Newsletters Archived

Friday Choir
Friday Choir Practices resume this Friday, 20 April.

First Communion Parent Meeting
The 4th Parents Meeting takes place for this Thursday 19 April at 8pm in St Mochta’s Parish Centre.

“Food Dudes” Programme
We will be participating in the “Food Dudes” Healthy Eating Programme commencing Tuesday 24 April.  This programme is sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.  See www.fooddudes.ie for more information.

Dublin 15 Cross Country League
The next cross country races take place at Porterstown Fields next Tuesday 24th April. This will be the last local meeting before the finals at Morton Stadium, Santry, on Tuesday 1st May. Spectators are welcome.

Sport for All Day (3rd – 6th Class)
This will take place (weather permitting) on Wednesday 25th April. Children should wear their school tracksuit and suitable footwear. They should also bring an extra drink with them along with their usual lunch. Here’s hoping for a dry day and lots of fun for everyone!

Spar Great Ireland Run 
Well done to many children from St Patrick’s who took part in the junior and Mini Spar Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park last weekend! What a fantastic achievement for so many to complete a distance of 2.5km! It was also wonderful to see some of the children sporting their well-deserved medals in school this week.
“On Sunday the 15th of April, a few people in this school ran in the Great Ireland run.  It was 3km long. There were over 1500 kids in total.  We raised money for Castleknock GAA Clubhouse Appeal.  We all had great fun.” James, Sean & David – 5th Class & Eoin - 6th Class

National High Jump Champion
Congratulations to one of our 6th class students, Jack Rudden Kelly, who won the U14 boys high jump event at the National Juvenile Indoor Athletics Championships held in Nenagh a few weeks ago. He jumped a personal best of 1.5m. He also came home with a bronze medal for the shot putt. Well done, Jack!

Procedure for entering the school each morning
To ensure safe and orderly access to the school grounds, the gates will open shortly before 8.30am. Parents and children walking to school should use the new pedestrian gate entrance.  Children on bicycles may cycle around to the main entrance. No Cycling or Scootering is permitted on school grounds.
The school bell rings at 08.30am. Children walk to their lines (in the early weeks of Junior Infants, parents may accompany children to the classroom).
Classes are collected from the yard by their teacher. As soon as the classes have entered the building, the doors are closed.
The Luttrellstown Door (nearest door to new Pedestrian Entrance) remains open until 8.50am.
Children who arrive after 08.50am must enter via reception and sign the “late book”.
Children may not enter the school building until 08.30am.  Parents are responsible for the welfare of their children until the school’s duty of care begins at 8.30 am. On wet mornings, please time your arrival for 8.30 – 8.40am.

Birthday parties / Festivals etc.
If your child is having a birthday party and inviting children from the class, it would be preferable if the distribution of invitations could be done outside school, as children who are not on the guest list can feel upset and isolated. Please do not ask school personnel for phone numbers or addresses of children in the class. Schools, like all institutions, must adhere to the terms of the Data Protection Act.
We celebrate festivals such as Halloween, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter as part of the overall school curriculum. However we discourage the practice of exchanging cards and/or gifts in school. Again, those who do not receive cards/presents and those who may not celebrate some of the festivals feel upset and isolated.

Moving House? 
If you are moving house and your child will not be returning to St Patrick’s in the new school year, it is vital that you make contact with the class teacher or the Main Office as soon as possible as 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 contact these parents as soon as possible.

Contact Details
It is essential that we have the correct address and contact details (e.g. home telephone, parents’ mobile numbers) for your child on our database in order for you to receive your child/children’s school reports, end of year letters, etc or to make contact with you if your child should fall ill during the school day. If any of your details have changed since the beginning of the school year, please complete a Change of Address/Contact Details Form, available from the office.

Parents Association News

Appeal for Volunteers
Parents/Guardians, we are appealing for your help with the First Holy Communion Receptions in the School Hall on Saturday, 12th May, serving refreshments from 10.30am – 12.30pm and/or 12.30pm – 2.30pm.  Helpers are also needed to steward the Church Car Park from 9.30am – 10.00am and 11.00am – 12.00pm and/or School Car Park from 11.00am – 11.30am and 1.00pm – 1.30pm.  If you are available and would like to volunteer, please call/text Karen on 087 4187253 or Olivier on 086 8352920

St Patrick’s Parents for Business Network
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.  “LIKE” us on Facebook to win a prize!

Extra Curricular Activities

Spanish for Children (La Jolie Ronde)
Learn Spanish after-school (3 - 13 yr olds) and speak confidently and correctly with qualified linguist and teacher, Mary Galvin. A good level of Spanish in Primary will give your child a great advantage in Secondary School. Special offers for first 50 pupils to book & pay deposit for Sept 2012 by Friday 15th June! M: 087 267 4809 E: marygalvin@upcmail.ie
W: www.spanishclasses4children.com.

French for Children @ St. Patrick’s
Try La Jolie Ronde French classes for children aged 3 to 12 years!  French, music and drama all into one!  A few places are still available Thursdays or Saturdays. Grinds can be organised on request for older children also.  Phone/text Sabine Maher on 087 227 9027 & visit web www.frenchforchildren.ie Merci!

Stretch-N-Grow, The Worlds leading fitness programme for children, next term starts 27th April running for 9 weeks for a reduced fee of only €50! Contact Graham on 0862495698 orsngkidz@gmail.com or www.stretch-n-grow.ie

FAI/Castleknock Celtic FC Summer Soccer School
FAI Summer Soccer School takes place from 10.30am to 3.00pm on 02 – 06 July in Porterstown Park.  Information leaflets are available from beside the Parent Information Notice Board or see www.fai.ie.

Shreddies Dublin Parks Tennis
Registration & Coaching take place on Saturday 28 April between 10am and 1pm in Riverwood Estate and Laurel Lodge Tennis Courts. More information is available from beside the Parent Information Notice Board.

Classical Ballet & Hip Hop Dance Classes
For Students Age 4 – 18 years. Beginners Always Welcome.  Fully qualified I.D.T.A.Teachers. Classes every Monday from 4.30 in Diswellstown Community Centre, St Patricks N S. Pre-School Class (Age 2 ½ to 4 yrs) - 4.30pm; Tiny Tots Ballet (Age 4-6 yrs) - 5pm; Classical Ballet (Age 6+) - 5.45pm;  Hip Hop Dance (All Ages) - 6.30pm.  We are moving into the Music Room from Monday 16th April. Sara Chester A.I.D.T.A 0877923955 www.chesterdanceschool.com