Well what a wonderful week!! Everybody came back to us in one piece, and with huge smiles on their faces!

We also saw the arrival of some new children and staff, and I would like to welcome them all to NETNS. I am really looking forward to working with you all this coming school year.

We also welcome 58 Junior Infants for the first time on Wednesday….we had a few tears (not all children!!!!), but they have all settled in really really well.

I’d like to wish us all a very good year, maybe not as busy as last year, but definitely as prosperous!

With the kindest of regards,

Eimear

The older children in the school are back to playing with hula-hoops and skipping ropes on yard. It’s wonderful to see everyone occupied and busy with constructive activities, getting exercise and fresh air! The behaviour on yard has been super this week – well done everyone!

While technically we have moved into Autumn, there can still be strength in the sunshine. Please remember to protect your child from the effects of the sun:

- Encourage him/her to wear a sunhat, especially if they have very short hair or burn easily.

- Lather on the sunscreen before school or send it in with older children.

- Make sure your child has enough drinks to last the day. If they have a water bottle, it can be refilled from the tap in the classroom. While drinks are not permitted on yard, the children are allowed to drink water at any other time during the day.

Hopefully this good weather will continue!

NETNS had a super first day back today. It was great to see everyone – all taller and more grown up!

We enjoyed listening to all the new stories and getting to know the new personalities in the school. There is a positive, energised atmosphere around the school this week, long may it last!

As the new Junior Infants are starting tomorrow – Yippee! – we are leaving the space at that door completely free for them. So for the next couple of weeks, 4th, 5th and 6th classes will be lining up in the morning around at the front door. Senior Infants, 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes will be lining up at the steps. We all practiced our new places after yard today so hopefully everyone will remember them in the morning and show the new Infants how to line up beautifully!

Watch this space for news from each class. We have lots of exciting projects lined up this year!

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at 8.30am on Tuesday 31st August. (We won’t see the new Junior Infants until Wednesday of course!) Here are a few notices and reminders to help everyone start off on the right foot!

School starts at 8.30am each morning. NETNS will not accept responsibility for any child until the bell rings and the staff collects the children from the yard at 8.30am. Please line up in your old line on Tuesday morning. We will show you your new spot on Tuesday so you will know where to go each morning after that. We would like to remind parents, guardians and minders that the children are not permitted to go over or past the fence at the side of the yard or to climb on the basketball nets. Thank you for helping to maintain this safe, fun space for our children.

Awareness of car park safety is of utmost importance in these early weeks. Please remember that there will be new families trying to find their way and extra cars until families settle into sharing school runs, etc. Allowing an extra few minutes each morning will help to keep your trip to school calm and safe.

- Our car park operates a one-way system. The entry is on the left as you come in.

- Please reverse into your space and take care to use one space only.

- The spaces along the footpath outside the Junior Infant classrooms, GP hall and yard are for staff only.

- If you are just dropping someone off and not parking, please do not obstruct the flow of traffic.

- Keep the bus spaces clear.

- Walk on the footpaths only, even if this means a longer walk for you. Follow the path from your car all the way around and please make sure smaller children are accompanied by bigger ones so that they can be spotted by drivers.

Please take some time to browse through our website. In particular, please read our Code of Behaviour and our Positive Language policies. Having everyone work together to promote these policies is a large part of how we create our positive school atmosphere. Remember – children learn more from what their parents and teachers do than what they preach!

Finally, we suggest that parents and guardians whose children travel to school on the school bus take some time to remind their child or children of good bus etiquette and safety guidelines e.g.

- Always wear your seatbelt. If you think there is something wrong with the seatbelt, move seats and let the driver know about the concern before you get off the bus.

- Be respectful of others on the bus, of their property and of the bus itself.

- Keep your bag(s) under your seat to avoid causing a safety hazard.

- Once you get off the bus, walk safely to your line, staying on the footpath.

Thank you for helping to make back-to-school a calmer, safer time for all involved. We look forward to seeing you all next week!

I hope you are all having a brilliant summer!

I’d like to keep you all up to date with the new staffing arrangements for Sept 2010. It is with regret for NETNS that I am informing you that we received Sinéad Ahern’s resignation last week, she has secured a teaching post in the new Portlaoise Educate Together N.S. I am sure we are united in wishing her the very best in her new role.

We are welcoming Eibhlín Newell back from career break. We are also welcoming Fergus Kelly to the team as our part-time caretaker. Maria will now be in full-time employment at NETNS as our cleaner.

The following is the class allocation for September 2010/2011

J.I. Orla Moloney and Sacra Rodgers

S.I. Ross O’ Corráin

1st Therese Hickey

2nd Michael Breen

3rd Aoife Flynn

4th Ernie Fahy

5th Eibhlín Newell

6th Hilda Sheahan

EAL Michael Barrett

LS/RT Caitríona Hand and Lorraine O’ Brien

Resource Patricia Murphy

We are all really excited about the new school year and are looking forward to getting to know all the new staff.

We will see you all at the end of August!

Kind Regards,

Eimear

We also held a talent show today. Unfortunately we ran out of time and didn’t get to see every performance but the performances we did get to see were varied and interesting – a dancing duo called Dizzy Dancers, a singer, a drama called Crime Scene and a presentation of a project on The Romans. As we packed up at the end of the day, we waved and hugged goodbye to the lovely sounds of guitar-playing.

It was a lovely end to a great year in Third Class.