Scoil Mhuire an Druípseach

The children, staff and parents of Dripsey National School have been busy creating images of hearts for the ‘Share the Love’ Art Project. We are currently putting them together as a poster to remember our strength and solidarity at this time.

A lot of effort was put into some of these pieces of Art, so we decided to create a slideshow of the images so you can see the details clearly. Please let me know if I have left anyone out or if I have put the wrong name on any pictures (email sarah.lucey@dripseyns.ie). I know for a fact that I forgot my own so I’ll be adding that over the next few days! Once I am sure that everyone is accounted for I will create the poster. Enjoy!

The PDST Primary Health and Wellbeing Team have developed a new resource for primary schools.

‘Breathe – Self-Regulation and Relaxation Techniques for Children’ features a range of calming breathing techniques, written activities and guided visualisations that children can use to bring about a sense of peace and comfort in any situation. The resource is suitable for children of all ages and class levels.

This may be of benefit to the children during these difficult times. If you are interested, the resources can be found by visiting the following link:

https://www.pdst.ie/primary/healthwellbeing/relaxationandself-regulationtools

Overview

As for all schools in the country, Dripsey NS is obliged to follow the steps set out below.

Parents, pupils and staff have 2 weeks to review this draft policy and submit comments or suggested amendments via email to principal@dripseyns.ie

The Board of Management will consider these comments and suggested amendments with a view towards approving the policy for sending to the school’s Patron: The Bishop of Cloyne. All submissions made by 6PM on April 23rd will be considered by the Board.

 

This Admissions policy will replace our current Enrolment policy.

 

Introduction to the process

Certain sections of the Education (Admissions to Schools)  Act 2018, relating to the school admission process, commenced on February 1st 2020. The key dates for the preparation and publication of an Admissions policy are set out in the new requirements that apply to admission from September 2021 onwards.

Preparation of a draft admission policy

Section 62(1) of the act require Boards of Management to prepare a draft admission policy following consultation with the Patron, parents of students attending the school and staff.

Catholic schools have to use the template provided by the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) to prepare a draft admission policy, and, no later than April 30th 2020 submit the draft to the patron for approval.

 

Review of draft admission policy by Patron

The Patron must approve the draft admission policy or approve the draft admission policy subject to modifications.

Where the draft policy is approved subject to modification, the Board of Management will have two weeks within which to make the specified modifications and return to the patron for Patron approval.

The admission policy must be approved by the Patron by 15th September 2020.

 

Publication of admissions policy

Boards of Management are required to publish the school’s admissions policy on the school website on or after 1st September 2020 and, on written request, make copies available to parents, the Minister for Education of the public.

 

DRAFT Admission Policy of Dripsey NS

The day has come for us to release our Songs!!! Due to Covid-19, the school is now closed and children are busy learning online at home. Today was meant to be a special day for Rang 6 but as their Confirmation was cancelled, we felt this would cheer them up.

Thanks again to Garry McCarthy from GMCBeats Workshops who facilitated the rap, songwriting and recording workshops through the Creative Schools initiative.

We are very lucky in Dripsey NS: Our Parents’ Association are always there to support us. They held a fundraiser and raised some funds to assist us in creating a ‘School Garden’. The children have been busy putting plans together on what we could do- upgrading our sensory garden, creating a Fairy Village, building raised beds for growing crops, planting wild-flower gardens to attract the bees and we’re looking into possibly harvesting water. The Creative ideas are flowing and the motivation is there. This won’t be completed in one year but we can add to it each year which will be very rewarding.

Some students from DEPA (Dripsey Environmental Protection Agency) attended the launch of the ‘Cork School Garden Project’ in Griffins Garden Centre to get some ideas. It was a wonderful morning where they got to meet the Lord Mayor of Cork City and the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork County. They got taught how to plant peas and were delighted to learn an awful lot about Bees from our local Beekeepers. They got to chat with children from last year’s winning school. Finally, Muintir na Tire treated them to something tasty in the restaurant. It was another great day!

Garry from GMC Beats arrived in February to complete a series of workshops with children from 1^st class to 6^th class. The children adored working with Garry. He engaged with them in a brilliant way. You could see their confidence grow during each lesson and their talent shine through. They have created three songs which will be launched before the end of the school year… Watch this space!

Some children from Dripsey National School entered the ‘Texaco Art Competition’. Here’s a few examples of the pieces that were sent off. We do have some gifted Artists in the school.

 

Our Annual Book Fair took place at the end of February. As always the children were so excited to attend. There’s nothing like opening the crisp pages of a new book. It is such a delight to see them all so invested in reading in the age where books have to compete with technology. The week ended with a World Book Day- Dress up as your favourite character event. There were some amazing costumes. The Book Fair could not have taken place without the help of the parents who volunteered. Thank you to all involved.