As we come to the end of another school year, we would like to take this opportunity to extend a big thank you to all of our sponsors, parents and staff, who every year, support the Johnstown Parents Association (JPA). Without this support, we would not be able to run events that are such an important part of what we do each year.
Mrs Quinn and Mr Cadogan, teachers, special needs assistants, secretaries and caretakers, we hope you have a well-deserved break and thank you for assisting us through the year.
To the boys and girls who are moving on to secondary school, we wish you well in the future. To those children joining the schools in September, we look forward to meeting you and your parents in the new school year, and hopefully, some of the new parents will join us on the Johnstown Parents’ Association!
We will be having our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 24th September and we have lined up an excellent guest speaker. So put the date into your diaries. We hope you all have a great summer and we look forward to seeing you all in September.
Young girl sitting at home on a settee and using a child’s tablet touch screen computer
School is officially out for summer in just a few days! Here’s hoping that long sunny days lie ahead. No matter what you can be sure that technology will play a part in everyone’s summer. So, here are some tips for what you can do to ensure that your child stays safe over the summer holidays, while they are spending some time online.
Here at Zeeko we regularly say that communication is key! There genuinely is no substitute for face to face open communication with your child when it comes to many elements of parenting but none more so than internet safety. It is a good idea to have a conversation as early as possible in the summer holidays with your child about you and your child’s expectations about the use of technology. Children can assume that now that they are finished school, that they can spend their increased free time online. This expectation will not always be matched by their parent! Negotiation will be central to what is agreed between you and your child about how the use of technology will be managed over the summer months. The following areas may be of help to you in supporting your child to stay safe online and achieving that all elusive balance.
Screentime: Remind your child of the importance of having a balance when it comes to the amount of time that they are spending online. At Zeeko we have pioneered the 5:1 Rule when it comes to screentime. This essentially means that for every hour that is spent on screens this should be balanced with 5 hours of ‘real world’ activities, preferably activities that involve some physical exercise. Also, it’s important that your child, switches off any screen at least an hour before bedtime. The blue light omitted by screens can affect the levels of melatonin in the brain which can affect things like concentration the following day. The temptation is always there, particularly during the holidays, to spend an increased amount of time on screens.
The Stop Block Tell Rule: It can be genuinely distressing for young children in particular, to encounter something age inappropriate or witness others being treated badly when they are online. Talk to your child about the importance of using the Stop, Block, Tell Rule if they do encounter something that upsets them. Stop what they are doing, block the person and/or conversation that has upset them, and finally tell a trusted adult what they have experienced. Talking about what has upset them will definitely make it less frightening. Let your child know that it is ok for them to talk about what they are experiencing when they are online. Having regular open conversations as a family about the internet is a great foundation for your child to learn that the digital world can be a great experience, but that they need to remember to stay safe.
Online Etiquette: Often the excitement of messaging, gaming, video and photo sharing can lead to children of a range of ages, not being as cautious as they would usually be when they are offline. Talk with your child about the importance of treating people the same when they are online as they would when they are not. Also remind them of the T-Shirt Rule, which is a great way of reinforcing the fact that what is shared online cannot be easily deleted or removed – don’t post anything that you wouldn’t be happy to wear on the front of a t-shirt! This certainly makes children and adults think twice about what they post online.
As we know from our work with primary and secondary schools throughout the year, the internet is a fantastic resource, but children do need support and guidance to learn how to safely navigate the online world, regardless of the time of year! Our team at Zeeko wish you all a fun filled and safe summer both on and offline!
Well done to all the children who took part in the Easter Competition and thank you to the parents who supported it. We raised €548 and this will go towards activities for the children throughout the year. We have included some examples of the fantastic art entered.
Jumpzone Fun Night
Many thanks for supporting the Jumpzone fun night on Friday 10th May 2019. Over 130 children from both schools attended.
School Communion 18th May (GNS) 25th May (BNS) Help Needed!
The JPA support the school in catering for the parents and children after Mass. If you are free to volunteer on the morning of the communion to serve tea and coffee, please let your class representative know. We also rely on your donations of cakes. You can drop cakes to the GNS the day before and on the morning of the communion. As the election is on the 24th, non-perishable items can be dropped to the BNS on Thursday 23rd and on the morning of the communion. Many thanks.
Future Talks
Supporting Your Child’s Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing
Johnstown Parents’ Association has invited the National Parents Council Primary to provide an information evening. This programme supports parents/guardians to encourage and promote positive mental health and wellbeing in their children. The programme also explores how the building of resilience in children helps them to manage and cope with the day to day stresses of life as they occur.
Venue: Johnstown Girls’ School Tuesday 28th May 2019 Time: 7.30 – 9.30 €2 at the door
To confirm your place, please e-mail jpaconnect@gmail.com
JPA AGM 2019 As a parent/guardian, you are an automatic member of our Parents’ Association. Your ideas and support will be crucial in helping to make the Parents’ Association a success. The JPA Committee meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 8.15pm. All parents/guardians are invited to attend. We are planning for the AGM to take place in late September.
Family Subscription
The Parents’ Association aims to promote the school community by organising activities throughout the year. The subscription is €10 per family or whatever you can afford will be much appreciated. We appreciate your support to date.
Please return your donation to the school where it will be collected or if you prefer to pay electronically, please use the following details:
BIC: ULSB IE 2D IBAN: IE59 ULSB 9859 5076 1833 69
If you would like to get in touch with the JPA, you can contact us by email, jpaconnect@gmail.com, or through our website contact form. Please don’t forget to sign up to our website and facebook page or follow us on twitter @jpaconnect for updates and list of events.
Venue: Johnstown Girls’ School Date: Tuesday 28th May 2019 Time: 7.30 – 9.30
The Johnstown Parents’ Association (JPA) has invited the National Parents Council Primary to provide a training programme in conjunction with St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services. This programme supports parents to encourage and promote positive mental health and wellbeing in their children. The programme also explores how the building of resilience in children helps them to manage and cope with the day to day stresses of life as they occur. Parents who attend this session will:
Explore the factors that influence mental health and well being in their child.
Learn how to build and nurture resilience within their own child.
Be given tips on how best to support their child’s positive mental health and wellbeing. As this event is sponsored by the JPA and supported by the schools we hope it will be well attended by parents/guardians. To book your place, please e-mail srey71@hotmail.com
Venue: Johnstown Girls’ School Date: Tuesday 28th May 2019 Time: 7.30 – 9.30 Cost: €2 at the door
If you have any suggestions for future talks/ training programmes, please e-mail JPAconnect jpaconnect@gmail.com or through our contact form.
And it’s a special one too! celebrating our 50th year. We’ve only a few JPA 2019 Calendars left. They are available from the school office or, if you would like one, please return €10 in an envelope with your child’s name.
The fair isn’t possible without so many volunteering Mums, Dads, Teachers, Principles and of course your attendance.
What a fantastic turnout too. Poor Santa looked like he was exhausted… here are a few photos with some of the people that help make it happen – thank you so much.
