Headlice: A normal but unpleasant fact of school life! Please check Drimoleague Pharmacy for helpful information. Remember: Check regularly, and if you find them, treat EVERYONE in the house, even Mum and Dad!
Handwriting:
Having neat, legible handwriting is very important for successfully completing home and schoolwork! We don't want it to take forever or stress the child out, though! If your child is having difficulties with their handwriting, here is a website with printables and activities that can be tried at home, which might help! If there are more serious issues which mean handwriting remains a worry as they approach secondary school, please come and chat with us! |
SCHOOL UNIFORM
Just a reminder about uniform. Boys wear a dark grey school trousers, red polo shirt or school shirt and a navy sweatshirt or jumper. Girls may choose to wear a dark grey skirt, pinafore or trousers, red polo shirt or school shirt and a navy cardigan, sweatshirt or jumper. Tights/leggings should be plain grey/navy All of the above are available in many shops in the uniform section. There should be no logos/designs on the jumpers or sweatshirts. Hoodies or fleeces may not be worn in class but may of course be worn going out at break-time for warmth. Thank you very much for your cooperation |
Maths Help: Tips to make sure we are all "singing from the same hymn sheet", and using the same ways of working with maths, both in school and at home:
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New pamphlet from the INTO to help parents and their children: It is also available in Irish, Spanish and French here
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Homework
Homework is an important part of your child's school experience. It is an important link between home and school. By sitting for a while with your child, listening to their reading, discussing maths problems, helping them with research for a project, and so on, you will know what they are learning in school, and how they are doing. It is an important way for teachers and parents to keep in touch.
The purpose of homework is to help the pupil revise work done in school, and to practice the skills learned.
The National Parents Council says:
Your child gets homework to:
1. Practice and reinforce work already done in class
2. Test your child’s understanding of work covered or competence in skills
3. Provide an opportunity for the child to work independently and develop self
discipline
4. Provide an opportunity for your child to use non-school resources (parents,
library, environment, media and internet)
5. Provide a means by which you, as parents, can see the sort of work which your
child is doing in school, and this in turn will enable you to assess their progress
6. Engage you as partners in your child’s education in an active way and so become
involved in your child’s learning.
While we do give homework and believe it to be very important, we also feel it should not take all night, so we try not to give too much! The place where homework is done is important, there should be as few distractions as possible. A warm, comfortable spot, remove distractions like mobile phones, turn off the TV. Set a time limit, e.g. 20-30 mins, and if homework goes over this, take a break. The following is a guideline to how long it should take (of quality, concentrated time, not interrupted by TV, etc.)
Junior/Senior infants: 20 mins max. There will be 1 page of "written" work, such as some colouring, letter or number practice, and some reading work, e.g- a word game.
First/Second class: 20-30 minutes
Third/Fourth class: 30-40 minutes
Fifth/Sixth class: 40-60 minutes
Normally we do not give homework at weekends
Here are some websites which may be helpful:
The National Parents Council
SchoolDays
Rollercoaster
The purpose of homework is to help the pupil revise work done in school, and to practice the skills learned.
The National Parents Council says:
Your child gets homework to:
1. Practice and reinforce work already done in class
2. Test your child’s understanding of work covered or competence in skills
3. Provide an opportunity for the child to work independently and develop self
discipline
4. Provide an opportunity for your child to use non-school resources (parents,
library, environment, media and internet)
5. Provide a means by which you, as parents, can see the sort of work which your
child is doing in school, and this in turn will enable you to assess their progress
6. Engage you as partners in your child’s education in an active way and so become
involved in your child’s learning.
While we do give homework and believe it to be very important, we also feel it should not take all night, so we try not to give too much! The place where homework is done is important, there should be as few distractions as possible. A warm, comfortable spot, remove distractions like mobile phones, turn off the TV. Set a time limit, e.g. 20-30 mins, and if homework goes over this, take a break. The following is a guideline to how long it should take (of quality, concentrated time, not interrupted by TV, etc.)
Junior/Senior infants: 20 mins max. There will be 1 page of "written" work, such as some colouring, letter or number practice, and some reading work, e.g- a word game.
First/Second class: 20-30 minutes
Third/Fourth class: 30-40 minutes
Fifth/Sixth class: 40-60 minutes
Normally we do not give homework at weekends
Here are some websites which may be helpful:
The National Parents Council
SchoolDays
Rollercoaster
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We are Actively participating in the Active Schools Flag.
Below are links to active activities for your family including local clubs: (If we have left some out, let us know and we'll add them) Clann na nGael (The Scorchers), Drimoleague GAA Drinagh Rangers Soccer Club Dunmanway Rugby Club Dunmanway Swimming Pool Warrior Tae Kwondo (Classes in Drimoleague, Drinagh, Dunmanway) Drimoleague Walks Skibbereen Athletics Club Doheny Athletics Club (Dunmanway) Skibbereen Rowing Club Other: Get Ireland Active Website Days Out in Cork |
INTERNET SAFETY
Children love computers, playing computer games, watching videos, sending messages and hopefully also for learning. Make sure they are safe online by checking out these tips
There is also information on specific internet issues HERE.
Webwise have a new resource to help: Play and Learn: Being Online: Intended for 4- to 8-year-olds, this book gives a glimpse of the impact of modern technology on everyday life, through 30 pages of fun and games. Above all it offers an opportunity for parents and teachers to sit together with their children and discuss these important issues. It will download automatically if you click on the green link above.
Children love computers, playing computer games, watching videos, sending messages and hopefully also for learning. Make sure they are safe online by checking out these tips
There is also information on specific internet issues HERE.
Webwise have a new resource to help: Play and Learn: Being Online: Intended for 4- to 8-year-olds, this book gives a glimpse of the impact of modern technology on everyday life, through 30 pages of fun and games. Above all it offers an opportunity for parents and teachers to sit together with their children and discuss these important issues. It will download automatically if you click on the green link above.