Newsletters Archived
Wednesday 21st September 2016Most parent queries can be answered by accessing www.stpatricksns.ie or by viewing our Newsletters which are regularly emailed to each family and are also on our website. Please make our website your first “Port of Call”.
The Reception/Administration Office hours are 8.30am to 2.30pm. The office closes for lunch from 12.00-12.30pm daily. It would be much appreciated if telephone calls to the school were made only in emergency situations, and only after 9.00am.
There is no need to telephone the school if your child is sick, unless the illness is contagious. Parents should acknowledge their child’s absence from school on their return, in writing, with a note for Junior & Senior Infant classes or in the child’s Homework Journal for 1st- 6th Class.
Junior Infants September 2017
Application Forms for Junior Infants September 2017 will be available for collection from the main office from Wednesday 14 September.
Registration will take place on 17, 18 and 19 October. Sibling Applications will be accepted at the office at any time on the above dates.
Please ensure you submit your Application during the above dates as Late Applications will not be accepted.
Up the Dubs!
Dublin’s Senior Ladies Team is in the All Ireland Senior Championship Final vs Cork on Sunday 25 September. To celebrate, children can wear their county colours/favourite t-shirt (WITH SCHOOL TRACKSUIT BOTTOMS) on Friday 23 September. We are asking for a small “copper” donation to GOAL charity on the day, no amount too small. Thank you for your support.
Dogs
Under no circumstances should dogs be brought onto the school grounds or be left unattended adjacent to the school. Young children cannot resist the temptation of approaching and petting the dogs.
Registration for Confirmation 2017: will take place over two registration evenings in the St Mochta’s Parish Centre on Monday 3rd & Tuesday 4th October from 5.30pm to 7pm. (Late registrations will not be accepted after this date).
Please note you will be required to present a Roman Catholic Baptismal Certificate for your child on this registration evening so:
- If your child was baptised in St Mochta’s Church, please fill in the Date of Birth and Baptismal details on the Registration form. If you have a copy of the Baptismal Certificate at hand please bring it along with you to Registration.
- For children baptised in another church, a Baptismal Certificate must be presented with this registration form before your child can be enrolled on the First Holy Communion Preparation Programme.
If you have any queries or need more information please contact Mary Greene, St Mochta’s Church at (01) 8213218.
Registration for First Holy Communion 2017
Registration will take place over two registration evenings in the St Mochta’s Parish Centre on Monday 26th & Tuesday 27th September from 5.30pm to 7pm. (Late registrations will not be accepted after this date).
Please note you will be required to present a Roman Catholic Baptismal Certificate for your child on this registration evening so:
- If your child was baptised in St Mochta’s Church, please fill in the Date of Birth and Baptismal details on the Registration form. If you have a copy of the Baptismal Certificate at hand, please bring it along with you to Registration.
- For children baptised in another church, a Baptismal Certificate must be presented with the registration form before your child can be enrolled on the First Holy Communion Preparation Programme.
If you have any queries or need more information please contact Mary Greene, St Mochta’s Church at (01) 8213218.
Punctuality
It is imperative that all children are punctual in the morning. The 20 minutes between 08.30am and 08.50am is a very important time in the school day. This is when the younger children have activity time or structured play. It is also a time when teachers get to correct homework or hear children’s reading.
Infant Children
Infant children (Junior & Senior Infants) should not be left unsupervised in the yard in the morning. Parents/Guardians should remain with their child/children until they are passed over to the care of their teacher at 8.30am. Under no circumstances should Infant children be dropped at the school gate to enter school grounds alone.
Procedure for entering the school each morning
To ensure safe and orderly access to the school grounds, the gates will open at approximately 8.20am.
Parents and children walking to school must use the pedestrian gate entrance. Parents and children cycling
should cycle along the cycle path to the main school entrance, beside the bicycle stands.
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 Blanchardstown Door 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.
School Photographs
The School Photographer will be in the school from Monday 03 October to Friday 07 October, depending on demand. Booking forms will be given to each child early next week. Please note: only ONE FORM PER FAMILY should be returned to your eldest child’s class teacher ASAP, by Thursday 29 October at the latest. As forms must be kept in class order, please do not submit your form to the office.
Please note that by allowing your children to be photographed places you under no obligation to purchase any of the photographs.
St Vincent’s Castleknock College – Open Evening
An Open Evening for current 5th Class boys and their parents is taking place in St Vincent’s Castleknock College on 29 September at 7pm. Please Note: the closing date for prospective students for First Year in 2018 is 31 December 2016.
Summer Reading Club
Well done to all the children who participated in the Summer Reading Club. Congratulations to our raffle winners:
1st Class: Matei Moraean, Réiltín Collins, Sarah Nealon, Clodagh Sheehan
2nd Class: Cillian Flynn, Zach Buttner
3rd Class: Ellie Prendergast
4th Class: Naomi Cirstea
5th & 6th Class: Dylan Buttner
Thanks to our book club sponsors: Folens, O’Brien’s Press and Savvy Schools.
Remember to keep reading and 1st-6th class pupils can log books in the section in the front of their homework journal.
Rainbows
A peer support group for children from 1st to 6th class who have experienced a bereavement or separation will commence soon in St.Mochta’s Pastoral Centre. Rainbows is a secular programme. If you believe your child or children would benefit from this programme, please contact rainbowsstmochtas@gmail.com. More info available on www.rainbowsireland.com
Parent Helpers
If you are interested in becoming a parent helper for the current school year, please email info@stpatricksns.ie to register your interest. If you have already registered your interest, please drop into the office in fill in a Garda Vetting Form.
Choir
Choir will be on Fridays this year. All are welcome, free of charge. It will be after school from 14:10 to 15:10. The children will line up on the first line outside the Blanchardstown Door (alongside the staffroom windows). They will be let out this door too.
1st practice will be on 7th October. We will perform as usual at Christmas time. We will also perform in a final year concert which will be in the evening on Wednesday 5th April. Choir will be finished for the year then unless a few members are asked to perform with the siblings and peers of the children celebrating a Sacramental service. We look forward to seeing you in October. Ms. Meade and Mr. Heneghan
Parking
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 5mof 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/driving 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.
Upcoming Events
21 September – Senior Infants Parents’ Information Meeting 8.40am – Tigers Room
26 & 27 September – First Holy Communion 2017 Registration (see note above)
03-04 October – Confirmation 2017 Registration (see note above)
03-07 October – Whole School Photographs (see note above)
05 October – PA AGM
27 November – Christmas Fair
Upcoming Sporting Events
21 September - Girls Gaelic Football vs St Mochta’s N.S. (venue Somerton)
27 September – D15 Boys School League 5th Class boys vs SFX (venue Somerton)
27 September – D15 Boys School League 6th Class boys vs Scoil Thomais (venue Somerton)
27 September - GO Games (4th) vs Lucan East (venue Arthur Griffin Park, Lucan)
28 September- Girls Gaelic Football vs Scoil Aine Esker (venue Somerton)
29 September - Boys Gaelic Football vs Scoil Thomais (venue Somerton)
04 October - GO Games (4th) vs Corduff (venue Somerton)
04 October – D15 Boys School League 5th Class boys vs St Lukes (venue Somerton)
04 October – D15 Boys School League 6th Class boys vs Mary Mother of Hope (venue Somerton)
11 October - GO Games (4th) vs Scoil Ghrianne (venue Phibblestown)
11 October – D15 Boys School League FINALS - Somerton
18 October - GO Games (4th) vs Huntstown (venue Somerton)
Reminders
Contagious Illness
Whilst there is no need to telephone the school if your child is sick, we would greatly appreciate if you would
contact us if your child contracts a contagious illness e.g. measles, mumps, rubella, etc. There are children in
the school who are at increased risk of contracting these illnesses. Parents should acknowledge their child’s absence from school due to minor illnesses on their return, in writing, in the child’s School Journal.
Contact Details
It is essential that we have the correct address and contact details (e.g. home telephone, parents’ mobile numbers and email addresses) for your child on our database. If any of your details have changed over the summer, please complete a Change of Address/Contact Details Form as soon as possible.
Dropping in lunches, bags, homework etc.
Please ensure that if you are dropping in any of your child’s forgotten belongings e.g. lunches, bags, homework, etc., that they are clearly marked with your child’s name and their class teacher. For your information and to ensure forgotten lunches arrive in time, the following are the breaktimes for the children:
Junior & Senior Infants
10.20-10.30am Small portable snack taken to yard for eating under supervision
10.30-10.50am Eating time in the classroom
12.00-12.30pm Any remaining food can be taken to yard to be finished under supervision.
First Class upwards
10.20-10.30am Small portable snack taken to yard for eating under supervision
11.45-12.00noon Foods not suitable for outdoor eating can be eaten in the classroom
12.00-12.30pm Any remaining food can be taken to yard to be finished under supervision.
Labelling/Lost Property
The chances of returning lost property are greatly increased if all items are clearly labelled with your child’s name. Please ensure jumpers, PE sweatshirts, coats, etc. are labelled with your child’s name.
Lost Property
Lost Property is now stored inside the Diswellstown (Tigers) Door.
Hand Towels
We request that every child brings a small hand towel/facecloth to dry his/her hands after using the WC. This should be kept in a school bag pocket and changed regularly.
Staff Car Park
Parents are asked not to park in the Staff Car Park, the only exception being parents collecting disabled or injured children. We would be grateful if you could also inform anyone who may be collecting your child/children on your behalf of this procedure. If you are returning to the school to drop off forgotten lunches, schoolbags, etc. during the school day, we would ask that you park in the bus stop area and enter via the Pedestrian Gate. (Please close gates after you leave). Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Reminder re dismounting bicycles, etc
In the interest of everyone’s safety, all cyclists (pupils, parents & siblings) should dismount from their bicycles at the main gates of the school. For safety reasons, we would ask that you do not allow your children to use scooters or rollerblades on school grounds.
Temporary PE Timetable
A temporary PE Timetable will be in place for the first few weeks. Children will be informed of their PE times by their class teachers. Children should wear their school tracksuit/runners on these days.
Extra Curricular Activities
The Emma Louise Dance Academy
The Emma Louise Dance Academy will take place on Thursday afternoons (2.10 - 3.05 and 3.05 - 4.00). Only €25 for 8 sessions (online payment only)! Great value and loads of fun. Places still available. Please email info@stpatricksns.ie if you would like to have your name added to the list.
Lego Challenge (Stage Area)
The new term for Lego Challenge will start on Friday, 16 September.
Tennis (Monday - 2.10pm & 3.05pm – PE Hall)
If you have not already done so, we would greatly appreciate if payment could be made before classes commence.
Badminton (Friday - 2.10pm & 3.05pm – PE Hall)
If you have not already done so, we would greatly appreciate if payment could be made before classes commence.
Athletics (Wednesday 3.05pm - PE Hall)
If you have not already done so, we would greatly appreciate if payment could be made before classes commence.
Art & Craft Workshops (Stage Area on Fridays, Back Room on Mondays)
Art & Craft Workshops take place on Mondays and Fridays. All enquiries to Blathnaid O’Brien Donovan BEd (Hons) 0874123247.
Musical Theatre, Drama & Singing Classes (Board Room 1)
Classes take place on Tuesdays. For further details please contact Toni Martin at 087 7913714 or email martin.toni1@gmail.com.
Irish Dancing (Stage Area on Tuesdays, Back Room on Thursdays)
In St Patrick's N.S: Tuesday Junior and Senior Infants 1.10 - 2pm; Tuesday and Thursday 2.10 to 3.10 1st - 6th backstage room; Wednesday Advanced 6.15pm. Saturday 12-1pm all grades. For more information or to register, contact Bernadette Downey Lanigan A.D.C.R.G. 0876204772.
Spanish for Children
Don’t miss out! Great courses for primary school children - taught by local secondary school teacher. Term 1 classes (13 weeks) just started, directly after school in St Patrick’s NS or up until 5.15PM close-by. For details, please contact M: 087 267 4809 / E: marygalvinspanish@gmail.com / W: spanishclasses4children/com. Mary Galvin - TEFL, BA Mod Hons (TCD), HDip Ed Hons (UCD), MA (TCD) and Applied Linguistics Hons (TCD). Fully registered 2nd & 3rd level teacher with the Teaching Council of Ireland.
Piano Lessons
To Register contact Kelley at 087 7679278 or email tmmusictuition@gmail.com
Platform Stage School
Platform Stage School takes place on Thursdays To register, please contact Liz directly at 0862245113. Website www.platformstageschool.ie.
After-school French classes in St. Patrick’s
French classes for children run after-school weekdays and also at week-ends for pupils from Junior Infants up to 6th class. Children love learning French through flashcards, songs, games and taking part in projects. A special early years class for 3 to 5 years old class is starting on Saturdays. All materials are provided. Enrol your child now as limited number of places for each age group. Merci beaucoup!
To register please contact Sabine directly at Mob 087 227 9027 ?Email info@frenchforchildren.ie ?Web www.frenchforchildren.ie
Sabine - BA Hons & Master in Linguistics, Teaching French as a Foreign Language
Diswellstown Community & Recreation Centre and Local Community Activities
Classical Ballet & Hip Hop Dance Classes
For Students Age 2.5 – 18 years. Beginners Always Welcome.
Fully Qualified I.D.T.A. Teachers. Classes Every Monday from 4.15 in Diswellstown Community Centre, St Patricks National School.
- Pre-School Class (Age 2 ½ to 4 yrs) - 4.15-4.45pm
- Tiny Tots Ballet (Junior Infants/preschool Age 4+) - 4.45-5.30pm
- Tiny Boppers Hip Hop Dance (Junior & Senior Infants) - 5.30-6pm
- Classical Ballet & Theatre Craft (Senior Infants +) - 6.00-7.00pm
- Classical Ballet Primary & Grade 1 (3rd class +) - 6.30-7.30pm
- Hip Hop Dance (All Ages 1st class+) - 7.30-8.15pm
To register contact Sara Chester A.I.D.T.A directly at 0877923955
www.chesterschoolofdance.com