THURSDAY NOTE

Dear Parents/Guardians 
 
General Purpose fee all fees should be paid at this stage.  If you have not paid GP fee or have difficulty paying it please make contact with the school. Thank you.
Swimming continues tomorrow, Friday 22nd March for Ms Byrnes’s 6th class and Mr Howard’s 5th class. The cost of the swimming for your child is  €30 for 6 sessions, which includes transport. This amount must be paid in full by sending it into the class teacher or paid online through Aladdin. If you have difficulty with payment please contact the office.

 
Lipsync!! The Lipsync Committee had a final meeting yesterday and when all expenses are deducted we have raised €37,000 towards our new astro-turf pitch which is a marvelous achievement!! Once again, thank you so much to everyone who participated, contributed and supported the fundraiser!!
I was speaking to the children at assembly yesterday about the importance of following the school rules, not only during the school day but also using some of them while at home, in clubs or associations they may be members of, and while conducting themselves in their everyday lives. 
 
These are good mottos to live their lives by and it would be great if they were incorporated into their home life also. 
 
They are as follows:

• Be on time and be prepared
• Be fair, be friendly
• Talk in the right way at the right time
• Kind hands, kind feet, kind words.
• Always do your best

Chickenpox
We currently have chickenpox in the school. This virus is highly contagious and if you suspect your child has it please keep them at home.  Full information on the virus is available on the Health Service Executive Website
 
Newbridge Library is holding a number of free talks aimed at parents, teachers, guardians, special needs assistants and others in the next six weeks approx. All talks are free, although booking in advance is required. 

• Tuesday 26th March - 7PM: Nutrition for Children with Special Needs with Rina Whyte. This talk looks at the benefits of nutrition on attention span, concentration, emotional response and mood. It presents research based nutritional information and looks at food and nutrients that are particularly beneficial.
• Tuesday 2nd April - 7PM: Fostering Courageous Childhood Friendships with Sarah Murphy. This parenting talk will discuss the issues children face with their friendships and how parents can address them. Sarah - founder of www.courageouskids.ie - will share ways to help children think about, evaluate and ultimately take action in their friendships which will set them up for successful future relationships.
• Tuesday 9th April - 7PM: Counselling Talk with Fiona Hall: The Process of Coping With Your Child's Diagnosis. This talk looks at the emotional processes parents go through when waiting on or having received an ASD, ADHD, Dyspraxia or related diagnosis for their children. This talk looks at what is going on internally with you as a parent so you can navigate successfully your thoughts and the emotional rollercoaster that can come with a diagnosis.
• Tuesday 30th April - 7PM: What Is Dyslexia? with Amy Smyth from Dyslexia Association of Ireland. In this talk, attendees will discover what dyslexia is, the causes and what we can do to make life easier for someone with dyslexia. It will also cover how to get an assessment for a child or adult with dyslexia and also technology that may help dyslexic children in their day to day and school life.
• Tuesday 7th May - 7PM: How Children Develop and Learn Through Play. Presented by Marie Dowdall of Kildare Child Care Committee. There are so many times in the day that your child is learning. Come along to this workshop to find out more about Aistear the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and how it can support you to help your child learn through everyday activities and routines.

Thank you for your co-operation with the above.
 
____________________________
Noreen Duggan
Principal