July 2022 Posting for Parents/Guardians of Incoming 1st year students

1st Jul 2022

RE: Incoming 1^st year students 2022/2023

1st July 2022

Dear Parents/Guardians & Incoming 1^st year students,

We look forward to welcoming your son/daughter to St. Farnan’s Post Primary School in August 2022. We are prioritizing our incoming 1^st year students and will spend 3 days at the start of the new term running our induction programme with our 120 new students whereby they will get to know their tutors and Year Head, all our staff, our school procedures, the school building and each other. We will also be facilitating a fun workshop with the TeamWorks Company on Monday 29^th August which I’m sure our new students will enjoy and get to know each other in their tutor classes.

After a very busy final term including the completion of the Leaving Cert, Junior Cycle and internal school examinations, the lovely TY & 6^th year graduation ceremonies, many fun-filled school tours and days full of participation and achievement, it is now time to communicate our plans for the 2022-23 school year. The State Examinations have run smoothly and I would like to complement our Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate students on their excellent work ethic and appropriate behaviour during the examinations.

Please remember to pass on your current mobile number to Jenna in the front office and another emergency mobile number if possible, as use of SMS messaging is necessary for communication with you. Parents and guardians will be able to access their child’s profile on VSware, our School’s Management Information System whereby you will be able to see your child’s attendance, punctuality, all school reports and behaviour issues going forward

The following information will help with your planning for your son’s/daughter’s start to second level school this August.

School books for each student are partly funded by parents/guardians and the remainder is funded by the grant that we receive from the Department of Education’s Book Rental Scheme which is successfully run by Ms Pamela Bracken. Each student will receive their books and also a locker and combination lock which will be handed out to students during their initial days in school. All students will be helped organise their locker and new combination lock by Mr Cleary.

The Annual Student Contribution payments includes payments for all school books, our administration fee, 24 hour- full year student insurance, student lockers & lock hire and includes our student journal also and is significantly less than many other local schools. We are very thankful that parents/guardians consistently fund these amounts in full through our Way2Pay on-line payment system. Please click on the following link (type in the following link into a browser) and set yourself up in this system https://www.stfarnans.ie/news/new-online-payment-system/

I would like to thank the Department of Education through their Book Rental Scheme for allowing us to keep the cost of school book purchases to a minimum for all families. Payments can also be made in instalments through this system. Contribution for a 1^st year student is €200. There are concessions for twins etc. Please email Jenna if you have any particular query at info@stfarnans.ie

Other information below will be available from the main page of our school website

School Calendar for 2022 – 2023 school year is included on a separate sheet. Start-up week:

Thursday 25^th August & Friday 26^th August: 1^st year students ONLY 9am – 12.40pm
Monday 29^th August: 1^st years all day Team Works workshops
Tuesday 30^th No school for 1^st years
Wednesday 31^st No school for 1^st years
All students in timetabled classes from 8.50am Thursday 1^st September

Uniform Information can be access by clicking on the School Uniform Supplier link on our school website.

https://www.stfarnans.ie/news/school-uniform-supplier/?p=1&

Please ensure that all students return in August with all necessary items of uniform in place and with appropriate hair styles and piercings that are in line with our latest school policies.

One ring on each hand and one small earring on each ear are permitted.
No nose, lip or other piercing is allowed.
Unusual coloured hair is not acceptable.
Excessive ‘Make up’ will not be acceptable and students will be asked to remove it.
Black shoes/black casual shoe-runner type shoes must be worn with uniform.
PE uniform with runners must be worn on PE day only (unless otherwise specified; school tours etc.)
School Jacket/School Fleece must be worn to school please. A rainproof jacket can be brought and used when waiting for bus but must not be worn in school. Can be stored in locker or bag.

Every student and parent/guardian must sign the appropriate space near the front of the school journal to confirm their commitment to the school code of behaviour, uniform, School Counselling notes and other school policies and procedures during the first week that the student’s receive their journal. This will be checked by each student’s tutor during the first week back in school.

Please find the Timetable structure for each school day for 2022 – 2023 (new for this year) and our School Calendar. Any further changes will be notified by text message to parents/guardians throughout the year.
1^st year Options have already be supplied but anyone who is seeking a change, please email alittle@stfarnans.ie when the school opens on Wednesday 24^th August and we will try our best to facilitate subject changes but cannot guarantee that a request to change options can be facilitated. Late applicants will need to contact the school regarding options subjects.

The school office remains open to the public from 10.00am to 3.00pm until Friday 8^th July and will reopen on Monday 15^th August. Again, any urgent queries should be emailed to info@stfarnans.ie and we will prioritize your query.

Wishing you all an enjoyable summer and looking forward to greeting all 1^st year students on Thursday 25^th August.

Andrew Purcell

Principal