St. Patrick's National School, Diswellstown, Castleknock.

Email: info@stpatricksns.ie Phone: 01 824 9930 Fax: 01 824 9928

Address: Diswellstown Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15, D15 PH21.

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Newsletters Archived

Week Ending 19th January 2007
Application Forms - Junior Infants September 2007
Application Forms and copies of the revised Enrolment Policy will be available for collection from the Main Office from 30 January onwards. Registration Week will take place from 12 to 15 March inclusive.

Parent-Teacher Meetings
Parent-Teacher Meetings will take place on Tuesday 13 February. On this day, First to Fourth Classes will go home at 1.55pm as directed by the Department of Education & Science (Infants will go home at their usual time). It will not be possible to meet with all parents on one day so some of you will be given appointments for another time. Details will follow from class teachers. While we are making every effort to accommodate siblings on the 13th, this may not always be possible due to the large numbers in the school.

In-Service Training for Teachers
We have just received notice that the next In-Service Training day will take place on Tuesday 27 February. The school will therefore be closed on that date.

Road Safety
It is extremely important that we set a good example to our children with regard to Road Safety. The Traffic Warden service is provided to help you and your child cross the road safely. We would urge you to use the service.

Unaccompanied Children
Pupils may not enter the school grounds until the pedestrian gates open at 8.20am. Under no circumstances should children enter the school premises via the Staff Car Park gate at any time. We would ask that all Infant children be accompanied by a parent/guardian until handed over to the care of their teacher at 8.30am. Children who make their own way to school should time their arrival for 8.30am.

Sick Children at School
It is not necessary to telephone the school if your child is sick. Absence due to illness should be advised in writing to the class teacher on your child's return, either by a note or in their homework journal.
As per page 19 of the School Booklet: "Please do not send sick children to school for the following reasons:
• They are unable to cope with the demands of school when they are unwell.
• All break-time supervision is concentrated entirely on the yard for safety reasons.
• Infection spreads rapidly in the confinement of the classroom."

Contact Details
It is essential that we have the correct address and contact details (e.g. telephone, parents' mobile numbers) for your child on our database. If any of your details have changed since the beginning of the school year, please complete a Change of Address/Contact Details Form.

Moving House?
If you are moving house and your child/children will be leaving St Patrick's, it is vital that you make contact with the class teacher or the Main Office. It will be necessary for you to complete a Transfer Form. We have a number of children on waiting lists for all classes and we would like to be able to offer places on as quickly as possible.

Labelling of School Uniform
It is important that all items of your child's school uniform be clearly labelled, particularly cardigans, jumpers and coats. It is impossible for class teachers to establish ownership of jumpers, cardigans and sweatshirts if the child's name is not on them. For your information and convenience, name labels can be purchased from Marks & Spencer's and also from www.mynametags.ie (order forms are available in main reception area).

SPHE Volunteer Guest Speakers
As part of our Social, Personal and Health Education Programme, we would like to invite any parents/guardians who work as gardaí, firemen, doctors, nurses, dentists, dieticians, etc to speak to some of our classes. Those who would like to share their expertise would be most welcome. Topics such as Road Safety, Healthy Food, Hygiene, Caring for the Sick or indeed any SPHE related topic have been suggested as possibilities. If you think you might be interested, please leave your details with Andrea/Bernadette at the Front Office.

Green Schools
As a result of the hard work of both pupils and staff in developing and promoting recycling, our schools has been one of the very few in the Dublin 15 area selected by Fingal County Council for sponsorship. The sponsorship will take the form of a production by the "Down to Earth Theatre Company" at our school (usual charge €500). This is a travelling theatre group that concentrates on issues related to saving the planet. Their show is by all accounts highly interactive and educational. A date for the performance has yet to be decided. Details to follow.

National Parent Council-Primary Dublin North West Schools Quiz 2007
The NPC-P Schools Quiz is a general knowledge table quiz for teams of primary school children. It is taking place on Saturday 17 February at 4pm in St Brigid's GAA Club, Russell Park, Navan Road, Dublin 15. We are looking for some parent volunteers to help prepare the children for this event. Please contact the Main Office if you are interested.

Book Clubs
The Third Class book club will meet next Thursday at big break in the library. This month we will be talking about "Five go Off to Camp" by Enid Blyton. The Fourth Class book club will meet on Tuesday to discuss "A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket". Please bring your book to the club.