2 Dec 2016

Dear Parents,

School Calendar until Christmas 2016

  • Thursday 15th December Nativity play “A Miracle in Town” at 5.30 pm in Shanbally Church.
  • Thursday December 22nd School closes early (11.45/12 noon) for the Christmas break and will reopen on Monday January 9th2017.

School Calendar in 2017

  • Thursday February 23rd and Friday February 24th School is closed for mid-term.
  • Thursday March 16th and Friday March 17th School is closed for the St. Patrick’s Day break.
  • Tuesday March 28th School is closed for a full day Professional Development Workshop on the Primary Language Curriculum. All teachers will be attending the Cork Education Support Centre that day.
  • Friday April 7th School closes early (11.45/12 noon) for Easter break and will reopen on Monday April 24th.
  • Monday May 1st closed for Bank Holiday
  • Saturday May 13th 2017 First Holy Communion
  • Friday June 2nd and Monday June 5th School is closed for an extended June bank holiday.
  • Thursday June 29th 2017 School finishes early (11.45/12 noon) for summer holidays.

 

Please bear with me as I now have a lot of people and initiatives to acknowledge and thank!

Last Friday night was a very special evening for all in Shanbally NS. It was decided earlier this year to change the format of our major pre-Christmas fundraiser. Once the concept of the Pedal Powered Cinema Night was agreed on, the PA did an incredible job in organising and running a great night in a wonderfully professional manner. We have to compliment those who cycled (children, parents, past pupils and staff), those who organised the rota (which needed updating right up to the event!), those who volunteered on the night and helped with chairs, cleaning up, running the raffle etc. and everyone else who played a role in the event.

I cannot praise or compliment the PA (and the parent body in general) for the outstanding support and commitment shown to this project, especially given the short time-frame they had to organise such an event. On behalf of the PA, we would like to especially acknowledge the following:

  • Roy McKnight, Sinead Fitzpatrick and the staff of Douglas/ Passage West Credit Union for their main sponsorship of the event.
  • Dermot Kelly (Pfizer) for sponsoring the cost of the use of Raffeen Creek Golf facilities.
  • Paddy Andrews and the bar staff of Raffeen Creek Golf Club for facilitating us on the night.

We have to acknowledge Ken Murphy (event manager) of PedalCents (www.pedalcents.ie) for his competent organising and setting up of the equipment for the night.

A thank you to our pupils and families who contributed so generously through the sponsorship cards from families, friends and neighbours and those who contributed via Crowdfunding page set up. Thanks also to those who suggested potential corporate sponsors and indeed secured them!

Our Parents Association will be doing their own acknowledgements of all sponsors but we have to mention the local companies and suppliers who sponsored bicycles, donated spot prizes for the raffle etc.

I have to mention our school staff who enthusiastically supported the project, attending and cycling on the night.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to our recent Clothes Recycling Drive and to our PA for organising.

Huge thanks to parents who work tirelessly on behalf of the school, often behind the scenes, with the Parents Association, Sciath na Scol matches, school events, prizes for Maths Week etc. There are too many to mention individually but please note your contribution doesn’t go unnoticed.

 

Some of the ongoing initiatives and other news within the school

  • Thank you to everyone who played a role in our recent Sciath na Scol Finals from parents who dropped and collected the children for matches, the teachers involved for training and inspiring and the children themselves who played so well on the day and throughout their campaigns. Next year hopefully it will be THIRD TIME LUCKY!
  • Thanks to  3rd class who organised the Brain Snack competition during Maths Week. It was great to see the enthusiasm of the children solving the problems.
  • Thank you to Miss Moran and 6th Class who coordinated an exciting and sometimes explosive Science Week. All the classes really enjoyed participating.
  • Congratulations to Marc Galland who represented our school recently in swimming and who has qualified for the Irish Minor Schools Championship in February next. Well done Marc.
  • Thank you to the First Communion Committee and Mrs. Ryan (2nd class teacher) for their roles in preparing the First Communion children who enjoyed their first Do This in Memory Mass last Sunday. It was a lovely occasion.
  • Dermot Kelly of another locally-based company, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals recently called to 5th and 6th classes and spoke of Pfizer and its operations in Cork and worldwide. The children were able to ask him questions about the company, its products and career opportunities. He has invited the classes on a site visit which will be scheduled in early 2017 hopefully. Watch this space!
  • Children in 3rd Class recently enjoyed a complimentary workshop in Fota, with class teacher Mrs. Tuohy, SNA Regina and Principal, Mr. Nolan,  This workshop,“Going Green, Staying Green”,  was courtesy of Fota Wildlife Park,  in collaboration with Cork County Council. Thanks to them for the opportunity.
  • 5th class with teacher, Mr. Clifford, travelled down the road to DePuy for a site visit on November 16th where they learned all about DePuy and what they make. Thank you to DePuy for the kind invitation.
  • 6th Class  visited  Elite Gym on Friday, 2nd December,  to see at first-hand how the Exo Skeleton operates.  Thank you to everyone involved.
  • Our skipping challenge “Climbing the Heights” is continuing with a number of classes having already climbed their first mountain. Some classes are embarking on their second mountain. Well done to the motivated staff and students, we are really enjoying improving our fitness levels.
  • A reminder that some copies of our 50th Anniversary History of Shanbally NS is available in the school office to purchase if you’d like one as a stocking filler at Christmas.

We would like to wish staff member, Fiona O’Donoghue, the very best in her new job. Fiona has secured a job in Roxboro School which is much closer to her home in Limerick.

 

List of prize-winners and prizes in the recent PA Raffle

RAFFLE:  
   
1 Emma McSweeney               4th Class                24 Cans of 7up            
2 Sarah Doyle                         3rd Class                 Mystery Book, from Carrigaline book shop            
3 Makayla Doolan                    6th Class                €100 voucher Moors Jewellers
4 Sarah Murphy                       3rd Class                €25 voucher High Street Books
5 Matt Mapplebeck                  1st Class                 3 x passes to Bounce Zone
6 Katie Culhane                       1st Class                 Pen & Paper Hamper
7 Ivan Sullivan                         3rd Class                1 Months membership Acton’s Kinsale
8 Doireann Gannon                   Jnrs                       Voucher O’Crualaoi Butchers
9 Grace Deasy                         3rd Class                Photo Voucher Adrian O’Herlihys
10 Lily Calnan                          4th Class                Lunch x 2 Ferry Boat Inn, Ringaskiddy
11 Lexie O’Riordan                   Snrs.                      Origin Hair Design Voucher
12 Adam O’Sullivan                  3rd Class                I Pad Head phones
13 Lucy Hemlock                     2nd Class                Raffeen Creek Voucher (1 Adult & 1 Child)
14 David Cronin                       Language Class       Colours Boutique Hair voucher
15 Isabella O’Brien                   3rd Class                2 x vouchers to Cork on Ice
16 Aonna Boland Yildirim          Jnrs.                       Lunch at The Bosun
17 Mia Hedderman Cuthbert      Language Class       MUNSTER RUGBY TICKETS
18 James Moore                      3rd Class €25          Batemans Shoes voucher
19 Molly Marshall                     Snrs.                      Four Star Pizza voucher
20 Aaron Kearney                     3rd Class                Fox’s Hair Voucher
21 Noah Morris                        4th Class                 3 x passes to Kinsale Golf Club
22 Kate Nolan                          Snrs.                      2 passes for Ski Lessons or Show Boarding
23 Maebh O’Mahony                5th Class                 €50 Dunnes Stores Voucher
24 Katie Calnan                       Jnrs.                       Cordless Panasonic Phone
25 Cormac Ryan                      6th Class                Skylanders Set for Nintendo Wii
26 Kayla Cotter                        3rd Class                Four Star Pizza voucher
27 Harry O’Leary                      3rd Class                24 Cans of 7up
28 Molly Field                          6th Class                Box of Celebrations chocolates
29 Ellie Tagg                            Snrs.                      Lunch x 2 Carrigaline Court Hotel
30 Kate Moore                         6th Class                 Tin of Cadbury’s biscuits
31 Rebecca O’Brien                 5th Class                 Voucher : Leona O’Brien hairdressers
32 Daisy O’Shaughnessy         1st Class                 Walsh’s Pharmacy Hamper