Wednesday Letter, 24th November 2011

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

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.

UNIFORMITY – SCHOOL UNIFORM SALE – STARTING THE 26^th NOVEMBER – 20^th DECEMBER.

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.

Wednesday Letter, 6th November 2011

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

 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.

Wednesday Letter, 26th October 2011

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

 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.

Wednesday Letter, 5th October 2011

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

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.

Parents’ Association AGM

Notice of AGM

The AGM of the Hollypark Boy’s Parents’ Association takes place
on Thursday 20^th October in the school hall @ 20:00.

AGENDA

1. Address by Mr. Walter Hobbs, Board of Management.

2. Address by Mrs. Helen Kelly, School principal.

3. Minutes of the 2010 AGM (16^th November 2010).

Proposed by:- Seconded by:-

4. Report on the past year’s activities – Mrs. Linda McCann, Chairperson.

Proposed by:- Seconded by:-

5. Treasurer’s Report – Mrs. Jo-Ann Crowley.

Proposed by:- Seconded by:-

6. Election of Committee for 2011/12.

7. Any Other Business.

Cormac Bradley

Secretary

4^th October 2011.

 Nominations to the Committee

The Parent’s Association is a group of approximately 20 people who meet once a month from September to June to plan, co-ordinate and host a variety of events throughout the school year to raise funds to support the school’s education and development of your sons and to host events that occur in the school calendar, including the Valentine’s Day Cake Sale, the 6^th Class Carol Service, the 6^th Class Graduation Night, Holy Communion Tea & Coffee, Confirmation morning, Teachers’ Night, Book Fair, Junior Infants’ First Morning tea & coffee, Sports Day and other events.

If you would like to join the Parents’ Association for 2011/12, please submit your details (below) to the School Office.

Name:________________________________ Contact No.________________

Class(es) your son(s) is(are) in:_____________

 

Wednesday Letter, 5th October 2011

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

Dear Parents,

School will be closed on Thursday 27^th Oct for the Presidential Election

A new month and a new focus! Manners, courtesy and respect.

The boys in general are very mannerly and our 6th class boys in particular are wonderful in this area and give great example to the younger boys. Respect is a bigger issue and the boys are focusing on treating others as they would like to be treated. For the yard – we will be adopting two mottos for the month. ‘If it’s not nice – don’t say it’ and ‘If it’s not nice – don’t do it’

Please encourage your son to talk to the teacher on yard, his own teacher or me – if there is an issue on yard that is upsetting him. If we know about it – we can do something about it. It is also empowering for a child if he can come forward with the concern himself. We realize that is not always possible but it is the most speedy and effective way of sorting out a problem.

We look forward to welcoming the parents of our Junior Infants to a meeting with their son’s teacher, in their son’s classroom – tomorrow evening at 7.30pm. Thanks to members of the Parents’ Association who will be hosting a get together for the parents afterwards in the hall.

We hope you are all well into de-cluttering at home, as you fill bags of old clothes, shoes, soft toys etc, for our Parents’ Association’s Bags2School ‘fundraiser’.Bags can be dropped into the school hall on Oct 17th,18th, and 19th – not before those dates please!

Our Green Schools Committee is being set up. All classes are busy saving energy, turning off lights and charting their progress three times daily. (Thanks to Miss Hynes for organizing us) The senior end of the school have been competing to come up with our own green code, which will be adopted by the schools. Some of the entries can be seen on our Green Schools Board. I was fortunate to be in Mrs. Mc Carrick’s class, when Mr. Ryan was filming some of the boys who had composed a song for the school’s green code. The Junior end of the school are competing to design the cover for the classes’ green school code and score sheet. In the next two weeks, thanks to Miss Dennan, boys on the committee will be tasked with inspecting classrooms on their adherence to the code. We look forward to that!

The election for two parent positions ( one father, one mother) to the new Board of Management – which will run for four years from the end of November – will take place on the night of the Parents’ Association A.G.M. on October 20th. Nominations – which need to be seconded can be dropped in to the office – for the attention of the Parents’ Association.

Well done to our Junior A and Junior B teams who played against Johnstown and St. Brigid’s respectively in and Meadowvale. They were two hard fought games. Well done to the A team who had a great win in a well matched game. Hard luck to the B Team who lost their match – but played the best second half – we have seen in a long time. Thanks to Mr. O Donovan, Miss Power and Mr. Mc Evoy for all the time and energy they give to their teams. It’s great to see all our sets of jerseys being used every week. Mr. Wade is under pressure with the washing machine

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

05.10.11.

 

Wednesday Letter, 28th September 2011

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

Dear Parents,

The last week in September already – it is hard to believe it. The boys have settled in to excellent routines and are working very hard. Fitness and reading are being ingrained as daily habits and the benefits are already being seen in schoolwork. Your involvement has been essential in building up consistency in these areas – which really is the key.

Junior Infant parents are invited to a meeting in their son’s classroom with his class teacher – next Thursday – 6th October. This will be followed by a ‘social’ get together in the hall, put on by our wonderful Parents’ Association. In November they have also planned a talk for 5th/6th class parents on the transition from primary to secondary school, again followed by a social get together ! Details to follow.

Junior Infants will be celebrating ‘Independence Day’ on Monday 10th October. From then, in the mornings they will come in by their entrance door on their own and in the afternoons, they will be brought out, by their teacher to the Junior Infant pick-up point. Boys from senior infants to sixth have long since celebrated ‘independence’- they come into school on their own from their entrance door. Your son’s teacher will be delighted to meet with you to discuss your son’s progress – but at 8.40am – the class requires all of the teacher’s attention.

The Parents’ Association will hold its A.G.M. on the 20th of October. A new committee will be elected. We would really encourage you to get involved either on the committee or as a volunteer at one of their many functions. Your sons are so proud when they see you involved in their school!

The Board of Management is also coming to the end of its four – year term. Two parents will need to be elected – one mother and one father. Nominations (which have to be seconded) can be sent into the office for the attention of the Parents’ Association. Elections will be held on the night of the A.G.M. also.

There is much art, news and creative writing inspired by the dubs’ win, on display throughout the school. We’re looking forward to welcoming the Sam Maguire to our school on the week of the 17th of October. The 3rd class wing has beautiful art and projects on display. Van Gogh is inspiring 2nd, Dublin landmarks are inspiring 5th, clowns are everywhere in Senior Infants and 1sts are busy printing. 4ths are beginning projects and Junior Infants are colouring and cutting at an impressive rate! 6ths are making a great start on their Confirmation Yearbooks and generally being a great example to all the younger pupils. You are very welcome to wander through the school to admire the wonderful work, at any time.

A reminder – we have a healthy eating policy – sweets, chocolate biscuits, crisps, fizzy drinks are not permitted. Teachers have commented on the unhealthy nature of some lunches and the effect it has on the boys in question. Some boys may have ‘forgotten’ and need to start again now with a healthy lunch!

Senior Infants began hurling yesterday with coach and Dublin hurler – Niall Corcoran. The excitement was palpable! Niall was very impressed with their first session and looks forward to seeing them up in Kilmacud Crokes in the near future.

Hard luck to our two junior gaelic teams who lost yesterday. The Junior A’s lost in the dying minutes by a point and the Junior B’s had a thrilling match but it was not to be! We look forward to the next outing for both teams.

New traffic arrangements at the girls’ schools entrance. There are two pedestrian gates, which are now protected by new barriers. Pedestrians – please use the gate at the end of the footpath that you are using. Do not cross the road in front of the gates. Motorists – please note the new stop sign and road markings. Thanks to one of our parents -Lucy Reilly – for organizing a traffic committee over the last year, to try and improve the situation outside both schools and to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, for carrying out the works.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Kelly

Principal

 

Wednesday Letter, 21st September 2011

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

 

Dear Parents,

Dates for your diary -

Confirmation for 6^th Class boys – Thursday 3^rd of May

Communion for 2^nd Class boys – Saturday 19^th of May.

The school is still on a high after the Dubs winning the all-Ireland on Sunday. There has been much art and writing devoted to the topic which is on display throughout the school. We are looking forward to welcoming our past pupil Kevin Nolan and some of the other Dublin players, to our school with ‘The Sam Maguire’ within the next two weeks.

We also hope to make it into The Guinness Book of Records, when we attempt to hold the biggest gaelic football training session on a day in November. Details nearer the day!!

Our Parents’ Association is holding a fundraiser in October. Please see details on the back of this letter. No money will be required from you – you will be delighted to know.

There are a few places left for Swimming in Glenalbyn on Mondays in Glenalbyn from 3 – 3.45 p.m., any parents with boys in SENIOR INFANTS interested may collect a form in the office.

We have no doubt that some of our present pupils will make it onto the Dublin football and hurling teams, the skill level and the enthusiasm is so high. We had two Junior teams playing league matches yesterday. Junior A’s had a very tough match against St. Brigid’s and despite a great effort, lost. We look forward to their next match. Our Junior B’s suffered a defeat against Knocklyon in Marley. Miss Power and Mr. Mc Evoy were impressed with the team spirit and expect great things of this team.

Miss Hynes’ class is showing up in huge numbers for mini-olympic handball in the hall on Wednesday mornings at 8.15am

All the boys are working very hard on the September focus and the presentation of work and handwriting is excellent. Please encourage your sons with this. Reading logs for the most part are up to date from 1st to 6th. Please check this and the ‘fitness homework’ when you are checking homework. Your involvement really does make such a difference.

A reminder of our ‘mobile phone ‘ policy. Your son should not have a mobile in school with him. If he needs to contact you, he can go to the secretary’s office. If you need your son to have a mobile phone with him, please write a letter to me outlining the reason. Only boys whose parents have requested can have a phone, which is turned off during school. Other phones will be confiscated.

Parents of boys in 4th, 5th, and 6th, – we strongly recommend that your sons do not have a facebook page. There have been unsavoury issues in the past. The boys need to be able to relate in the real world – not the virtual world! Strict monitoring of time on the computer is also essential. The knock on effect of too much time on computers and computer games, can clearly be seen, by teachers, on concentration levels shown in school.

Le dea-ghui,

Helen Kelly

Principal