4th class 2026/2027 Information handout for parents and children
Dear Parents & Guardians,
I hope you all had a lovely summer and are keeping well.
Firstly, I am delighted to be teaching the class this year. I have very fond memories of the children, particularly from their time in Junior Infants in 2021. At the time, I was teaching Sixth Class, and I remember both classes coming together regularly throughout the year for Easter Egg Hunts, Teddy Bears’ Picnics and Nature Walks. As we enter September 2026, it is a reminder of how quickly time passes! It certainly does not feel like five years have gone by.
In my 19-year teaching career, this will be my sixth time teaching 4th class, and I have always found this stage of children’s lives to be a particularly lovely one. I am very grateful for the opportunity to teach them and will do my very best to ensure they have a happy, enjoyable and successful year.
This is a brief note outlining some of the rules, procedures and other important information relating to 4th class. Please take some time to read through this sheet together with your child. These points will form the foundations for a positive learning environment and a successful year for everyone.
Behavior- In my class, I have 6 simple expectations:
- Put your hand up if you wish to speak. Everyone has the right to be listened to and heard.
- Put your hand up if you wish to leave your seat. In the interest of health and safety, no movement is allowed the room without permission of your teacher.
- When asked to, please work on your own. Do not distract others while working.
- Listen and carry out instructions from your teacher regarding school work always.
- Always try your best and always be proud of your best efforts. If you are giving 100%, never worry.
- Respect everyone you meet. Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness.
Regular Procedures in the class- How will the class operate?
– Instructions on the board: Every morning there will be a set of instructions on the whiteboard. Please follow them and have all books, sheets ready by 9.30am. This will be expected.
– Getting the classes individual attention: I will have 2 calls: “Eyes on me after 3” and “My hand is up which means you stop and come back to me”. By the end of the call, I expect everyone’s attention.
– Sheets: All sheets given out by me are to be put in our small plastic folders. There are to be no sheets in journals, homework copies or at the bottom of bags.
– Taking down homework: 1. Take down homework exactly how it is on the board. 2. Pack your bag with the books you need which will be listed on the board. 3. Tidy your box (books at the back and copies at the front). 4. Ensure your work area is tidy for our kind cleaner Toyen.
– Leaving the room: Please leave your basket on your chair and tidy your area out of respect for Omo, Toyen and Arin who work very hard to keep our school clean. If you are ready, we will leave on the bell at 3pm.
3. School Absence and Communication
Please use Aladdin to inform me of any school absences. If you have any queries or concerns, I can be contacted by email at vincent@scoileoinphoilleixlip.ie, or you can write a note in your child’s journal and I will respond as soon as I can.
Due to personal circumstances, I am unable to facilitate unarranged meetings before or after school. If something would be better discussed in person, please get in touch and we can arrange a suitable time.
I really value the support of parents and believe that a positive, respectful and cooperative relationship between home and school is very important. I will always do my best to be approachable and helpful, and I hope that we can work together with the common goal of ensuring the best possible experience for every child. I would simply ask that all communication is respectful and courteous.
Each Monday, I will send a short update through Aladdin with some information about the week ahead. I will also share some of the positive things happening in class, along with any reminders or information that may help the week run as smoothly as possible for both the children and yourselves
- SeeSaw/Class Site:
A feature of my style of teaching has been the use of ICT. I will continue to use but do so a little bit more sparingly than I have in the past as I do not want to feed into screentime overuse at home.
Once again, the website http://www.mulcahysep.com will be used as hub for learning, but more so for in class. No pictures of children will ever be posted on the site unless I receive your permission.
SeeSaw will be mainly used for very occasional short activities/projects for the children to complete but more so as a place for you to view pictures/videos/audio of what is going on in the classroom over the course of the year. On our first full week back, I will send home each child’s SeeSaw login for you to have on your phone/tablet.
- School Policies
All school policies are available on the school website: https://www.scoileoinphoilleixlip.com/policies.html I would ask you in particular to please support the school in promoting the code of behaviour, school uniform and health eating policies.
- Key areas to focus on: Library Reading, Number Circle and Irish VIP’s
In the next few weeks, I will send on a more detailed note on how you can support your child at home. I would just like you to bring your attention to 3 areas.
Library Reading- The children have a vast number of books available to them in class. I have added even more books to the library over the summer too and we now have 2 large book stands of fiction and non fiction books. Please encourage them to read as widely as possible throughout the year. The children are always welcome to bring in books from home too.
Number Circle– Number Circles will be the cornerstone for ongoing revision of Maths topics covered as we go through the year. The children will be given one every Monday/every second Monday (depending on how much we have covered) and will have until Thursday evening to complete it. Please check through them each Thursday with your child. It really will stand to them.
Irish VIP sheets- Every term, the children will receive at least 1 sheet of important Irish verb tenses or vocabulary. Over the course of a month, it will be set as homework to be learnt, we will play games in class and there will be online games available too. Nothing beats your support though. Please help your child revise them.
- Schools Books and Stationery:
The children will receive the majority of their books and copies on day one with the remaining items being distributed when needed. All of their copies will have been labelled by me. If possible, I would ask if covers could be put on their copies to protect them from wear and tear.
The children will receive all of their stationery on the first day (with the exception of their colouring pencils) in a a simple pencil case I have gotten for them. They can of course transfer this equipment to their own pencil cases if they so wish. I will not have any additional, spare stationery to give out so please remind your children to take care with what they have been given.
I will give the children my very best effort and I look forward to meeting them all again on Friday the 28th of September.
Thank you and wishing you and your families well,
Mr. Mulcahy