Newsletters Archived
Wednesday November 20th 2013Parent/Teacher Meetings
To ensure the smooth running of the Parent Teacher Meetings, we would greatly appreciate your cooperation regarding the following:
Each meeting is of ten minutes duration. The school bell will ring to advise you that your ten minute session is over. Please do not remain for longer as this disrupts the schedule for everybody.
If the previous meeting is still in session at your appointed time, please knock on the door to signal your arrival.
Icy Mornings
On icy mornings, all children walking or using bicycles should enter the school grounds via the new pedestrian gate (Cyclists must walk with their bicycles.) All gritting is concentrated on the new pedestrian entrance, the pathway from the car drop off area/car park, the pathways around the building and the line-up areas.
Science Fair/Intel Mini Scientist
Well done to everyone involved in the Science Fair last week. A special Congratulations to Lorcan O’Ceallaigh who won the Intel Mini Scientist Competition and will go forward to the Final in December.
Supercomputer
Congratulations to Oscar O' Donoghue from 5th Class in our school who has named a new state super computer. He called it Fionn, based on the story of the Salmon of Knowledge. It will quadruple the high powered computing resources previously available to scientists in the country, will be capable of running many different applications and will enable researchers in Ireland to solve their scientific problems more quickly. Oscar went to Dunsink Observatory and he met with Minister Seán Sherlock. The super computer is now located in Wexford and costs €3.7 million. Oscar attends a computer group called Coderdojo in DCU. Well done Oscar, we are very proud of you!
From RTE NEWS website: www.rte.ie
Recycling
Old Batteries, Mobile Phones and Toner Cartridges can be recycled and we have approved collection boxes at reception.
Parents Association News
Christmas Art Competition
Friday 22 November is the closing date for the Christmas Art Competition. Please make sure to place your Art in the box at Reception before 2.10pm on Friday. Late entries cannot be accepted
Donations for the Christmas Fair
It's that time of year again and donations are required for the St Patricks Annual Christmas Fair which takes place on 1st December. Maybe you would like to donate a prize, a box of sweets, toys, bottles.....all gratefully accepted.
We would love unwanted and/or new gifts, books, games, DVDs, PC / Wii / Xbox games and of course, bottles (for the ever popular Bottle Stall).
Please remember that all items should be in saleable condition.
We also need toys – new or second-hand, but complete, clean and in working order, suitable for kids aged 4 years and above. Especially Games, Jigsaws (all complete) Costumes and Character Toys –most welcome!
- How to Donate
It’s soooo easy – morning and evening slots are available to drop off your donations. It you are a ‘morning’ person we plan to have volunteers at the main gate on those ‘Drop – off Days' to make the drop off as swift and handy for you. Alternatively, drive to the School on one of the designated evenings - we’ll be delighted to see you then.
- Evenings
7.30 – 8:30 PM @ Back of school hall Thursday 21 Nov, Tuesday 26 Nov and Thursday 28 Nov.
- Mornings
8:20AM -8:40 AM Thursday 21 Nov, Tuesday 26 Nov and Thursday 28 Nov. (Volunteers will be at main school gate so you can just bring items with you and drop off quickly)
Christmas Fair Raffle
This year we have some fantastic prizes for the Christmas Fair Raffle, two Apple iPad Minis, Diamond Furniture Voucher, Nintendo 2DS, Shoe Rack Voucher and Branagan Meat Voucher.
Every child in the school will receive a book of tickets this week. Parents/guardians are under no obligation to buy these tickets. Please return counterfoils and money or unsold tickets to the class teacher by Wednesday 27thth November. Tickets are €2 each or €10 for a book of 6 tickets. The draw will take place at 2pm in the school hall at the Fair on Sunday 1st December. Tickets will NOT be on sale at the Fair. Good luck in the draw and 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. Cars should not park in this area.
- 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.
Extra Curricular Activities
Art & Craft Workshops
The new ten week term of Art & Craft will begin on Monday 02 December at 2.10pm to 3.45pm, and will run until March 2014. A wide range of skills will be taught to foster creativity and self-development. Some places are available. Please contact Blathnaid on 087 4123247 for full details.
Badminton
New term starts this week. There are spaces available on Wednesday and Friday sessions from 3.10pm-4.00pm.