Dear Parents & Guardians,

We are approaching mid-term and I wish to thank you for your cooperation and support.   Classes have settled back extremely well and it has been brilliant to watch our new Junior Infants adjust to life in such a busy school. The children appear very happy and have experienced many learning experiences since 31st August.  Long may it continue…  

Halloween Costumes: Children may wear Halloween costumes or their school tracksuit  to school on Friday, October 22nd. They may also bring a treat to school with their lunches. 

Mid-Term: School will close tomorrow for our mid-term holidays at the normal times. School will re-open on Monday, November 1st.  The present  arrangements for morning drop-off and afternoon collection will continue after the mid-term break.

Christmas Cards: Shortly after the mid-term break, your child will bring home a sample card displaying their own artwork on the cover. The sample card is free. We will give you the option to purchase packs of your child’s cards in time for this Christmas.  We would really appreciate your support for this venture.  

Junior Infant Enrolments 2022: The Application Process and Admission’s Notice for Junior Infants 2022 has been published on our school website.  

Reminder to Label: Please label all your child’s clothing and belongings.  Quite a number of uniform items have been handed into the school already this year.  Unfortunately, the clothing items have no name labels attached.  

Attendance Policy:   The school is legally obligated to report to the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) any child who misses more than 20 days in the school year.  Please remember to explain all absences in writing (Aladdin App and/or by emailing the class teacher) and to also complete the Back to School Declaration Form (Aladdin App or  School Website).

We expect quite a few children to reach twenty days this year.  Many children will be marked absent due to illness or Covid-19 restrictions.  Please do not worry if you receive messages in relation to pupil absences.   You are taking the correct action in keeping your child at home when they are ill or when they are associated with a suspected Covid-19 case.  I cannot thank you enough for your cooperation in this matter so far this year.   You are helping to  keep everyone safe by your actions.

HSE Advice if your child has Covid 19 symptoms

Please click here to view  HSE advice if your child displays Covid 19 symptoms.

Isolation Quick Guide (updated 29th September)

Please click here to view the HSE advice in relation to self-isolation and restricted movement

Parent / Teacher Meetings: Parent / Teacher Meetings will take place this year during the week starting 22nd November.  The meetings will be held via a phone call or Google Meet.  Your child’s teacher will circulate further information in relation to the meeting after the mid-term break.

Primary Language Curriculum – Teacher Inservice: The next  Primary Language Curriculum inservice workshop for teachers  will take place on  Monday, 13th December 2021.  As a result, the school will close early on that day.  The staggered times are as follows:

• 11:50am closing for Juniors, 1st, 3rd and 5th Classes. Noon closing for Seniors, 2nd, 4th & 6th Classes. 

Christmas Shoebox Appeal: The Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal is back! Children from all over Ireland are invited to send carefully selected Christmas gifts to children affected by poverty across Africa and Eastern Europe. If you would like to take part, please complete the following steps by clicking on this link:

When you have completed your shoebox, please include your 4 euro donation in an envelope, print off and attach your box label and drop off your Christmas Shoebox to your child’s classroom.  Closing date for receipt of boxes is Monday the 8th of November. Let’s spread the Christmas cheer!  

“Shakin’ with Shakespeare”: “Shakin’ with Shakespeare” club is back up and running, with pupils from 5th and 6th classes, and Orla Murray at the helm!  The pupils are currently reading and dramatising scenes from “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare.  In January, the group will be open once again to new members and will start reading other plays of the famous Bard.

Parents’ Council: The Parents’ Council AGM will take place in the school on Wednesday, 10th November 2021 at 8pm.  All parents are invited to this meeting.  If you do wish to attend the AGM please let us know via  parentscouncil@milfordns.ie by Wednesday, 10th November 3pm so that we can prepare an appropriate space in the school  for the meeting.  The Parents’ Council members are always happy to meet new parents who would like to help out at school events.

If you would like to nominate a candidate to a position on the Council (Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer) please consult with the person first.  Nominations should be submitted by Wednesday 10th November 3pm via the dedicated Parent’s Council email address (parentscouncil@milfordns.ie).

Anti-Bullying Policy: A review of our school Anti-Bullying Policy is currently being undertaken by our staff and pupils.  If you would like to help with the review process, as part of a parents’ focus group, please let us know via office@milfordns.ie by Wednesday, 3rd November.

Clothes for Cash Collection: Many thanks to the Parents’ Council Chairperson, Ms Jean Flannery, and Deputy Principal, John Nelligan, who organised the recent  clothes-for-cash collection on October 1st.  We are pleased to report that the initiative raised €360. A big thank you to everyone who donated bags of clothes – your generosity is very much appreciated.

Environmental: Our Wildlife expert, Geoff Hunt has been in residence for 5 days this term and has explored the themes of “Trees, Leaves, Seeds and Insects”. The pupils have had great experiences exploring the habitats of our surrounding environment.  Geoff will return in the spring and summer terms.

Fancy Dress Run: Bests of luck to the pupils in 4th, 5th and 6th Class who will take part in the inaugural Milford NS Halloween Run.  The event takes place at lunchtime on Friday (tomorrow).  Many thanks to Ms. O’Sullivan and Mr. Gallagher for coordinating the activity and also to the staff members who have brought the children running at lunchtime since September.

College Placements: During this term, we have been very pleased to welcome college students Róisín Coleman, Katie O’Dwyer, Rachel Hinchy and Emma Newe.  Róisin and Katie are completing their college placement whilst Rachel and Emma are completing their final teaching practice.

New Staff: A warm welcome also to Mr. Kieran Daly has joined our teaching staff .  Mr Daly  is working in the  SEN teaching department.  

Warning regarding jelly sweets containing cannabis (THC)

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is urging parents and guardians to be extremely vigilant to the dangers of their children getting access to and eating confectionery, particularly jelly sweets, containing significant amounts of the psychoactive cannabis component called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This warning comes amid the ongoing seizures of these illegal food products by the Gardaí and Customs services, and a number of serious medical incidents whereby these THC-containing jelly sweets resulted in teenagers and young children suffering serious adverse health effects requiring hospitalisation. These jelly sweets are packaged to look like popular brands of jellies and have been found to contain toxic amounts of THC (up to 50mg/jelly).  Depending on the concentration of THC, eating one of these jellies can  mean an equivalent intake of THC that is 5-10 times higher than that inhaled from a single cannabis cigarette. Also, unlike the almost immediate effects of inhaling THC (smoking or vaping), ingesting THC through these jellies can take up to 30 minutes for any effects to be felt. However, while waiting for those effects, those who have eaten these products may overdose in the mistaken belief that they need to eat more sweets in order to feel the effects. Of particular concern to the FSAI is the inadvertent consumption of these jelly sweets by small children who may somehow gain access to what looks and possibly tastes like ordinary sweets. Unfortunately, given access to a bag of these jellies, children will rarely eat just one and therefore, overdosing is a very likely outcome as witnessed by the hospitalisation of a number of seriously ill young children in the early part of 2021.

The FSAI has become aware of reports about the availability of THC-containing jelly sweets in schools in Ireland and therefore, parents and guardians are asked to speak with their teenagers alerting them to the dangers if they eat them or if their younger siblings get access to them and subsequently suffer the serious consequences of consuming a toxic substance.

Wishing you and your family a lovely mid-term break.  

Le gach dea-ghuí

Diarmaid Moore

Principal