Wednesday Letter, March 21st, 2012

St. Patrick’s B.N.S.,
Hollypark,
Blackrock,
Co. Dublin

Dear Parents,

School will close at 12.00pm for our Easter holidays on Friday 30th March and re-open on Monday 16th of April.

We are all enjoying the beautiful weather and are full of energy and enthusiasm after the St. Patrick’s day break. The school had been so busy up to the break with all our Seachtain na Gaeilge activities. Our own St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held last Thursday. The weather was beautiful and the boys were fantastic. It really is amazing to see all of our boys getting the opportunity to perform. The level of word learning and song singing ‘as gaeilge’ was very impressive. Thanks to all the parents who attended. The big audience really added to the atmosphere! Mr. Ryan took great photographs of the parade, which are on display outside the hall. Thanks again to Miss Morgan, for organizing the logistics of the event. Miss O Brien’s 4th class was treated to a great music session, thanks to an Cathal and Sean Deegan’s aunt Pat O Connor and their cousin Brian. They played a variety of instruments, fiddle, tin whistle, uileann pipes, flute and bodhran. The whole class got an opportunity to play tin whistles and the bodhrán. The session ended with the visitors being joined by nephews, Cathal on accordion and Sean on tin whistle.

As mentioned before, Miss Hynes’ 4th class and Miss Morgan’s 5th class have been taking part in an art project in conjunction with Froebel College of Education. This was presented to the parents, by the teachers, lecturer and by boys from both classes. The parents were then brought by their sons to interact with the installation in our school garden. The shoe – tree and the face – masks make a great impression on our garden and are well worth a visit. Miss Power’s class has done excellent projects on World War 2. These will be displayed outside the hall area and are well worth a look.

All our 6th class boys have nearly finished their Confirmation Year Books, which they have been working on for months. They are magnificent. We will display them shortly and would encourage you to admire their wonderful work. Mrs. Smyth and myself will be bringing 24 boys from 4th to 6th to Sandford Park School next Wednesday to take part in a challenging Maths Extravaganza.

Well done to our senior hurlers who played a challenge match yesterday against St. Teresa’s, as part of our preparations on ‘the road to Croke Park’. Good luck to our tennis team who play their first match tomorrow against St. Vincents. Good luck to our soccer team who play Johnstown in our first league match on Friday in Meadowvale. Athletics training continues before school and the boys and teachers involved are showing much enthusiasm and energy. Congratulations to Michael Gnutek from Miss O Neill’s Jun Infants- who won a runner up prize in the Folens Annual Competition. Booklists – last day for booklists is Friday week – 30th March – orders will be placed over the Easter Holidays. Once again we are collecting Tesco Vouchers – please keep us in mind when you are shopping!

Yours sincerely,
Helen Kelly Principal 21.03.12.

Wednesday Letter, March 14, 2012

St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Hollypark, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

 

 

 Dear Parents,

School will be closed on Monday 19^th March

 On Monday night our 2^nd classes had their First Reconciliation Ceremony.  It was really beautiful, with the boys doing themselves, their parents and their teachers proud.  Thanks to the class teachers, Mrs. Ryan, Miss Dennan, Mrs. O Sullivan (and Mr. Morgan) for all their work in preparing the boys so well.  Thanks to S.N.A.s Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Tecklenborg for all their work in supporting the teachers, particularly with the artwork.  Mothers of 2^nd class boys can expect a very simple, yet meaningful card for mother’s day!   They are exhausted artistically!

Our monthly focus on ‘Caint, Ceol agus Craic’ is still going very well – with gach duine ag déanamh an- iarracht gaeilge a labhairt.   Boys are making huge efforts to impress – with all eyes on the title  ‘Gaeilgeoir na Seachtaine’ – two if which are awarded every Friday to each class.  Well done to our 3^rd class boys who took part in a céilí in the  girls’ school yesterday with 3^rd class girls.  A great time was had by all with excitement and stress in equal measure. The level of ceili dancing was very high from children and teachers alike!

The Aifreann Ghaelach took place today in Foxrock Church at 10.00am.  Classes from 3^rd to 6^th attended and did a fantastic job on their responses and their singing.  Well done boys.  No written homework was the order of the day.  Thanks to Fr. Frank for saying the mass.  Thanks also to Mrs. Fennell for her work on the singing, Miss Murray for accompanying the boys and Mrs. Cooper for preparing the readers.

Tomorrow is our own St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  Due to popular demand it is being relocated to its usual home on the Junior Yard.  It will begin at 11.00am and all are welcome.  The audience will need to stand on the girls’ school yard as the Junior yard will be completely full with the boys participating in the parade.

We have also been treated to traditional music being played by some of our pupils over the intercom.   Conor Nolan 5^th played the traditional flute,  Cathal Deegan 4^th played the accordion and Darragh Geraghty played the tin whistle.   The three 1^st classes had a music session with Mr. Hogan last week, who played ballads on mandola and guitar. A fantastic music session with Hugo’s uncle Stefan Paz Berrios on banjo, Mick O’Grady on fiddle and Miss Ni Ghabhann on whistle. The boys danced Balla Luímní and sang Peigín Litir Mór.

We have been very impressed with Bernard Dunne’s Bród Club – encouraging us all to use the ‘cúpla focal’. To sign up to the Bród Club go to www.rte.ie/brodclub.

Well done to our chess teams who have had a wonderful season.  Our B team had their last match on Monday against Holy Trinity. The boys played well but it was not to be.

I was delighted to be at our soccer team’ s first cup match last Friday against St. Brigid’s Foxrock in Cabinteely.  It was a tremendous team display, with our boys coming back from 1-0 down to win in the end 2-1.  Thanks to the teachers involved, Miss Larkin, Miss Coghlan, Miss O Brien and Mr. Mc Evoy.  Thanks also to a parent Ollie Brennan for his input with the team and for his time.

Hard luck to our Junior hurling team who put up a great fight yesterday in Deerpark but were unlucky in the end.  Our senior team are busy training, 3 lunchtimes a week with Mr. Burke and Mr. Keating, in a bid to give the school a day out in Croke Park!

Good luck to our tennis team, who play their first match today, in their bid to retain the Division 1 Schools Tennis trophy.

Glenalbyn Swimming Rota: If you are unable to attend on the day designated to you please make sure you arrange to have someone else take your place. It is vital that we have enough parents each Monday – for safety reasons.

Good luck to Miss Dennan who takes part in the musical ‘The Wiz’ in the Tivoli Theatre and to our Clonkeen Past Pupils who take part in their musical next week also.

Well done to Theo Claffey (1^st Class) who completed his four chapter book – a great read.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

14.03.12.

Wednesday Letter, March 6th 2012

St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Hollypark, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

Dear Parents,

Tá gach duine ag iarraidh gaeilge a labhairt agus a usáid i rith an lae don mhí seo.  Our focus ‘Caint, Ceol agus Craic’ is going very well.  Each class is doing a performance for three other classes throughout the school.  The hall is decorated fully with our taispeantas and is well worth a look.  The final of ‘Trath na gCeist’ will take place on Friday with Mrs. Smyth. 36 boys from 3rd to 6th (9 teams) will take part.

Also on Friday, we will have ‘Gaeilgoir na Seachtaine  -  with two boys from each class being awarded the title and a prize for the great efforts with gaeilge during the week. They boys are really trying very hard.

Our 3rd to 6th classes are busy preparing for the Irish mass on Wednesday 14th March at 10am.  You are very welcome to attend.  Our paráid, with the school becoming a ‘living flag’, takes place next Thursday 15^th March on the Senior yard at 11am.

We are delighted to report that Hollypark Boys school came 1st in both the U11 and the U13 Credit Union Quiz – Dublin final on Friday evening. Congratulations to the boys involved.  U13 – Killian Farrelly, Hugh Kelly, James Kos and Liam Reddy. U11 – Keelan Daye, Joseph Downey, Stephen Harrison and Eric Pembrey.  These boys received trophies and prizes, and both teams won cheques for the school. They will compete in the All-Ireland in April.  Thanks to Mrs. Brennan and Mrs. Smyth for all their work with the boys.

It really is a winning week for us!  We had a 1st and 2nd place in the I.N.T.O./ E.B.S. handwriting competition in the 5th/6th class section.  Well done to Sam Mc Cann who came 1st and Alex Dolan who came 2nd.  The prize giving ceremony takes place next week.  Congratulations to David Farrelly (4th) who won gold in a poetry competition (3rd, 4th, 5th section) in Cabinteely at the weekend.  Well done to his brother Eoin (1st) who won silver in the same competition. (1st 2nd class section).

Great news on the hurling front!   Under more normal conditions for our hurlers and spectators yesterday in Marlay Park – freezing cold, threatened rain and biting wind, the team put in a magnificent performance to win against St. Mary’s Rathfarnham.   Two matches away from Croke Park!  So training again today with Mr. Burke and Mr. Keating.  No let up!

Athletics training is taking place on the top yard three mornings a week at 8.00am.  Your sons are so fortunate to have such wonderful teachers, who give up their time with such willingness and enthusiasm.  It really makes a huge difference to our school.  In this case, thanks to Mr. Moloney, Miss O Brien, Miss Power, Mr. Mc Evoy and Miss Ni Ghabhann for the early start!

The Book Fair is generating much excitement around the school.  It is lovely to see the senior boys reading and sharing with the younger boys.  Junior Infants were paired with Sixth class and Senior Infants were paired with 5th.  Thanks to Mrs. Lynch and members of The Parents’ Association for running the Book Fair.  Each class gets a substantial amount of books from the fair, which helps keep our avid readers going.  Late night opening this Thursday from 6.30 – 8.00pm.

Teachers are very willing to meet with you to discuss your son’s progress or if a issue needs to be dealt with.  Please make an appointment through the homework notebook or the office.  8.40am is not an appropriate time.  It is the busiest time of the day and the teacher is unable to give you his/her attention.

Recently a Hollypark boy was nearly knocked down by a car. He was wearing earphones crossing the road- boys please concentrate when crossing the road.

There have been complaints from the local shops that boys are littering. Please remind your sons to place wrappers in the bins provided outside the shops.

Booklists for next year have been given out, last date for orders 30^th March.

GOAL BADGES are available from your son’s teacher.

We would ask you to check lost property if your son is missing items – as the basket is overflowing!!!

School calendar for 2012/2013 is on the website – school will re-open after the summer on Thursday the 30^th of August, 2012.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

06.03.12.

Wednesday Letter, 22nd February 2012

St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Hollypark, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

 Dear Parents,

The boys and teachers have returned from their mid-term with renewed energy. The boys are full of great intentions with their Lenten Promises.  Thanks to Maeve Davidson, the boys received ashes today in school.

We are continuing for the rest of the month with our focus on ‘positivity’ (I can do it!), fruit and veg in the lunchbox and using our yard mottos.  If there is an issue, please let us know – so we can do something about it.

The hurling season began officially yesterday with our senior team playing against St. Patrick’s, Drumcondra.  It was a great match and we were delighted to see such determination and skill on display.  Well done to the team, who also showed up for a training match in Kilmacud during the break.  Our 1^st classes began hurling yesterday with Niall Corcoran.  They are well used to it now since last year and have the organization of their helmets and hurleys down to a fine art, almost!!

Lunchtimes are very busy, with hurling on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with Mr. Burke and Mr. Keating, soccer on Tuesday and Thursday with Miss Larkin, Miss O Brien, Miss Coghlan and Mr. Mc Evoy, Gaelic football most days with Mr. Devlin and Mr. O Donovan and quiz on Wednesdays with Mrs. Brennan and Mrs. Smyth.  Thanks to all the teachers involved for giving their time.

Well done to our two chess teams, who had away matches yesterday against Belgrove.  They were closely fought matches and the boys played extremely well. Thanks to parents, Mrs. Wyley and Mr. Byrne for taking the teams.

Two of our past pupils (C.B.C) Alex Holmes and Joe McCabe are involved in a business venture – producing and selling an easy guide to Irish grammar and vocabulary – ‘Éasca Péasca’.  We are very impressed! It is priced at 3 euro and available in the office.

Thanks to our Parents’ Association, who ran a very enjoyable cake sale on the Friday before the break.  The baking was of an extremely high standard and the boys managed to buy back everything.  The raffle for the I Pad raised 2,515.45 euro for Temple St. Hospital.  Parents your trays and tins from the cake sale can be collected from the hall any day this week.

 Our Junior Infants are being immunized over these three days.  They are really getting into ‘Positivity’.  They were quite excited about the whole prospect, when they were coming in this morning!

Thanks to all parents, who have made voluntary contributions.  It really makes a difference and is much appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal                                                 >>>>>>>>>>P.T.O.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

22.02.12.

ActingFitness

Kids Fitness Within the Drama

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New Innovative Program established and run by qualified facilitators.

Aimed at teaching kids aged 6 to 13.

Actingfitness combines both drama and fitness into a single unique workshop.

Fitness is hidden in Drama to encourage kids to exercise in a fun and exciting

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The program consists of fun and high energy games and exercises.

 Join Us!

At the Grainstore, Cabinteely House,

Cabinteely Park. Booking required.

 

Contact:Shane Higgins, Head Facilitator.                       Phone: 086 3399017

           Email: Shane@actingfitness.com                    Web:            www.actingfitness.com

Cake Sale

A big thank you to the fantastic amount of parents who gave up their time to help at the Cake Sale. We had a really lovely selection

of baking from the boys, which of course sold out, and helped us raise

€2,723.87

for the school.

Thanks to the extremely generous donation of an ipad won by:

Evan Walshe In Mrs. Smyth’s 3^rd Class

our school was able to donate

€2515.45

To Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

 

Your support is very much appreciated.

The Parent’s Association

 

Wednesday, 1st February 2012

St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Hollypark, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

Dear Parents,

One month gone already in 2012 – it is hard to believe it.  The boys have been working very hard on our focus on presentation of themselves and their work.  The enthusiasm for the daily food dudes’ fruit and veg is palpable at this stage.  It finishes this week but we’d like the boys to continue bringing fruit and veg in the lunchbox from now on!  It’s a great practice to continue and build on.

Our February focus is on positivity, (I can do it!), yard mottos (‘If it’s not nice, don’t say it’ and ‘If it’s not nice, don’t do it.’) and fruit and veg everyday in lunchboxes.

The Parents’ Association Quiz is on tomorrow night Thursday 2^nd Feb. at 8pm in the Stillorgan Park Hotel. Last year’s event was an excellent evening of fun and this year promises to be even better. Finger food is provided at the venue and is included in the ticket price. Prizes include tickets to the races (sponsored by Paddy Power), hotel breaks, vouchers for Westwood, Uniformity, Peter Marks, car servicing courtesy of First Stop and many more. There will be lots of spot prizes to keep the crowd entertained on the night and a raffle with prizes including a top of the range camera (sponsored by Harvey Norman), a Sunway travel voucher and a Q50 voucher for a children’s cooking party. Tickets are still available outside the school at drop off and collection times, in the office or on the night. (If you are purchasing tickets on the night please let the office know to ensure we have sufficient finger food

There are excellent projects on display throughout the school – well worth a look.  Well done to all our boys on their wonderful handwriting, which can be seen displayed throughout the school.

This is Catholic Schools Week – and we are busy being the living church.  Monday the focus was on the home, Tuesday the school, Wednesday – Grandparent’s Day, Thursday the parish and Friday the world.  Classes 2nd to 6th will be attending mass tomorrow at 10.00am.  The school in general, is working on a selection of Catholicism symbols, which may inspire artwork for the next week.  Thanks to Mrs. O Sullivan for guiding us in this area.

Well done to our A Chess Team who had a 3 all draw against Star of the Sea ( Sandymount) on Monday.  Quiz practising is going on feverishly at lunchtimes – thanks to Mrs. Brennan and Mrs Smyth.  Our two Junior and two Senior quiz teams take part in the Credit Union quiz in Loughlinstown on Friday.

Miss Hynes’ 4th class, Mr. Mc Evoy’s 5th class and Miss Power’s 6th class were delighted to be chosen, to attend an energy workshop in the hall today.  Thanks to Mr. Ryan for organizing that.

Well done to the three Junior hurling teams and the Senior hurling team who put on a great display in their matches yesterday.  Thanks to Mr. Burke, Mr. Keating, Mrs. Regan and Mr. Mc Evoy for their work with the teams.

Well done to David Farrelly who took part in the pantomime in The Pavillion Theatre last Saturday.

Tennis Trials

The 2012 Leinster Junior and Primary School Tennis League (which was won by Hollypark in 2011) will be commencing soon. Trials will take place on Tuesday afternoon 7^th Feb. in Newtown Park Tennis Club. The trials are open to 5^th and 6^th classes only. Participation in a club coaching programme and/or Tennis Open Tournaments together with experience in playing double is desirable. Boys wishing to take part in the trials should register with either Anne Crossan (086-6299620) or Martina Barr (087-2897159) before 6pm on Sunday 5^th Feb. Only those who have registered can participate in the trials.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

01.02.12.

 

CAKE SALE – FRIDAY 10^TH OF FEBRUARY – 9.00 – 1.00 PM.

FANTASTIC RAFFLE FOR AN iPAD

€1 per ticket or €5 for 7 tickets.

 

Wednesday Letter, January 18th, 2012

St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Hollypark, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

Dear Parents,

The whole school is still in New Year’s resolutions mode.  Great effort is being made with our January focus – presentation of work and of the boys themselves.  There will be handwriting from all boys from senior infants to 6th class, on display throughout the school and there will be samples from all classes on display outside the hall.  Your sons’ handwriting is very impressive.

Parents’ Association – Quiz Night – Stillorgan Park Hotel – see details on back>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 The ‘Food Dudes’ programme is an exciting focus for the whole school for the next few weeks.  Since Monday we have been receiving daily deliveries of fruit and vegetable portions for everyone in the school.  Thanks to Miss Larkin and Miss Doherty who attended the food dudes course and have us completely organized.  Miss Doherty’s class is doing a fantastic job coping with the logistics of the whole operation.   The boys are following the programme and for the most part are eating the required fruit and veg to obtain a daily prize.  It’s great to see that in some classes, the boys are eating more than is required and really enjoying their fruit and veg.  Please note that this will be going on for another two weeks – so do adjust the amount of lunch you are giving your son. (Particularly the Jun and Sen infant classes – who have their food dude food at small break)

After 16 days hopefully the habit of bringing fruit and veg will be formed and we will be encouraging you to include both in your son’s lunchbox from then on.

Along the same lines – please ensure your son does his fitness homework and records it in his homework notebook.  We see the difference that daily exercise makes.  A small number of our more senior boys tend to include ‘walking’ as their fitness homework everyday and every week.  More varied exercise is recommended in addition to walking perhaps!

The hurling season has started in earnest, with training three days a week at lunchtimes and friendly matches for our Senior team and two Junior teams last week.  We were impressed with the potential we saw on display and look forward to watching their progress.  Mr. Burke has his sights set on Croke Park – so we’re starting early!

Congratulations to Andrew Cleary, one of our past pupils, whose group took 1st place in their Junior Group section of the recent Young Scientist Competition.

Well done to our chess teams, Conor Nolan, Jack Wyley, Felix Bryne and Aodhán Keane – who secured a 2.2 draw yesterday against a very experienced Scoil Bhríde team. We were delighted to see that some of our boys took part in the U10, U11 Leinster Chess Championship on the 7^th and 14^th of January. Hugo O’Brien, Michael Egan, Conor Nolan and Neo Herlihy preformed very well in a tough competition. Congratulations to another past pupil Peter Urwin – who came 2^nd in the U16 section.

Quiz time is fast approaching and Mrs. Brennan and Mrs. Smyth have been busy organising class quizzes for 4^th/5^th/6^th. The teams are now in training and we hope to match our great performance of last year. The Credit Union Quiz takes place early in January.

Thanks to Mr. Ryan and all teacher and pupil members of the Green School Committee – who have been keeping us on track –conserving energy etc. We had a very satisfactory inspection in relation to our 2^nd Green Schools Flag. Thanks to Miss Dennan and her class – who represented the whole school on all the green schools issue and who really impressed our visitor!

Parent/Teacher meetings take place over these few weeks and on Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th after school.  School finishes at 2.15pm on both days.  We look forward to having you in the school, to meet with your son’s teacher.   School and home working together is fundamental in helping your son to reach his potential.  Please feel free to make an appointment with me if I can be of support or if you’d like to discuss secondary schools.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

18.01.12.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parents’ Association Quiz Night

Stillorgan Park Hotel

Thursday 2^nd February.

Complimentary finger food.

Tickets: €10 per person

Tickets available outside school daily at 8.30 am

or in secretary’s office – from Mon. 23^rd Jan.

If you wish to donate prizes for the Quiz please

contact: Linda McCann 086-8201974

 

Wednesday Letter, January 11th, 2012

St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Hollypark, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

 Dear Parents,

Athbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise daoibh go léir! We are all delighted to be back after the long break. The boys are happily back into their routines and are full of great intentions for the start of a new year.

PARENT/TEACHER meetings will be held on Jan 25^th and 26th. Teachers will be organising times with you over the next week.

Dates for your Diary:

Ceremony of Light – 6^th Class Boys – 24^th of April @ 7.30 p.m.

1^st Confession        - 2^nd  Class Boys  – 12^th of March @ 6.30 p.m.

Our January focus is on presentation of ourselves – uniform on correct day with uniform shoes. A ‘normal’ or school coat – no labelled hoodies – finishes off the uniform on these cold days! Presentation of work is of a very high standard with the boys. Margins, titles and fully joined writing are used from 2^nd class up. We look forward to displaying handwriting for all the boys from Senior Infants to Sixth at the end of the month. A reminder that we are still doing our fitness homework. Your son writes in the physical activity he did in his homework notebook – every day.

Classes from 1^st to 6^th have reading logs – which need to be filled in everyday also. Please encourage your son in his daily fiction reading – and fill in reading logs – this has a huge impact on all text based subjects.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown have issued us with a map of our area – showing times for walking to school from Newtownpark Avenue, Stillorgan Road, Foxrock Church etc. (see map on back). We would encourage you to drop your older son at the outer areas – or park your car there and walk with your younger son to the school. Traffic as you know is a nightmare and the walk will do us all good!

We will be starting the ‘Food Dudes’ programme next Monday – which will run for three weeks. All boys and teachers will be trying out, tasting and eating fruit and vegetables everyday and getting prizes for doing so! Another healthy habit being formed!

All boys are fully ‘independent’ at this stage. Please leave your son at his entrance door. If you need a meeting with the teacher – a time can be arranged without any difficulty. 8.40 a.m. is the busiest time for a teacher and not appropriate for a meeting.

There will be no ‘Games after School’ for this term as usual. Various other classes are taking place. Places are limited – so please return forms as soon as possible if you are interested.

Please send in a written note, to explain your child’s absence upon his return to school. Your son’s teacher is required to fill in the reason for any absence.

ADVERTISING ON THE BACK OF THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER – If you are interesting in placing an advertisement – please contact Mrs. L. McCann on 086-8201974 – cost €50.00 per quarter page for a two week period.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal                                                    (see map on back)>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

11.01.12.

Wednesday Letter, 14th January 2011

St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Hollypark, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

Dear Parents,

School will close at 12 noon for all pupils on Thursday the 22^nd of December for the Christmas, and will re-open on Monday the 9^th of January 2012.

 We are really getting very busy now in the run up to Christmas!

Yellow, green and black are the only colours we are interested in today however, as we go to Croke Park  for the Senior Gaelic football final.  Hopefully by the time you have read this, the boys will have returned with the trophy.  However, win, lose or draw we are so proud of the whole squad, who have worked so hard together all season and particularly over the last few weeks.  Thanks to Mr. O Donovan and Mr. Devlin for all their work with the team throughout the season.  Thanks to a great group of parents, who have ferried sons to matches, supported in huge numbers and motivated the boys so much.  Thanks also to Padraig Mac Donald from Kilmacud Crokes, who has arranged the post match celebration for the team in Glenalbyn.

Tomorrow it is the turn of our youngest boys, who will put on their Christmas Shows for their parents.  Senior Infants’ show will start at 9.30am. Junior Infants’ show will start at 11.30am.  A reminder – no buggies please!  Thanks to the teachers who have put in so much work to get the boys to this ‘great’ day.  Thanks to Miss O Neill who designed the magnificent backdrop for the shows.

Our 6th classes will put on their Carol Service on Monday night at 8p.m.  Preparations are going very well with welcome dulcet tones wafting through the school on a regular basis.  Thanks to the class teachers, to Mrs. Fennell for directing the singing and to Miss Murray for accompanying the boys.

Thanks to our wonderful Parents’ Association who have a busy few days ahead.  On Monday night they will be on duty at the Carol Service with the mulled wine and mince pies.  On Tuesday morning, they will be bringing Santa to the school.  At lunchtime they will be treating the staff to a lovely lunch.  We are very lucky and we appreciate all that they do.

Middle and senior classes are well into their tests at the moment and great revision has been done.  The three 5th classes will be delighted with the break tomorrow – they will go to the pantomime in The Gaiety.  Junior and Senior Infants will have an easier day on Friday, when they head to the Mill Theatre for a Christmas Show – this time as the audience. On Monday our 1st classes will go there also.

Our December focus is going well – with the boys bringing in lots of things for the St. Vincent de Paul hampers.  Hopefully you have been impressed with the jobs they are doing to earn their own money to buy items or vouchers.  Next Monday is the last day, so plenty time left!

Complimenting each other is certainly working in school and putting us all ‘in good cheer.’  I hope you’re having the same experience at home.

Congratulations to Dylan Tiernan (5th) who received his prize this morning in the Mansion House for winning the Fire Safety Competition.   We already received his prize for the school of 250 euro voucher.  Well done to  the band (mainly 6th) who performed at the two assemblies on Monday.  On guitar – Oisin Murray, Liam Bradley and Mr. Burke..  On guitar and vocals  – Cormac Robinson and Stephen Horgan.  On drums Samuel Loscher (3rd) Backing singers – Mr. Burke’s class.  Both audiences were seriously impressed.

Yours sincerely,

 

Helen Kelly

Principal

14.12.11.

Wednesday, December 7th 2011

St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Hollypark, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

Dear Parents,

Into December already and the weather is suitably cold and crisp – getting us all into the seasonal mood! Our focus for December is ‘The Real Meaning of Christmas – Doing Something for Others – Complimenting Others and Doing Good Deeds!

We are collecting foodstuffs and supermarket vouchers to make hampers ( St.Vincent de Paul Society), which will be distributed to needy families in the area, before Christmas.  We are encouraging the boys to do jobs to earn money so that they can provide something, themselves, for their class hampers. (See list of items/foods suggested by the VDP on back.)

We are all the time working on our two mottos, mainly for the yard –If it’s not nice don’t say it and if it’s not nice, don’t do it.  For December, we’re going a step further – saying nice things to each other, giving compliments and doing good deeds.  Expect to be appreciated over the next month for all you do for your sons.  The teachers are on the receiving end of the boys’ compliments and appreciation and the atmosphere in the school is very positive.  We hope you experience the same at home! Thursday is a Holy day and classes from 2nd to 6th will attend the 10.00am mass.

There is much excitement in the junior end of the school with the daily practicing for the Christmas shows, which take place on Thursday 15th December.  Our class numbers are very big and our hall is not.  Therefore, please do not bring any buggies – they cannot be accommodated in the hall.  Brothers will not attend the shows with their parents – they will have attended the rehearsal.  The rehearsals will be recorded and DVDs of the two shows will be available.  Small children and toddlers will need to be seated on your laps – parents and grandparents will have priority as regards chairs! Thank you for your co-operation in advance.

6th class boys will have their Carol Service on Monday 19th December at 8.00pm.  Two guests per child – again due to limitations on space!                     

 Friday is the last day to order Christmas annuals!

We are getting very excited now in the run up to our final in Croke Park.  The painting on the ‘car park’ window – drawn by Miss O Neill and painted by Mr. O Donovan’s class must be seen!  We hope to keep it there for a long time! 2nd to 6th will attend – the school will pay the entry fee for each boy and subsidise the cost of the buses also.  The remaining €4.00 needs to be sent in to your son’s class teacher as soon as possible.  Thanks to Paddy in ‘Pattersons’ Londis, Foxrock Avenue for supplying 30 appropriately green, 7up neck-warmers, for the team.

Miss Doherty’s class, with great help from Mrs. Tecklenborg, constructed a gingerbread village, with each boy making his own gingerbread house.  The rest of the school was madly jealous, as the smells from the oven wafted all over the school!

3rd classes are really good at doing projects.  Mrs. Smyth’s class just finished their projects on Peru and Mrs. Webbley’s are just beginning their projects on Spain.  They got off to a great start yesterday, thanks to a parent, Mrs. Drohan, who treated the class to a demonstration and tasting of Spanish food. They are armed now with recipes for paella and tortilla espanol, so you are in for a real treat.

Well done to Gary Galvin, who qualified for the Nationals in tennis, which will take place in Belfast. (following 5 serious matches last weekend).Congratulations to our two chess teams, Hollypark A won 4 – 0, and Hollypark B drew 2 – 2 in their first matches yesterday. Congratulations to our 6th class math’s team of Patrick Murphy, Joseph Clarke, Andrew Aling and Conor Gouraud, who came 2nd (by one point) in an inter-school math’s competition, with over 16 schools taking part, which took place last Wednesday. 11 out of the 24, 5th year Gonzaga boys, who were selected to go on a trip to Zambia are Hollypark boys! There will be an “Open House’ (10.00am -4.30pm) in “Kenson’ 39 Laurleen, Stillorgan on Friday.  €5.00 entry and delicious food, super prizes and a great get together is promised.  Parents and teachers have been especially invited.

Thanks to the Parents’ Association for decorating the school today and to a parent Dermot O’Dea for supplying us with a beautiful ‘real’Christmas tree.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

07.12.11.

Wednesday Letter, 30th November 2011

St. Patrick’s B.N.S., Hollypark, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

Dear Parents,

The end of November already, we can hardly believe it!  Standardised tests have taken place and senior classes are already preparing for their Christmas tests in all subjects.  Teachers have prepared a revision schedule for their classes.  It is great training for the boys to plan their work and will really stand them in good stead when they are in secondary school.  Please familiarize yourself with your son’s revision schedule and check that he is keeping himself up to date.

Fitness homework is progressing wonderfully and reading logs are being kept up to date.  These habits, which the boys are well used to, at this stage, have a huge impact on their learning and transfer to all areas of the curriculum.  Your support in overseeing these habits is invaluable for your sons.

I am delighted to be able to oversee their fitness and reading logs through their homework notebooks, on  a regular basis.  Hearing the fun books for 1st class every day is a particular treat and privilege for me.  To see their joy at their reading is fantastic and the level of progression is amazing.  Mrs. Fennell has the pleasure with the 2nd classes , my previous fun book boys , who at this stage have achieved a very impressive level of reading.  I’m delighted to be able to meet up with the 3rd class boys now every Friday – individually – to check in on the book they are reading for their reading log.  This daily habit, which is logged from 1st to 6th has a knock-on effect on all subjects and gives a fluency that transfers to all text based subjects – and gives our boys a huge strength that they carry with them into secondary school and beyond.  Your support in this area in building the habit and continuing it is vital.

Mrs Smyth’s class enthralled President O’Higgins last Wednesday in the Ark and nine of the boys were interviewed for radio and TV programmes.  Their quiet assured confidence was very impressive. The three third classes really enjoyed their experience in putting on a production. Speaking of productions, our Junior and Senior Infants are busily preparing for their Christmas shows.  The hall is coming under a lot of pressure for rehearsals and our middle and older boys are being very obliging with outside P.E. to accommodate their younger schoolmates. The level of projects on The Vikings, which are being produced in 4th class is staggering.  These are on display near their classrooms and around the school.  They also performed for both assemblies on Monday with percussion and rhythm Spike Milligan’s ‘On the Ning Nang Nong”. Our 3^rd classes are doing excellent projects on Peru at the moment. Mr. Burke’s class displayed their huge knowledge on Peru – for me this morning. Well done to Mr O’Donovan’s class who have done really interesting projects on 1916. Please feel free to view the wonderful projects on display.  Miss Morgan’s 5th class boys did a great job supporting their classmate Matthew at the funeral. of his dad last Thursday in Churchtown. The 5th classes had their accord day focusing on relationships, feelings etc. on Monday.  The facilitators were very impressed with the boys and hopefully it opens up channels for discussions for parents with their sons – who often at this stage may not be so forthcoming. Thanks to a 5th class parent , Dermot O’Dea, who organized an excellent presentation for the boys last Friday, on nutrition, health and exercise – greatly in keeping with our monthly focus!

Good luck to Oscar Quinn (6^th) who will be on RTE2 today at 4.20 p.m. singing with Cor na nOg.

Good luck to our four 6th class boys who make up our school maths team – they compete in a maths quiz this evening in Ballinteer.  Thanks to Mrs. Smyth for organizing the team.

Well done to our senior football team, who are training daily for the Croke Park final on the December 14^th at 1p.m. The rest of the school will begin making flags, hats, banners etc. We’re expecting a very high standard this year.  Seriously impressive ‘top’ hats were on display last week, made by Ethan (5th)and Caleb Ryan and Darrach Smyth.(2nd) Our football team will be the focus of an art display – on the windows overlooking the carpark. Thanks to Miss O’Neill for her artistic guidance.

 

Last orders for the Christmas Annuals – Friday the 9^th of December.

 Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

30.11.11.