➢ Wednesday 27th August: 8.30 - 9.30

(Coffee Available on Site for Parents/Guardians)

➢ Thursday 28th August and Friday 29th August: 8.30 – 10.30

➢ Monday 1st September to Friday 5^th September: 8.30 – 12.00

➢ From Monday 8^th September: 8.30 – 1.10 (Full Infant Day) 

There are 2 break times in the school day.  

- They are 10:00am – 10:20am and 12:00pm – 12:20pm.  

- The children will get 40 minutes of yard time each day and will eat their lunch inside the classroom before or after yard. 

- There is a Healthy Eating Policy at our school. Children are asked not to bring any sweets, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, crisps etc to school. 

- We encourage children to use recyclable water bottle, lunch boxes/ bags.

- There is a ban on all nuts and all nut-based products due to the serious allergies of some of our students. We ask parents/carers to be vigilant in following this. Please see the school’s Healthy Eating Policy for further information. 

School communication 

- We use Aladdin school software. Please ensure we have your correct email address and phone number as you will receive notices, emails and text messages from the school. 

- You can contact the office at info@haroldscrossetns.com or call us on the school phone 01 2243551 if you have any queries. 

Class teacher communication 

- It is important to have good communication between staff and parents. If you have any queries or concerns, please organise an appointment with your class teacher rather than chatting at drop off or pick up time. We want to ensure we can give you our full attention. 

- To make an appointment with your child’s teacher, you can do so by sending a notice on Aladdin, emailing info@haroldscrossetns.com or calling the school phone on 012243551. 

- Please be patient if we take some time to get back to you. 

Child Protection is of utmost importance at Harold’s Cross ETNS. Our Child Protection Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment is available at the school reception and on the school website.  

• The Designated Liaison Person with responsibility for Child Protection is Aoife O'Sullivan, acting-school principal. Our Deputy Designated Liaison Person is Muireann Carr, acting-deputy principal.

For more information, please visit the policy section of our school website www.haroldscrossetns.com.  

At Harold’s Cross ETNS we would like to promote as much parental involvement as possible.  

In line with Child Protection, Garda Vetting procedures and recent HSE guidelines, all volunteers at the school must have Garda Vetting clearance. Garda Vetting clearance forms will be available from the school, and we would encourage any parent/carer who wishes to become involved in class-based and school-based activities to complete a Garda Vetting form and return it to Aoife.  

We believe that parental involvement allows children to see their parents/carers working collaboratively with the school, thus promoting their sense of value in education. If there are any areas that you are interested in getting involved in, please do not hesitate to let us know! 

We have an active Parent Staff Association (PSA) in the school. We welcome parental involvement in policy formation, fundraising and general events in the school. Please sign up for the PSA in September if you are interested in becoming a member. 

The PSA can be contacted directly at psahxetns@gmail.com. Any enquiries or questions for the PSA and it's events should be directed towards the email or class rep.

When you arrive at the school bring your child to their line in the school yard and wait with them there. When the teacher comes to collect the class from the line, you can then accompany your child to their classroom.  

Hopefully, your child will be absorbed in their new surroundings. Assure them that you will be back to collect them later and leave them to settle into their class.  

School will finish at 9:30am on the first day.  

On this day, and on all days, please ensure that your child is collected on-time to avoid any upset to them. A small number of children will be upset on the first day of school. If your child is upset, try not to panic! The teachers are experienced in dealing with first-day stresses so trust them to help your child in settling into their new surroundings.  

From the second day of school, please do not accompany your child to their class.  Say goodbye to them at the line and let them follow their class teacher and begin getting into the routine of Junior Infants.  

151/153 Harold's Cross Road,

Dublin 6W,

D6W HP44

There are 11 subjects on the curriculum: English, Irish, Maths, History, Geography, Science, Music, Art, Drama, Physical Education (P.E.) and Social, Personal, Health Education (S.P.H.E.).  

As an Educate Together school, we also follow an Ethical Education curriculum; Learn Together.  

Further information on each subject area can be found at www.ncca.ie

Ethical Education

Based on the Educate Together ethos, the school delivers the Learn Together/Ethical Education programme. The Learn Together curriculum is made up of 4 strands: 

• Values and Ethical Perspectives

• Equality and Justice 

• An ethical approach to the environment

• Belief Systems

Physical Education

In line with the Junior Infants curriculum, the pupils will engage in 1 hour of physical education each week. Your child’s class teacher may timetable this on one day or divide it out throughout the week.  

At the start of the year, your child’s teacher will let you know which day(s) the class will have P.E. It is important that children wear appropriate sportswear, including runners, for P.E. 

Our username is hx.etns

School closes for October break on Friday 24^th of October and re-opens Monday 3^rd of November 2025.

School will close at 12pm on the 19^th of December 2025 for Winter Break and re-open on Monday 5^th of January 2026.

School will be closed on Monday 2^nd of February 2026 for St. Brigid’s Bank Holiday Weekend.

School closes for February mid-term break on Friday 13^th of February and will re-open on Monday 23^rd of February 2026.

School will be closed on the 16^th and 17^th of March 2026 for the St. Patrick’s Bank Holiday Weekend.

School will close at 12pm on the 27^th of March 2026 for Spring Break and re-open on the 13^th of April 2026.

School will be closed on the 4^th and 5^th of May 2026 for the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

School will be closed on the 1^st of June 2026 for the June Bank Holiday Weekend.

School will close for Summer break on Friday the 26^th of June 2026.

Kids Inc operate our afterschool service onsite in Harolds Cross ETNS. If you are looking  for afterschool care please contact Kids Inc directly via the email address below.  Places will become limited over the coming weeks so if you would like to book your child’s place please send your queries to hcetfees@kidsinc.ie

Thank You

Kids Inc team

• Applications for School Transport for the new school year are currently open and can be accessed online at https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=522

• Details of the scheme are also available on Bus Éireann’s website and Department of Education’s website gov.ie/schooltransport.

• The closing date for NEW school transport applications is Friday 26^th April 2024 – critical date, 2 weeks to go