Newsletters Archived
Wednesday 18th April 2018Eighth Amendment Referendum
The school will be closed on Friday 25 May as it is being used as a Polling Station for the above Referendum.
Staff Car Park – Safety Concern
For safety reasons, children are not permitted to enter school grounds via the staff car park entrance. We therefore ask that you do not drop your child at the entrance to the staff car park in the mornings.
Yet again we are appealing to parents to be respectful when parking at collection times. There are a number of irate residents from neighbouring estates who we have advised to contact the authorities in relation to illegal and dangerous parking The school will not hesitate in supporting these complaints.
Phoenix Quiz
“Four students from 5th class went to the Phoenix Radio (FM 92.5) recording studios to record two episodes of the School Duel Quiz. They won the first quiz against Scoil Mhuire, Blakestown by two points and the second round by a huge 32 points. The competition was very tough and the questions got very challenging in the last round. We will be competing again for the shield in a week or two. The quiz will be broadcast later this term on the radio. We were nervous at the beginning but grew in confidence and composure as the quiz went on! Gráinne, the quizmaster helped us to relax during the quiz. We travelled by bus and practised our general knowledge on the way! We are looking forward to the next round!”
Jack Reid, Oran O' Connell, Marcus Clinton and James Gallagher
HSE Hearing & Vision Testing – Junior Infants
The HSE will be in the school on Monday 23, Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 April for Hearing & Vision Testing for Junior Infants.
Choir of Ages Concert
St. Patrick's and Ciúnas will be coming together to perform a concert on Tuesday 29th May at 7:30pm in the school hall. It will be a short concert, over within half an hour. All welcome!
The Stay Safe Programme
The Stay Safe Programme will be taught in Senior Infants, 2nd Class, 4th Class and 6th Class in the coming weeks. We advise parents to visit www.staysafe.ie and view the lesson content, in advance of the programme. Please note that the programme has been recently updated, in line with “Children First” Guidelines. If you have any queries, please contact your child's class teacher.
P.E. Motto Competition
As part of our Active Week celebrations, all children (and parents) are invited to take part in a competition to create a new P.E. motto for our school. eg. 'Bí cool, bí spóirtiúl!'
Criteria are as follows:
- Motto should be short and catchy
- Motto can be in English or Irish
- Motto must be original and represent our school well
- Closing date for entries is Friday, 27th April
- Entries must be posted in the collection box at reception
- Be sure to include your name and class teacher on your entry, along with your motto.
The winning entry will be painted on to the walls of our P.E. hall and there will also be prizes for worthy runners-up. Best of luck!
“Seussical”
Sara Kwiatkowska in third class is taking part this week in ‘Seussical’, a musical at Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray. Sara has been rehearsing since early January and her hard work has paid off! Four live evening shows takes a lot of effort, commitment and stamina. Well done Sara!
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.
Re-Registration Form 2018/2019
We have a number of children on our Waiting List for Senior Infants to Sixth class places for the 2018/2019 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 will be been given to all children (JI – 5th Class) over the next few days.
We would ask that you return the fully completed form (front and back) ASAP, confirming if your child/children will or will not be returning to St Patrick’s for the next school year 2018/2019. 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 2017/2018 Extras Fee, we would ask that you pay it as soon as possible. You have the option to pay the Extras Fee for the 2018/2019 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.
Procedure for entering the school each morning
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.
Upcoming Events
26 April – Senior Sports for All Day (3rd to 6th Class children)
07-08 May – May Bank Holiday
09 May – Teacher In-Service Day (School closed to students)
10 May – ACCORD -4th Class Girls/5th Classes
12 May – First Holy Communion Ceremonies
15 May – Communion Photographs (TUESDAY)
21 May – Athletics Championships Field Events 3rd – 6th Morton Stadium Santry
25 May – School Closed for Referendum
29 May – Athletics Championships Track Events 3rd – 6th Morton Stadium Santry
04-05 June – June Bank Holiday
14 June – Provisional Date for Junior Infants Sports for All Day
26 June – 6th Class Graduation
29 June – School Closes for Summer Break
Upcoming Sporting Events & News
Senior Sports Day (SI-2nd Class)
“'Thanks for having Sports Day on yesterday. We loved it. We were shocked to see there were biscuits and juice! My favourite was jumping through the hula hoops on a Mexican Wave adventure as part of the hula hoop challenge. My favourites were the tennis and table tennis stations. We loved all the sports. Thank you Ms. Power.' (Sallyann Kirwan and Grace Ward-Ms. Thomas' Senior Infants)
Return of cross country running kits
Can all members of our school cross country team please return their running kits (green t-shirt, black shorts and green athletics singlet with school name on it) next week? The kits will be collected daily from the classrooms. However, it is important that each child returns his/her kit in a bag (preferably a paper bag, please) with name clearly written on it. This is to ensure that all kits are “signed back in” and that we receive all of them. Please do not return kits to the office. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated in this matter.
Schools Athletics Team
Knock-out Trials for the final selection will be held after school. Those who make it onto the shortlists must attend if they want to be considered for the team. Those selected for the team must be available for the championships (held at Morton Stadium in Santry) on Monday 21st May (if participating in the Field Events) and/or Tuesday 29th May (if participating in the Sprints and Relays).
PLEASE WATCH THIS SPACE FOR DATES OF TRIALS TO ENSURE YOUR CHILD DOES NOT MISS OUT.
PLEASE NOTE: Santry Trials will take place the first week back after Easter holidays. We will meet in the 3rd class yard and trials will take place 2.10pm-3.00pm. It might be useful to write these dates into your child’s school journal as a reminder.
Wednesday 18th: U13s (2.10-3.00pm)
Wednesday 25th – U10s
Thursday 26th – U12s
Friday 27th – U13s
21 May – Athletics Championships Field Events 3rd – 6th Morton Stadium Santry
29 May – Athletics Championships Track Events 3rd – 6th Morton Stadium Santry
Senior (3rd to 6th) SFAD (Sport for All Days)
Senior Sports for All Day (3rd to 6th) is scheduled (again, weather permitting) for Thursday 26 April. Children should bring their school bags to school, as usual, on these days. They should wear their school tracksuit and suitable footwear. They are also advised to bring an extra drink with them along with their usual lunch. Please note, we are unable to facilitate parent’s attendance at the Junior and Senior Sports for All Days.
Junior Infant Sports Day
The provisional date for Junior Infant Sports Day is Thursday 14 June. A separate email will be sent to all parents of Junior Infants closer to the date providing more information re Sports Day and confirming the date. Please note that parents are invited to the Junior Infant Sports Day only.
Reminders
Children First
Our Child Safeguarding Statement and Written Assessment of Risk of St Patrick’s N.S. are available to view on our website www.stpatricksns.ie or by clicking here Policies .
New Signage
As you have probably noticed, we have erected new directional signage (School, Tigers and Community Centre entrances) and new name signs over each entry door.
We have also displayed signage requesting that there be “No Cycling/Scootering on School Grounds” and also “No Dogs on School Grounds” at any time of the day. We thank you for your cooperation in both these requests.
Contact Details
It is essential that we have the correct address and contact details (e.g. home telephone, parents’ mobile numbers, email address) 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.
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.
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.
Any changes/cancellations known in advance will be notified on the weekly Newsletter.
Information regarding extra-curricular activities can be found on the website www.stpatricksns.ie through the Extra Curricular Activities tab and under archived Newsletters.
Yoga adventures
The new term, 7 weeks block, is starting next Wednesday, 25th April 2018
Two age groups on Wednesdays:
Class 1: 1:10- 2.05pm (Junior and Senior Infants)
Class 2: 2:10- 3:10pm (1st class to 2nd class)
Cost: € 42
2 places available in each class. Trial class can be offered, too. Let your child have fun doing yoga, playing fitness cooperative games, connect with himself/herself and others and much more.
If interested or any other enquiries, please contact me at 086 313 0992 or email
If your child no longer wishes to take part in Badminton, Tennis, Athletics, Table Tennis or Chess, please email info@stpatricksns.ie ASAP so that he/she can be removed from the payment request list and that the place can be offered to another child.
Diswellstown Community & Recreation Centre and Local Community Activities
CCC Plant Sale
The CCC Plant Sale takes place on Saturday 12th and Sunday 14th of May from 10am to 5pm.
There will be summer bedding plants, hanging basket and window boxes, ceramic and terracotta pots available at the sale as well as a coffee shop and lots more. Pre-orders available Phone 0857540888.
Platform Stage School Summer Camps
Platform Stage School Summer Camps will be taking place in St Patrick’s N.S. from 10am to 1pm on 9 – 13 July and 9 – 13 August. The cost is €100 per child with a 10% reduction for siblings. Enrolment Forms are available on www.platformstageschool.ie.
Porterstown ParkRun
What is it? - A Free Weekly 5km Timed Run. When is it? - Every Saturday at 9:30am
What does it cost? - Nothing - it's free! But please register before your 1st run.
Do I need to be a Runner? - ParkRun is for ALL abilities (walk, jog or run)
This is a free community event so please lend your support.
Website: www.parkrun.ie