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.

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.

 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.

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.

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.

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.

Dear Parents,

We are really enjoying the unseasonably mild weather – it’s giving us a great opportunity to keep up with our fitness focus for November.  We were almost as fortunate with the weather for our Parents’ Association’s ‘Sport for most of the day’ day last Friday.   It was a wonderful day and reports back from our off campus groups were very positive.  Our younger boys enjoyed all their sports and the mucky conditions in Granada and the top pitch, in no way put them off.

Thanks to the Parents’ Association Committee for putting so much work into organizing the day. It was a great success. Thank you parents for all your support – you raised €16,515.40. The younger classes were very taken with the karate and the middle classes loved the soccer skills.  Details for these particular sports are on our general notice at the top of the stairs.

Thanks also to the Parents’ Association for organizing a talk (and discussion) for parents of 4th, 5th and 6th class boys on the transition from primary to secondary school.  It was an interesting talk and a good opportunity for parents to share their fears and hopes.  Even though at times – I found myself worrying for our poor boys as they make this big step – it is worth noting that our boys generally settle very well.  They do receive good support in their new schools and we are still always looking out for them!  If parents feel we can be of help at secondary level, we are always available.  I have met many parents from the senior classes regarding secondary schools and their son specifically.  If you would like a meeting, please make an appointment with the secretary.

Mrs. Mc Carrick’s 5th class had a great morning last Thursday, in Deansgrange Library, getting involved in many scientific experiments.  Pictures of our young scientists can be seen outside their class and on the website.  Miss Larkin’s class, also enjoyed a trip to the library, yesterday and are spurred on even further, with their reading.

As you know, we really do have the most talented teachers, in class and out!  I alerted you two weeks ago to ‘Pitch Perfect’ a series featuring Miss Murray on TG4 on Monday nights at 8.00pm.  Congratulations also to Miss Dennan, who was brilliant in ‘Sweet Charity’ , which ran in the Draiocht Theatre, last week from Tuesday to Saturday.  No wonder our ‘glee’ class is so popular!

Our three 3rd classes visited The Ark – in Temple Bar, on different days this week – for a drama workshop.  We look forward to hearing their reports.  Mrs Smyth’s class was delighted to have been invited today, to conduct their workshop for our new president.  The boys were excellent and President O Higgins was very impressed.  We look forward to seeing the photos!

Congratulations to Dylan Tiernan (5th) who won the Dublin Fire Safety Competition. He will attend a prize giving ceremony in The Mansion House in December.Well done to Evan Walshe and Patrick Murphy, who represented Hollypark brilliantly in the recent Leinster Minor Schools Swimming Championships.

Our Senior football players are very serious now in their training for the ‘big match’ in Croke Park on December 14th at 1.00p.m.  They have training everyday at lunchtime and two practice matches this week!

I am delighted to be able to pass on a link to a fantastic resource for mental health, mentalhealth-support.ie – the brainchild of Professor Eadbhard O Callaghan, a parent, who died last year.  It is a tremendous legacy to him and will be a huge support to families with questions and issues about various mental health issues, including psychosis, depression, anxiety etc    It provides very accessible information, courses and strategies for coping – when one wants or needs to access it.  The use of video, role play etc really does make it real and user friendly.

The three teachers unions are organizing a focus on education week, next week.  There are various protests, activities etc, planned to highlight the cuts planned in the December budget  – cuts which will seriously impact on primary schools – on our school.  Increase in class size, loss of funding, decrease in learning support and special needs assistants etc.  Our Parents’ Association have our T.D.s addresses. We would urge you to write to your local T.D.s in the next week,  or attend their clinics so that they are aware of the level of discontent in the school community for these measures.

Thank you to all those parents, who have made a voluntary contribution.  It is much appreciated and greatly helps support the running of our school.

LOST PROPERTY – there are countless items in the lost property – please get your son to collect items he is missing.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

23.11.11.

 Dear Parents,

It’s great to be back after the Halloween break!  The boys are all re-energised  and raring to go!   The assembly on Monday for 1st / 2nd and 3rd was filled with excitement – the boys were so delighted to see each other and to share their news – it was difficult to get a word in edgeways!  4ths and 5ths were more relaxed and decidedly less excited.  There is some fabulous art and pieces of writing from our 6th classes on our website at the moment.  Well worth a look. We look forward to updating this regularly with work from other standards also.

There is a great air of anticipation in the school in preparation for our sponsored ‘sport for most of the day ‘ day.  Our Parents Association has been very busy putting together a very exciting program for the day. We hope you have been impressed with all the jobs the boys have been doing to earn sponsorship.  3rd, 4th , 5th and 6th classes will be involved in sporting activities of a varied nature in locations away from school.   There will be some cost involved in this, which will be taken from the proceeds, so it is important that the boys make a serious effort to do as well as they can with the sponsorship. Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd will have the opportunity to try various sports, gaelic football, hurling, rugby, basketball and to be treated to a karate display in some cases.  It promises to be a thrilling day – this, the main fundraiser for our Parents’ Association. Member of the Parents’ Association will be in the school every morning next week from 8.40 – 9.15 to collect sponsorship cards for the Sports’ Blitz. Please return all cards even if they are not filled in.

We are thrilled to announce that you recently raised €2,150 for the school with the bags of clothes you donated and further money was donated to Laura Lynn House. Thanks to the Parents’ Association for organising this event.

Our attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest Gaelic training session due to take place on the 17th November is now being changed to Thursday the 29th of March.  There is much planning involved and we want to make sure we are all well ready to break the record.  It also affords us more time to locate a sponsor or sponsors for the event.  We will keep you informed.

Congratulations to Miss Murray who did us proud in the first program in the new series ‘Pitch Perfect’ on TG4 on Monday night at 7.30pm.  We look forward to seeing her in action again next Monday.

Parents of 4th, 5th and 6th classes are invited to a talk on the transition from primary school to secondary school on Thursday, 17th November at 8.00pm in the school hall.  This will be followed by tea, coffee etc provided by the Parents Association.  Please return the note to your son’s teacher – we need to know the numbers attending.

The HSE Dublin Psychology Service is holding information talks in the area, which are free of charge.  The next talk will be on November 23rd – Friendship and Social Skills.  You need to register your interest in advance. (01- 2822122).  Three further talks are scheduled.  Homework and Organizational Skills – January 18th.  Dealing with Worries and Fears – February 22nd.  Supporting Good Behaviour – March 22nd.

Only one match away from Croke Park! The very best of luck to our senior team, who will play in the semi-final tomorrow, against St. Laurences in Deerpark.

I was delighted to be invited to view Mrs. Smyth’s 3rd class’ projects on ‘The Celts’.  Their knowledge on the subject and their ability to impart it was very impressive.

Please note the new markings at collection points.  There is a waiting area for 1st – 6th parents etc at the railing.  Please do not stand at the wall.  The path needs to be kept clear for people walking through and for the boys themselves.  In the past the boys were being forced to walk out on the road behind the barrier. Junior Infant waiting area is now clearly marked.  Please stand behind the curved line, which will ensure plenty space for your son to come down the path.  Thank you parents in advance for your co-operation in this area.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

09.11.11.

 Dear Parents,

Mid-term already – it is hard to believe it!  The boys and teachers have been working so hard over the last two months and have made a fantastic start to the year’s work.  Strong routines have been set up.   Hopefully the boys will get a good rest and plenty of activity over the break – returning to us with renewed energy and enthusiasm on November 7th.

Please read the safety tips for Halloween on the back of this letter. All classes have been doing very colourful, spooky art on this – a favourite theme ! I was delighted to have been invited to the Junior Infant Halloween show in the hall this morning.  The level of song singing and word learning is  amazing, in boys who are less than two months in the school.  Mrs. Regan, Miss Coghlan and Miss O Neill have made an incredible start to the year with our youngest boys.

Our Parents’ Association main fundraiser takes place on Friday 18th November.  Our ‘sport for most of the day’ day promises to be our best ever.  Our senior classes will be involved in sports in other locations!   We will have rugby coaches, soccer coaches, hurling coaches and football coaches on our premises for the day, fully concentrating on the remaining classes.  Details will follow.

Each boy will receive his sponsorship card on Friday.  If you have more than one son in the school, please note that un-used cards must be returned – please do not throw out! We have discussed with the boys the idea of doing some useful jobs over the mid-term break to earn their sponsorship!  The boys are very entrepreneurial and have come up with many ways of providing services to their customer base!! You will be impressed.

Well done to our senior team who are through to the semi-final.  The team was behind by two points, with 1 minute left in the game.  With nerves of steel, Eoin Barr took the free, which Luke Hannigan finished off with a perfect goal.  A very difficult game to watch! We can’t wait for the semi-final!

Well done to Conor Kane (5th) who has been chosen to play on a SDFL select soccer team.  This Dublin team will play against Kildare on Monday.

There are magnificent history projects on display outside the three 5th classes – on The Celts, The Normans and The Famine.  These are well worth a look and will be going home on Friday.

Mrs. Fennell has been doing much work on creative writing with 5th and 6th classes.   Some of the 5th class pieces are on display outside her room.  Some 6th class creative pieces are being entered in a writers’ competition.

Well done to Eoin O Mahony (2nd) who delighted the 1st/2nd/3rd class assembly with his piano playing on Monday.  We look forward to having other pupils perform for us at assemblies.

The Senior Infants have gone hurling mad and are wildly enthusiastic about their Tuesday classes with Niall.

I attended a course on Friday – to inform principals about the Department of Education’s new strategy on numeracy and literacy – which we are tasked with implementing over the next year.  Having just done our standardized tests – we will be analyzing the data, then as a staff identifying target areas for us to work on.  We will be including you the parents in the process.  When targets have been identified, we will go through them with you so that you can support implementation of the strategy at home.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

26.10.11.

 SAFETY TIPS FOR A HAPPY HALLOWEEN

 §      Do not leave material lying around that may be taken for a bonfire.

§      Do not facilitate illegal bonfires or firework displays on or near your home or property.

§      Contact the Fire Brigade or Local Authority if you see a bonfire being built or lit close to buildings, trees, overhead cables, underground services or car parking spaces.

§      Stay a safe distance from bonfires and fireworks – wind may carry sparks long distances which may cause permanent injuries and scars.

§      Do not buy, use or supply fireworks.

§      Keep pets indoors around Halloween night – they are sensitive to noise.

§      Every year Dublin Fire, Emergency Ambulance and Rescue Service answer in excess of 1,100 calls over the Halloween period.

§      Remember it can be a dangerous night, children should not be out unaccompanied. Stay with your children and escort them on “trick or treat” visits.

§      Bring you children along to organised supervised events throughout Dublin City and County.

SEE DUBLINCITY.IE for full safety leaflet.

Dear Parents,

• Parents’ Association’s Bags2School ‘fundraiser’.Bags can be dropped into the school hall on Oct 17th,18th, and 19th – not before those dates please!

• The Parents’ Association will hold its A.G.M. on the 20th of October at 8.00 p.m.  A new committee will be elected.

• School will be closed on Thursday 27^th of October – Presidential Election

Our focus for October is on manners, courtesy and respect.  We are using our two mottos  – If it’s not nice, don’t say it – and – If it’s not nice, don’t do it – particularly at times outside of the classroom.  Please encourage your son to adopt these mottos.  It really does make life much easier for everyone concerned.  If your son is having some issue, please encourage him to let the teacher or myself know about it – when it happens.  If we know about it we can do something to resolve the situation!  It is empowering if your son can be the one to look for help.

Monday was a very exciting day in our school.  Our Junior Infants celebrated ‘Independence Day’ – with all boys coming into school from their entrance door – on their own.   They now leave the building with their teacher in the afternoon.  The boys are delighted with themselves.  Thank you parents for having your boys in school on time at 8.40am.  For all classes, the first 20 minutes of the school day are most important.

Senior Infants have been very busy hurling with Niall – and designing and making their own percussion instruments , which are on display outside their classrooms.  Well worth a look!

Ist classes are doing a brilliant job on their funbooks and their fitness homework.  They have themselves in a great routine and have settled into the longer day with very little difficulty.

2nds are doing the most beautiful artwork, very interesting maths , based on boxes of smarties – and have begun hurling with Mr. Burke.  Artwork and maths projects are on display outside their rooms.

3rds have very impressive art on display in their ‘wing’.  Projects on presidential candidates are very informative, with one on each candidate on display outside the hall.  They should be useful to voters on the day of the election – 27th October – which takes place in the school hall.

4ths are finishing projects on countries involved in the rugby world cup and have been working on ‘If it’s not nice – don’t say it’ posters which will be displayed throughout the school.

5th classes did great work on National Tree Day last week and could be found in various locations around the grounds examining , measuring and sketching trees! Their entries for Dun Laoghaire Garda station art competition really impressed the Guard who collected them.

In 6thclass the standard of creative writing in both English and Irish is phenomenal.   The presentation of their work is also superb.  Their secondary schools will be very lucky to get them next year.  Artwork inspired by a tiny scrap of a picture is very impressive and well worth a look!

Brilliant news. Well done to our Junior A team and our Junior B team – both teams winning – impressively in Glenalbyn yesterday against St. Laurences and Bishop Galvin. Well done boys. Mr. O’Donovan, Miss Power and Mr. McEvoy are delighted with the teams!

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

12.10.11.