Kilmacrennan NS
June Newsletter
Jun 6th
As the end of term approaches, please note the following:
There will no school tomorrow (Friday, 7th June), due to polling in the school.
Class teachers are currently preparing End-of-Year Reports and we will post them next week. Please forward a stamped Self Addresses Envelope to the school by Monday (one per family will suffice) to facilitate the ease of this process.
School Tours are currently underway and class teachers will inform you of specific arrangements.
The Senior Sports Day is pencilled in for Tuesday 11th next, weather permitting. We hope to hold the Junior Sports on 18 June, weather permitting, details to follow. This will coincide with an Active Week in the school.
We hope to raise our newly attained Green Flag (Global Citizenship, Litter and Waste) next Monday, 10th June at 10am. Anne O’Donnell, retired secretary, will raise the flag.
The Parents Association will hold their final meeting of the year on Wednesday, 12th at 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend. We wish to acknowledge the huge contribution of the PA over the past year, noting events such as the Halloween Table Quiz, Movie Night, Silver Circle draw, the Tractor Run, Valentine Bake Day etc and sincerely thank them for this.
There will be an end of year Mass for Sixth Class pupils and their parents in the Chapel on the morning of Tuesday, 18th June. We wish all our Sixth Class well in their future endeavours. Classes for all remaining standards will close for the Summer Holidays at 12 noon on Friday 21st June.
A group of our students will participate in the Ruáille Buaille show on Highland Radio on Wednesday 19th June at 7pm. Feel free to tune in.
The school will once again provide books/ copybooks under the Free Book Scheme. Unfortunately, the effect of the recent reduction of €16 per pupil this year will impact our funding by about €3,800. This is huge and will impact the range of books in future years.
We respectfully request a fee of €25 per pupil/ €40 per family for photocopying, art materials, First Aid supplies and much.
Again, as there is a waiting list for some classes, please inform the School Office immediately if your child/children are not returning to us after the Summer recess. If the Office is unattended, please email any information to kilmacrennanschool@eircom.net and we will revert to you as soon as possible.
Our extension project is progressing well and we are hopeful of being able to move in at the start of term. However, the timetable and schedule is really tight and we cannot guarantee that this will happen. We will not be in a position to make this call (and the location of several of the class groups) until later this summer so I ask for your patience and support in this regard. It is however quite exciting that this project is coming to fruition and will be of huge benefit to the school.
Please visit our School News on kilmacrennanschool@eircom.net for further updates, news and next year’s provisional calendar.
Apr 30th
Kilmacrennan NS May Newsletter
First Holy Communion: The Sacrament of First Holy Communion for pupils in Second Class is scheduled for 11th May at 11am. We request that all communicants and the choir are seated 15mins in advance of the ceremony, and we wish all well on the day. All are invited to our School Hall for tea and refreshments afterwards.
Green Flag Award: Our school was notified recently that it has attained a Sixth Green Flag (Litter Awareness/ Global Citizenship) and will be presented with this in the coming weeks. As part of this application, our classes will participate in a Day of Action involving a Cultural Morning on Friday 3rd May with pupils preparing projects on countries from all over the world. We will celebrate all the various cultures within our school and the joys they bring!
Kilmacrennan 5k: The Kilmacrennan 5k Road Race/Walk is scheduled for Friday 17th May at 7.30pm. We would ask all who are able to assist with volunteering (registration, stewarding, teas, sponsorship etc) to let the School Office know as soon as possible. The event can be quite busy and all help is appreciated.
School Tours: We are currently organising school tours and details will issue in due course.
Pupil Testing: The annual testing of pupils in Numeracy and Literacy (English and Irish) is scheduled for mid-May.
School Dinners: Our Hot Dinners scheme is now up and running. Please note that each Thursday afternoon at 5pm is the deadline for making changes to an order for the following week.
Internet Safety: An Internet Safety Talk for parents will be held in the School Hall on 27th May at 7pm. All are welcome.
School Parking: We appreciate that parking spaces are at a premium and request your ongoing support in attempting to maintain a safe environment for our school community. To that extent, we ask for no through traffic at the school, for all pedestrians to safely use the designated crossing point and that the no parking on double yellow lines is observed, thereby creating safer vision lines for all users.
Ongoing School Works: Work is ongoing on our ASD classroom extension at the moment and we remain hopeful that it will be open for the start of the new school year. We have also installed a 6kW Solar Panel to our main building this week.
School Places: With a waiting list in place for several of our classrooms, please inform the school if there are any change in family circumstances etc which may result in your child attending elsewhere next year.
Board of Management News: Our Board of Management are currently preparing a three year Plan of Action and invite submissions via email to kilmacrennanschool@eircom.net before 8th May. Submissions are also invited for an updated Digital Strategy 2024-27.
Calendar Dates: Please note that the school will be closed on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th May.
April Newsletter
Apr 9th
April Newsletter
We wish to welcome you all back after the Easter holidays and hope that all enjoyed the break. Please note that
- A three-week gymnastics programme for all pupils is starting in the school tomorrow, Wed 10th April. Citadel Gymnastics will oversee this and we ask for a once-off payment of €5 per child towards the cost. (€10 per family maximum contribution).
- Our Hot Meals Dinner programme is due to start on Monday, 15th April. Pupils should have received log in details and select from the menu on the Fresh Today app. If this is not done, the company will select a dinner for you. Pupils must also bring in their own 11 o’ clock snack break and drink.
- Our athletics team will compete in the School’s Sportshall Athletics event in the Aura on Monday, 15th. Participants will receive a separate note re bus, entry, lunches and gear.
- Confirmation for pupils in Sixth Class is on Tuesday, 16th April at 6pm. All confirmandi and sponsors to be seated by 5.40pm.
- We have been included in the Say Yes to Modern Languages programme for this term. Pupils from Third to Sixth Class will be involved with a weekly class in Spanish from Thursday, 18th April onwards.
- Other ongoing and forthcoming activities include a cycling course, basketball training, school gardening, GAA Blitz, School Track and Field event, the Children of the Eucharist programme, Spelling Bee, outings, a visit to the Young at Heart while the Green School Committee will oversee an International/ Culture Day under our Global Citizenship awareness campaign.
- The PA will hold their next meeting in the School Hall on Wed 17th April at 7.30pm.
- Please note that the Kilmac 5k is scheduled for Friday, 17th May at 7.30pm.
Yours sincerely, John Devenney.
March Newsletter
Mar 5th
School News: The children are quite busy at school on a number of fronts. Many are participating in activities such as swimming, athletics & Sportshall training, instrumental music tuition, sacramental practice, school quizzes, Scríobh Leabhar Gaeilge, Seachtain na Gaeilge events, and more. Our quiz teams have recently qualified for the Garda Quiz County Final and the Credit Union Quiz Chapter Final. Fifth Class are due to participate in a five-week school-based Cycling Course from Monday 11 March onwards.
World Book Day is scheduled for 7 March. Pupils are free to dress up in literary costumes/ favourite characters/ film or book them event, if they so wish. Beidh Ceolchoirm Seachtain na Gaeilge i Halla na Scoile ar an 15ú Aibréan.
The Children of the Eucharist programme will continue for Second and Sixth classes on Thursday 14 March while the First Confessions will be held later in the month, date to be confirmed.
Gymnastics is a part of our PE curriculum but staff feel that pupils best learn from the experience and expertise of qualified personnel. Accordingly, we hope to facilitate three workshops hosted by Citadel for all classes for three weeks between St Patrick’s Day and the Easter holidays. We respectfully ask for a €5 contribution per child to cover the cost of the three lessons (family max payment of €10).
Well done to all who participated in Feis Leitir Ceanainn. We had quite a few winners on the day. Comhghairdeas le gach duine.
There has also been great egg-citement in the school recently as our School Chick project came home to roost; some of the pupils were quite shell-shocked to see three new chick hatchlings born.
Parents’ Association: We wish to thank the Parents’ Association for their much appreciated fundraising initiatives in helping to maintain investment in the school. A Silver Circle Draw is underway at present while volunteers will be required to help at an Easter Draw at the Millbridge Shop on Sat 30 March.
A Kilmacrennan Tractor Run Event is planned by the Parents’ Association for the St Patrick’s Bank Holiday Monday (18th March). All proceeds are invested in pupil resources: we have already purchased further musical resources and further plan to upgrade pupil IT resources this year. A new interactive smartboard has been purchased for First Class in recent weeks.
School Lunches: The school has been included in the latest roll-out of Hot School Meals and this is provisionally pencilled in for after Easter. Further details will issue in due course.
School Building Project: The Special Education Class extension to the building is underway and it is hoped to open this in time for the next school year.
School Closures: The school will close on Friday 8 March 2022 to facilitate voting in the forthcoming Referendum.
The school will close on St Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday Monday (18th March) and will close for two weeks for the Easter Holidays on 22nd March 2022.
This newsletter is also posted on www.kilmacrennanschool.com. Grace, our School Secretary, has also been posting weekly Throwback Thursday photographs on the Gallery Section of the website with photographs of former pupils and school events over the years.
February Newsletter
Jan 30th
Upcoming events
Wednesday 31st Jan: We wish our School Debating team all the best as they debate the motion ‘Electric Cars are the best way to cut a country’s emissions’ in the fourth round of the Donegal Primary School’s Concern Debating League this week.
Thursday 1st Feb: All Grandparents’ (or family/ neighbour etc) are invited to our Grandparents’ Day this Thursday, 1st February. Second and Sixth Class pupils will first attend morning mass in the Chapel at 9.30am with St Bridget’s Cross making in the School Hall from 10am-12 noon. Sixth Class pupils will also attend a Sacramental Preparation in the Chapel on Thursday from 1.15pm-2.45pm.
Friday 2nd February: Our Student Council is organising a Non-Uniform Day this Friday, 2nd February. The charge is €2 per child (max €5 per family). Any proceeds will be for play resources as identified by the Council.
Monday, 5 February: There will be no school for pupils on this day. (Bank Holiday).
Thursday 8th: Second Class pupils will attend a Children of the Eucharist preparation workshop.
Tuesday 13 February: The Parents’ Association are organising a Valentine Bake Sale (€2 per treat). All support is appreciated (donations of homebakes, shop bought goods etc). There will also be free pancakes available for all children on the day.
Thurs 15th & Fri 16th February: The school is closed for Mid-term break.
RSE/Stay Safe
Stay Safe lessons will be taught this term. The teachers will issue notice of the lesson content of sensitive issues in advance of this. Please familiarise yourself with the information detail.
Silver Circle
The Parents Association will host a 5-week Silver Circle draw from Feb 22nd until March 21st this year. There will be three prizes each week of €80, €50 and €30. Your support for this fundraiser would be greatly appreciated. Further details to follow.
The school gratefully acknowledge receipt of €600 from the Parent’s Association. This money has been spent on musical equipment.
For your Calendar
The Ceremony of Light for Sixth Class pupils is scheduled for Wed 21st Feb at 7pm.
The school will be closed on Friday 8th March (Referendum Voting)
The Sacrament of Confirmation is scheduled for Tuesday 16 April at 6pm.
First Holy Communions are scheduled for Saturday, 11th May at 11 noon.
Please visit our website homepage for the School Calendar.
January Newsletter
Jan 17th
January Newsletter
School News
The pupils are busy at school this term and we look forward to a number of upcoming school events, including Vex Robotics for Sixth Class, a School Debating event, Credit Union Quiz, Féis Leitir Ceanainn, Scríobh Leabhair Gaeilge and the Children of the Eucharist programme.
We will once again host a Grandparents’ Day & St Bridget Cross-Making in the School Hall on 1 February 2024. All are welcome to attend.
Hot Meals programme
Our school has been included in the extended roll out of the Hot Meals Scheme. This means that the pupils will be able to avail of hot dinners provided at school. We hope this will start in April/May. We will be in touch with further details closer to the time.
School Enrolment
Please note that we are currently accepting enrolment applications for new pupils for the 2024/25 school year. The closing date for applications is 29th January 2024.
February Bank Holiday
Please note that the school will be closed for pupils on Monday 5th February (St Bridget’s Bank Holiday).
Parent’s Association
The Parents Association have postponed tonight’s meeting in the School Hall and will reschedule for next Wednesday 24th January at 7.15pm.
Survey
We encourage parents to participate in a Wellbeing Survey, details of which will be forwarded through an Aladdin in the next few days.
School Closure Info
In the event of an unforeseen school closure (ice/ snow/ frost etc), please note that we will inform parents of such closures in the morning via an Aladdin text.
Please make your own judgement call regarding attendance and travel on days where the school remains open during such weather.
Yours sincerely,
John Devenney.
Enrolment Opening on 8 January 2024
Dec 14th
Enrolment applications for 2024-25 schoolyear will be accepted from 8 January until 29 January 2024. Please use the online application form on the left tab-bar of the home page (New Enrolment link) or contact the School Office on 0749139295 for an application form.
Further information on Admission practices and procedures are posted on the school website.
Curriculum Day Closure
Dec 13th
The school will close for pupils on Monday 15 January 2024 to facilitate Staff training for the new Mathematics Curriculum
Christmas Carols & Music Show
Dec 13th
We will host a Christmas Carols and Music Service in the School Hall on Wednesday 20 December 2023.
Junior to Second Class: Starts at 10am
Third to Sixth Class: Starts at 11.15am
Dress rehearsal on Tuesday 19th December. The pupils are free to wear Christmas jumpers on the day (and for the remainder of the week).
There will be a draw for a Christmas Hamper and Selection Boxes on the day. Tickets are €2 each, or three for €5 . They can be purchased in the Office or bought on the day.
The Parents’ Association will serve teas on the day. Please let Pauline G know if you are in a position to help out on the day. Donations of biscuits, buns etc by Tuesday 19th would be greatly appreciated.
Santa is due to pay a visit to the school later next week.
Enrolment Info
Dec 13th
Enrolment 24/25 Notice
PART 1 – Admissions to the 2024/25 school year
Application and Decision Dates for admission to Kilmacrennan NS 2024/2025
The following are the dates applicable for admission to Junior Infants
| 1 | The school will commence accepting applications for admission on: Monday 8 January 2024 |
| 2 | The school shall cease accepting applications for admission on: Monday 29 January 2024. |
| 3 | The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application is: 19 February 2024 |
| 4 | The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is: 26 Feb 2024 |
Note: Applications made after the 21-day period will be processed as late applications. The school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance with the school’s admission policy.
Failure of an applicant to accept an offer by F may result in the offer being withdrawn.
Special Class Application and Decision Dates for admission to Kilmacrennan NS 2024/2025
The following are the dates applicable for admission to the school’s Special Classes which caters for children with Autism
Note: The figures set out below in relation to the Special Classes are subject to change dependent on whether current students in the Special Classes retain their place in the school and whether a student(s) transfers into the school after the publication of this Notice.
| 1 | The school will commence accepting applications for admission to the special class on: Monday 8 January 2024 |
| 2 | The school shall cease accepting applications for admission to the special class on: Monday 29 January 2024. |
| 3 | The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application for admission to the special class is: 19 February 2024 |
| 4 | The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is: 26 February 2024 |
Note: Applications made after the 21-day period will be processed as late applications. The school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance with the school’s admission policy.
Failure of an applicant to accept an offer by the specified date may result in the offer being withdrawn
Other Year Groups Application and Decision Dates for admission to Kilmacrennan NS 2024/2025
The following are the dates applicable for admission to other year groups (Senior Infants to 6th class):
| 1 | The school will commence accepting applications for admission to other year groups on: Monday 8 January 2024 |
| 2 | The school shall cease accepting applications for admission to other year groups on: Monday 29 January 2024. |
| 3 | The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application is: 19 February 2024 |
| 4 | The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is: 26 February 2024 |
Note: Applications made after the 21-day period will be processed as late applications; the school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance with the school’s admission policy.
Failure of an applicant to accept an offer by the specified date may result in the offer being withdrawn.
Information about the number of places that will be available in the next school year 2024/2025
The figures set out below in relation to the Special Class are subject to change dependent on whether current students in the Special Classes retain their place in the school and whether a student(s) transfers into the school after the publication of this Notice.
| The number of places being made available in Junior Infants is | 30 |
| The number of places being made available in the special class* catering for children with ASD is 1. | 1 |
| The number of places being made available in other year groups: | |
| Senior Infants 0 places | 0 |
| 1st Class 0 | 0 |
| 2nd Class 4 | 4 |
| 3rd Class 0 | 0 |
| 4th Class | 3 |
| 5th Class | 1 |
| 6th Class 0 | 0 |
Kilmacrennan NS has not accepted applications for places prior to the commencement of Section 62 of the Education (Admission to Schools) 2018 on 1 February 2020.
