Newsletter 6 February 3rd 2020
Parents, following are some important dates and information for this school year. The school closings are highlighted in red for your convenience. Please note that as part of our Primary Language Curriculum implementation the school is directed by the Department of Education to take one half day school closure per term between now and the end of the school year. We will communicate details of same next week after the first meeting of our new Board of Management. Thank you.
School Calendar for rest of year
February 6th Gymnastics
February 7th Indoor GAA Coaching Maritime College
February 10/12 PTM Juniors and 4th
February 11th Safer Internet Day
February 13th Gymnastics
February 14th Valentine’s Day PA Cake Sale
Finish for midterm on Friday 14th
Closed for midterm from Monday 17th to Friday 21st February
School reopens Monday 24th February
February 24th Ceremony of Light (5th + 6th) 7 pm
February 25th Irish Dancing 1
February 25th Teddy Bear Hospital 11.45-12.45 (JI+SI+SSLD)
February 27th Gymnastics
February 28th Indoor GAA Coaching Maritime College
MARCH
March Details of Seachtain na Gaeilge to be finalised
March 2nd Engineers Week
March 3rd Irish Dancing 2
March 5th Confirmation
March 8th Do This in Memory
March 10th Irish Dancing 3
March 11th Lismore Science (Juniors – 4th incl)
March 12th First Confession at 7 pm
March 12th Gymnastics 8
March 13th Indoor GAA Coaching Maritime College
School closed for St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday March 17th
March 19th Gymnastics
March 20th Indoor GAA Coaching Maritime College
March 24th Irish Dancing 4
March 26th Gymnastics
March 27th Indoor GAA Coaching Maritime College
March 31st Irish Dancing 5
APRIL
April Details of Sciath na Scol Hurling Fixtures will be circulated once received
April 2nd World Autism Day
Closing early for Easter holidays on Friday April 3rd
School closed from Monday 6th to Friday 17th April incl.
School reopens Monday April 20th
April 23rd Gymnastics
April 26th Do This in Memory
April 30th Swimming 1 9.50 in the pool (3rd and 4th classes)
April 30th PA Meeting at 7.30 pm
MAY
School closed for May Bank Holiday Monday May 4th
May 5th Bookfair delivered
May 7th Swimming 2
May 14th Swimming 3
First Holy Communion Saturday May 16th at 10.30 am
May 21st Swimming 4
May 28th Swimming 5
May 29th Cork City Sports
JUNE
Monday June 1st and Tuesday June 2nd June 2020 School closed for June Bank holiday
June 4th Swimming 6
Thursday June 4th/ Friday June 5th 6th Class overnight tour
Week of Mon 8th IEP Meetings/ SET meetings
Wednesday 10/11 School Reports issued
Tuesday June 16th 1st and 2nd school tour
Wednesday June 17th Infant School Tour
Wednesday June 17th 5th class tour
Thursday June 18th 3rd and 4th tour
Friday June 19th New Junior Infants in
Monday 22nd or 23rd School Sports Day (tbc)
Wednesday June 24th Jumping the line
Wednesday June 24th 6th Class Leaving
Friday June 26th School finishes early for summer break
*early means 11.45 am for Juniors/Seniors/ SSLD + siblings and 12 noon for the rest of the school.
Specific Upcoming Events- more information
The PA are holding a Valentine’s Day cake sale on Friday next week (Feb 14th) and are asking all wonderful Mums/Dads/Grandparents/ Guardians and Children to start baking. It would be very helpful if children could be given an extra lunchbox/ Tupperware container for their cakes. Please bring your cakes, cookies etc. to the Halla on the Friday morning and clearly mark any containers which you would like returned, thank you. Most cakes cost 50c each so children can be given money appropriately. Fundraising from the Cake sale will go towards the Lismore Mobile Science Workshops which Juniors to 4th classes will be taking part in.
We have Lismore Mobile Science as part of our Engineer’s Week Activities. Thanks to the PA for sponsoring this exciting event, approx. €4 per head. Juniors to 4th class will attend workshops on topics such as Junior Science, Astronaut University, CSI Classroom and Guts of Digestion on Wednesday March 11th.
I CAN DO
The I CAN DO 30 day wellbeing challenge, as part of our Amber Flag initiative, is being taken on by all our pupils who recently received their individual booklets. Each night as part of homework the children are asked to reflect on their emotional wellbeing and to fit five simple fun activities in to their daily routine to help them feel happier, healthier and more resilient. Huge credit to Ms. O’Mahony, Ms. Callanan, Dee Allen and Alan White for their incredible work on this project to date.
Money Collections
- The €50 Voluntary Family Contribution is now due. As costs at the beginning of the year are a burden to families we are only now requesting this €50 per family voluntary contribution. Thanks to anyone who has paid in advance. This money is used to pay the 24-hour Allianz Pupil Insurance for all children in the school and also goes towards Irish Dancing, photocopying costs, paper & toner, school texting service, and mandatory City Sports tickets. It is also used to subsidise the significant cost of buses used during the year (outside of school tours). While the DES emphasise the voluntary aspect of this contribution we would respectfully request that any family in a position to pay would do so. An Aladdin collection will be set up to allow parents pay on-line.
- On Friday 7th February, we are holding a non-school uniform day to support local woman Lenore Good who is climbing Kilimanjaro in September to raise funds for Sonas Junior Special School Carrigaline, Shine Centre for Autism Carrigaline and the Irish Guide Dogs. Full details can be found here www.ifundraise.ie/20KforKilimanJ We ask parents to support this bringing in at least €1 per child for this worthy cause.
- Gymnastics has commenced for all classes. Huge thanks to Colm and Chloe O’Toole of Gymnastics Inc., Kilnagleary Industrial Park, Crosshaven Road, Carrigaline, Co. Cork who are very generously providing these classes free of charge! (10 lessons for Juniors to 6th) as we have Charlie and Alice in the school.
- Irish Dancing (5 lessons for Juniors to 5th) will commence on Tuesday February 25th with Miah Walsh of the Kiely-Walsh Academy of Irish Dance. The children always really enjoy them. For Juniors to 5th the cost is €3 per child which will be funded from Parents Voluntary Contributions as requested above.
- Swimming on Thursdays (9.50 am in the
pool!)
- Dates: 30th April, 7th May, 14th May, 21st May, 28th May, and 4th June
- Costs for 3rd and 4th classes: We are awaiting bus costs for this and we will notify you as soon as we can finalise overall costs.
- School Tours approximate costs per child as per recent years:
Juniors/Seniors/ SSLD: €18 approx.
1st/2nd: €25 approx.
3rd/4th: €25 approx.
5th: €31 approx.
6th: €TBC
Parents Association and Parents- Thanks
Since our last newsletter we would like to thank and acknowledge the PA for the following: pre-Christmas Santa visit, presentation to different staff members, the recent fundraiser Clothing Collection and the upcoming Valentine Bake/Cake Sale.Our PA also purchased a Defibrillator for the school (and community) and financed very focused and thorough training for school staff also. This Defibrillator will be a wonderful asset to the school and community going forward.
As Principal, I would also like to recognise and acknowledge the kindness and gratitude shown to staff at Christmas.
Thanks to all those who helped out with the collections of various items for Cork Penny Dinners. They were very well received and Caitriona Twomey asked me to send on her appreciation to all involved. Thanks to Ms. Cunningham for coordinating on the school’s behalf.
As always we are indebted to our PA and our school body in general for their generous support of all events.
New Board of Management Members
Following is the make-up of our new Board of Management that runs from November 2019 to November 2023. Thanks to our outgoing Board for their commitment to the Board for the past four years. Wishing our current Board the very best in their endeavours.
Patron’s Nominee 1, Fr. Sean O’Sullivan (Chairperson)
Patron’s Nominee 2, John Murray
Principal Teacher, David Nolan
Teacher Nominee, Paddy Clifford
Community Rep 1, Anita Ryan
Community Rep 2, Róisín Mehigan
Parent Nominee 1, John Cotter (Treasurer)
Parent Nominee 2, Sonya Keenan
New SENO
Following the National Council for Special Education’s recent reorganization, our new SENO (Special Educational Needs Organiser) is Nuala McDonnell. We thank former SENO Audrey O’Shea for her contribution and wish her the best in her new role.
Confirmation
Thank you to our staff and Fr. Sean who continue to help in preparing the children for their Confirmation. 5th and 6th classes really enjoyed their Retreat Day in Scala, Blackrock last week. I have been asked to devise a seating plan for the Confirmation day and this is currently being worked on. I will write home to all families in this regard and with all other details of the big day.
Thanks to Fr. Sean and the parish for sponsoring their retreat in Scala.
2nd class
Best of luck to our First Holy Communion children in 2nd class who make their First Penance on Thursday March 12th at 7 pm. Sincere thanks to class teacher, Ms. Harrington, SNA Noreen Meehan, and the active First Holy Communion Committee for their hard work and commitment, not to mention Fr. Con and Fr. Sean! Please note that after Easter we will be arranging for Sinead from Laura’s School Wear to come in to size the boys for Communion blazers. Parents will be invited to be present for the sizing if they’d like, once details are finalised.
Details of the school photographer and orders will be sent home soon.
Miscellaneous Pupil Notices
In-School/ school related achievements:
- Children from 4th, 5th and 6th took part in the League of Credit Union School Quiz last week and did fantastically well with the older team coming first and the younger team coming second! They really did us proud. The older team proceeds to the next stage – County Finals
- Our VEX Robotics 6th class team thoroughly enjoyed their trip to CIT to take place in competitions there on January 15th winning the Judges Award for their creative efforts. Huge thanks to teachers Mr. Cunningham and Ms. O’Mahony for their wonderful commitment to this worthy educational initiative.
Achievements: Our pupils continue to amaze us with their out of school activities and achievements.
- Just recently Adrianna (4th) and Adam (6th) won 2 bronze medals and a gold medal/silver medal respectively (Adam now holds the title of Munster Open Taekwondo champion in his age).
- Josh in 5th continues his winning ways in show jumping.
- Alex in 4th class had a poem printed at Christmas in a newspaper recently entitled “Newsflash”.
VERY WELL DONE ALL– please let us know if your child has succeeded in any particular way.
Past Pupil Achievements: Very well done to past pupil Jack Dorney who continues to perform at a very high level in rowing. He is due to attend Harvard University this year, going in as the class of ’24 but his plan is to take a year out to train and take part in the Olympics in Paris in 2024 so might graduate in ’25. WATCH THIS SPACE. Wishing Jack the very best of luck in his studies and training.
Very well done to past pupil Cormac O’Brien who with his team Rebel Wheelers won the IWA Hula Hoop National Cup beating arch rivals Killester, retaining the title for a second year. They beat Killester decisively 60-47. Wishing Cormac and his team continued success.
Aladdin School App: Dear
Parent/Guardian, as you will know we rolled out Aladdin Schools Connect to all parents/guardians.
The school uses the Aladdin Schools software service www.aladdin.ie for
administrative purposes and Connect will give you secure access to messages
from the school and to details of your child’s attendance, test results,
reports cards etc. via secure login from your internet browser or Aladdin
Connect App. Please be aware that there is a facility with Aladdin for you to
let us know if any of your contact details change e.g. phone numbers/ address
etc.
Local Hero: Congratulations to local man (and legend) John Twomey who recently received the Lifetime Contribution to Sport Award at the Southside and District Sports Awards. John was presented with his award at a special function in the Cork International Hotel on Friday January 10th surrounded by friends and members of Shamrocks GAA Club. John has always been a huge support to the school and the community. He has often visited classes speaking on topics ranging from local history to international affairs, not to mention his numerous articles of interest in the Carrigdhoun. John is always of tremendous help when visitors come to the school trying to trace ancestors who may have lived in the area. All in the school congratulate him on this award.
Local Events
Marymount Coffee Morning being held in Monkstown GC on Thursday February 6th from 10.30 am-12.30 pm. All welcome. Donations will be accepted for a raffle which will be held also.
Grief and Loss Support Programme. This 8 week programme begins on Monday February 10th to Monday March 30th from 7.30 pm to9.30 pm in the Parish Centre Carrigaline. For further information and registration please contact Ber on 021-4371109 on or before Friday February 7th.
Shamrocks GAA Indoor academy continues every Friday night at the National Maritime College, Ringaskiddy from 6.30-8.30 pm. Shamrock Ladies under 10s are back training every Tuesday night at 6.30 with under 6s and under 8s every Thursday at 6.30pm.
Kind Regards,
David Nolan
Principal