Newsletters Archived
Wednesday 20th April 2016Intel
“Last Thursday, my brother and I went to Intel to collect a cheque for our school. We had our photo taken with Sonia O’Sullivan and ate lots of lovely food. It was a great day” Ruby Murray 2nd Class
A huge thank you to Chris Murray from Intel for all the help he has given to the school through working with the Parents Association. A total of €730 was presented to Chris for the school at a recent event in the Leixlip Plant.
Buddy Bench
We recently received a donation of a wooden “Buddy Bench”. This was donated to the school by Emma Massey’s Grandad. For more information on the “Buddy Bench” programme, please see www.buddybench.ie. The Buddy Bench programme will commence in September with Junior Infant classes.
School Book Donations
The school would be delighted to accept any school textbooks that are no longer needed by your child or their siblings at the end of this school year. Details on how to donate and collection days will be advertised in June.
St Vincent's Castleknock College Open Night (Boys)
St Vincent's Castleknock College Open Night takes place on 21 April 2016 at 7pm. The event will take approximately two hours and while it is open to all, it may be of particular interest to parents of 5th class students (boys). Please note the following:
The closing date for applications for First Year 2017 is 30 May 2016.
The closing date for applications for First Year 2018 is 30 December 2016.
Senior SFAD (Sport for All Days)
The Senior Sports Day (3rd to 6th) is scheduled (again, weather permitting) for Thursday 21st April. Children should bring their school bags to school, as usual, on these days. They should be dressed appropriately (taking account of the weather forecast) and wear their school tracksuit and suitable footwear. They are also advised to bring an extra drink with them along with their usual lunch.
Re-Registration Form 2016/2017
We have a number of children on our Waiting List for Senior Infants to Sixth class places for the 2016/2017 school year. It is important that we can confirm as soon as possible whether or not we will have school places for them. Personalised Re-Registration Forms have been been given to all children (JI – 5th Class). Thank you to everyone who has already returned their form(s).
If you have not yet returned your form, we would ask that you return the fully completed form (front and back – all questions) ASAP, confirming if your child/children will be returning to St Patrick’s for the next school year 2016/2017. This will also ensure that we have correct contact details, (postal address, mobile numbers and email address) for all parents. Please ensure both parents sign the form. In cases where a parent/guardian has sole custody, please ensure you tick the “Sole Custodian” box.
If you have not yet paid the 2015/2016 Extras Fee, we would ask that you pay it as soon as possible. You have the option to pay the Extras Fee for the 2016/2017 School Year on return of the Re-Registration Form, defer payment until the new school year or pay by instalments, whichever is most convenient to you. Please ensure you tick the appropriate payment box on the form.
If you wish to pay by instalments, please email the info@stpatricksns.ie ASAP so that the necessary arrangements are put in place for online payment.
Upcoming Events
21 April – Senior Sports for All Day (3rd to 6th Class only)
25 April – Confirmation Retreat (School Hours)
25 April – Service of Light 7pm St Mochta’s Church
30 April – Communion Ceremony – Mr O’Neill’s & Ms Dowling’s classes
02 May – 06 May – May Bank Holiday Break
14 May – Communion Ceremony – Ms Merrigan’s class/Scoil Choilm
23 May – Cumann na mBunscol Athletics Championships Field Events
24 May – Confirmation Ceremony
28 May – NPC Annual Conference – theme “Ready, Steady, Learn – Parents supporting their Children’s Healthy Learning” (see below)
31 May - Cumann na mBunscol Athletics Championships Track Events
06-07 June – June Bank Holiday Break
09 June – Junior Infant Sports for All Day (TBC)
29 June - School closes at 11.30am to facilitate compulsory Department of Education & Skills training for staff in the new Integrated Language Curriculum (Irish & English)
01 September – School reopens for Senior Infants to 6th Class (normal school day)
05 September – Junior Infants 10.00am-11.30am.
31 October – 04 November (inclusive) – Mid-Term Break
07 November - School Reopens
23 December – 06 January (inclusive) – Christmas Break
09 January 2017 – School Reopens
20 February – 24 February (inclusive) – Mid Term Break
27 February - School Reopens
17 March – St Patrick’s Day – school closed.
10-21 April (inclusive) – Easter Break
25 April - School Reopens
01 May – Bank Holiday
05 June – Bank Holiday
30 June – School closes for Summer Holidays
Sports Events
“Knock-out Trials” (for children in 3rd - 6th classes only) for selection of School Santry Team - Cumann na mBunscol Athletics Championships
Trials are on-going - please note up-coming dates
Friday 22nd April U11 Boys and Girls 2.15 - 3.00
Monday 25th April U10 Boys & Girls 2.15 - 3.00
Tuesday 26th April U11 Boys & Girls 2.15 - 3.00
Wednesday 27th April U12 Boys & Girls 2.15 - 3.00
Thursday 28th April U13+ Boys + Girls 2.15 - 3.00
NOTE: All trials take place outdoors and are weather permitting. Trials may have to be cancelled at short notice if the ground is too wet. Please discuss pick-up/collection arrangements with your child. Children should line up in yard outside Diswellstown Door at 2.15 where they will be met by teacher. Also note that more dates/times will be added in order to prepare for the event. Children will be informed at school of any further arrangements and notices will appear in Newsletters.
Noah’s Great Ireland Spar Run Experience
“On Sunday the 10th of April I took part in the Spar Great Ireland run. There were lots of different races of different lengths but the race for my age was a mile or 1.6km.
At the starting line there were about 150 kids and some of the little kids had parents with them. We all felt nervous & my tummy ached, but then the gun went BANG & we were off.
I got off the line in 5th but I quickly dropped back to 10th place to pace myself. We ran to the roundabout near Castleknock and back and I was 5th when we turned. Half way back I saw my dad and he said I was near the finish line so I started passing out people.
I got into 2nd place and then I started to sprint to the finish line. My time was 6:35 & 1st place got a time of 6:33. We had to wait until everyone was finished and then we stood on a podium to get our trophies from Sonia O’Sullivan the great Irish Olympic runner.
Everyone in the race also got a goody bag and a medal. We then got to watch all the other older kids do their race including Paul Can and Sophie Kazmerack, and the adults run their 10km. It was so much fun and you should all try it next year.” Noah McCarthy
Dublin 15 Cross Country League
A reminder to all cross country runners to please return their running kits in a bag with name clearly written on it. Some children need to return all three items (black shorts, emerald green t-shirt and running singlet with school logo on it) while others may only have to return one or two, depending on what they borrowed.
Following the Finals held at Santry last Tuesday, below are some of the comments made by the children afterwards:
“As I came to the last bend I heard the crowd cheering and I could hear everybody from St Patrick's cheering the most. Then I heard my dad shout, "Come on, David!" Everyone gave me the power in my legs to sprint. And then I came fifth. That was my new record.” David Richmond 4th Class
“I had fun with my friends and watching the other races. It was great fun.” Orlaith Lally 4th Class
“After your race you were able to go into the pitch in the middle of the track and play rugby games, cricket games, throw the javelin and do sprints. When all the races were over there was an awards ceremony. St Patrick's won Best Overall School for Dublin 15 and Overall Boys A. We were all so happy. We all had a great day.” Alison Callinan 4th Class
Return of School Running Kits
Can all cross country runners please return their running kits (black shorts, emerald green t-shirt and athletics singlet) over the next week or two? These should be washed and returned in a bag with your child’s name clearly marked on it as all items must be signed back in. Bags will be collected from classrooms daily.
Parents Association News
NPC Annual Conference
The NPC Annual Conference will be taking place on the 28th of May 2016 in the National College of Ireland, Dublin 1.
The title and theme of this year’s conference will be Ready, Steady, Learn - Parents supporting their Children’s Healthy Learning.
Children need to be ready to learn, therefore this conference will encompass how parents can actively support their children’s mental (emotional), physical (nutritional) and creative health.
The Keynote Speaker will be Shane Martin, a leading Psychologist within the area of education. Shane’s presentation will be POSITIVE PARENTING: Harnessing Strengths within Children.
We all want children to grow into happy adults; but sometimes we feel as though we have little real influence over them as they grow older. New scientific research reveals that happiness can be cultivated within the home, school and community and that parenting styles and practices have a tremendous effect on children’s emotional outlook on life. By promoting some basic positive traits and harnessing their inner strengths we can encourage our children to have a more positive view of self, others and the world. Parenting can be challenging but also a positive and fulfilling experience. We need to work at being more ‘positive’ in our approach.
Further information will follow shortly. If you would like to register for conference please click here. Don’t forget to save the date and pass this information on to all parents in your child’s school. ADMISSION FREE! All parents welcome
Reminders
Coins for the Hospice
We are doing another “Coins for the Hospice” Collection. We would be delighted if the children could collect up and bring in any 1c, 2c and 5c coins you have at home. We would encourage the children to ask their grandparents, aunts and uncles as well. The money collected will be given to Fr Dan Joe and St Francis Dublin 15 Hospice. The collection will be ongoing so it is never too late to send in your coins!
School Insurance
The School Insurance company is Allianz and your child is covered under a 24/7 Pupil Insurance Policy. For more information, see www.allianz.ie/otherproducts/schools.
Dropping in lunches, bags, homework etc.
It would be greatly appreciated that if you are dropping in any of your child’s forgotten belongings e.g. lunches, bags, homework, sports gear, etc that they are clearly marked with your child’s name and their class teacher.
Extra Curricular Activities
All enquiries re Extra-Curricular Activities should be directed to the activity organiser (see Extra-Curricular Activities Page on our website). Where the activity is organised by a staff member, please email info@stpatricksns.ie
Diswellstown Summer Camp
Diswellstown Summer Camp will take place from 4th July June - 8th July 2016. The camp is run by teachers in St Patrick's and is open to all current pupils from Junior Infants to 6th class. Registration will take place after school (under reception canopy) on Thursday 21st April. Please see forms for further details.
Parks Tennis Pre-Summer Programme
Tennis Coaching €30 for eight weeks. Registration for Riverwood Estate takes place on Saturday 07 May between 10am and 1pm. Registration for Laurel Lodge Community Centre Wednesday 04 May at 3pm. More details beside the Parent Information Notice Board inside the main door.
Diswellstown Community & Recreation Centre and Local Community Activities
Any information received about Summer Camps in the locality will be displayed
in the window beside Reception.
Creative Writing with Fr. Flor
“The last summer I was in America (2012) I gave a talk on writing in the parish. I was amazed at how many showed up for it. In response to some requests, I am putting on the talk in St. Mochta’s Parish Pastoral Centre NEXT Wednesday, 20th April from 7.30pm to 9pm. I have been writing for close to forty years.
I am willing to share what I have learned in the process.” All are very welcome to attend.
Fr. Flor McCarthy SDB has written a number of books over the last forty years.
Fr. Flor says mass here in St. Mochta’s Church every weekend (The Kerryman)
Castleknock Community College 19th Annual Sale
Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th May. Open 9.00am-5.00pm.
Wide range of summer bedding plants, hanging baskets, window boxes, ceramic pots and accessories and lots more. Credit/Debit cards facilities available. Pre-Orders available phone 085 7540888