Welcome to our new school!

Dear Parent,

On behalf of the Board of Governors and staff of St Mary’s, I am delighted to welcome you to our wonderful new school. Thank you for your patience over the past week with regards to the delay with opening. Our sincere apologises for any disruption caused. Thank you to Glasgiven Contracts Ltd and our staff for their sustained effort over the past fortnight to ensure we opened today. The school would like to invite parents to visit our new school on Sunday 24 September from 1.00pm to 3.00pm.

At the moment the pathway connecting the top and bottom parts of the school is incomplete. Steps are available to the side of the school but these are unsuitable for prams or buggies. We hope to rectify this in the next week or so. Landscaping is ongoing and we ask that all children keep off the seeded areas.

Please park in St Therese and use the Controlled Crossing. The school has requested the Education Authority to reinstate a manned Crossing Patrol at the crossing but a survey may not take place until October, after which a decision will be made.   

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Miss McVeigh who will be taking our third P1 class this term.

We again look forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children can achieve their highest potential. We recognise that in order to be successful in school, our children need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities.

We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring that he/she:

• Attends school daily and arrives on time. School starts at 9.00am, children arriving after 9.00am will be recorded as late, children arriving after 9.15am will be classified as being absent for the morning session.
• Completes all homework on time.
• Reads daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skill.
• Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life.
• Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any subject area.
• Knows that you expect him/her to succeed in school.

School dinners cost £2.60 per day and £2.50 for nursery. The monthly menu is available on the school website. The correct amount of dinner money should be sent to school each Monday in an envelope labelled with your child’s name, the days your child wishes to take dinner and the amount of money included.

Please ensure that your child’s name is clearly marked on all belongings including, clothing, books, bags etc.

St Mary’s is a Nut Free school. Please do not send any snacks that may contain nuts or traces of nut, as we have number of children who have a severe nut allergy.

To support our Healthy Break, children should not bring sweets, chewing gum or fizzy drinks to school. We are no longer able to provide snack to children in P3 or P4 this year. Children from P3 to P7 should bring their own snack to school.  Please encourage your child to bring a piece of fruit, vegetable sticks or vegetable pieces, fruit yoghurts or a small sandwich with a healthy filling. Our Healthy Eating Policy is available to view on the school website.

Literacy and numeracy support provided by Mrs Coleman and Mrs Florek will no longer continue. This is a consequence of the budget squeeze on schools. The school newsletter will no longer be printed and sent home, instead it will be available to download from the school website. A text will be issued to parents once the monthly newsletter is uploaded.

Children should refrain from wearing rings and earrings at school. Small stud earrings are permitted but these should not be worn on PE days or should be removed before PE lessons.

On wet days children may enter their class directly from 8.50am.

Children should attend school in full school uniform, inclusive of low-heeled black shoes. On PE days children should attend school in their school tracksuit with black or green shorts and a white T-shirt. If your child does not have a school tracksuit they should arrive at school in their school uniform and change into their PE kit. P1 to P3 children should wear jogging bottoms and a t-shirt for PE. The wearing of football tops in school or for PE is not permitted. On Club days children will be able to change in our new changing rooms.

A copy of our school rules and Positive Behaviour Policy is available from the school website; please take time to review these with your child. If you have any questions about the rules and expectations, please feel free to contact me or to discuss them with your child’s teacher.

It is very important that you and your child are fully informed regarding standards related to appropriate behaviour for a safe and productive school.

The school will operate a late pickup club until 3.10pm at the new school. Children staying beyond this time will be escorted to the club at St Patrick’s.  This is until registration is completed. Afterschool Club places must be booked in advance otherwise a place cannot be guaranteed.

Tuesday Gaelic Club with Michael Feeney will commence on Tuesday 19 September. EVO Football Club will start on Wednesday 20 September. Parental Permission forms will be issued this week. Friday Clubs for P5 to P7 children will begin on Friday 22 September, again Parental Permission forms will be sent home shortly.

Yours sincerely,

D O’Hagan

Principal