29th May 2020,

Dear Parents/Guardians,
I write in the anticipation that you are all in good health. There is no doubt the current spell of sunshine lends itself to heading outdoors for fresh air. I’d encourage you to avail of this pleasant weather and head for a walk in the morning or evening. It can do wonders for the mind!
A huge thank you for collecting your child’s textbooks last week. With your help and co-operation, the process ran very smoothly. I hope that having access to your child’s textbooks might be of some help to you.
As we look forward to June, we remember that it is normally a month where academic work is completed, and children enjoy sports days, school tours, trips to the park, amongst other events. With that in mind, teachers will continue to engage with pupils via Seesaw during the month of June, with an emphasis on more fun-based activities. We are delighted to see pictures of the different activities your children are engaged with, so please keep sending any photos into your child’s
teacher.
We particularly feel for our 6th class girls and our 1st class boys at the moment. We will mark their time in Scoil Mhuire as best we can for now; and we will afford the opportunity for a more appropriate send-off when it is permissible to do so.
The past few weeks have been challenging for pupils, parents and teachers alike. I wish to place on record my gratitude to the entire staff at Scoil Mhuire for all their work in supporting the children. I would most sincerely like to thank you, as parents for how you have responded. You have been magnificent during this COVID – 19 closure. Please be kind to yourselves in the weeks ahead. Relax and enjoy the June Bank holiday weekend.

Stay safe and healthy.

Yours sincerely,
Brendan Naughton
Principal.

Please read carefully and find the allotted time for collecting your child’s books.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Times for collection of text books

Times for collection of text books – Ms. O’Keeffe’s class (1)

Thinking of the girls of 2nd class who were due to make their Frist Holy Communion Today. We are thinking of you all and looking forward to the day when we can celebrate together.

A message of thanks, from the boys and girls of Scoil Mhuire.

4th May 2020,

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I write to you all in the anticipation and hope that you remain healthy and well.
By now, you will have heard the announcement by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, that schools will not reopen until the autumn. Whilst this news is disappointing, we know that the HSE and the Department of Education & Skills are taking this decision to ensure we win our battle against Covid – 19.

I would like to reassure you all that our staff continue to work very hard behind the scenes here at Scoil Mhuire to support your children. We are holding regular middle management and teacher cluster meetings via Google Hangouts and Zoom. Teachers are linking in with students via Seesaw, Google Hangouts, email and by posting out work. Our team of learning support teachers are also linking in with families directly.

I am very thankful to my staff for all their hard work during this time.

I wish to re-emphasise to you that the completion of any work is entirely optional. It does not need to be fully or even partially completed. Your children are learning through playing games, baking, planting seeds, reading books and helping out around the house. Any activity assigned by teachers or suggested on our school Facebook page, may help provide some structure to a child’s day and keep them thinking. Please, enjoy the time you are spending with your children and do not place added pressure on yourselves.

When children return to school in the autumn, teachers will help them settle back to classroom routine. No child will fall behind or have to repeat a class because of this school closure.

We are conscious that some families would like to receive their child’s text books. When staff are allowed to enter school, there will be a plan in place to allow parents/guardians collect books in a safe manner. We will keep you updated on this.

Please continue to look after your mental and physical health during the Covid – 19 restrictions. Get plenty of exercise in the fresh air and adequate rest.

We at Scoil Mhuire will continue to support you in the weeks ahead. Please keep in touch with the school and drop us an email at: info@scoilmhuiretullamore.ie

Take care of yourselves, stay safe and continue to follow HSE guidelines.

Le gach deá ghuí,

Brendan Naughton
Principal

27.03.20

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope you and your families are all well. These are difficult days and I know that life is stressful for everyone at the moment. Many of you are trying to work from home or may have financial or health worries, whilst trying to look after your children at this time.

As you will be aware, the Department of Education has announced that all schools will remain closed until 20^th April 2020.

The teachers prepared learning activities and recommended websites for the children to help keep them occupied for the initial 2-week closure up until today.  We hope you found these suggestions helpful, for those of you who had an opportunity to look at them.

Now that this closure will be extended until after Easter, teachers will be keeping in touch with their classes via SEESAW, for parents who wish to sign up. If you are having difficulty signing up please let us know via the email address below and we will assist you. Teachers will recommend activities on SEESAW which children may engage with if they wish.  We will also post up ideas for activities on our school Facebook page.

Please do not place yourself under any additional pressure by feeling you have to teach your children or complete learning activities on top of everything else that is going on at the moment.  It is vital that you look after your well-being and minimise stress at a time like this. Many parents and children are not getting to do “school work” and that is okay. Activities such as making Lego, reading, cooking, playing board games and getting exercise are all learning experiences.  Your child’s wellbeing is far more important than academic work, particularly during this difficult time.

When school reopens, teachers will help each child settle back into school routines.  No child will be “left behind” as a result of these closures.

The most important thing you can do right now is look after your own mental health and well-being, and that of your child. Remember, children are resilient and there will be many more learning opportunities for them in school in the years ahead.

Please stay well. If you wish, you may contact the school via email: info@scoilmhuiretullamore.ie

Assuring you of the support of the entire staff at Scoil Mhuire,

B.Naughton

Principal

The girls of 6th class were delighted to present the money raised from our last cake sale to Barnardos. A fantastic organisation that plays a significant role in the lives of so many children and families in Tullamore and throughout the country. A huge thank you to Ms Mahon and Ms Fahy for organising the cake sale.

Paraic Creedon from The Explorers Education Programme came to chat with the children of 1st class today.  He brought some native fish found in the sea around Ireland for the students to take care of for the next 4 weeks. Pádraig supplied the students with a fish tank, 2 anemones, a blenny, goby,  prawn, cushion star, juvenile mullet and a hermit crab. There are already a number of budding marine biologists in both classes judging from the excellent observations!

Christmas is a distant memory and we are all settled back into the routine of school life. But before we lament those holidays- here is a look back on all the fantastic activities that took place here in Scoil Mhuire since last September.

The Green Team got straight back to work putting up the bird feeders and organising the food appeal before Christmas.

We had Maths Week, Science Week, Football matches, Witch Walk, Hurling Skills, Lanello, Christmas Concerts, Daltaí performances, computer coding, trips to the library, lots of amazing art and even talent shows. If this is what we can fit into the first term – imagine what we can can do this term!

Music: https://www.bensound.com

Last training session for the Scoil Mhuire girls before their football final against Gael Scoil an Eiscir Riada, Tullamore in O’Connor Park at 11.15am this Wednesday. Come & show the girls your support. They have worked so hard to get to this point and deserve all the encouragement!