Newsletters Archived

Best Wishes to Ms Lineen, Ms Nolan and Ms McCormack’s 6th Class children who will be confirmed on Tuesday 21 May.

Re-Registration Forms
Thank you to everyone who has already returned their Re-Registration Forms. We would appreciate if they could be returned to your child’s class teacher as soon as possible.  Please note that each child should return an individual form.

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 and 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.

Choir Concert
The Choir is holding a “Musicals” concert on Friday 7 June at 7pm.

Anne Sweeney’s Bus Service
Please note that Anne’s Bus will not be running from 15 to 20 May inclusive.

Dates for Your Diary
Junior Infants Sept 2013 Open Day – Wednesday 12 June (1.30pm-2.10pm)
6th Class Graduation Ceremony – Wednesday 19 June (7pm)
6th Class End of Year Celebration – Wednesday 26 June

Athletics – Dates for your Diary

• Cross Country Finals
• When? Tuesday 21st May Where? Morton Stadium, Santry
• Please note: If your child is unable to compete in the Finals on 21st May, please inform Mrs Soulsby asap as substitute runners may need to be selected.

Cumann na mBunscol Athletic Championships
When? Monday 27th May (Field Events – all events other than Sprints & Relay) and Wednesday 27th May (Track Events – Sprints & Relay only) Where? Morton Stadium, Santry. All those selected for this year’s school team will be informed in the next few days and training will continue right up to the events. Some practice sessions will take place during the school day but some training will occur after school, as per the schedule below:
Thursday 16th May U10, U11, U12 and U13 Boys and Girls Sprinters only 2.15 – 2.45
Monday 20th May U11 and U12 Boys and Girls Relay Teams 2.15 – 3.00
Friday 24th May Last Practice for All Relay Teams Boys and Girls (U10s, U11s, U12s and U13s)
Children should line up in yard outside Diswellstown Door at 2.15 where they will be met by teacher. Please note that training may be cancelled at short notice if the ground is too wet. Also note that it is vital that all children who have been selected for the Relay teams attend training, as each team relies on all members of the team being fully prepared for the event.  

Diswellstown Summer Camp: 1st July - 5th July 2013
This year children from Junior Infants to sixth class are welcome.  The camp will run from Monday 1st July - Friday 5th July 2013.  The day starts at 9.00a.m. and finishes at 1p.m.  We will offer a number of different sports, art, games and activities and cooking!  The cost of the camp is €55.00 for 1 child, €105 for 2 children and €155 for 3 children.  Enrolment will be on Thursday 23rd May 2013, under the canopy at reception 2.20p.m. (Please bring form and payment on enrolment day, thank you!).  We look forward to seeing you there! The camp is run by qualified teachers, teaching in St. Patrick’s National School.

Parents Association News

VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED TO HELP WITH CONFIRMATION RECEPTION 21st May from 12 - 2.30pm
A much loved part of our children’s Confirmation day has always been enjoying some refreshments and chatting with their friends in the Parish Centre following the Confirmation ceremony.  Unfortunately, this year’s reception is in doubt due to lack of volunteers to help out on the day.  We are appealing for volunteers to help with the Confirmation reception, which will take place in St. Mochta’s Parish Centre following the ceremony.  
The Confirmation ceremony will take approx. an hour and a half – so volunteers will be required to be in the Parish Centre from 12pm to 2.30pm approx. for the reception (this will include the clean-up following the reception).  We appreciate that this may clash with your child finishing school, but would appeal to volunteers to make arrangements for friends/family to collect their children. Please text Bridin on 086 3845931 if you are available to help, thank you.  

Reminders

Safety Notice re Dropping Off/Collecting
Please note the following important safety points:

• People may stop momentarily adjacent to the Bus parking area to drop off/collect their 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/collect at the same time. 
• For their safety, children should be dropped off /collected only on the school side of the road.
• Please do not stop on the main 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)
• Please inform your child to go to reception if he/she is in any doubt about collection arrangements or attendance at an after school activity, if their collector is late or if there is nobody to meet him/her at the designated meeting point.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Parking
The Gardaí and local residents have today approached the school regarding the issue of dangerous and illegal parking.  We appreciate that lack of parking space is a major problem for all parents.  However, cars must be parked in a safe, legal and considerate manner.

Unfortunately, a number of parents continue to park and block access to/from driveways, and park dangerously close to junctions and entrances to estates.  This is both highly inconsiderate towards the residents of these estates and is, in fact, illegal.

There are also a number of parents who stop at the roundabout on the main road which is also a dangerous and illegal practice.  It is also an unnecessary practice as we have a safe procedure in place for dropping children off at the main entrance of the school.

The following are extracts from the Rules of the Road:

• A vehicle may not park on double yellow lines in any circumstances.
• A vehicle may not be parked within 5m of a junction.
• Vehicles may not be parked near: a bend, the brow of a hill, a humped back bridge, a continuous white line, where it would obstruct a sign, at an entrance, at a bus stop or opposite another vehicle on a narrow road.

The Board of Management will have no hesitation in supporting local residents who choose to report drivers who park illegally or trespass on their property. The Board will also support those parents who choose to report instances of dangerous parking that may put the lives of their children at risk. 

There is ample parking available at Spar car park which is a short distance from the school. Cars must be parked properly in the car park.  Under no circumstances should a car obstruct one of their patrons or interfere with delivery truck access.

 Extra Curricular Activities

Tigers Summer Camp 2013
Tigers Summer Camp 2013 takes place from 29 July to 23 August.  Book online at www.tigersafterschoolcare.com.

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