Amber Flag Initiative

 Introduction to our Amber Flag Project

We are very excited to announce that here at SS Peter and Paul JNS we are embarking on a new adventure. Following on from the success of the  Active School Flag Initiative, we are now taking on the challenge of obtaining an Amber Flag.

The Pieta Amber Flag Initiative recognises the individual efforts of primary and secondary schools, youth reach, third level institutions, community groups, clubs and companies to create healthy, inclusive environments that support mental well-being. (Pieta) For more information on the fantastic work Pieta are involved in, visit; www.pieta.ie

Last year, the Department of Education and Skills and the Health Service Executive jointly launched Well-Being in Primary Schools- Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion.These guidelines aim to promote mental health and well-being in primary schools.

It is recognised in these guidelines that positive mental health and well-being enables young people to lead fulfilling lives. Home and family are recognised as the primary source of nurturing and support for children. However, mental health and well-being are recognised as everyone’s concern and involves the whole school community, parents/guardians and others involved in day to day school life. Positive mental health for children is part of their overall health and is inextricably linked with well-being.

In order to promote positive mental health and well-being at SS Peter and Paul J.N.S., we have decided to take part in the Amber Flag Initiative. This involves the whole school community coming together in order to create a safe, positive and healthy attitude towards our general physical and mental health and well-being. We have some great ideas on how to do this:

• Student Council-click here to see this year's representatives
• Well being policy for school 
• Rainbow Dress Up Day
• Wellness Wall & Eco Garden
• Wellness Week
• Create an Amber Flag notice board in the hall with a positive ‘thought for the week’
• Holistic activities undertaken through the SPHE and PE strands of the curriculum
• Team building activities
• Student Shout Outs on the Classroom Doors

In order to undertake all these activities we have formed an Amber Flag Committee. This committee is led by staff and student council representatives coordinating this new initiative.

We would really welcome any ideas and suggestions you may have which could be incorporated into the activities already listed. Likewise, if any parent is willing to share their skills and talents with us in terms of gardening, creative art, music, meditation, mindfulness, fitness, healthy eating, etc. please email the school. We acknowledge and appreciate the knowledge and skills you all have which may help us create a positive mental health and well-being environment here at SS Peter and Paul JNS.

Our first activity is to host a fundraising event for Pieta. 

Therefore we have decided to host a 

RAINBOW DAY

where all the students & staff will wear their brightest colours to school on FRIDAY 9TH OCTOBER and donate €2 to Pieta.

So lets pull out those bright multicoloured clothes and be as colourful and decorative as possible and donate €2 to this very worthy cause. 

There will be a bucket in each classroom for the children to pop their coins into. 

We can't wait to see everyone dressed up and lift everyone's mood this Autumn. 

European School Sports Day-Friday 25th September

European School Sports Day (ESSD) sees schools across Europe take one day to celebrate sport and physical activity on Friday 25th September. (Active Flag)

We here at SS Peter and Paul JNS only love to get up and move about as we know being active makes us healthier and improves our learning in the classroom.

 Being an Active School means we have lots of sports initiatives up and running such as The Daily Mile, 10 @ 10 and Cosmic Yoga, to name but a few. Take a look at some of the activities we engaged in on European School Sports Day. 

THE DAILY MILE

10 @ 10

   

Cosmic Yoga

Our School Garden

Now that we are well and truly into the Autumn season, its time to harvest our plants that were planted before lock down. We grew some delicious carrots and tomatoes. Pshemeck had been looking after them whilst we were off and now the children have been giving them an extra water since returning to school.

They also have been watering our fabulous window boxes that look so bright and cheerful around the school. 

We are now going to get our garden ready to plant our spring bulbs, we have got daffodil, tulip and crocus bulbs. We can't wait to watch them grow over the winter months. 

Healthy Eating Guidelines

 

NUT FREE SCHOOL

Please remember that SS Peter and Paul JNS is a NUT FREE school therefore no items of food that contain nuts should be brought into school. Please check any food packaging that you send in with your child. We encourage a healthy lunch that contains fresh food with limited packaging. Please read our Healthy Eating Guidelines (see below) on suggestions for lunch ideas and also make note of prohibited foods that are not allowed in school. Thanking you in advance for your cooperation on this matter.

Healthy Eating Guidelines

 Parents/Guardians are encouraged to provide children with a healthy lunch, which helps to maintain their level of concentration in the classroom throughout the day.

A healthy lunchbox should include a variety of the following foods:

·         Fruit and Vegetables-e.g. carrot/celery sticks, cucumber slices, sugar snap/mange tout peas, sweetcorn, broccoli florets, finely sliced peppers, cherry tomatoes (halved), pears, bananas, oranges, apples, melon slices, grapes (cut in half as they are a serious choking hazard)

·         Bread and Cereals (preferably wholemeal) - e.g. sandwiches/rolls/pitta bread/ crackers/rice cakes/bagels

·         Salad – e.g. pasta salad, vegetable salad, egg salad/mayonnaise

·         Milk and Cheese –e.g.  cheese triangles, cheese cubes

·         Meat, Chicken, Turkey, Fish and Alternatives – e.g. humus, chicken/turkey/ham/tuna sandwiches. Encourage your child to eat a variety of these sandwich fillings

·         Water

Prohibited Foods

In order to encourage healthy, balanced eating habits among children in school the following foods are prohibited:

·         Crisps, sweets, lollipops, biscuits and chocolate bars

·         Spreads-Nutella, jam, honey, peanut butter

·         Fizzy drinks & Fruit Juice *

·         Cakes, croissants & buns

·         Nuts-We are a “nut free” school.

·         Cereal bars

·         High cholesterol/high fatty foods e.g., sausage rolls/breakfast rolls

·         Popcorn **

·         Yoghurt Products **

·         Raisins **

*Fruit Juice- Research has shown that fruit juices are a contributing factor to tooth erosion in young children. Almost half of Irish five-year-olds suffer from tooth erosion, which if left unchecked can lead to the chipping and eventual wearing away of the teeth. Children who consume fruit juices once a day are over three times more likely to suffer erosion, than children who do not.

**Although these items are healthy options, we at SS Peter & Paul JNS discourage them as most seems to end up on our school carpets and are difficult to remove.

On special occasions such as an end of term party, teachers may, at their discretion. give sugary items to their own class. Where possible though healthy alternatives are encouraged.

We would encourage all children to bring home any food wrappers they have left over from their lunch therefore reducing the school’s waste intake.

Junior Infant Day

Parents of Junior Infants, please remember your child's arrival time from Monday 14th September is;

9.15-9.25am. 

Please enter via the Infant entry ONLY and drop your child at the designated drop off points. No parent is allowed into the school building. We also ask that you exit the yard as soon as possible afterwards.

Collection time from next Monday will be 12.30pm again via the Infant Entry Gate only. Again please exit as soon as possible to clear the area for the senior classes yard time. 

Masks are to be worn whilst on the school premises. Thank you.

WELCOME BACK

 Welcome back

A big welcome back to all our families after what has been a very strange summer. We are so delighted to see all our friends back again and to welcome some new ones in Junior Infants. It was an absolute delight to see on the first day of school all the happy smiling faces as we start a new school year.

 

We’ve worked really hard to make sure the return to school is as stress-free as possible for all of our pupils. Your children are likely to see a few changes in the way the school works but, in general, their days should feel very familiar. 

You should have received information about the reopening of our school at the end of August via Aladdin Connect. If you did not receive this information please contact the office immediately office@sspeterandpauljns.ie to sign up to Aladdin Connect. Most of our correspondence will be through Aladdin so it is imperative that you are connected.

You can read the Return to School Plan document HERE

We have staggered arrival times and home times to ensure social distancing and we ask all parents/guardians to please wear a mask when dropping off or collecting your child. 

Arrival Times:

9:00am – 9:10am Senior Infants and 1st class 9:15am – 9:25am Junior Infants and 2nd class

Home Times

o Junior infants will finish at: 1:40pm

 o Senior infants will finish at: 1:25pm

 o 1st classes will finish at 2.25pm 

o 2nd classes will finish at 2.40pm

Junior Infants will begin school at 9.30am on Monday 31st August and will finish at 11.30am for the first two weeks.

From Monday 14th - Friday 18th Junior Infants will begin school at 9.15am and finish at 12.30pm. 

Then finally from Monday 21st they will attend school for the full infant day from 9.15am-1.40pm. 

You can keep up to date on all the events that occur in our school through the school website or alternatively follow us on Twitter @PeterandPaulJNS