Newsletters Archived

Staff Meeting
There will be a Staff Meeting on Monday 14 September.
All children will finish at 12.00noon.

School Calendar
Christmas Holidays should read as follows:
23/12/09 - 06/12/09 inclusive. (School will close at 11.30am on Tuesday 22/12/09).

Swine Flu - General Information for Parents
The above document is available on our website www.stpatricksns.ie. It is also available online in Russian, Arabic, Polish and Chinese.

Staff Car Park
Please note that parents are not permitted to park in the Staff Car Park when dropping or collecting children. If you are returning to the school to drop off forgotten lunches, schoolbags, etc. during the school day, we would ask that you park in the bus stop area and enter via the Pedestrian Gate. (Please close gates after you leave). Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Wanted - Parent Helpers
As the number of pupils in the school is increasing at such a rapid rate, we anticipate an ongoing need for "helping hands". If you are available and would like to help, please leave your details on the sheet on the Parents Information Notice Board inside the main door of the school.

Bedtime for School-going children
Health professionals recommend that "A school child usually needs to sleep about 10 hours every night. Children who don't get a good night's sleep cannot get the best out of school the next day."

Procedure for Entry to School Building
St Patrick's N.S. opens for classes at 8.30am. Once the class has lined up and is brought in, the door will be closed. If your child arrives after the door has closed, they should follow the procedure below:

• Children who arrive between 8.30 and 8.50am should make their way to the Blanchardstown Door, which is the first door on the right hand side of the school.
• If you arrive after 8.50am, please use the main entrance, as you must sign your child's name into the Sign-In Book.
• In order to minimise disruption to the school day, parents are asked not accompany children to classrooms at this time.

RSE Course 2009-2010
The overall aim of this course is to help parents in their role as relationships and sexuality educators at home and as partners in the school RSE Programme. The National Parents Council (Primary), in conjunction with the Crisis Pregnancy Agency offers an RSE Course for parents. Our Parents' Association Committee is considering organising the above course in the school. The course will comprise of six 2½ hr morning sessions (run over six weeks). The minimum number of participants is 10; the maximum number of participants is 15. If you are interested in taking part in this course, please phone/text Karen Kearney on 087 4187253. The course will only proceed if the minimum number of participants is achieved.

Safer Blanchardstown Community Safety Week Events
Sunday 20 September (after 11.00 and 12.15 mass in St Thomas Church): Young Peoples Access to Alcohol (YPAA) alcohol awareness campaign.
Wednesday 24 September from 7.30pm - 9.00pm: Parent Talk entitled "Growing up under the influence?" This workshop will focus on the impact of alcohol use on children, as well as looking at the factors that influence alcohol use and will provide ideas and tips for talking with young people about drinking.

Homework Club
Homework Club recommences on Tuesday 15 September. Forms are available beside the Parent Information Notice Board.

Extra Curricular Activities
Speech & Drama (DramaWorks)
Apologies for the omission of Enrolment and contact details from last week's Newsletter. If your child/children are interested in joining, please contact Clodagh directly on 086 3736056 for information & booking.

FRENCH for children 3-12 years
Enrolment is now taking place for new term of French classes starting from 10th September 2009. French native teacher is using the excellent La Jolie Ronde methodology, www.lajolieronde.co.uk, with excellent books & CDs to practise between classes. Very young children learn French so easily and it is an excellent preparation for secondary school for older children. A few places are available in particular in the pre-school class 3-5 years & also in the 8-12 years class so to ensure your child starts this September, please contact Mrs Sabine Maher on 087 227 9027 or 01 442 8237. Merci!

Basketball
Anyone who has not received a letter notifying them of a place in Basketball has not been successful. However, the "lottery" process will be repeated again at the end of this term for places next term.

Badminton Coaching
On Friday 25 September, Jackie Killoch (Badminton Ireland) will begin a course of 10 lessons for children from 3rd - 6th class. Classes will run each Friday from 2.10 - 3.10pm and priority will be given to older children. There will be a max of 24 children accepted. The cost of the full course is €25. Those interested, please sign the Badminton Sheet located on the Parent Information Notice Board.

The Music House
There will be no Music House this school year.

Choir
Friday Choir is free and all children from 2nd to 6th classes are welcome. Choir practice starts at 2:10pm. All children attending MUST LEAVE THEIR CLASSROOM and line up outside the Diswellstown Door on line number 1. The children will be let out at the Diswellstown Door at 3:10pm. Look forward to seeing you all then, Ms Meade.

Private Singing Lessons
Private Singing Lessons with Geraldine Meade (B.A.Mus, H.Dip in Ed.) available in Ongar on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Termly fee for ½ hour lesson: one child €200, two siblings €360, three siblings €540 etc. is due on 1st lesson. To book a place, contact Geraldine at Tel: +353 86 4056533 or email: geraldinemeade@gmail.com.

Musical Theatre & Singing Classes
There are still some places available in the 1.10 p.m. and 2.10 p.m. musical theatre classes. Term 1 begins on Tuesday, 15th September and the fee for 15 weeks is €150. For further details, please contact Toni Martin (A.L.C.M., L.L.S.M.) at martin.toni1@gmail.com or 087 7913714.