Newsletters Archived
Wednesday 17th May 2017Most queries can be answered by accessing our website 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.
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.
Contact Details
It is essential that we have the correct address and contact details (e.g. home telephone, parents’ mobile numbers) for your child on our database in order for you to receive your child/children’s school reports, end of year letters, etc or to make contact with you if your child should fall ill during the school day. If any of your details change at any stage throughout the school year, please complete a Change of Address/Contact Details Form, available from the office.
Re-Registration Form 2017/2018
A huge thank you everyone who has returned their Re-Registration Forms and also to those who have made their payments. We have a number of children on our Waiting List for Senior Infants to Sixth class places for the 2017/2018 school year. It is important that we can confirm as soon as possible whether or not we will have school places for them.
If you have not yet done so, we would ask that you return the fully completed form (front and back) ASAP, confirming if your child/children will be returning to St Patrick’s for the next school year 2017/2018. 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 2016/2017 Extras Fee, we would ask that you pay it as soon as possible. You have the option to pay the Extras Fee for the 2017/2018 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 school ASAP so that the necessary arrangements are put in place for online payment.
Bekind Ireland Bake Sale
“On Friday the 12th May, the 6th Classes held a bake sale in aid of Bekind Ireland, a charity that helps the poor children in Calcutta. The total raised was over €1100! There was also a raffle and a guessing game. Well done to all involved.” By Joshua Sherlock and Adam Quinlan
Diswellstown Summer Camp
Children from current Junior Infants to sixth class are welcome. The camp will run from Monday 3rd - Friday 7th July 2017. 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 €65.00 for 1 child, €120 for 2 children and €175 for 3 children. Enrolment will be on Thursday 18th May 2017, 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.
Upcoming Events
25 May – In-Service Day for Staff – school will be closed
27 May – First Holy Communion – Ms Dowling & Ms Merrigan’s classes
30 May – Communion Photographs – Ms Dowling & Ms Merrigan’s classes
05 June – June Bank Holiday – school will be closed
27 June – 6th Class Graduation
30 June – School closes for Summer Break
30 August – School Re-opens for Senior Infants to 6th Class
31 August – School starts for Junior Infants at 10.00am to 11.30am.
Upcoming Sporting Events & News
22 May – Santry Field Events
23 May – GAA Jnr Boys vs Sc Chainnigh Venue Johnstown GAA, Finglas
30 May – Santry Track Events
School Athletics Team
Training in preparation for CnmB Athletics Championships
Please note up-coming dates.
Thursday 18th May U12 Boys & Girls 2.15 - 2.45
Friday 19th May U14 Boys & Girls 2.15 - 2.45
Monday 22nd May U10 Boys & Girls 2.15 - 2.45
Tuesday 23rd May U11 Boys & Girls 2.15 - 2.45
Wednesday 24th May U12 and U14 Boys & Girls 2.15 - 2.45
Friday 26th May U10, U11, U12 & U14 Boys and Girls 2.15 - 3.00
Monday 29th May U10, U11, U12 & U14 Boys and Girls 2.15 - 2.45 (Final Short Practice for each team)
NOTE: All training take place outdoors and are weather permitting. Training 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.
Parents Association News
NPC Education Conference 2017 - Shaping the Future - Saturday 10 June 2017
Register now!
The NPC Conference will take place in the National College of Ireland, Mayor Square, Dublin 1 on Saturday the 10th of June 2017 from 10.30am to 4pm.
To register to attend please click here
All those interested in primary education are welcome to attend, ADMISSION IS FREE!
Keynote speaker - Dr. Janet Goodall: Narrowing the Gap: Parental Engagement in Children's Learning
Janet Goodall is a lecturer in Educational Leadership and Management in the Department of Education, at the University of Bath.
Janet has been involved in educational research for many years, researching issues such as networks and federations of schools, the evaluation of the impact of continuing professional development of teachers, middle leadership in universities.
For the past 10 years, much of Janet’s work has been concentrated around the value and impact of parents’ engagement with their children’s learning. Janet has published widely on the subject, in both the academic and popular press, and on social media. She has just completed a yearlong pilot of a toolkit to support schools in this area, working with over 30 schools in Wiltshire Local Authority. Janet’s new book, Narrowing the Achievement Gap: Parental Engagement with Children’s Learning, was published by Routledge in the spring.
Guest speakers
Niall de Burca - Niall is a traditional storyteller with a unique style that turns an ancient art form on its head and drives it into the 21st century. Combining powerful stage presence and delivery, he has an ability to reach all ages from early childhood through to teenagers and on to elders. Niall will demonstrate this art form and will show parents how they too can engage their children through storytelling and by doing so enhance their learning at home.
Mette With Hagensen - Learning through play
Mette With Hagensen, MSc. BA, mother of 3 and president of the Danish association of school boards and parents in public schools, Skole og Forældre. Mette With Hagensen represents a strong voice for parents and she is an advocate for close cooperation between schools and parents in the shared responsibility to educate children and nurture children’s curiosity and creativity. Play is fun and learning should be fun too to engage children and create interaction and involvement in class. In Denmark LEGO is a natural part of childhood and by introducing LEGO six bricks in education children learn so much more than just putting bricks together. Mette With Hagensen will give an insight to the concept of LEGO six bricks.
The NPC Fred O'Connell Award will take place on the day, recognising innovative partnership between parents and schools.
Fred O’ Connell was involved with NPC in the early years of the organisation development. Fred served as Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of NPC and was also NPC’s first paid employee. Fred believed that parents have a vital role to play in their child’s education. This award is in honour of Fred. The NPC Fred O’Connell Award seeks to shine a light on the excellent partnership work that we know Parent Associations are engaging in across Ireland.
To register to attend please click here
Reminders
Revised Mobile Phone Policy
Our revised Mobile Phone Policy is available to view on our website, www.stpatricksns.ie.
Green Field
Now that the weather has improved and the grass has been mowed, we have started to use the field for some PE classes and outdoor activities as well as during playtime for 4th, 5th and 6th classes.
Important Safety Reminder re dismounting bicycles, etc.
In the interest of everyone’s safety, all cyclists (adults, students and younger siblings) should dismount from their Bicycles/Scooters at the gates to the school grounds. Please also note that Rollerblades and Heelys are not permitted on school grounds. Cycling is also not permitted on school grounds. We ask that all parents ensure that if their child is cycling to school, they wear a cycling helmet. We would greatly appreciate your support in these matters.
Drumcondra Reading & Mathematics Tests
Drumcondra Reading and Mathematics tests will take place for all children in 1st-6th classes between May 8th and May 19th. Drumcondra Spelling will take place at a later date. Please endeavour to ensure that your child/children are in school during this period, something to bear in mind when arranging dental appointments, etc.! Children will be informed of their testing dates a couple of days before they happen, as recommended by the Education Research Centre Testing Department. Standardised Testing is part of school life. Please reassure children that there is no need to revise or prepare for the tests in any way, nor for parents or children to become stressed, anxious or worried about them.
Letters of Attendance
We would ask that if you require Letters of Attendance for Child Benefit/Travel/Visa purposes for your child/children, that you give the office as much advance notice as possible. Please email your request to info@stpatricksns.ie stating the purpose of the letter. If it is for travel/visa request purposes, please advise date of travel so that the letter can be dated within a week of travel.
Bumbleance Collection
We have a Bumbleance Collection container in the school. The items accepted (in good working condition only please) are as follows:
DVDs; Video Games; Hand Held Consoles; iPods/MP3; iPads/Tablets; Phones.
If you have any of these items for recycling, drop them into the main office.
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.
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.
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school looks after the bookings and payment requests for Tennis, Badminton, Athletics, Emma Louise Dance Academy and Chess. If your child decides not to rejoin the new blocks of any of the above activities, it is essential that you email info@stpatricksns.ie so that we can remove your child from the list, and offer the place to another child. It will also mean that you will not receive payment requests unnecessarily for the activity.
“Yoga Adventures”- yoga classes
Yoga classes for children aged between 4 and 11 years are commencing on Wednesday, 31st May and will be running till the end of June. I am bringing yoga to children in a fun way through adventures, stories and fables with regard to their age. Classes will cover breathing techniques, physical poses, cooperative games, partner poses, relaxation and visualization techniques.
Two different age groups on Wednesdays:
Class 1: 1:10- 2.05pm (Junior and Senior Infants)
Class 2: 2:10- 3:10pm (1st class to 5thclass)
Where: The Stage room in St. Patrick’s NS
Cost: the fee for a trial class (on 31st May) is only €4. 4 week course (in June) : €22
To book a place or if you have any other queries, please contact Jana, a fully qualified
Children’s yoga teacher, by email: adventuresyoga@gmail.com or on 086 313 0992.
Badminton & Tennis
Badminton & Tennis are both finished until the new school year.
Athletics
Today is the last session of Athletics this school year.