Newsletters Archived
October Newsletter 2019Most 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 3.10pm. It would be much appreciated if telephone calls to the school were made only in emergency situations, and ONLY AFTER 9.00AM.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:THE OFFICE CLOSES FOR LUNCH FROM 12.15-12.45PM DAILY.
Procedure for entering the school each morning
- The school bell rings at 08.30am. Children walk to their lines.
- Please note, 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.
- Only children who arrive after 08.50am should 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.
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 the school grounds alone.
Leaving School Early
The teacher should be notified in advance if possible, should a child need to be collected early. Pupils who
leave before the end of the school day, must be signed out at Reception by a parent/guardian.
If you need to collect your child during the school day, please do not do so during break times
(10.20-10.30am and 12.00-12.30pm) as the children are in the school yard at this time. If an emergency situation arises, please ring the office before break time and we will arrange to have your child at Reception
for collection. However, please note Reception is closed from 12.15-12.45pm daily. Your cooperation in this matter would be very much appreciated.
"No Dogs Allowed" Signage
Can we please request that parents do not bring dogs on to School/Community Centre grounds at any time of the day/afternoon/evening? We thank you for your full cooperation in this request.
School Wildlife Garden appeal
We were delighted to share a presentation on ‘Our School Wildlife Garden Journey’ at the recent parent information meetings. This was prepared by one of our parents, Mairéad Stack, a Biodiversity Education Specialist who visited each class last Spring to talk about the wildlife garden.
Our School Wildlife Garden is powered by parents- we could not do it without your help and support! Our Garden Committee is very active but we need volunteers. Please contact Mairéad if interested (info@naturecubsireland.ie). You can help in your own time.
We are also appealing for donations as we start to work on defining our wildflower woodland area.
Donations of the following would be gratefully accepted on the week of September 30, in the canopy area in front of reception:
- Spring bulbs (available in Lidl/other supermarkets/gardencentres). We specifically need snowdrops, crocuses and allium with some daffodils.
- Bark chip bags (also available from Lidl/some other supermarkets/gardencentre ).
The children will be planting these bulbs in the next month.
Information on the wildlife garden design and the presentation can be found on the school website under the tab Action Team Partnership:
Thank you!
School Garden Club
Head Bumps
It is school policy to inform parents if their child has a head bump of any kind during the school day. If the teacher feels that the child does not need to be collected following the head bump, you will receive a text message for your information. You may of course decide to come to the school/send someone to the school to check on the child. If the head bump is deemed to be more serious, you will receive a telephone call from the office asking you to arrange collection of your child.
HSE Documents/Permission Slips/Order Forms etc.
Throughout the school year, various Permission and Consent forms are sent home with the children.
As there are currently 541 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. We must adhere strictly to deadline dates.
Upcoming Events
28 October to 01 November inclusive - Mid Term Break
23 December to 03 January inclusive – Christmas Break
17-21 February inclusive – Mid Term Break
16-17 March – St Patrick’s Day Break
06 – 17 April inclusive – Easter Break
04 May – May Bank Holiday
01 June – June Bank Holiday
30 June – School Closes for Summer Break
Upcoming Sporting Events & News
Selection of children for school events and appropriate parental interaction
Many thanks to all of our parents for your continued support of our school teams. We greatly appreciate your help with supervision, jersey care, side-line encouragement, etc. The school is indebted to our teachers who train and run the teams in a voluntary capacity. The school ethos is to promote ‘Sport for All’. However, some events are competitive and for these, children need to be selected. We always endeavour to be as fair as possible when picking children to represent the school.
IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR PARENTS TO TAKE ISSUE WITH TEACHERS REGARDING THE SELECTION PROCESS.
While there will always be differing opinions in this regard, it is the prerogative of the management team to make the final decision. We look forward to another great year for St Patrick’s on the sporting field..
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.
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 HIS/HER CLASS TEACHER, especially if you are dropping in items during the school day
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, are labelled with your child’s name. We would particularly request that, if dropping glasses into the school, they are in a case with your child’s name on it.
Order forms for www.mynametags.ie are available at reception.
Entry/Exit School Grounds
There are two pedestrian entrances/exits to the school grounds, one beside the Beeches estate and one at the main entrance side of the building. Under no circumstances should children ever enter or exit the school via the staff car park entrance. Your full cooperation in this matter would be appreciated.
Staff Car Park
As our staff numbers have increased again this year, space in the car park is very limited. Parents are not permitted to park in the car park at any time during the school day. The only exception is dropping or 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, please 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, staff, 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. Please also ensure that your bicycle/scooter/flicker is securely locked.
Extra Curricular Activities
Art and Craft Workshops
There are still places available classes are held on Mondays and Fridays from 2.10pm-3.45pm.
Students attend either a Monday or Friday class. All ages are catered for.
Learn a wide variety of skills using a wide range of materials that help foster creativity in an enjoyable atmosphere. All materials and equipment are supplied.
Please contact Blathnaid O'Brien Donovan M.Ed B.Ed H Dip Ed on 087 4123247 for full details.
Information about all other extra curricular activities can be found on our website.
Diswellstown Community & Recreation Centre Activities and Local Community Activities
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 email: porterstownoffice@parkrun.com