Scoil Ghormáin Naofa, Castletown

Great news for parents of children in junior and senior infants next year! With the addition of two new classrooms over the summer/early September, we will be in a position to offer an after school club for junior and senior infants from 1.40-2.40. This will be run by Kate Rolland, a fellow parent and qualified primary school teacher.
This is ideal for parents who have to pick up again at 2.40 or for those who work and would like their child to get the bus home.
For more information, please contact Kate at the number on the flyer attached.
Please note that the room may not be ready for September as it is dependent on the new classrooms being ready. We will keep you posted on this.

From the 2023-2024 academic year, the government will provide grants for schools to source school books and stationery for each pupil. Parents are no longer required to provide same. However, it may be beneficial to have a set of stationery at home for school projects/homework. Children are permitted to bring their preferred stationery to school if they wish. They should bring their schoolbag and lunchbox daily.

A huge well done to Anna who won a medal for football over the weekend having participated with her club, Courtown Hibs in a blitz. Well done to coach Sharon and all the team.

Bain triail as!

We really won the jackpot with our Parents’ Association! They do so much for us to make school the best place it can be! Last night, Laura, Fiona, Danielle and Ronnie were in until half ten putting down our new sensory corridor to be enjoyed by all pupils (and staff!!!!) Stay tuned for videos and pictures. There has been such a buzz of excitement today! Kinaesthetic learning is how some children best learn so we are delighted with this installation. Special thanks to our chairperson Laura who designed the decals and organised the whole project!

* A kinaesthetic-tactile learning style requires that you manipulate or touch material to learn

Click the links above to see our pupils learning in such a fun way!

• In science today, Ms. Penston’s class made spinners and predicted which spinners they thought would reach the ground first, they then got to test them outside on the grass! Such fun!

As part of our work on the Green Flag, we are working on Marine Life this week. We will share samples of our work. We look forward to enjoying our whole school annual walk to Clone beach as part of our marine studies!

Junior Infants are learning marine related nursery rhymes and studied the basking shark. Aren’t their pictures wonderful?

We are thrilled that the grass is cut and playing on the field and in outdoor classroom has resumed!

Ms. Russell, Fiadh, Teagan and Kaylin went on a mission to collect a haul of books from Arklow library. When there, Head librarian Kathy showed the pupils a book that had recently been returned after 46 years! The fine was due to be well over €4,000! It was waived thankfully! She also showed the girls the old rules of borrowing! The library is such a friendly place!! Kathy and team always go out of their way to help us find what we need and really help to foster a love of reading!

Information for families regarding School Transport Application Process for 2023/24 School Year

Families are asked to note that the closing date for payment/registering medical cards has been brought forward so that Bus Éireann can process applications, arrange transport and issue tickets to families as soon as possible for the 2023/24 school year.

1.    New Applicants – Apply By 28^TH APRIL 2023

The Bus Éireann family portal is now open for new applications for school transport services for the 2023/24 school year. New applications are considered as:

·         pupils who will be attending junior infants in primary school or first year in post primary school for the first time in 2023.

·         pupils that may move home address or will be attending a new school in the 2023/24 school year

Applications can be made by visiting www.buseireann.ie/schooltransport

The closing date for new applications is Friday 28 April 2023. Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications and families are not guaranteed a ticket. 

2.    All Applicants- payment/enter medical card details – closing date 9 June 2023

The Bus Éireann family portal will be open to accept payments/medical card details from the 3April 2023 until the 9 June 2023.  Payments made after the deadline date will be deemed late and families are not guaranteed a Ticket.

Payments/medical card details must be submitted for:

·         new applicants, and;

·         pupils who have previously applied/availed of school transport and require a seat on a service for the 23/24 school year.

Children (who are eligible for school transport) and who possess valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge however, their medical card details must be submitted to Bus Éireann.  Bus Éireann will accept medical card details from 3 April 2023 until 9 June 2023.  Medical card details received after 9 of June deadline are considered late. 

Families are strongly urged to make sure that they pay/enter valid medical card details on or before the deadline of 9 of June 2023.

The Annual Charge for School Transport Services for the 2023/24 school year is set out below:

3.    Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for School Transport for the 2023/24 school year is as follows:

·         Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post-primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post-primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.

·         Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.

·         Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.

·         Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

·         In addition, temporary alleviation measures will continue for the 2023/24 school year, pending completion of the school transport scheme review. This means that transport will be provided where such services are in operation for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who apply and pay on time.

4.    Pupils from Ukraine

Pupils from Ukraine who require school transport should not apply on the Bus Éireann family portal but should visit gov.ie/ukraine for details on how to apply. Please note that any pupils from Ukraine who are currently on school transport do not need to re-apply for the 2023/24 school year unless they have changed address or school.