May 10th 2017

Dear Parents,

Term three is well underway. As always Scoil Iósaf remains active and interesting.

·  Enrolment: Junior Infants Sept 2017 - the induction afternoon for new pupils will take place on Thursday May 25th. This occasion is by invitation only and letters have already been sent to the families involved.

·  School Tours. Scoil Iósaf has established its own tradition with regard to School Tours. Junior and Senior Infants, there are three classrooms involved, arrange a picnic day in the local woods, in June when the weather is right. Juniors walk to Pigeon Wood, play games and have a picnic. Senior Infants do likewise in Mitchell Wood. They dress in summer clothes and a good day is had by all, with no expense incurred. 1st Class have a similar outing but their destination is the playground in Mogeely. Their hike to Mogeely is always great fun and they return home happy and tired.

o  Tuesday June 6th: 2nd Class School Tour – Leahy Farm €20 approx.

o  Tuesday June 13th: 3rd Class - Fota €20 approx.

o  Friday June 16th: 4th Class - Spike Island €25 approx

o  Monday June 19th: 5th Class - Oysterhaven €55

o  Wednesday June 21st: 6th Class - Ballyhass €60

We have decided to take the children in class groups this year as the increasing numbers mean it is no longer possible to double up two classes in one bus. (This of course increases the cost of transportation.)

·  School Expenses: A small number of families still owe school expenses. In fairness to the families who pay I must pursue the outstanding amounts please.

·  Cork Primary School Sports: Best wishes to the school Athletics team who are training seriously for the city sports on Thursday June 1st. Well done to Ms Murphy and Ms Santry, our athletics coaches.

·  Sciath na Scol: Our Sciath na Scol hopes are still alive and invested in the girls camogie team. Should they be victorious in the semi-final tomorrow against Clondroichead NS in Castlemartyr at 11:30am we will …… I refuse to tempt fate.

·  Bun Friday: Our traditional in-house fundraiser for Sciath na Scol did not take place thus far this year. There has been a lot of transportation provided to Indoor Hurling, Indoor Football, UCC, Youghal as well as Sciath matches and the Family Finance Fund is very depleted. Therefore I must organise please:

o  Bun Friday 1. May 19th – Mr Ó Tuama’s and Ms Hunt’s Room.

o  Bun Friday 2. May 26th - Ms O’Brien’s Room and Mrs O’Neill’s Room

o  Bun Friday 3 June 2nd - Ms Sheehan’s Room and Mrs O’Callaghan’s room

o  Bun Friday 4. June 9th - Ms Santry’s Room and Ms Wade’s Room

o  Bun Friday 5. June 16th - Mr O Tuama’s 6th Class and Ms Quirke’s Room

·  Goodbye to 6th Class this year will take place on Friday June 23rd at 11:00.

·  School Sports: Thursday June 15th

·  Lego Workshop: The Parents Association have arranged a Lego Workshop for all classes running over June 12th and 13th. More information via website.

·  Active School Week: Monday May 29th – Friday June 2nd. As always Ms Quirke is the organiser and we look forward to her active timetable. The annual Walk in the Woods organised by the PA will be held on Wednesday May 31st. On the same date we hope to raise our Safety Flag bringing together work done on Water Safety, Road Safety, Fire Safety and Land Paws.

·  Teaching Practice: Currently we have two students on teaching practice, Ms Lornah Morrissey working in Mrs O’Neill’s room and Ms Clodagh Carthy working in Ms O’Brien’s room. We look forward to welcoming Darragh Moran, past pupil, on TY Work Experience later in May.

·  Standardised Testing takes place during May.

·  School Reports will be given out on Thursday June 15th.

·  Homework will continue until the June Bank Holiday and will be suspended thereafter.

·  Summer Holidays: School will close for the summer holidays on Wednesday June 28th 12:30 pm. School will re-open on Tuesday August 29th.

My sincère thanks to all the families who extended their sympathies to me, in so many ways, following the death of my sister, Margaret.

All going well this should be the last letter before we close the school year. Other communications will continue via text and website.

School life continues in a calm and orderly manner. Thank you to everybody for your constant support.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Flannery.

Príomh Oide