Scoil Mhuire na Dea Chomhairle Phone 061 367289

Kilkishen Email:kilkishennationalschool@gmail.com
Co. Clare Website: kilkishen.weebly.com
Roll Number: 13870E Twitter: @kilkishenns

September 2023 Newsletter

Dear Parents/Guardians,

It has been a great first two weeks back at school and I would like to congratulate all classes for making
such a positive start to this school year. Pupils are asked to remember 3 important rules everyday: 1. Show
Respect 2. Do Your Best and 3. Complete Homework. Pupils that manage to keep these three important
rules are in the running for special principal awards each week.

Our new Junior Infant pupils Ava O’Grady, MacDara MacDonnacha, Zara Murphy, Nessa Gleeson, Nathan
Gleeson, Tommy Duggan, Emily Duggan, Lily Murphy, Senan Donovan, Ava Donnellan, Zaylee Salmon-
Kelly, Tom Cahill, Lucas Herrod, and Annie Cleary have made a great start to school life. Cara Malone,
Love Dahlberg and Sai Sanvai Dalta have also settled very well into life at Kilkishen N.S. We also welcome
Stefaniia Kodaq, 5th class, who started with us on September 4. We hope Stefaniia will be very happy here at
Kilkishen N.S.

I would like to bring the following announcements to your attention:

Students Council 2023-24

 Students Council: Our newly elected Students Council held their first meeting on Monday the 11th
of September. This year's elected Students Council includes: Cillian Cleary and Leah Roberts (6th
Class), Lauren McInerney and Erin Kennedy (5th Class), Cian Donovan and Eoin McNamara (4th
Class), Mia McMahon and Ryland McMahon (3rd Class), Dara O’Grady and Isabella Calil Covuia
(2nd Class) and Alex McMahon (Ms. McNamara’s Realta Reatha Class). The Students Council have
discussed a number of ideas they wish to work on this year. They will meet each month and work
with the management of the school for the benefit of everyone at Kilkishen N.S. The Students
Council will work to give the student body a ‘voice’, to support students, to plan special events or
programmes, to improve the quality of experience for all children in the school, to develop
leadership skills in the students, and to positively influence decisions made in the school. Best of
luck to all involved.
 East Clare Primary Schools Cross Country Running: This event takes place on Thursday
September 28 at Lee’s Road starting at 10:30am. There will be u/8, u/10 and o/10 categories for
boys and girls. School may have teams of 6 with 4 runners to count in the team event. Trials to select
our Cross-Country teams will take place on Thursday September 21 at Kilkishen G.A.A. grounds.
Details to follow next week.
 Confirmation 2024: Confirmation for pupils in 6th class takes place on Saturday April 20 2024 at
3pm at O’Callaghan’s Mills church and will be celebrated by Bishop Fintan Monaghan. Bernie
Torpey, parish sacramental advisor, will be working with pupils and parents this year in preparation
for making this sacrament.
 First Holy Communion 2024: Pupils in 2nd classes will make their First Holy Communion on
Saturday May 4 at 11 am at Kilkishen Church. Bernie Torpey, parish sacramental advisor, will also
be working with pupils and parents this year in preparation for making this sacrament.
 Hurling and Camogie Continues Every Friday: All classes from Junior Infants to 6th Class
continue working on fundamental movement and developing the basic hurling and camogie skills
each Friday. The boys and girls are making great progress and demonstrating great skills each week.
Pupils are required to wear school tracksuit, and have hurling gear every Friday. The Cumann na
mBunscol Autumn Equipment order forms will be available shortly. Pupils that require GAA gear
can purchase equipment at greatly reduced rates. Details to follow next week.
 Cumann na mBunscol Boys and Girls Football Competitions: Kilkishen N.S. will compete in
Division 2 of both the boys and girls competitions this year. Games will be 13 a-side and we
encourage all pupils from 5th and 6th classes to participate and have fun. The boys team are grouped
with Knockanean, Tulla, Lissycasey, and Kilrush. The girls will take on Clonlara, Cratloe and
Stonehall/Ballycar. Details of when the matches take place will be announced shortly. Pupils must
wear gum shields in order to play. Best of luck to both teams taking part.
  Mobile Phones: Kilkishen N.S. has a strictly no mobile phones permitted at school policy. It is a
matter for all parents to decide on allowing your child access to mobile phones and social media apps
outside of school. Pupils are reminded that Class group chats and online social media groups are
not permitted. Pupils have been reminded to remove themselves from any groups that they may be
part of. Schools working together with parents must cooperate to ensure the safety of all pupils.
Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.
 School Communication: All school communication will take place via the Aladdin Schools App. If
any parent has any difficulty accessing this app, please contact the office and we will assist you and
rectify any issues. Monthly newsletters will keep you informed on the latest new and upcoming
events taking place at Kilkishen N.S. Important notices will also be communicated via the messaging
service on Aladdin School App when the need arises.
 School Insurance/Online Subscriptions/Art and Photocopying Fees: A reminder that €40 per
pupil and a maximum €100 per family can be paid using the Aladdin epayment facility.
Alternatively, fees can be paid to the office. If anyone has any difficulty in paying this fee, please
contact me in strict confidence at principalkilkishenns@gmail.com and arrangements can be put in
place. Thank you to all that have paid. Fees can be paid online until 30 September.
 New Primary Mathematics Curriculum: The Minister for Education has launched the New
Primary Mathematics Curriculum which will be implemented in all primary schools from
September 2024. Please see attached to this newsletter an information document from the Dept. of
Education about the new mathematics curriculum.
 Parents Association Committee: Elections will be held shortly to nominate a Junior Infants parent
onto the PAC and replace any current member that has completed their 2 year term. Details to
follow.
 Procedure for Collecting Children Early from School:
Email your child’s teacher and school email kilkishennationalschool@gmail.com detailing the
date, time, adult that will collect your child and reason for collecting early from school.
Pupils can be collected from the school office at the main entrance of the school when the designated
adult has arrived for collection.

I have attached a school calendar for 2023-24 for your convenience detailing any school closures in the
coming year.

Yours sincerely,

Conor Harrison
Principal Kilkishen N.S.
 Kilkishen N.S. Calendar 2023-2024
2023-24 M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
August

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
September

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
October

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
November

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
December

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
January

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
February

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
March

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
April

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
May

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
June

School Reopens/Ends for Pupils School Holidays Bank Holidays Weekends Staff Return on Tuesday August 29