WELCOME TO ST. PETER’S N.S.!
Over the next number of years, the whole school community will work towards ensuring that your child arrives into a safe, positive, caring and loving environment on a daily basis. This will be an exciting time in your child’s life, where they will make many new friends and enjoy new learning experiences. Your child’s happiness is everything, and we will endeavour to support them in fulfilling their potential through a range of academic, creative, sporting, spiritual and social opportunities.
FIRST DAY – A HAPPY ONE!
Please be positive with your child when preparing them for their first day at school. Most children, even if initially upset, soon become distracted by their surroundings and settle in very well.
COMING TO SCHOOL
School doors open at 8.40 a.m. School begins at 8.50 a.m.so please be on time. The school doors open at 8.40 a.m. and children will be supervised in their classroom from this time.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE TEACHER
Worried children often have difficulties learning. Please be sure to notify your child’s teacher(s) of any difficulties your child is experiencing (e.g. illness).
FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE
Encouraging your child to take responsibility for remembering to bring home their belongings is important. Clearly name all articles of clothing and belongings (e.g. lunch box). Below is a list of actions your child should be able to do/working towards achieving independently.
- Putting on/Taking off their coat
- Opening and closing lunch box/lunch items/school bag
ALADDIN CONNECT
The Aladdin Connect app is used by the school and its staff as the main mode of communication across the year.
Please keep your eye on Aladdin Connect and our school website for further notifications and updates going forward.
MONEY
Please settle all money matters promptly. All monetary transactions will now be completed through Aladdin Connect.
HOMEWORK
When the children have settled into a school routine, they will get some homework to do. This work will be clearly explained to parents and clear instructions will be shared by the teacher in advance. While it is very important that you help your children with homework, please refrain from doing it for them. Remember, children need a quiet place to do homework.
DEVICES AND MOBILE PHONES
Children are prohibited from bringing any technological devices or mobile phones to school.
HYGIENE
Handwashing is one of the most important things to teach when teaching hygiene to children.
Some of the basic hygiene rules for children include:
- Wash hands at certain times (e.g. before eating and after using the toilet).
- Always cover your mouth when you cough/sneeze. Dispose of tissues after use and sanitise hands.
BREAKTIME
There are two breaks:
- 11.00 a.m. – 11.10 a.m.
- 12.30 p.m. – 1.00 p.m.
Your child’s class will have a designated area in the yard.
FOOD
Children need a good breakfast to start each day and plenty of time to eat it. Hunger can make children sleepy and this makes it difficult for them to concentrate and enjoy school. Please see some healthy lunch ideas below.
As a health promoting school, we do not allow fizzy drinks, sweets, crisps and sugar-laden products for lunch. Friday is seen as treat day when a ‘small treat’ is allowed in the lunchbox. Please avoid liquid dairy products (e.g. milk, frubes or yoghurts).
IDEAS FOR THE LUNCHBOX
Food suggestions:
- Sandwich, wrap, bagel, cracker or roll
- Rice/Pasta
- A small container of raisins, dried fruit, mixed berries, fruit puree or fruit salad
- A small container of vegetables (e.g. sliced cucumber or carrot sticks)
- All varieties of fresh fruit (e.g. cut apples, mango, pineapple, oranges, seedless grapes, watermelon, and mandarins)
- Portion of cubed cheddar cheese, cheese stick or triangles
Drinks:
- Water is probably the best choice.
- No fizzy drinks please.
THINGS YOU CAN DO AT HOME TO HELP YOUR CHILD
- Show an interest in your children’s schoolwork and help them with their homework.
- Praise and encourage them, but avoid comparing them with others. Remember that every child is different.
- Talk to your children. Children can learn from everyday experiences (e.g. counting things, naming colours, numbers on houses or buses). Listen to them and answer their questions.
- Children often enjoy drawing and colouring. Buy them colouring and activity books.
- Read stories regularly to them (“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”- Buchwald). Remember to talk about the stories and the pictures. The local library has a great selection of children’s books and they are free!
- Teach them nursery rhymes. These play a key role in the development of phonological awareness.
- Encourage your child to use child-friendly scissors; they will be completing cutting practice in school to develop their fine motor skills.
UNIFORM & TRACKSUITS
Uniforms and tracksuits may be purchased at:
Hydes,
Main Street,
Midleton,
Co. Cork.
School Uniform
Girls-
- Grey pinafore
- Grey blouse
- Navy and yellow tie
- V-necked navy jumper
Boys-
- Grey pants
- Grey shirt
- Navy and yellow tie
- V-necked navy jumper
Tracksuit
- Dungourney school tracksuit/shorts
- Plain grey polo shirt
- Runners – no laces please.
Class P.E. Days – P.E. days will be communicated to each class in September. Tracksuit and runners should be worn on these days. On other days, parents/guardians can choose between school uniform and school tracksuit.
PROMOTING POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR
Children are expected to show respect to members of the whole school community (e.g. other pupils, teachers, parents and school visitors), at all times.
Developing good behaviour will be a shared responsibility. Parents and teachers can help children develop positive behaviours by:
- Helping children feel good about themselves
- Teaching children to respect others
- Teaching children good manners
- Teaching children right from wrong
- Teaching children to share
- Encouraging children to tell the truth
- Encouraging children to behave politely towards each other
- Encouraging a sense of cooperation
- Encouraging children to take responsibility for their actions
Our school values: In St. Peter’s NS, we have three core values: kindness, respect and belonging.
ABSENTEEISM
When a child is absent a note should be posted to Aladdin Connect, dating the absence and the reason. If a child needs to leave school during school hours, a note is also required on Aladdin Connect.
ACCIDENT & ILLNESS
If a child is injured or becomes ill in school, parents/guardians will be contacted by phone. It is essential that the school has your home and work telephone numbers as well as that of a responsible person chosen by you to act on your behalf in an emergency. In the event of a head injury in school, it is our policy to call the parents/guardians to inform them of the incident. However, this does not always mean that you will be expected to collect your child. It is to keep you informed that your child will be monitored throughout the day.
BIRTHDAYS
Each child’s birthday will be acknowledged in the classroom and at school assemblies. All other birthday matters are to be organised outside of school. No invitations or treats/cakes are allowed in school.
GOING HOME
Infants will depart at 1.30 p.m. Please make sure that your child is collected on time. Children quickly get anxious if they are kept waiting.
School Car Park and Playground: In the interest of health and safety, could we please ask that parents/guardians exit the school car park when children have been collected from school. This is particularly important at 1.40 pm because the yard/car park space is used for activities with children (e.g. Daily Mile and PE). If you are taking your child to the playground, please park in the playground car park near the estate.
COLLECTIONS BY ANOTHER ADULT
Please send a note through Aladdin Connect if someone other than the regular person is collecting your child.
SCHOOL BAG
- Please ensure your child has an empty pencil case in their bag on their first day of school. This pencil case will be collected and kept in school for the children to use on a daily basis. Please label the pencil case clearly.
- No toys in school please.
- Please ensure that your child does not overload the bags with unnecessary articles.