Paradise Place ETNS Newsletter

We are really looking forward to seeing parents/carers in school this week for our parent-teacher meetings. These meetings are a really important opportunity for you to speak to your child's teacher about how they are getting on at school and how you can support them at home.

Teachers will send home a reminder slip with your day and time. You will also find your appointment time on Aladdin. Please let us know in advance if you can't make it or need to change your time.

Please be on time for your appointment, especially the morning appointments. Teachers have to start teaching their classes at 8.50 a.m. so if you are late for a morning appointment, we may have to cancel it as they cannot run over time.

A reminder too that there will be no clubs on Wednesday or Thursday this week to facilitate the parent-teacher meetings. Thank you.

A reminder that school is closed next Monday, 1st December as all our staff have a training day for the new Child Protection Procedures for schools.

We will be open again as usual on Tuesday 2nd.

The Department of Education and Youth is inviting parents/carers across Ireland to take part in the largest ever survey on primary school provision.

This short, online survey, asks for your views on:

• Whether your school should be co-educational or single-sex
• Whether your school should operate under a denominational or multi denominational patron
• Whether your school should provide education primarily through the English language or Irish language

Why take part?

Your input will help shape decisions about school provision in your area, ensuring that schools reflect the needs and values of local communities. Every response matters.

All responses are confidential and anonymous. The results of the survey will help the Department of Education and Youth plan how it provides education at primary level.

Well done to all of the children who entered the Anti-Bullying Ambassador's poster competition. Here are some of our lucky winners at assembly!

The very lucky children in 5th and 6th Class were invited to the Gate Theatre on Monday to see their new production of the Charles Dickens novel, 'A Christmas Carol'.

Well done to our Junior Infant children who had their vision and hearing tests with Ita, our school nurse, this week! The nurse will be in contact with parents/carers if your child needs a follow-up appointment.

The Board of Management had their meeting this week. They met with the Sustainability children's team. It was wonderful to see so many of the children attending with their families to talk about the work of the team. The children shared the progress they have made with the school wormery and their plans for lots more planting in our school garden this year. The Board were particularly keen to taste some delicious rhubarb crumble!

Eadaoin talked to the Board about a range of updates of what has been happening at school over the last month. The Board completed the 'Primary School Survey' from the Department of Education and they also discussed a new 'Behaviour of Concern' policy which details how the school responds to serious and dangerous behaviour or crisis situations.

We have been hearing children start to talk about gifts for Christmas and would like to advocate against giving children a phone as a gift - for Christmas, birthdays, or any special occasion. Keeping children safe online is an enormous challenge, and one that parents all over the world are struggling with. While there are issues with computers, tablets and gaming - phones present even more danger as children can't escape them in the same way - they have them in their hands constantly. It distracts them from real life, it reduces their communication with their friends and family and it pulls them deeper into an online world that we cannot see or support them with.

If your child is asking for a Smart Phone this Christmas, please do listen to this interview from 103.2 Dublin City FM . Or if they already have a phone, listen in too, as Aisling O'Connor Child Psychologist has so much helpful information for you.

"When you think, I'm giving my child access to the world, you have to re-frame this, and think, I'm actually giving the whole world access to my child. And that's why keeping phones out of bedrooms, and behind closed doors, is really important. It's like you're inviting all of these strangers into a child's bedroom, and you've absolutely no control over it."

You can listen back to the full interview here: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NKiGSRUNrrGhjZwUX92SF

This month is Attendance HERO month. We are asking the children - and families - to please make sure you are here, everyday, ready & on time! There will be rewards for best class and most improved. The whole country is part of this campaign.

We had good attendance last week from Monday to Thursday - over 93% across the school, however on Friday, we had 48 children absent, bringing the average for the week way down. Every day counts and we need children at school five days a week so they can achieve their full learning potential.

Remember:

Encouraging school attendance is within the power of everyone in a student’s life. When a child or young person can go to school, they should go to school. Every school day is a new day and a new opportunity for everyone to actively encourage school attendance.

Well done to Sean's 4th Class who were our winners last week with 97.8% attendance - super work!

English Classes for parents and carers will take place in school from 9:00 - 11:00 on the 19th and 26th November and 3rd and 10th December. These are taster sessions so you can meet the teacher and try it out. All levels are welcome. You can sign up with Kate, or just come along on the day.

Our annual 'Winter Art' sessions will take place from 8.50 a.m. on Friday 5th December in each classroom. All families are welcome and encouraged to join us for an hour of fun and creativity.

Older children can join their younger siblings to keep families together.

Week of 24th November - Parent-Teacher Meetings

1st December - Staff Training, Child Protection - School Closure Day

5th December - Family Winter Art at 8.50 a.m.

16th, 17th December - Performances at 1.00 p.m.

19th December - school closes at 12 noon for two-week holiday.

Did you know we're on Instagram now? Follow us on @ppetns

Email: office@ppetns.ie
Website: www.ppetns.ie
Location: Paradise Place, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, Ireland
Phone: +353 1 8300 841
Twitter: @ppetns