from 2.15pm to 3.45pm and Football Club will take place at Cheney Park from 2.15pm until 4pm. A letter will be issued to all children wishing to participate later this week.

Irish Dancing
Irish Dancing will commence on Friday 13 September from 2pm to 3pm for children in P1 to P4 and for P5 to P7 children from 3pm to 4pm. 

School Fund
A voluntary contribution of £20 per child or £30 for a family is requested to our school fund. As in previous years, this money will be used to enhance your child's learning environment and help purchase school resources. 

If paying the total amount at once is inconvenient, please feel free to pay on a termly or monthly basis. A slip is attached below for your payment. I thank you in advance for what I am sure will be a generous response to this request. 

Please return to your child's class teacher or directly to the school office.