Update 5: February 2nd 2015

Dear Parents,

Please read the following with care as the information is important.

•  Days we are closed or close early this term

 

1. Staff Meeting–   finish early on Wednesday 18^th February. Junior and Senior Infants and their siblings finish at 12.30pm and the rest of the school at 12.45pm.
2. Mid-Term We finish school on Wednesday 18^th February and re-open on Monday February 23rd. As per above, Junior and Senior Infants (with their siblings) will finish at 12.30pm and the rest of the school at 12.45.
3. Around St. Patricks Day. Closed Monday 16^th and Tuesday Friday 17^th March.
4. Easter Holidays. Closing early Friday 27^th March, closed Monday 30^th March to Friday 10^th April incl. School re-opens on Monday 13^th April.

 

• Closings next term

1. May Bank Holiday. We are closed Monday 4^th May and Tuesday 5^th May.
2. June Bank Holiday. We are also closed Friday May 29^th to Tuesday June 2^nd incl. We re-open Wednesday June 3^rd.

1. The school year ends on Friday 26^th June and school finishes early that day. Junior and Senior Infants (with their siblings) will finish at 12.30 and the rest of the school at 12.45.

 

• Other dates to note

1. First Penance for children making their First Holy Communion takes place on Wednesday 11^th March at 7.30pm.
2. First Holy Communion takes place on Saturday 16^th May at 10.30am.
3. Open Evening for parents of incoming Junior Infants takes place on Wednesday, May 27^th.
4. Sixth Class Leaving Night is scheduled for Thursday June 18^th.
5. We welcome our incoming Junior Infants for an introductory session on Friday June 19^th.

• Financial Help I would like to advise parents that if you are struggling with any school related expenses such as school uniforms/ books or upcoming costs such as swimming/ school tours that there is a provision within the school to help out. Please let me know. This is a confidential service provided by the Board of Management through myself.
• Fifth and Sixth classes enjoyed French with Nathalie Lynch in the term before Christmas. There is a further series of 10 lessons ongoing this term. The cost of these 2 terms is €20 per child. Please remit to class teachers
• Gymnastics: Classes are ongoing across all classes (Juniors to Sixth) for Gymnastics with Colm O’Toole. These 10 sessions will run until the Easter break at a total cost of €8 per child. Please send in to class teacher.
• Chess: We have 2 teams from 5^th/6^th classes taking part in an Inter-Schools Chess Tournament on Tuesday February 3^rd in Scoil Muire Lourdes. We won this competition last year and will strongly defend the title this year!!
• Indoor Camogie 3^rd class. 3^rd class takes part in an indoor camogie blitz on Monday February 9^th in Riverstick GAA Hall at 12noon. If any parents can help out with transport please let us know. Thank you.
• Basketball 6^th Class A selection of Sixth Class students are taking part in a Basketball Competition on Wednesday 11^th February (Girls) and Thursday 12th February (mixed) in various venues. More details to follow.
• Indoor Hurling 3^rd class 3^rd class also takes part in a Hurling blitz Monday 23^rd February in Riverstick at 12noon and again we’d be grateful if we could have volunteers for dropping/ collecting. Please let us know. Thank you.
• Spike Ball FUN Blitz for 4^th Class will run on Wednesday 11th March in Upper Glanmire Sports Hall. The time is yet to be confirmed but may run from either 10-12pm or in the afternoon from 12-2pm. We are considering hiring a bus for this at a cost of approx. €6 per child.
• Swimming: Swimming starts for 3^rd and 4^th classes only on Monday April 20^th. They will have 7 lessons in total on April 20^th, 27^th, May 11^th, 18^th, 25^th, June 8^th and 15^th. Details will follow closer the time but you might like to budget for it now. We estimate the cost per child will be at least €50. You might like to start paying for it now in installments.
• Celtic Book Fairs: This Book Fair will visit the school from Tuesday 21^st to Monday 27^th April incl. Your child (and you) will have the opportunity to purchase books which will also benefit the school. For every euro spent we get 60% back in the form of books for class libraries.
• Parents Association: The P.A. is planning a series of events over the next month or two and will be in contact with parents for support with these. Some events upcoming are a Zumba Class fundraiser on February 27^th in Fernhill and a Cake Sale on March 14^th. More to follow from our industrious committee.
• School Tours: School tours are currently in the planning stages. This year our school tours will take place the week of June 8^th to 12^th. You might like to budget for these now. The cost for last year’s tours are as follows and we hope to keep prices at these levels approximately: Jrs/ Snrs- €16, 1^st/2^nd – €20, 3^rd/ 4^th – €25 and 5^th/6^th – €40. More details to follow.

Finally, best wishes to Ellie and Marc Galland who represent Shanbally NS in the upcoming All-Ireland Swimming Championships next weekend.

Thank you,

David Nolan

Principal