Latest Dates for your Diary
Thursday 29th August
School re-opens 8:40am
Thursday 29th August
Junior Infants start at 9:30am
PA Coffee Morning for
Parents of Junior Infants in hall
Friday 30th August - Wednesday 11th September (inclusive)
Short day for Junior Infants
Wednesday 4th September
WOW
Monday 2nd September to 3:30pm Monday 30th September
Enrolment for Junior Infants for September 2019
Another busy term! Another busy year!
Congratulations to all the girls on another great year in Hollypark.
Our 6th Class girls were true school leaders this year and I wish them the very best as they transition to the next exciting stage in their lives. They were a credit to themselves, their parents and their school – and a hard act to follow!
All of our girls - from the brand new Junior Infants (now seasoned pros) to our 6th Classes - strove to be the best they could be in every arena – sport, the arts and academics - and were a joy to teach. The girls excelled in sport – winning well, losing rarely but graciously and playing fairly in Gaelic, soccer, athletics, hockey, volleyball, tennis, swimming, basketball. Many of our classes added running breaks to their days and many classes rose to the challenge of PE/Active homework.
We (eventually!) had a wonderful Sports Day culminating in our Sports Day Dance and Sports Awards Ceremony.
Huge thanks to our parent body for leaving their cars at home!
We had a very successful outing to Abbotstown and came first overall in Santry Sports.
Active Week
In June we held our Active Week – we’re well on our way to gaining our First Active Flag. Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered their sporting services in so many ways during that week. Once again our PA outdid themselves with the Hollypark Fit4Fun Day on 15th June which was a resounding success. (Only one of their many successful endeavours this year)
Music
It was also another great year musically for our girls.
3rd Class sang for the Laudate Festival during Catholic Schools Week and our Veritas Choir recorded the music for the 6th Class Grow in Love Programme.
4th & 5th Classes shone in the National Children’s Choir raising the roof in the National Basketball Arena on 1st April and 23 of our girls represented Hollypark GNS in the National Concert Hall on 25th May.
Our Infant classes showcased their talent in their Christmas plays while 3rd & 4th Class ‘wowwed’ us with the annual Nativity Play and Carol Service.
Our School Choir sang for our Communion and Confirmation, performed at LightUpLauraLynn, came first in the Primary School Competition at the AIMS Competition in New Ross, excelled in Córfhéile, and were delighted to particpate in our Parish Fundraising Concert for the Fr Peter McVerry Homeless Trust
Green Flag
We are on the road to gain our seventh Green Flag: Global Citizenship – we are now halfway through the two year process.
WOW
For most of this year many of us walked to school on every Wednesday – WOW.
In October we were delighted to officially open our beautiful School Garden.
Way back in September we had a very successful Book Fair as part of our
Literacy Week – we will definitely be reprising in September 2019.
Maths Week took place in October and our school team came 4th in the annual
Maths Quiz.
We participated in the Credit Union Quiz and came 4th in the All-Ireland Final at the RDS in April.
Science Week
On 5th June our Science Team travelled to Belfast to particpate in the Science Blast where they quite literally had a ‘blast’ presenting their project:
‘Rain, rain go away! - Will acid rain affect our school garden?
Catholic Schools Week
Catholic Schools Week took place at the end of January and once again we were delighted to welcome our Grandparents to Hollypark – always a special day for us.
In May 3rd, 4th & 5th Classes were visited by the Diocesan Advisors.
Sr Edel and Sr Maureen provided great feedback and affirmation as we seek to maintain and uphold our Catholic ethos in a warm, welcoming and inclusive environment; respectful and accommodating of diversity and difference.
Just before the holidays 4th Class were delighted to hold a Moot Court – many thanks to Fionnula Murphy for organisng this excellent learning opportunity – set to become another hardy annual in HP.
Ár Leabhairíní Féin
Scríobh cailíní Rang a Ceathair leabhairí beaga an bhliain seo.
D’fhoilsigh siad na leabhair agus tá siad mar ábhar léitheoireachta
do bhun ranganna na scoile anois.
Maith sibh a chailíni!
Rinneamar ceiliúradh i rith Seachtain na Gaeilge.
Bhí an-spórt again rinne gach cailín a ndícheall Gaeilge a labhairt i rith na seachtaine.
Memory Mag
6th Classes produced on our Memory Mag. This very professional and inspirational publication is a wonderful keepsake for our 6th Class graduates of another great year in Hollypark. We supported many charities throughout the year:
Goal Jersey Day
Down Syndrome Ireland Ice Cream Day
Peter McVerry Homeless Trust
St Vincent DePaul Annual Christmas Appeal
Laura Lynn
Trócaire
Farewell
We say a fond farewell to Ms Helen Kelly, principal Hollypark BNS and wish her well in the next exciting stage of her life. We congratulate and look forward to working closely with her successor Mr Barry O’Donovan.
What a year!
And of course this doesn’t just happen. We are blessed with a very supportive parent body and a terrific PA. Thank you to our Library Ladies and to the many parents who take on extra sporting activities and to our Garden Team.
I want to thank our Board of Management who work tirelessly to ensure good governance and excellent recruitment in Hollypark. We are blessed too to be an integral part of the Foxrock Parish family.
I am privileged to work with a dedicated and talented team.
Heartfelt thanks to our teachers, SNAs, secretaries, caretaker and cleaning staff who work together to ensure that our girls can be the best that they can be.
Have a wonderful summer – safe travelling - and I hope that there are lots of opportunities to make wonderful memories.
Take care and I look forward to seeing you all on Thursday 29th August,
refreshed, safe and well, ready for another great year in HP!