Many thanks to those parents who have reported suspicious activity on our campus on Friday and today. Unfortunately, we have had staff members intimidated and threatened on their way out of the campus by these individuals. Please be assured that no-one has been physically harmed, no-one other than our own community has attempted to gain entry to the school and no child has been targeted. Naturally, the Gardai have been informed and are monitoring the situation. We have also asked our security company to increase vigilance.
For your safety and that of others:
- keep your children close to you
- stay vigilant
- lock car doors once you get in
- report suspicious activity to Gardai immediately
Making up for time lost during Storm Emma
The Board of Management considered measures required to make up for curriculum time lost when the school was closed for 4 days due to Storm Emma. The Board considered a variety of measures, including those suggested by school staff, and took into consideration a letter from the Student Council suggesting measures to pull back curriculum time. The following measures have been decided on:
- One day saved by staff undertaking Child Protection training during the school closures. This meant that two scheduled half-day closures later in the term could be cancelled.
- While most other schools close for half days at the end of each of the three school terms, Citywest ETNS does not. This gives us 1.5 days of learning that others cannot avail of.
- Whole-school assemblies will take place fortnightly rather than weekly for the rest of this school year.
- On the last day of the school year, curricular learning WILL take place. This is traditionally more of a party day but this year we will be teaching lessons on this day.
- First yard break will be shortened by 5 minutes for the months of May and June. So the children will spend 15 minutes on yard each morning, followed by the usual 20 minutes later in the day.
Second-level school coming to Citywest
We were delighted to read the announcement on Friday that the Department of Education will open a second-level school in Citywest in 2020. Massive thanks to the dedicated group of parents who have been working tirelessly for over a decade for Educate Together schools in this area. They have put in tremendous work and, on behalf of the current and future families of the area, I thank them. Their legacy to the children of Citywest will be long and strong!
While it is fantastic to know that there will be second-level provision for this area, the work is far from over. Next is the decision on the patronage for the school - will it be a faith-based school, an equality-based school or something else? I know that a lot of families would love for their child(ren) to continue their education under the ethos of Educate Together. If that is important to you, please consider becoming active in the 2nd-level campaign group. Unlike in previous years, joining the second-level group at this stage comes with a time limit. The group will not be needed forever. There is no more than one year's work left. All help will be welcome, whether its in the form of skills, passion or time.
School Calendar for 2018/19
The Board of Management have ratified the school calendar for the coming school year.
Please find the calendar attached. School will reopen on Thursday 30th August 2018. We will take a full week's mid-term in February next year rather than in May.
School closure for Referendum
We have been notified that our school is to be used as a polling station on Friday 25th May 2018. Therefore, we are not permitted to open the school on that day. The school will be closed and no activities will take place in the building that day other than voting.
On our website
- Autism Awareness Month
- Healthy living - Parkrun
- Play rota in Senior Infants