Newsletters Archived

Wednesday 15th November 2017

New Permanent PE Timetable

A new PE Timetable for the hall came into effect this week. Please take note of the day your children have PE and please ensure they wear school tracksuits on this day. A reminder that suitable sports footwear is also essential and jewellery such as dangly earrings and bracelets should not be worn.

PE Timetable (Hall) School Year 2017-2018

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
8.45 - 9.30	Ms McTague 3^rd	Ms Walsh 4^th	Ms Collins 5^th	Mr Heneghan 4^th	Ms Dowling 2^nd
9.30 – 10.15	Ms Rothwell S.Infs	Ms Murray 3^rd	Ms Parker J.Infs	Ms Weir 6^th	Ms McCormack 6^th
10.20 - 10.30	Break	Break	Break	Break	Break
10.30 - 11.15	Ms Fay 1^st	GAA	Ms Nolan S.Infs	Mr Waring 3^rd	Ms Lineen 5^th
11.15 – 12.00	Ms Thomas S.Infs	GAA	Mr Thynne J.Infs	Ms Harte J.Infs	Ms M McDermott J.Infs
12.00 - 12.30	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
12.30 – 1.15	Ms Quinn 1^st	GAA	Ms O’Callaghan 1^st	Mr O’Neill 2^nd	Mr Mac Conámha 4^th
1.15 – 2.00	Ms C O’Reilly 6^th	Ms Burke 2^nd	Ms Donnellan 2^nd	Ms Corcoran 5^th

Parent/Teacher Meetings

Parent/Teacher meetings will take place on Tuesday November 21 and Thursday November 23. The timetables have been organised so that parents who have to attend more than one meeting have been offered all their appointments on either Tuesday or Thursday. You will understand, therefore, that it is not possible for the school to facilitate requests for a change of day and/or time because of the effect this would have on other class timetables. Appointment times have been distributed by the end of the week. Please see school Journals for children from 1^st to 6^th. Times for infants will be send home on a note.

Please do not swap times with another parent or family, as this has an impact on other classes.

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.

If you can’t attend at your appointed time, please contact the Class teacher.

Celtic Travelling Book Fair

The Book Fair will be in the school from Wednesday 15 November to Tuesday 21 November. Feel free to call in at dropping off (08.40am-9.10am) and collection times (1.00pm – 2.30pm) to browse through the selection available. This is a great opportunity to get started on your Christmas shopping! Leaflets have been distributed to all children.

The more books you buy, the more books the school will receive to help restock the school library. The Book Fair provides us with the only way of funding our school library since the government grant for school libraries was withdrawn.

From previous years’ experience, may we please ask that you Enter only via the Main Entrance and Exit only via the Blanchardstown Door? This will ensure a smooth flow of people through the Book Fair area which is quite tight.

Active Flag

Our school is involved once again in the exciting & free health homework programme called Super Troopers. It's a great way for children and their families to become more active whilst encouraging the benefits of a healthy lifestyle in a fun way. Each child in the school will be receiving an active journal. Please encourage your child to participate in the 'active homework' as this initiative is an aspect of our Active Flag programme.

Some classes may have to wait a little longer to receive their journals as we are waiting on another delivery of journals. Hopefully they will be with us by the end of next week.

Fire Safety Art Competition

Congratulations to Caoimhe Rigney in Ms. Quinn's class, who has been selected as a runner-up in the First, Second and Third Class Category of the Dublin Fire Brigade Fire Safety week Competition. Caoimhe's picture will appear in the Dublin Fire Brigade's Community Fire safety Calendar 2018 and she has been invited to attend a prize-giving ceremony in the Mansion House. Well done Caoimhe!

Junior Infant Christmas Plays (Time TBC)

Tuesday 12th December- Ms Parker

Wednesday 13th December- Ms McDermott

Friday 15th December- Ms Harte

Monday 18th December- Mr Thynne

Sick Children at School

Please do not send sick children to school for the following reasons:

Children are unable to cope with the demands of school when they are unwell.
Infection spreads rapidly in the confinement of the classroom.
There is no indoor supervision for sick children during breaktimes.

Absences due to illness

Whilst there is no need to telephone the school if your child is sick, we would greatly appreciate if you would

in the school who are at increased risk of contracting these illnesses. Parents must acknowledge their child’s absence

from school, in writing, at the back of the child’s School Journal (Education Welfare Act). Parents of Infants children

should speak to the teacher at the class line on the morning of their return.

Upcoming Events

14-22 November – Celtic Travelling Book Fair (see above)

21 & 23 November – Parent/Teacher Meetings (more information closer to dates)

26 November – Christmas Fair

4 & 5 December – Rescheduled Internet Safety Workshops 5^th & 6^th Classes

5 December – Rescheduled Parents Internet Safety Workshop

12 December- Ms Parker

13 December- Ms McDermott

15 December- Ms Harte

18 December- Mr Thynne

23 December to 07 January (inclusive) – Christmas Break

12 – 16 February – Mid Term Break

19 March – St Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday

26 March to 08 April (inclusive) – Easter Break

07-08 May – May Bank Holiday

06-05 June – June Bank Holiday

Parents Association News

St. Patricks NS Parents Association's Facebook page is now live at www.facebook.com/schoolPA . Please follow our page to keep up to date on our activities and events.

School Calendars

Orders for School Calendars for 2017 are now being taken by The Parents Association. The calendars feature a photo of your child’s class and cost €5 each. The calendars make a wonderful Christmas present or keepsake.

Please complete the order form attached and return the entire form, together with a cheque or cash, in an envelope, to your child’s class teacher by Wednesday 22nd November.

Please make cheques payable to “St Patricks NS Parents Association”. Calendars will be delivered to your child’s class in December.

As this is a Parents Association initiative, it is not possible to pay for Calendars through the school online payment system or at reception.

For your convenience a hard copy of this form will be sent home in your childs' school bag in the coming days.

Christmas Fair

Collection Dates and Times
Collections for the Christmas fair begin this week on Thursday 9th in the morning at school drop off and in the evening at 19:30-20:30 in the school foyer.

They will then be every Tuesday and Thursday at school drop off time and in the evening 19.30-20.30 until the fair. All donations accepted toys must be clean and in good working order (no baby toys please) books, dvd's, bric-a-brac, crafts, bottles for our bottle stall. Thanking you in advance as we wouldn't be able to run the fair without them.
Sponsorship
Sponsorship is a vital part of our fair so if you or your company are willing to donate to the fair, we would greatly appreciate it. Please contact Adrienne (086) 3192656.

Volunteers
For all parents who have previously got involved and those who wish to come on board, please contact Oonagh on (086) 3231722.

Christmas Raffle Tickets

Raffle Tickets were sent home with your child yesterday. Please note parents/guardians are under no obligation to buy these tickets. The draw will take place on Sunday 26 November at 4pm at the Christmas Fair.

Great prizes to be won!!
1st prize: Lenovo Chromebook (YogaN23) – kindly sponsored by Tantec.ie

2nd prize: €200 Hamper including Christmas tree voucher – kindly donated by Get Fresh Superfoods
3rd prize: €150 One4All voucher – kindly donated by Mischief Makers Montessori

4th prize: €150 Savvy Schools Voucher – kindly donated by Savvy Schools
5th prize:Champagne Afternoon Tea at the Shelbourne Hotel – kindly donated by The Parks Medical Centre.

Many thanks to our kind sponsors.

Please return counterfoils & money and/or unsold tickets directly to the CLASS TEACHER on or before Wednesday 22 November to ensure inclusion in the draw.

Many thanks for your ongoing support.

Cupcake Competition
The Cupcake Competition is on again this year at the Christmas Fair on Sunday the 26th of November. We are calling on all of you fabulous bakers to get your baking hats on. Entries can be accepted up until 1o'clock on the day of the fair at the Cafe area. The winners will be announced at 1.30pm on the day. All entries will then be sold in the
Cafe after the competition.
We also need plenty of donated baked goods for the Cafe, to be sold on the day to make it a big tasty success.
Cupcake Competition Categories are:
Kids aged 8 & under
Kids aged 9-13
Adults
We are happy to announce that this year’s competition will be judged by Mrs. Corcoran.

Art Competition
Our annual art competition is taking place again this year. All entries will be on display on the wall beside the lifts on the day of the Christmas Fair (26th November). Winners will be announced on the day. The theme is "Christmastime"
Entries to be placed in the art competition box in reception. The closing date for entries is 20 November.
Competition Categories: 4-6yrs 7-9yrs 10-13yrs
Each category will have a winner with one overall winner.

Reminders

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.

Homework Club (Monday to Thursday 2.10-3.10pm)

There are a number of slots available in the Homework Club (3^rd to 6^th Class children). Please email info@stpatricksns.ie putting “Homework Club” in the subject line and your child’s name and teacher in the body of the email. The teachers involved will reply to you and send a booking form.

Internet Safety Workshops

Internet Safety Workshops for children in 5th and 6th classes will now take place on December 4^th and 5th. A workshop for parents will follow on December 5th at 7.30pm. More information to follow.

Extra-Curricular Activities

If your child takes part in a number of Extra-Curricular activities, it might be useful to write the activities into his/her school journal on the appropriate days. This will help him/her remember the activity and, if there is any confusion, the teacher can help by checking the journal.

Information regarding extra-curricular activities can be found on the website www.stpatricksns.ie under archive newsletters.

Child's Pose Yoga

Ms Nolan is running a four week term, beginning Tuesday Nov. 14th, at a cost of €30.

Days: Tuesdays - 1st class and upwards. Wednesdays - 3rd class and upwards (with Ms. Donnellan)

Time: 2:10 - 3:15pm

Place: Green Room 2

Contact: yogaplaychildspose@gmail.com. If interested, please get in touch!

Futsal

8 week Futsal (indoor football) programme starting November 21st from 3.05-4pm in school hall at a cost of €30.

Places are limited and is only open to 3rd,4th, 5th & 6th class students. Contact Noel McManus on 0879830443 for registration

Diswellstown Community & Recreation Centre and Local Community Activities

St Mochta’s Parish Bethany Bereavement Support Group

“Grieving the Death of a Loved One by Suicide” on Thursday 16 November at 8pm in St Mochta’s Pastoral Centre (behind the Church). Everyone welcome, no charge. Email bethanybereavementgroup@stmochtasparish.ie or contact the Parish Office (01 8213218) for more information.

Songs for a Winter’s Evening “A Christmas Celebration”

With Mary Flynn, Mary O’Donnell, Teresa O’Donnell and friends. Sunday 3^rd December in St Mochta’s Church, Porterstown at 7.30pm sharp. Tickets €25. All proceeds in aid of St Francis Blanchardstown. Tickets available from Parish Office, phone 01 8213218, Mary at 087 2585398 or Mícheál at 087 2449908 and from St Francis Hospice Blanchardstown Reception.

The Drama Hub (formerly DramaWorks)

The Drama Hub (formerly DramaWorks) Speech & Drama Classes at St. Patrick’s National School, Diswellstown will begin its second term resuming on Saturday 11th November from 1.00pm for Junior to Senior Infants; 2pm for First Class upwards.

Join us every Saturday for Voice Work, Drama, Poetry, Mime, Confidence Building Exercises, Theatre Games, Movement, Improvisation, Storytelling and lots more!

Students will be prepared for our Poetry Festival on December 16th and the Leinster School Speech and Drama Grade Exams in March. Limited places available.

For further details contact Clodagh or Dearbhla on 086 373 6056 check out our facebook page @TheDramaHubDublin or Email us hello.thedramahub@gmail.com