Grace Park ETNS
Information for
Parents
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ALADDIN
Aladdin at Grace Park ETNS
Aladdin is our main communication platform with our school community. You will receive an email/text with a link to set-up an account for your child on the Aladdin Connect App.
A registration explainer can be found here along with an app set-up explainer here. If you have multiple children attending Grace Park ETNS you can follow the steps here to add them to your Aladdin Connect app.
There is the option to send a short message to your child's teacher using the Aladdin Connect app. Any long messages should request a phone call instead. Teachers do not give out their emails to parents/guardians and will not check Aladdin messages during the school day. Please allow at least 48 hours for a response during working hours. We ask that no messages be sent to staff outside the hours of 8:00am and 4:00pm. We expect respectful communication from all members of our school community.
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Aladdin is used to record attendance and absences, share class/whole school updates and a weekly "Five on Friday" from your child's class with snippets of their learning in school that week. You can find out how to add attendance notes for your child here.
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We also use Aladdin to record permissions, collect school payments, book Parent-Guardian Teacher Meetings, share School Reports and monthly Connect Menus. ​
If an urgent message needs to be passed on during the school day please ring the School Office and Teresa will pass on the message to your child's teacher.
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMME
School Lunches at Grace Park ETNS
Our school was part of the pilot scheme for the hot school lunches programme for primary school children in Ireland. We have a kitchen on site in our school where our hot lunches are prepared by The School Food Company.
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User Guide
​All children are able to order a hot lunch daily using the School Food Company App. You can find a guide on how to use the app here. The food options vary daily with a wide range of choices for children and all dietary requirements catered for. There are vegetarian and gluten free options available daily and all of our lunches are strictly nut free to ensure an allergen-safe environment for pupils in our school. Some favourites from our students include "The Italian Job Ciabattini", "Spicy Meatballs and Pasta" and "Chargrilled Chicken with Green Beans and Potatoes".
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The lunches are served in a washable, reusable container and with reusable cutlery. All food waste is disposed of in a compost bin.
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The children receive their hot lunches in their classrooms at 12:00pm daily.
Please ensure your child brings a healthy snack each day for their early break and a water bottle which can be refilled in the classrooms.
BOOKLISTS
Booklists at Grace Park ETNS
We operate a Book Rental Scheme in our school with all of our textbooks and workbooks provided under the Primary Schoolbook Scheme for Pupils in Primary and Special Schools. You can find a useful guide for parents and guardians on the scheme from the Department of Education below
​Teachers use their autonomy to decide what textbooks will be appropriate for their class, ensuring that they are in line with the Primary Curriculum Framework and the emergent needs of the pupils in their classes. We use a wide variety of education programmes and textbooks in our school such as UFLI Foundations Phonics Programme, Maths My Way, Abair Liom, Spellings for Me and Jolly Phonics. These are updated each year, for specifics on the programmes being used in your child's class level please get in touch with your child's class teacher.
All copies for the full academic year are provided under the scheme and basic stationery is provided for each child at the beginning of the academic year (pencils, erasers, pens, etc).
We ask that you support your child in looking after their belongings and ensure that any missing or lost stationery is replenished in their pencil cases during the remainder of the school year.
PARENT-GUARDIAN TEACHER MEETINGS
Parent-Guardian Teacher Meetings at Grace Park ETNS
Our Parent/Guardian–Teacher Meetings (PGTMs) take place each January and are a valuable opportunity for parents/guardians and teachers to come together to discuss how children are progressing and experiencing school life.
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All PGTM booking slots will be released at the beginning of January through Aladdin. Booking access will be staggered as follows:
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Parents/guardians of three or more pupils attending Grace Park ETNS will receive first access.
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Parents/guardians of two pupils attending the school will receive second access.
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Parents/guardians of one pupil attending the school will receive final access.
For families with multiple children attending the school, back-to-back appointments cannot be booked. A minimum gap of 15 minutes is required between meetings.
An Aladdin guide explaining how to book your meetings is available here.
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Each meeting lasts 10 minutes and provides an opportunity to celebrate successes, discuss progress, and work together to support your child's learning and wellbeing. Where relevant, members of the Support Teaching Team will also be available for appointments.
The PGTM evening is a positive and important event in our school calendar.
The whole school is open from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with all staff attending to support the evening. Tea and coffee are kindly provided by the PGTA, helping to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for families.
Children in 6th Class are welcome to attend their PGTM alongside their parents/guardians. This marks the end of their primary school journey and helps prepare them for the transition to secondary school.
To ensure that all families can make the most of their allocated time, we ask that parents/guardians arrive punctually for appointments and that all communication remains respectful and in keeping with our school values.
SCHOOL PLAN AND PRIORITIES
Our Plan at Grace Park ETNS
Our In-School Leadership Team (ISLT), working in partnership with Niamh and the Board of Management, develops our whole-school plan and strategy each year through our School Self-Evaluation (SSE) process. This ensures our priorities are shaped by reflection, collaboration, and the needs of our school community. Our focus areas for the current academic year are outlined here.
Updates on these focus areas are shared regularly at our monthly Parent/Guardian Association meetings, helping to ensure that our whole school community stays informed, engaged, and connected with the ongoing work and progress across the school.
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PARENT GUARDIAN TEACHER ASSOCIATION
Parent/Guardian and Teacher Association
at Grace Park ETNS
The school has an active and engaged Parent Guardian Teacher Association (PGTA), and we warmly welcome all parents and guardians to get involved in whatever way suits them.
The PGTA provides a structure through which parents and guardians of children attending Grace Park Educate Together National School can work together to support the best possible education and school experience for all children in our community.
Working in partnership with the Principal, staff, and Board of Management, the PGTA helps to strengthen the connection between home and school. It also offers a welcoming space for parents and guardians to connect, share ideas, and take part in school life.
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All parents and guardians are automatically members of the PGTA, and there is no minimum commitment—any level of involvement is welcome and valued.
Communication
Monthly PGTA meetings are open to all parents and guardians. These meetings cover a wide range of topics, including school developments, curriculum and policy updates, fundraising, extra-curricular activities, and other key aspects of school life. They are a great way to stay informed and contribute to decisions and initiatives within the school community.
The PGTA also organises a range of extra-curricular activities that help build community spirit across the school. While these events focus on connection and enjoyment, they may also support fundraising for the school (for example, the Book Fair and the highlight of the school year Movie Night). From time to time, the PGTA also invites guest speakers on topics such as internet safety and supporting children online.
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At the Annual General Meeting (AGM), a PGTA Committee is elected. The Committee includes:
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Representatives from each class
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Parent nominees elected to the Board of Management
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A teachers’ representative
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The Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer (who may also serve as class representatives)
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Regular updates and communication are shared through class WhatsApp groups. If you are not yet added to your class group, please contact the PGTA email below or your class representative to be added to the relevant group. Should you wish they can also assist you joining the Lone Parent Group or the Grace Park Exchange group.
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Contacting the PGTA: pgta@graceparketns.com
We would be delighted to hear from you—whether you have ideas, questions, or would simply like to get involved.
FUNDRAISING
Fundraising
at Grace Park ETNS
At Grace Park ETNS, fundraising plays an important role in enriching our school community and creating meaningful opportunities for our students.
Through the generosity, creativity, and enthusiasm of our families and supporters, we raise funds to provide additional educational resources, support school projects, and enhance the learning experience for every child.
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From community events to sponsored initiatives, fundraising at Grace Park ETNS is about more than raising money—it’s about bringing our community together in support of our school and helping it thrive.
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Our dedicated PGTA works hard to help us achieve our annual fundraising goals. They develop a clear plan for how funds will be used and lead a variety of fundraising events throughout the school year.
Contacting the PGTA: pgta@graceparketns.com
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteering
at Grace Park ETNS
At Grace Park ETNS, volunteers play an important role in supporting school life and enriching the experiences of our students. We greatly value the time, skills, and enthusiasm contributed by parents, guardians, the PGTA, and members of our wider community. There are many different ways to get involved, from helping in classrooms and supporting school events to sharing specialist skills with our children.
​PGTA Volunteers (School Events & Fundraising)
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Our PGTA plays a key role in volunteering throughout the school year. This includes supporting weekly library sessions, running the School Book Fair, organising Movie Night, and hosting the parent Pub Quiz fundraiser, as well as assisting with our whole-school cinema trip.
Their energy and commitment help bring many of our school community events to life.
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Parent & Guardian Volunteers (Classroom & Learning Support)
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Parental involvement is an integral part of an Educate Together school, with many opportunities for parents, guardians, and the wider school community to volunteer at Grace Park ETNS.
Some ways you may like to get involved include helping out on a class trip, volunteering as a “Secret Reader” in one of our junior classes, or sharing a skill such as performing an instrument at our Seachtain na Gaeilge Assembly. You may also wish to teach about your culture or religion, for example by delivering a talk on Lunar New Year or Diwali.
Class teachers often send communications via Aladdin seeking volunteers, or you are welcome to contact the school directly if you would like to get involved.
Community & External Volunteers (Sports & Skills)
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We are fortunate to have volunteers from the local community and nearby organisations who share valuable skills with our students. These include activities such as GAA, soccer, tennis, sewing, Forest Schools, and more.
If you are a member of the wider community and would like to volunteer, please contact the school office directly.
Contacting the school: info@graceparketns.com
Contacting the PGTA: pgta@graceparketns.com
PARENT PACT
The parents of Grace Park Educate Together National School have put together the following guides to assist parents with helping their children navigate the vast world of technology and the internet. We believe in raising digitally literate children who can enjoy the amazing benefits of technology, while safeguarding them from online dangers and the impact of too much screen time.
Parent Pact
The Parent’s Pact is a voluntary agreement where parents agree not to buy their child a smartphone or allow them their own social media account while in Primary School.
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This document outlines some of the research findings in relation to screen and internet use in children. It also includes a guide to the best resources available to help parents protect their children online.
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This easy-to-use guide includes step-by-step instructions on how to implement parental controls on the most popular devices / apps used by children. It also includes Top Tips on Internet Safety along with Useful Links for device / apps controls.
NOTE: Please download the document to enable the menu navigation.​
This is a printable Family Tech Contract, and it is recommended that all the family agree to and sign a tech contract which is reviewed regularly. A link to an online Family Tech Contract is also available in the Connected, Protected Kids documents.
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AFTER SCHOOL
After School
at Grace Park ETNS
There are a number of local After School Care providers who offer childcare after school for children attending Grace Park ETNS.
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The school does not provide a Sibling Hour (Afterschool service between13:10-14:10) but there are a number of local providers who do and collect the children from the school and transport them to off-site care facilities.​
​Please find a list of some of the local After School Care Providers below:
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Afterschool Care on the premises is currently engaged in a tender process with a full intention to provide the best possible service for the coming year.
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The Learning Tree - Grace Park Road
Please contact Nicky: info@thelearningtree.ie
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Little Learners - Drumcondra
Please contact Nessa: 0851449610
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Meadows Montessori - Celtic Park Avenue
Please contact: dolanjennifer1@gmail.com
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Clever Cloggs
Please contact: 018511134