Newsletters Archived

New Procedure for Entry to School Building
St Patrick's N.S. opens for classes at 8.30am. There is a marked increase in the number of children who are arriving to school after this time. Already this year, there have been a number of incidences where children left the school premises when they discovered that their line had already gone in. Because of the size of the school, and the number of pupils, it is impossible to supervise children who arrive after 08.30am.

From Monday, 24 September, all doors will close once the lines have gone in.
• Children who arrive between 8.30 and 8.50am, should make their way to the Blanchardstown Door, which is the first door on the right hand side of the school. Children will be escorted to their classrooms by school staff from this area.
• If you arrive after 8.50am, please use the main entrance, as you must sign your child's name into the Sign-In Book. Children will be escorted to their classrooms by school staff from this area.
• Of course, we understand that children may occasionally arrive late in emergency circumstances. However, our records show that certain children are consistently late for school.

If your child arrives after the bell goes, it is important to remind him/her to use the Blanchardstown Door to enter the building.

Weekly Newsletters
If for any reason (absence, loss, etc) you do not receive a copy of the weekly newsletter, it is on display on the notice board at the entrance of the school. It is also available at www.stpatricksns.ie. A number of copies will be available from the main reception area.

Road Safety
In the interest of all children's safety it is very important that cyclists are familiar with the Rules of the Road. We would also like to remind all cyclists/scooters that they must dismount at the outer school gates. Cycling/Scootering are not permitted on school grounds at any time. This rule extends to parents and younger siblings also and is made in the interest of safety. Please also note that rollerblades or Heelys are not permitted on school grounds.

In the near future, the Parents Association will sponsor a Design-a-Poster competition with a caption that sends out the message that cycling/scootering is unsafe on the school grounds.

Parents Association Sponsored Walk - 14 October 2007
Your child will have received a Sponsorship Form for the PA Annual Sponsored Walk during the week. Please note that if you have more than one child in the school, it is only necessary to return one form on behalf of your family.

Parents Association AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the school Parent Association will take place on Thursday 11th October at 8pm in the school library. As a parent or guardian you are entitled to attend this meeting. The AGM is an important meeting. Its purpose is to:
• Account for the work of the past year
• Account for monies received and spent
• Hold elections for the parent association committee
• Hear your ideas about what you would like the parent association to do next year.

Cultural Diversity in Dublin Fingal
A seminar entitled "Cultural Diversity in Schools" is taking place on Friday 19 October from 9.00am - 3.00pm in Blanchardstown I.T. We have a number of places available. If anyone would like to attend (particularly newcomers to Ireland), please contact the school. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

The Celebrate! Festival is taking place on 19 and 20 October 2007 in Blanchardstown. The Global Village hosts an array of family friendly marquees featuring music, dance, drumming, theatre, cinema, storytelling, face painting, henna, hair braiding, clowns, sport, arts & crafts and food from around the world. For a full programme of events, please see www.bap.ie/celebrate_home.html.

Parking
We have had numerous complaints from local residents and Dublin Bus about the number of cars parking on the roundabout at the junction of Diswellstown Road and Carpenterstown Road. This is causing traffic congestion and we would ask that all parents/guardians park responsibly, legally and with consideration to other drivers, residents and pedestrians.

Children's Book Festival
The annual Children's Book Festival runs nationally from October 3rd-26th. A list of events running in Blanchardstown Library is available on the Parent's Information Notice Board in the main Reception area. Further details about the festival are available at www.childrensbookireland.ie.

Green Schools
Recycling Week (1st - 5th October) Competitions:
Congratulations to all the children who participated in the Recycling Week Competitions. The Closing Date for all entries was Thursday 04 October. The results will be announced next week.

Extra Curricular Activities
Swimming Classes
Attention all Swimmers. Swimming Classes start today, Friday 05 October for all children who have registered with Lucy McDonnell. Please check in your child by reporting to the desk marked "St Mochta's", located to the right as you enter the lobby of the National Aquatic Centre. All outstanding fees must be paid in full today. Please allow extra time for this. Children may use any of the Dressing Rooms but may only enter 15 minutes before their lesson. Parents will be directed to the pool through the back corridor that leads out to the pool (same one as last year).
IMPORTANT:
• For Health & Safety reasons, no Parents or buggies are permitted onto the poolside (NAC Rules).
• No photography is permitted, including camera phones.
• Please take note of the drop off and pick up area.
• Please be on time to meet your child after his/her swim.
Please direct any queries re swimming to Lucy McDonnell at 086 4029792,
not to the school.