Tutor News – 02/11/20 – Week 9

November 4, 2020

TUTOR NEWS – Monday, 2nd November 2020 (Week 9)

Note:
Tutor News will be emailed to all students, parents and teachers. Teachers will read out Tutor News at 11.55am on a Monday (Tuesday for a bank holiday weekend) to their 1st Year classes only. Class Tutors will sign journals during their class time.

Thought of the Week – “Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” — John Wooden

GENERAL – Please read out to ALL students

 Welcome back to school after Midterm. It is going to be a busy few weeks in the run up to Christmas. Please continue to wear your mask and to be socially distanced, so that we do everything we can to keep our loved ones healthy.

 Students are reminded that the students MUST wear masks on the school bus and at all times when indoors in school.

 As per App messages recently, the school has updated its Covid Response Plan in order to plan for the safe opening of Practical and Specialist Classrooms this week. Students will be issued with new timetables showing new room allocations during the week. A one way system will be in operation and students will be asked to use their “pod” classroom and area during break time and lunch times.

 3rd and 6th Years will have a virtual Parent Teacher meeting on Thursday. Zoom invitations will issue later. On that date, detailed learning reports will be available for your child also.

 Well done to students for receiving Don Bosco Commendations before Midterm break. This commendation is given to recognise a special effort made.

 Visitors to the school during the day should be by prior arrangement with the Principal through the school office. Parents / Guardians, contractors and visitors should enter only by the main door at Reception. Sign in and temperature checks are required for all visitors. The side door is not for use EXCEPT BY STUDENTS.

 Well done to the 6th Year Spanish class, whose project ‘4 ways to change’, was awarded the European Language Label award, 1 of only 4 schools in the country to receive this distinction! Enhorabuena estudiantes!

 Ms. Keane and Ms. Hogan will visit all classes this morning to give information on and distribute nomination forms for Student Council. This school year will operate on a ‘class rep’ basis where we hope to have one representative from each base class in each year on the council. Interested students are asked to return their completed forms to their SPHE teacher by the end of this week.

Wellbeing News

• Welcome back to everyone after what we hope was a relaxing midterm.
• Please remember to follow all health and safety protocols in the school. Your effort is greatly appreciated in these difficult times.
• This week the wellbeing team will circulate an online survey for all first year students. The reason for this survey is to give us more insight into what areas of well-being we should focus on. More details on this will follow during the week.
• As you settle back into school this week, please be aware that we are now in the month of November. The month of the Holy souls and remembering those who have gone before us. The November Altar has been set up apposite Karen’s office. Unfortunately this year, its not possible to visit without your religion teacher. All classes will visit the Altar during the month. Please bring your own pen if you would like to write the names of people in the remembrance book. Your loved ones will be prayed for during November. I have also prepared some prayers for you, please take a copy of these prayers with you if you like.

1st Years

With the restrictions that are upon us, unfortunately we are not able to run Parent Teacher meetings in the traditional way at present. With regret, these scheduled meetings are therefore cancelled (6th Year on 22nd October, 3rd Year on 3rd November and 1st Year on 12th November). However, it is important that we make alternative arrangements for the exchange of information between teacher and parent / guardian, so that we can continue to work together for your child. Accordingly, I will host a Zoom meeting for the parents / guardians of 6th Year, 3rd Year and 1st Year on the following dates:

Exam classes, 3rd and 6th Year: 5th November
1st Years: 19th November

I will send you a Zoom invitation nearer the time. This brief meeting will give you the opportunity to hear important notices and news from school and to ask questions relevant to your child’s year group. On the same evening, I will publish an in-depth Learning Report for your child. You will be able to see this on VSWare. Each teacher will provide you with detailed information about his / her subject, the progress your child or young adult is making and advice to support learning. You will also be given an email address for each teacher, so that you can respond, if you wish, to what you read.

3rd Years

With the restrictions that are upon us, unfortunately we are not able to run Parent Teacher meetings in the traditional way at present. With regret, these scheduled meetings are therefore cancelled (6th Year on 22nd October, 3rd Year on 3rd November and 1st Year on 12th November). However, it is important that we make alternative arrangements for the exchange of information between teacher and parent / guardian, so that we can continue to work together for your child. Accordingly, I will host a Zoom meeting for the parents / guardians of 6th Year, 3rd Year and 1st Year on the following dates:

Exam classes, 3rd and 6th Year: 5th November
1st Years: 19th November

I will send you a Zoom invitation nearer the time. This brief meeting will give you the opportunity to hear important notices and news from school and to ask questions relevant to your child’s year group. On the same evening, I will publish an in-depth Learning Report for your child. You will be able to see this on VSWare. Each teacher will provide you with detailed information about his / her subject, the progress your child or young adult is making and advice to support learning. You will also be given an email address for each teacher, so that you can respond, if you wish, to what you read.

Transition Year

Welcome back to all TY students after work experience and midterm. I want to commend you for the way you conducted yourself on work experience.
This week I would like you to reflect on your experience and fill in the work experience report in your journal.

Monday and Tuesday
First aid course for Bosco, school uniform or school tracksuit is the only acceptable clothing. Exam will be Wednesday.

Thursday
Soar workshop, details to follow.

6th Years

Well done to the 6th Year Spanish class, whose project ‘4 ways to change’, was awarded the European Language Label award, 1 of only 4 schools in the country to receive this distinction! Enhorabuena estudiantes!

With the restrictions that are upon us, unfortunately we are not able to run Parent Teacher meetings in the traditional way at present. With regret, these scheduled meetings are therefore cancelled (6th Year on 22nd October, 3rd Year on 3rd November and 1st Year on 12th November). However, it is important that we make alternative arrangements for the exchange of information between teacher and parent / guardian, so that we can continue to work together for your child. Accordingly, I will host a Zoom meeting for the parents / guardians of 6th Year, 3rd Year and 1st Year on the following dates:

Exam classes, 3rd and 6th Year: 5th November
1st Years: 19th November

I will send you a Zoom invitation nearer the time. This brief meeting will give you the opportunity to hear important notices and news from school and to ask questions relevant to your child’s year group. On the same evening, I will publish an in-depth Learning Report for your child. You will be able to see this on VSWare. Each teacher will provide you with detailed information about his / her subject, the progress your child or young adult is making and advice to support learning. You will also be given an email address for each teacher, so that you can respond, if you wish, to what you read.