Category : Primary
Roisin’s junior infant class had so much fun in Aistear this month. During the month of October, our theme for Aistear was focused around Halloween. In our make-believe area, we created potions . We planned what gruesome items we were putting into the potions first and then became witches and wizards to create the spell. In the other groups we did some art to improve our fine motor skills, we constructed spooky haunted houses and we played a Halloween game to teach us how to take turns and follow rules. Here are some pictures to show what we did! Look at the spooky pumpkin that we carved. See our sensory sand pit hiding gruesome eyeballs, mini pumpkins, body parts, snakes, spiders and more! We played at spooky spell school for young witches and wizards and learned lots of new spells.
We painted some witches legs and had an end of term Halloween party with other classes in the school. Everyone wore their halloween costumes in…we had three spidermen in our class!
Category : Primary , School Events
Roisin’s junior infant class enjoy Aistear every week. Some of the other classes joined in too 🙂
In September, the theme for Aistear was the Doctors Office and The Hospital. The Doctor was very busy helping patients with sore tummy, broken arms, chicken pox, vomiting bugs and flu! We enjoyed being doctors, nurses and patients in our role play area. We made our own clinic which had a reception, a waiting room and the doctors office. In role play, our patients made appointments to see the doctor or nurse by calling our secretary. We learned the names and signs of the instruments the doctor uses. We also learned about nurses, paramedics, first Aid, clinics and hospitals.
We read x-rays and gave injections. We have also learned how to use a stethoscope, a thermometer, to check someone’s reflex and how to write prescriptions.
We also set up a pharmacy where our sick patients can go to fill their prescriptions. Here are some pictures of the children hard at work!
Category : All , Boarding , Early Intervention , Further Education , Post Primary , Primary , Principal's News , School Events
Dear Parents/guardians
We would like to update you on our digital progress under the Grant Scheme for EU NRRP funding to Schools at Risk of Educational disadvantage. Circular letter 0060/2021
In 2021 our school received €8000 as part of this scheme. This funding was used to support Holy Family’s core project, within our overarching digital strategy. As you are aware we began this project in 2020 with the assistance of funding from the Dublin Lions so we could support our pupils through the covid pandemic.
The goal of the project was to ensure that every pupil in the second level section of the school and senior pupils (5th/6th class) in the primary section had access to a personal digital device i.e. a Google Chromebook. This would ensure full participation in Google Classroom for all, both in school and outside school for homework tasks or for access to teaching and learning should the school be forced to close. The wellbeing of our Deaf students is at the heart of this project. We know that they are at risk of disengagement from learning and social isolation when at home for long periods.
In addition, all pupils would have shared access to digital learning devices such as iPads and digital cameras. Deaf students are visual learners, so each class teacher was to be provided with a visualizer. Visualizers provide Deaf students with equal access to text-based learning. EU funding was also used to purchase one additional interactive presentation device- a Clever Touch Screen. Combing these technologies allows our Deaf students to engage in whole school activities such as Kahoot quizzes, digital storytelling, and other activities.
The project was led by our in-school digital team. The Chromebooks were made available to parent/guardians for purchase or rental. Families who could not afford the rental were fully supported under the EU NRRP grant. Access to other digital technologies were made available to all class teachers through a booking scheme. Teacher training was initially provided for free by the companies who provided the technology. Additional training was provided by the in school digital team and peer learning over the course of one full school year after school hours.
We are proud to report that EVERY pupil from the youngest in early intervention to the oldest in the post primary section benefited from the project. The project has been enormously successfully. We now consider our school to well on our journey to digital excellence!
Category : Early Intervention , Post Primary , Primary , Principal's News
Dear Parent or Guardian,
I hope you and your family are safe and well and enjoyed a lovely summer break. We look forward to welcoming your son or daughter back to school next week.
Please note the return to school dates:
Tuesday 30th August 1st Year and 6th Year post-primary pupils only
Wednesday 31st August All other pupils primary and post-primary pupils
Early Intervention: Wednesday 31st August unless a different date has been agreed with Co-ordinator Ger Lewis.
As you may have heard on the media, recruiting teachers is very challenging this school year. Holy Family shares this experience and due to retirements and teachers on leave of absence we will be starting the school year without teachers appointed especially in the post primary. Many of our substitute teachers are also not available to us. We will continue to work hard to source suitable teachers and, in the interim, put in-school measures in place for our pupils.
School Calendar 2022/23
A copy of the school calendar 2022/23 is attached.
School Resource Payments
As we must increase the cost of administration and practical subject expenses, we are not asking for Voluntary Contributions for this school year. A list of the expenses is attached.
We would appreciate full payment by the end of October 2022.
Parents and guardians have the option of spreading costs by monthly standing order over the course of the year, to cover all subjects and school activities. For parents and guardians who avail of this option, and we confirm we will not look for any additional payments this includes swimming fees for primary pupils.
School Transport
You will be contacted in late August (usually the week before the new term starts) by your child’s bus/taxi driver with details. Students who are travelling to school via public transport i.e. train or Bus Eireann intercity services will be issued with either a bus or train pass.
Please email Aideen Lynch a.lynch@holyfamilydeafschool.ie or info@holyfamilydeafschool.ie if the driver has not contacted you or you have concerns.
Please note it is parent’s responsibility to inform bus/taxi drivers of their son or daughter’s return to school date and if they are not availing of the service on any particular day due to illness, appointments etc.
A Safe Return
Arrival to School
Pupils travelling on school transport should remain in the car/bus until the school doors are open at 8.50 am (post Primary) and 9.00am (Primary and Early Intervention)
School Uniform
Students should attend in the required school uniform every day unless otherwise directed.
School Lunches
Students should bring a healthy lunch to school. Parents and Guardians of Boarding pupils should ensure they bring a lunch to school every Monday.
School Attendance
As a parent, you must let the school know if your child is absent and the reason why. It is school policy that reasons must be given in writing. Parents/Guardians can use the school diary which has dedicated pages for your notes. The school will notify the National Educational Welfare Board if a child is absent without reason for 20 days or more or where the absence gives rise to concern.
If your child is sick or is absent for other good reasons, no action will be taken by the NEWB. However, if there is concern about your child’s attendance at school or about the reasons given, you may be visited by an Educational Welfare Officer who will discuss your child’s education with you. The Officer will work with you and take full account of the circumstances of the child and the family before deciding what further action is necessary to ensure that the child receives his/her entitlement to an education.
Further information concerning the new service and about school attendance matters generally can be obtained from the national Lo-Call Education Helpline (Telephone 1890 36 36 66) which is staffed by an Educational Welfare Officer.
Audiology
Audiology support will continue to be provided to all students following all necessary safety measures. Please ensure that your son/daughter arrives at school with working hearing aid/cochlear implant and other assistive technology (FM system) if applicable. Students should have spare hearing aid/cochlear implant batteries and be encouraged to change these themselves where possible. As always assistance will be provided to students when required. Spare batteries are available in school as usual at a cost of 50 cent per battery.
Mobile Phones:
The use of mobile phones is not permitted during the school day. For security, phones should be switched off and stored in the students’ locker or the school office before 9am. If pupils need to make a call during the school day, they can do so from the school office.
Well-being & Counselling
The wellbeing of all our pupils is central to our mission. If you have any concerns or need additional support, please contact Ms O’Rourke, principal or Eugene Doyle Deputy Principal.
Class teachers and SNAs
I would like to thank teachers Ms Katrina Connolly, Mrs Mary Ohle and SNA Kathleen McDonagh for their many years of dedicated service and wish them every happiness in their retirement. Four new teacher appointments for Primary and one for Post Primary are currently pending.
I wish to thank you for entrusting Holy Family with the education of your son/daughter, as we continuing to work with you throughout their time with us in Holy Family.
An ISL translation of this letter will be available on our website shortly.
Enjoy the last few days of the school holidays.
Regards,
Eimear
Category : Early Intervention , Post Primary , Primary , Principal's News , School Events
Please click on this link to read more about Active School Flag = https://holyfamilydeafschool.ie/active-school-flag/
Below are photos of active activities in Holy Family Primary School.
Category : Boarding , Early Intervention , Further Education , Post Primary , Primary , Principal's News , School Events
The Holy Family School for the Deaf are hosting a fundraising Golf Classic event on Friday 22nd April 2022
in St Margaret’s Golf & Country Club, Co Dublin. All funds raised via this event will go towards a new 18
seater bus for Holy Family School for the Deaf. It is very important that the Holy Family Deaf School can
fully engage with learning in external environments. A new bus can be used to bring our students on
educational field trips for example a trip to the Print Museum, National Art Gallery, Kildare National Studs,
Titanic in Belfast and so much more.
We would truly appreciate if your company/organisation would consider being involved in our event.
Please fill in the form and email your form details to g.mccormack@holyfamilydeafschool.ie. If you need any further information please text Geoffrey at 0861788701.
Category : Boarding , Early Intervention , Further Education , Post Primary , Primary , Principal's News , School Events
The HSE continue to rollout the COVID-19 vaccination programme and with over 90% of those aged 12 years and above fully vaccinated. For anyone aged 12 and over who hasn’t had their COVID-19 vaccine yet; dose 1 or 2 they can register on https://vaccine.hse.ie/ for an appointment in a HSE clinic. People can also talk to their GP or local pharmacy about getting their COVID-19 vaccine. Booster clinics are also open for eligible people aged 16 years and older. Visit www.hse.ie for more information.
COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommends parents and guardians consider vaccinating their 5 to 11-year-old children. COVID-19 vaccine is particularly recommended if children:
· Have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19
· live with a younger child or adult who is at risk of severe illness if they get COVID-19 e.g. another child with complex medical needs, or an immunocompromised adult The vaccine that will be offered to children aged 5 to 11 years is Comirnaty® Children’s formulation.
Children in this age group will be given a smaller dose of the vaccine than adults.
Parents and guardians can register their child for their vaccine online at https://vaccine.hse.ie/.
As part of this stage of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, information for people considering vaccinating their children including information about the benefits and risk of vaccination and information about how to get vaccinated is available on https://bit.ly/HSEC19511
A cartoon strip has also been developed to help children understand what will happen when they go to a HSE clinic to get their COVID-19 vaccine https://bit.ly/C19Cartoon511
Getting COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines NIAC advises that children aged 5 to 11 years wait at least 2 weeks between getting a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, like the flu vaccine or 4 in 1 and MMR vaccines. Children aged 2 to 17 years can get the free nasal flu vaccine through participating GPs and pharmacies until the end of this month. Information about the flu vaccination programme is available on the HSE website at www.hse.ie/flu. A list of pharmacies giving flu vaccines is also available on https://bit.ly/PhFluFinder Children in Junior Infants may also be due their 4 in 1 and MMR vaccine, school teams will work with your school to ensure where possible the vaccination programme continues and children whose parents have consented for them to receive 4in1 and MMR vaccine can do so.
Consent Only parent(s) and legal guardian(s) are entitled to provide consent for vaccination for students under 16 years of age. A video covering information about consent is available from our office YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/vE1X5AcwNgE
Further information on COVID-19 vaccines we recommend visiting the HSE website www.hse.ie/COVID19Vaccine.
Eimear O’Rourke M.Ed
Principal
