PJP School News
Back to School Newsletter
Welcome Back!
We would like to extend a huge welcome back to all of our pupils and a very special fáilte to all the new pupils at PJPs.
We also welcome our new teachers Mr. O'Brien, Ms Huldberg, Ms. Carr, Mr. McCarthy, Ms. Hoy and Ms. McCann. We are delighted to welcome back Ms. O'Donnellan from her career break.
We wish all of the new pupils and staff members the very best of luck with your journey at
PJPs!
PJP Exciting Projects
We are looking forward to a great year with lots of learning, fun and exciting projects!
Last year we started to develop our school library and we hope to extend that this year. A sincere thanks to Ms. Garland for all of her hard work on this project. We hope to continue to develop our school garden. Thanks to Ms. Magner, Jane and Ms. Byrne for their knowledge and green fingers. Gregor has worked hard at keeping our plants thriving over the summer and we are excited to
see what is coming next for the PJP garden.
Ms Hayden will continue to work with all of the different classes this year and will be focusing on
developing STEM within our school.
Ms. Crowley and Mr. Leahy will be working with class teachers as well as individual students
on different well-being initiatives!
Our Footprints programme which supports students who have been through bereavement or
separation will be running again this year - please contact Ms. Markey directly if you think your
child might benefit from this.
We will continue to develop our schools Green Flag and Amber student committees this year
as well as continuing our student council. There will be updates on this at our student School
Assemblies over the next two weeks
Contacting the school
As per our school policy, we ask that parents /guardians should arrange to meet their child's class teacher as the first port of call. Parents and guardians who wish to meet or talk to the teacher to discuss their child’s progress on additional occasions should write a written request or email to the teacher to arrange this. They can contact the teacher through the Teacher’s PJP email address, Seesaw, Aladdin Connect or through the School Office. Teachers are unable to enter into consultation with parents/guardians during formal teaching time.
We understand that parents and guardians may contact teachers at a time that is convenient to them outside of the school day. Please be advised that teachers will not respond immediately to emails sent out of school hours and that teachers will not send emails during pupil contact time. This may mean that there will be a delay in a teacher replying to emails. Please do not be concerned if you do not hear back from your child's teacher for a few days.
If a parent/ guardian has further concerns he/she should arrange to speak to the principal who will endeavour to assist in resolving any school-related problems a pupil may have.
Our school secretary Ashleen is always happy to take a call. The contact number for the school office is 01 8450736. Mary Magner is our part time secretary and she works two days a week also.
Ashleen is always happy to help out parents, staff and students.
Mary works with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Our school office is located through the main doors (staff carpark).
Teacher Emails
Parents Association Update
The Parents Association are recruiting!
The PA are looking forward to another year of fun events and celebrations in the new school term. To run these events successfully we need the help of you the parents. We are reaching out to all parents to ask if they can help. If anyone is interested in joining the PA please drop us an email.
The Parents Association will hold their first in-person AGM over the next few weeks and we
will share the date with you all once it has been finalised. We would encourage everyone to
attend.
Feet First Friday will return this Friday the 8th of September.
School Policies
Our school policies are available on the website https://www.pjp.ie/policies/
Some important things to remember at the start of the school year:
School Uniform:
The school uniform consists of:
Girls: Tartan skirt, blue blouse, wine socks, wine crew neck jumper with crest and black shoes/black runners. Grey slacks may be worn.
Boys: Grey trousers, blue shirt, wine crew neck jumper with crest and black shoes/black runners
The school uniform should be worn when representing the school at inter-school events as well as formal school occasions such as the Sacraments of First Penance and Confirmation and at the Ceremony of Light.
The P.E. Uniform consists of school tracksuit top, polo shirt, tracksuit bottoms or shorts.
These can be worn in any combination throughout the year.
Children can choose whether to wear the P.E. Uniform or the School Uniform.
Mobile Phones / Tablets/ Smart Watches:
The use of mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, wearable technology or similar devices
by children who attend the school is not allowed while the children are in the care of the
school staff, while at school, on trips from the school or involved in extra-curricular activities.
Children who need to contact home during school hours should ask their teacher to use
Aladdin to send a message to their parent/ guardian or arrange for a call to be made by the
school secretary.
Parents are reminded that in cases of emergency, the school Office remains the first point
of contact and can ensure that your child is reached quickly, and a message passed onto
them.
As a general rule, pupils are discouraged from bringing mobile phones or other smart devices
to school. However, the Board of Management of the school recognises that parents may
wish or need to have mobile contact with their children before/after school hours. It is
therefore not practical to totally ban mobile phones and smart devices from school
premises.
If, at the request of their parents, a pupil brings a mobile phone or smart device to
school, it must be switched off and remain in their schoolbag for the duration of
the school day.
Pupils are forbidden to switch their phone or smart device back on until they leave
the school grounds after school. This includes any after-school activities/clubs on
the school premises.
The school accepts no responsibility for pupils who lose or have their devices stolen on the
way to or from school or for replacing lost, stolen or damaged devices while in the care of
the school.
PJPs One Way Voluntary Driving System/Parking and Road Safety
PLEASE DO:
• Walk, scoot or cycle to school if you are fortunate enough to live nearby
• SLOW DOWN and be EXTRA VIGILANT as children cross the road
• Follow the PJP “Voluntary” One Way System during school drop off times (see map below).
PLEASE DO NOT:
• Park or drive into the Cul-de-Sac at Inbhir Ide Drive – it’s dangerous when the pupils are
entering/exiting the gate.
• Park where there are double yellow lines or “No Parking” cones
• Block anyone’s driveway – this is also a residential area!
• Park on bends/corners
• Do U-Turns in front of the school at Inbhir Ide Drive during school drop off/pick up times
We really need the cooperation of parents with us – Thank you!