Newsletters Archived
Week Ending 18th February 2011Mid-Term Break
The school will be closed from Monday 21 to Friday 25 February inclusive for Mid-Term Break. It will reopen on Monday 28 February at 08.30am.
School Calendar
The following is the School Calendar for the remainder of the school year.
Mid-term |
21 – 25 February 2011 inclusive |
St Patrick’s Day |
17 March 2011 |
Easter Holidays |
18 – 29 April 2011 inclusive. School will close at 11.30am on Friday 15 April 2011. |
Bank Holiday |
02 May 2011 |
Bank Holiday |
06 June 2011 |
Summer Holidays |
School Closes at 11.30am on Thursday 30 June 2011 |
Staff Meetings
The school will not close early for Staff Meetings for the remainder of the school year.
“Shave or Dye” in aid of Irish Cancer Society
Would you like to support the “Shave or Dye” initiative in aid of the Irish Cancer Society? If yes, one of our pupils, Ellen Spring, is shaving her head! To sponsor her, please go to www.mycharity.ie/event/ellen. There was great excitement in school today when Board of Management Chairperson, Daniel Collins, arrived in with his pink hair!! No donation is too small and may be dropped into Reception up to 04 March. Well done to Daniel and Ellen!
Nigeria Project
Many thanks to all the parents who have sent in items of food, clothing, information, etc. for our Nigeria Project. There is a lovely display in the school foyer which will remain there for a few more weeks. Parents, please feel free to browse at drop off or collection times.
Pathway
We signed the lease agreement with the landowners on Thursday. We expect to be allowed on site to begin construction shortly.
VEC Proposed Common Admissions Policy LCC/CCC
Representatives of our Board of Management have met with the principals of both schools to highlight the desire of parents to send their children to the Secondary School closest to them should they so wish.
The Principals of the eight local primary schools also met with Marie Griffin, CEO of the VEC, John Cronin CCC and Fionnuala Ni Chaisil LCC regarding their respective Admissions Policies. They clarified the following:
The present policies will remain in place for September 2011 and 2012. A revised policy is proposed for September 2013. The proposal is to implement a common Admissions Policy based on catchment area. The schools have the capacity between both to meet the needs of the entire community.
The recent VEC statement press release is available to view on our website, www.stpatricksns.ie . Please note that there are two errors in the statement:
1. The “Luttrellstown area” should have read “Porterstown area”The catchment areas have not been finalised yet. The VEC intend meeting with the Parents Associations of all eight local primary schools to discuss the above proposal.
2. Paragraph 3 -further briefings are with parent representatives from the Primary Schools not the two secondary schools.
Extra Curricular Activities
Volleyball (3rd – 6th)
A new course of volleyball will begin after the Mid-Term Break, beginning on Wednesday 2nd March with Laurent Couet, coach to Ireland’s National Volleyball Team. Cost: €25 for 8 sessions. Those interested should register on the Sign-on Sheet located at Reception.
French for Chldren 3-12 yrs frenchforchildren.ie
Second term is going well and children enjoy learning! French native teacher is also providing 1-to-1 tuition assistance, small groups of young adults (grinds JC or LC) or adults as per requirements. Prepare your holiday to France and revise essential vocabulary & sentences! Contact Sabine on 087 227 9027. Merci!
St Patrick’s Parents for Business Network 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 Hilary Keenan Accountant for their sponsorship of our Homework Journal.
St Patrick’s Parents Association
Dear Parents & Guardians,
Parent Association Fundraising Update
Each year, parents and children of St Patrick’s National School provide much needed funds to the school by participating in various fundraising events throughout the year.
This source of funding is critical in supporting the school with investments in books, sports equipment, teaching materials as well as technology and directly contributes to enhancing the education of our children.
In fact, in the last 5 years to 30 June 2010, the parent body has generously donated some €150,000 to the school which has served to pay for the following investments:
- Interactive whiteboards
- Computers
- TVs and DVD players
- Library books
- Musical instruments
- Math and science supplies
- Sports equipment and sports events
- Arts & Craft
- Confirmation robes
Fundraising remains a priority for the PA Committee as it seeks to provide on-going financial support to the school in providing a high quality education for our children.
This year, the PA Committee has also made an exceptional contribution of €10,000 towards the cost of building a new footpath access to the school. While the PA Committee would not typically fund any capital expenditure projects, we felt this was an exceptional situation for two reasons:
- Due to the existing footpath being dangerously congested, this new access is urgently needed to protect the safety of our children on their way to/from school;
- No public funding available to the school to build the new footpath access.
The safety of our children is paramount and this initiative will bring greater security and peace of mind to parents and children alike.
Your support is invaluable and makes a very real difference to the day to day life of our children in St Patricks’. We look forward to your continued support in the years ahead as we all work together to provide the best possible education for our children.
St Patricks’ National School PA Committee