Autumn Newsletter

St Joseph’s N.S.

Newsletter

St Joseph’s N.S. Parent’s Association.

 

October  2017

Welcome to all parents and girls at the start of this new school year, extending this to a massive welcome to all the parents of our new Junior Infants. The Parents Association is a group of volunteer parents getting together to work with, and support, our principal, Cait Ui Raghallaigh, and the Board of Management in fundraising to maintain and improve our school.  A successful year was had Sept 2016 / June 2017 under this committee which was set up for a 2- year reign. The school obtained a grant to purchase new iPads.  There was a shortfall of  €2,300 where the PA stepped in and fundraised for.   Also, thanks to the PA’s fundraising new ‘Playground markings/games’ were painted on our tarmac, brightening up the schools surrounding as well as entertaining the girls. The Officers Roles of this Committee remain in place for the year of Sept 2017 / June 2018,  but new committee members always invited and welcomed on board.

Further Information and photographs for these and more can be found on the school’s new website http://www.stjosephsskibbereen.ie . Please Sign Up for email alerts. Alternatively, you can also be a friend of our “St Joseph’s Girls Parents Assoc, Skibbereen” on Facebook.

Officer Roles :

Chairperson: Julie Fitzgerald (4th Class)   

 Vice Chairperson: Karen Geaney (6th Class)

Secretary: Finuala Collins (Senior Infants)  

Vice Secretary: Eugenia Humston (Juniors / 2nd)

Treasurer: Alison O Neill (Senior Infants) .

 Vice Treasurer: Kerry Mc Carthy (2nd/ 4th /6th)

PRO: Clare Gallagher (6th Class)                 

 Vice PRO: Marge Doolan (Senior Infants)

Committee Members: Finuala Mc Carthy (1st/ 3rd), Lucy Mullins Senior), Marie Tobin (Juniors / 4th), Ber Hegarty (Juniors, 4th  / 5th), Maura O Donovan (2nd), Ann O Donovan (2nd)

New Committee Members Are Always Welcome. 

Dates For Your Diary

Clothes Collection – Monday 25th September

Halloween Disco  –   Tuesday 31st October  –  Skibbereen GAA Hall  3.30p.m. -6.00p.m.

Cake Sale   –    November (date to be confirmed)

Winter Warmers – Tickets will be for Sale early November and will be sent home with the girls.  The raffle will take place on Wednesday 6th  December  @  1.30pm

School Closed   – Thursday 7th  (In service day)  & Friday 8th December 2017

Christmas Carol Service  –  Thursday 14th Dec 2017  @ 6.30 pm in the Cathedral

Parent Teacher Meetings –   – Thursday 8th Feb 2018

Midterm  –  Thursday 15th & Friday 16th Feb 2018

Welcome Morning  –  Tuesday 20th Feb 2018

POP UP Morning in Abbeystrewery   –  24th Feb 2018

Confirmation Date :   11th April 2018

1st Holy Communion   –   12th May 2018

Non Uniform Dates :   

 

Fri 29th Sept – No Theme   € 2

Fri 27th Oct   –  Halloween Theme (No Charge)

Fri 24th Nov   –  No Theme   €2

December Non Uniform Day  –  To be confirmed  –  Xmas Theme (No Charge)

Fri 26th Jan 2018  –  No Theme  € 2

Friday 23rd Feb 2018  –  No Theme  €2

Fri 23rd March 2018 –  Easter Theme  ( No Charge)  

Friday 27th April  2018-  No Theme  € 2

Thursday 31st May 2018 – Summer Theme (No Charge)

 June 2018 – Holiday / Summer Theme (No Charge) Date to be confirmed

 

Reminders will be sent of these dates.

 

Healthy Eating Advice by Rachel O Regan

 

In September 2016, St Josephs’  began our journey towards becoming an active school, we hope to receive an Active School Flag towards the end of this year. Physical activity and healthy eating go hand in hand so as part of our commitment towards being an active school we would like to encourage our pupils at St Joseph’s to eat well and get physically active.

What children eat today influences how they will eat for the rest of their lives. In Ireland, 1 in 4 children ages seven is either overweight or obese. More and more research is showing that what we eat directly influences our gut health and this, in turn, supports our immune system.

 

  • Children should be involved in making healthy food choices, we can educate our children to understand the difference between junk and good food and to choose accordingly.

 

  • Getting children to eat well and make good food choices is a process. Making little changes every so often can encourage lifelong healthy eating habits.

 

  • Breakfast is a crucial part of a child’s diet, eating a balanced wholesome breakfast will get them off to a great start. Porridge or eggs allow a slow release of energy to keep children full for longer.

 

  • Variety is the spice of life! We all get stuck in a rut at times when it comes to school lunches, the traditional ham sandwich and apple is a fall back for all of us. Even small changes such as changing from white to wholemeal bread and varying a child’s portion of fruit each day can make a big difference.

 

  • Try to include a portion of vegetables in your child’s lunch box. Even a tiny piece to begin with if you don’t expect them to eat it

 

  • Beware of hidden sugars. Become familiar with food labels so that you can judge for yourself how ‘healthy’ a food item is. Anything less than 5g sugar per 100g is considered ‘low-sugar’. Be extra vigilant with yogurts and cereal bars.

 

  • Water is the best thirst quencher and so the preferred choice for school.

 

  • We do only allow treats on a Friday (and this need only be a square of chocolate as opposed to a whole bar).