Newsletters Archived

Junior Infants September 2011
Application Forms will be available from the office from Monday 04 October onwards.  Registration will take place on
15, 16 and 17 November 2010.

Meet & Greet Mornings
We are holding a series of informal meetings at 8.45am with the parents of each class grouping.  The meetings will take place in the Tigers Room on the dates listed below.  We request that you enter the school via the Diswellstown Door (Tigers Entrance) and up the blue stairs rather than through the main school entrance.

A Reminder re Dropping Off
We must ask that you please note the following important points:

• People may stop momentarily adjacent to the Bus parking area to drop off children. 
• Please move as far up as possible on that stretch (to the gate past the pedestrian entrance) so that six or seven cars can drop off at the same time. 
• For their safety, children should be dropped only on the school side of the road.
• Please do not stop on the roundabout. 
• Please also 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., 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.

Junior Infants Schoolbooks
We ask all parents of Junior Infant children to please ensure that all your child’s schoolbooks are sent into school by Monday 27 September. 

Homework Club
As there were only a limited number of places available, Homework Club is now full.

Parking
Thank you to the majority of parents who show due consideration to our neighbours when parking in the locality.  Unfortunately, a small number of individuals are not cooperating in this matter and therefore jeopardise the safety of children and the good relationship we enjoy with local residents.  Please do not park on grass verges, in front of driveways, opposite continuous white lines, at corners, etc.    
Tigers After School Care
There are a number of places left in the “Hour Club” (1.10pm – 2.10pm). Please contact Tigers directly on 086 2253781. For more information or to download Information Pack, please see www.tigersafterschoolcare.com.

Extra Curricular Activities
Choir Members
All choir members are requested to please remember to bring a folder for their music to choir practice on Friday.  Thank you, Ms Meade.

Irish Club
Irish Club will commence on 28 September.  Children attending should line up on Line 2 outside the Diswellstown Door (Tigers Door) at 2.10pm.

Children's Swimming Classes
Starting Wednesday 29 September from 3-4pm(1hr session).8 week Course - €68 per child. Finglas Leisure Centre, Mellows Road, Finglas (beside Fire Station & opposite new Garda Station). New Teachers, in a Warm New Pool. Spaces still available. Contact Ron Boyle at 087-2584970 or e-mail swimclass@eircom.net.

Tennis/Volleyball/Badminton/Table-Tennis
Tennis/Volleyball and Badminton classes are now full.
There are a number of spaces still available for Table-Tennis.

Spanish for Children
New Spanish classes (La Jolie Ronde) for Junior & Senior Infants starting Tuesday 28th September at 1.15 (11 classes for the price of 10!). Some places still available Tuesdays @ 1.45 for pre-school children. For more information please check out www.spanishclasses4children.com / contact Mary on 087 267 4809. Gracias!

French for Children (3 – 12 year olds per age group)
Places left especially for older children 9+. Give your child the chance to learn basic vocabulary & must have grammar at ease with La Jolie Ronde yearly course as he/she will be expected to learn so much in a couple of years when starting 1st year in challenging secondary school environment.  Children at Tigers After Care can attend classes too. Contact Sabine on 087 227 9027 or visit www.frenchforchildren.ie

Learn Arabic and Urdu in CCC!  
Do you want to improve your first language?  Arabic & Urdu Learning Centres will be established in Castleknock Community College - (directions see www.castleknockcc.ie) - at the end of September.  These classes are for students whose first language is either Arabic or Urdu and are designed to help students to be able to communicate with their relatives in their heritage country.  The classes will be conducted by trained teachers on interactive boards.  Fee is €2 per student per week or €3 per family; a deposit of €20 will be refunded at the end of the year if student has 80% class attendance.  Classes every Thursday from 4:30-6:00 pm.  REGISTRATION is Thursday September 30, 2010 from 4.30 to 6.00 in CCC.  More volunteer teachers needed in above languages + Russian and Romanian! CONTACT FAUZIA: Home 8249835 Mobile 0862380909 Email learningcentre@castleknockcc.ie

Science Club/Science Committee
What is Science? Science is about people developing an understanding of the world around us and how different parts of that world interact with each other.  

Nowadays, we often hear of the importance of science to our economy and to the success of future generations.  With this in mind, a number of parents and teachers came together a few years ago, to discuss how they could best promote an interest in science amongst the children in the school.  The outcome: an informal science committee was set up with the aim of promoting Science within our school and sowing the seeds of interest in science and engineering at an early age. 

Resulting from that, an after school Science Club was set up in the school three years ago.   It is for our 5th class pupils and it is held on the 2nd Tuesday of every month for the duration of 1-1.5 hrs.  This is provided to approx 25 children.  It has proved a great success with the children and helped to heighten their interest in science related matters. 

Some of the lessons/workshops we have given ourselves (committee members) but more frequently in the last couple of years, we had a number of very good speakers come in to us (outreach programmes from industry/universities), to speak with the children, to give demonstrations and to carry out hands-on activities.  Also, we have gone on visits to IBM, “Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown” and “Luttrellstown Community College”.

Firstly, the school would like to acknowledge and thank John McCarthy, Lisa Raftery, Mike Kehoe and Noreen Hudson for their time and energy over the years in assisting the Science Club in many different ways.   We would also like to hear from any other parents who feel that they might have something to offer the science committee/Science Club.    You may have a science, a medical or
engineering background or be working in a related field and have valuable contacts. You might be willing to offer your time to come into a Science Club workshop and give a demonstration/talk (or you could know someone who might be willing to do similar).   Or you may just have a few cool ideas which help us to keep changing and making it more interesting for the children.  Either way, the science committee is happy to hear from you.   Please email us at info@stpatricksns.ie

St Patrick’s Parents Directory
Your First Choice for Products and Services supplied by parents.
Visit www.stpatricksns.ie for more information or see insert in your child’s
Homework Journal.
Thank you to Leinster HRV for their sponsorship of our Homework Journal.

St Patrick’s National School, Diswellstown
Parents’ Association AGM

Wednesday, 29th September 2010
8pm

AGENDA

1. Apologies
2. 2009 Minutes
3. Chairperson’s Address
4. Treasurer’s Report
5. Election of Committee
6. Adoption of revised PA Constitution
7. Principal’s Address
8. Daniel Collins, Chairperson, Board of Management - Update on new access path to school
9. Report on PA Questionnaire to Parents
10. Close of meeting

*   Refreshments after meeting   *