26th, August 2026

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome back. We hope everyone had an enjoyable summer. A special welcome to our new Junior Infants. We wish them happiness in their time in Rathfeigh. From Monday August 31st Junior Infants will go home at 1.40pm.

Department of Education Primary School Book Scheme
I would like to thank Jennifer for all her hard work organising the Book Rental Scheme Books this year. It was a huge undertaking for which we thank her. Please ensure the children take good are of the books as some of them will be used again next year. The introduction of the Government Free Book Scheme has greatly reduced the financial burden on families as we start a new school year and particularly for those families who have more than one child in the school.

The children will receive their copies/folders/homework journals over the next few days. The copies and folders are covered under the Primary Book Scheme. We will collect money for the homework journals (1st to 6th) from next week.

Important Dates

Please put the following dates in your diary:

Parent/Teacher Meetings:
November 26th and 27th

Confirmation:
February 24th

First Communion:
May 8th

Standardised Tests:
May 25th, 26th & 27h

School Tours:
June 18th

6th Class Graduation:
June 23rd

As Standardised tests are being administered on May 25th, 26th & 27th we ask parents/guardians not to book holidays for these dates as we will not be in a position to administer these tests in June.

School Calendar
Please see attached the school calendar. The school will be closed for a few in-service days for teachers in Navan Education Centre this school year. We will let parents/guardians know these dates as soon as we get them.

Parental Permission Form/Contact Form
We ask parents/guardians for their permission for their children to participate in certain activities. Please read the Parental Permission Form and tick the relevant boxes and return
the forms in an envelope by Friday 4th September.

Please complete the Contact Form and return it to the office in an envelope by September 4th. Your child will be given both these forms this week.

Administration of Medicines
All families who have children with medical issues (nut allergies, asthma etc) must return the Administration of Medicines forms by September 4th in an envelope. This form must be returned regardless of whether the form was filled out last year. This form will be given out this week.

Swimming
The children in 3rd-6th class will be going swimming in Navan Swimming Pool for six weeks starting on September 16th. They will be travelling by bus – leaving the school @ 9.15am (approx.) and returning to the school at 11.30 (approx.). We will advise parents/guardians of the cost including bus next week.

Statement of Strategy for School Attendance
All class teachers take the attendance roll daily at 10am on the Aladdin computer system. Children who arrive to school after 10am are marked absent. When a child is absent the parent/guardian must inform the class teacher by means of notification which can be done via Aladdin App now. The class teacher will contact the parent/guardian if an Absence Note has not been provided for the absence. Parents/guardians must also provide a note if a child departs early during the school day, which can also be done via Aladdin. Parents/guardians must sign the “Sign in/Sign out” book at reception if their child arrives late to school or leaves early.

Is Mise,
Seamus Tansley