Newsletters Archived
November Newsletter 2018Parent/Teacher Meetings
Parent/Teacher meetings will take place on Tuesday November 27 and Thursday November 29. 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 were distributed week commencing 22 October. Please see school Journals for children from 1st to 6th. Times for infants have been sent by 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 let the class teacher know.
Celtic Travelling Book Fair
The Book Fair will be in the school on Wednesday 14, Thursday 15, Friday 16 and Monday 19 November.
The Book Fair will be accessible from (08.40am-9.10am) and collection times (1.00pm – 2.30pm) ONLY. This is a great opportunity to get started on your Christmas shopping!
The more books you buy, the more books the school will receive to help restock the school library. Leaflets will be distributed to all children.
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 restricted
Intel Mini Scientist Competition 2018
As a precursor to Science week, the pupils of 5th class recently participated in the Intel Ireland Mini Scientist 2018 competition held in our PE hall. Terry, Trish and Michael from Intel Ireland and Mark from Pfizer Ireland came to judge the competition.
The overall winners will go forward to represent St Patrick's N.S at the Mini Scientist Regional Final in the near future.
A special thanks to all the parents for their guidance and encouragement. We really appreciate the amount of time the judges spent interacting with the children. Also, we are really grateful to Intel Ireland for the fantastic goody bags that all participants received in addition to the winner/runner up prizes presented on the day.
Science Fair 2018 Saoirse Dolan, Jane O’Rourke and Erin McDonagh
Our annual Science Fair took place on Thursday the 25th of October, 2018. It was sponsored by Intel.
There was one winner and two runners up.
Winners: Why Do Certain Liquids not Mix? by Daniel Brady, Conor Hynes, Noah Beausang and Fionn Casey
Runners up: How Do Our Senses Affect How We Taste?
by Saoirse Dolan, Jane O’Rourke and Erin McDonagh Light and Sound by Caoimhe Halley, Emma Doherty, Jack McLaughlin and Peter Brennan
All the children in Fifth Class and their teachers worked very hard on their projects and the judges commented on the high standard of work.
We enjoyed presenting our projects to the judges, classes and parents. We also enjoyed learning about the projects and doing experiments.
Science Week 2018
Science Week 2018 will run nationwide from 11th-18th November. There are many free fun events taking place around Dublin during next week. Check out www.sfi.ie or www.ScienceWeek.ie for further details.
Upcoming Events
11 – 18 November – Science Week
14 - 19 November – Celtic Travelling Book Fair
25 November – Annual Christmas Fair
27 November – Parent Teacher Meetings
29 November – Parent Teacher Meetings
24 December to 04 January inclusive – Christmas Break
15 February – In-Service Language Curriculum Training for Teachers (School Closed)
18-22 February inclusive – Mid Term Break
18 March – St Patrick’s Day
15 – 26 April inclusive – Easter Break
06 May – May Bank Holiday
03 June – June Bank Holiday
28 June – School Closes for Summer Break
Upcoming Sporting Events & News
Boys Football Cumann na mBunscol
Our school football team participated in the Cumann na mBunscol tournament over the last couple of months. The team’s first match was against St Mochta’s, The match went well and we won comfortably against our rivals. That left us confident going into next game. We were playing Sacred Heart Ballygall who were based in Ballymun. We drew after leading for most of the match. A final game in the group stage was against Bayside. In the first half it was very tight which left us two points down at the break. In the second half it was neck and neck but they ended out on top by one point. We had a good points difference which got us into the cup. In quarter finals we played an excellent Bishop Galvin team. In the first half we were flying it but they went a goal ahead early in the second half and we couldn't get that score back unfortunately. We were devastated to lose because it was our last chance to play football for the school again. We thoroughly enjoyed the competition and have many great memories. We would like to thank Mr. Thynne, Mr. Heneghan and our parents for supporting us and giving us lifts.
(by Cillian Beere and Cillian Clark)
Fingal Primary School Athletics League
12th March 2019 (Porterstown Pk., D15) Race Day Registration: 10.30am (1st Race 11am)
FINALS DAY (ALL SCHOOLS)
9th April 2019 (Morton Stadium) Race Day Registration: 10am (1st Race 10.30am)
Cross Country
Our school is participating in the Fingal Primary Schools Athletics League in Cross Country running this year. We have done two races so far, which have both been in Porterstown Park. We have one more race in Porterstown on 12th March and the Finals will be in Morton Stadium, Santry, on 9th April. Each age group has to run a different distance from 300m-600m approx.
Everyone in our school had a great time and did really well. We are really looking forward to the next race.
Daragh Murray (6th Class).
Well done to the Cross Country Team who did themselves proud on the field and in supporting their teammates. A big thank you to all the Parent Volunteers who accompanied us to Porterstown Park. Please keep the running kits in a safe place as they will be needed again for our next meeting on March 12th 2019.
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.
Save the Date!
Our annual Christmas Fair is going ahead and will be held on Sunday, 25th of November.
To make the day as great and successful as previously we need prizes for our wheel of fortune. Any donation from you or your company, no matter how big or small, will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance! Please get in touch with Adrienne via phone: 086 3192656 or email: ahegarty10@gmail.com
Any parents/guardians who would like to get involved and haven't signed up at the class meetings, please get in contact with Sabine via phone: 087 2869804 or email: sabine.krabbe@gmail.com
Thank you! Christmas Fair Committee
Christmas Raffle Tickets
Raffle Tickets are being sent home with your child over the next few days. Please note parents/guardians are under no obligation to buy these tickets (onsold tickets should be returned to the class teacher). The draw will take place on Sunday 25 November at 4pm at the Christmas Fair.
Fantastic prizes to be won!!
€500 Smyths Voucher – kindly donated by Source Air Conditioning & Electrical Services
€200 Hamper including Christmas tree voucher – kindly donated by Get Fresh Superfoods
€150 Christmas Hamper – kindly donated by Ethersons Butchers Laurel Lodge
Champagne Afternoon Tea at the Shelbourne Hotel – kindly donated by The Parks Medical Centre.
€100 Blanchardstown Voucher – kindly donated by Mischief Makers Montessori
NPC Special Education Conference
The NPC Special Education Conference takes place on Saturday the 24th of November 2018. This conference is open to all parents of children with special educational needs. Admission is free. The venue will be the Ashling Hotel, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8 (near Heuston Station and on the LUAS Redline, Collin’s Barracks stop). We will be in touch with further information shortly on the line up and with details of information providers who will be there on the day.
Conference will run from 10.30am to 4pm. Please save the date! Registration will open shortly.
Reminders
Homework Club
Any queries re Homework Club should be emailed to homeworkclub@stpatricksns.ie
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.
Head Bumps
It is school policy to inform parents by text if your child has a head bump during the school day. If your child complains of feeling sick or dizzy, you will receive a telephone call from the office asking you to arrange collection of your child.
Staff Car Park
As our staff numbers have increased again this year, parents are asked not to park in the Staff Car Park at any time during the school day, 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 for any reason during the school day, we would ask that you park in the bus stop area and enter via the Pedestrian Gate at the main entrance. (Please close gate after you leave). Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Parent “Helping Hands”
We are once again looking for Parent Helping Hands. We need parents to:
- Help out in Junior Infants and Senior Infants for Maths and Fine Motor Stations;
- To help out at Literacy Lift-off/Guided Reading stations;
- To help out in Junior infants for Fine Motor Stations;
- To accompany children to and from the church;
- To accompany children on school tours;
- To accompany children to sporting events.
How do I get involved?
All Parent Helping Hands need to be Garda Vetted through the school. You need to bring in proof of address and a photo ID (Passport/Drivers licence) to the school and fill in an Application Form at the office. We need to submit a form to the Patron’s Office. They will then email you an e-form which you must return within 30 days otherwise the form will expire and you will need to begin the process all over again. When the ‘Vetting’ comes through you will be informed by Patron’s Office and the Declaration will also be sent to the school.
Returning of Forms/Permission Slips, etc.
Throughout the school year, various Permission and Consent forms are sent home with the children.
As there are currently 536 families and over 800 students is St Patrick’s N.S., it is now even more important that all forms are fully completed and returned to your child’s class teacher by the requested date. Deadline dates will be strictly adhered to.
** WE URGENTLY NEED ALL PERMISSION SLIPS RE SHARING DATA WITH PA RETURNED IMMEDIATELY**
Dropping in lunches, bags, homework etc.
It is essential that all your child’s belongings e.g. lunches, bags, homework, etc., are CLEARLY MARKED WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME AND THE NAME OF THE CLASS TEACHER, especially if you are dropping in items during the school day.
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.
Healthy Lunch Policy
We operate a Healthy Lunch Policy in the school. Fizzy drinks, crisps, popcorn or sweets are not permitted. Please help us maintain the health of our children by following the guidelines which are available to view at www.stpatricksns.ie.
Breaktimes
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, lunchboxes, beakers, etc, etc, are labelled with your child’s name. Order forms for www.mynametags.ie are available from reception.
Hand Towels
New foam soap dispensers have been fitted in all WCs. Please ensure 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.
Reminder re dismounting bicycles, etc
In the interest of everyone’s safety, all cyclists (pupils, staff, parents & siblings) should dismount from their bicycles at the main gates of the school. For safety reasons, we would also ask that you do not allow your children to use scooters or rollerblades on school grounds. Please also ensure that your bicycle/scooter/flicker is securely locked.
Infant Children (Junior & Senior Infants)
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 handed 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.
Health & Safety
We would ask that you discourage children from walking along the low wall outside the main school entrance. Also, children should NEVER enter the school via the staff car park entrance.
Extra Curricular Activities
ALL QUERIES RELATING TO EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE ACTIVITY ORGANISER.
Please see email/notification sent to all parents on 07 September for contact details of all activity organisers. Contact details are also available on the school website.