Newsletter 11th October 2023

Frasaí na Seachtaine #6

"Cén aois thú? Tá mé ------bliana d'aois!!"

See below to listen to the girls from Ms McNulty’s Rang a hAon

showing us how to pronounce our Frásaí na Seachtaine!

Labhair Gaeilge linn – sa bhaile agus ar scoil!

Admissions for School Year 2024/2025

The process for admission to Junior Infants 2024 opened on Monday 2nd October and will remain open until Friday 27th October @ 3pm.

All details including relevant dates/forms/policy etc are now available here.

Applications may be posted to the school or delivered by hand. As original documents supporting the application must be included, applications cannot be made by email.

Junior Infants

We were delighted to welcome Parents/Guardians of our Junior Infants to a short talk on the Junior Infant curriculum today.

We look forward to meeting our Junior (and Senior Infant) parents at our formal PT Meetings at the end of January.

PT Meetings for all other class levels will take place in the week beginning Monday 20th November. Please keep an eye on our newsletter for further details re scheduling your PT meetings via Aladdin.

School Calendar 2023/2024

The 2023/2024 calendar is available here.

Lost Property

Many coats, tracksuit tops and school jumpers are being mislaid each day. Please check your daughters' uniforms this weekend, to ensure that they have their name and class on each item. Many of the items being found have no names, or names from children who are no longer in the school. Don’t forget to label their jackets and raincoats too.

STEM Week in HP: 16th - 20th October

A New Primary Maths Curriculum has been launched by the DE. This is the first change since 1999 and marks an exciting development in your children’s education. The aim of the new curriculum is that children see maths as important and useful to their everyday lives. Over the next two years schools will undertake CPD on the curriculum with a view to implementation in schools from September 2025.

During STEM Week we have lots of fun activities planned to highlight the importance of maths in our children’s everyday lives.

Cumann na mBunscol League Update

Our girls played their final match of the group stages last Thursday against Divine Word, Rathfarnham. Unfortunately despite playing their hearts out, our girls lost to their opponents. We are very proud of our girls who played well and won and lost with good grace and strong resilience. Huge thanks also to Ms Shannon and Emma for their time and efforts with the team.

Goal Jersey Day: Friday 13th October

Wear a sports jersey of your choice to school on Friday 13th October and contribute to GOAL via our bucket collection.

Jersey Day is GOAL's flagship annual fundraising campaign held across Ireland and throughout the world. GOAL Jersey Day sees tens of thousands of people across Ireland coming together and wearing their favourite sports jerseys to support GOAL's work with vulnerable communities.

Registration for Sacraments

Registration Opens: Wednesday 1st November

Registration Closes: Wednesday 29th November

Foxrock Parish Family Mass Group

Foxrock Parish Family Mass Group (FMG) 2023/24 is back, following the Summer break. Choir practice is on Thursday evenings in Tír na nÓg room, Parish Centre, 7-7:45pm for 10am Mass on Sunday.

We will also encourage children to take part in Prayers of the Faithful and/or acting out the Gospel reading (but only if they would like to participate), which is great for their confidence in public speaking.

Come along to the Parish Centre any Thursday evening to try it out without any commitment or contact davypaula@icloud.com/0868449509 for further information.

Hallowe'en Dress Up Day: Friday 27th October

Friday 27th October, the last day of this half term will be Hallowe'en Dress Up Day.

Any girl who does not wish to dress up on the day may wear her school tracksuit.

Hallowe’en Safety Tips for Our Girls

Don’t assume that motorists can see you: cross at traffic lights or pedestrian crossings.
Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
Make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
Always walk on foot paths.
Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
An adult should always accompany children under age 12 for trick-or-treating. (Ensure that each child has a parent’s phone number with them in case they are separated from the group)
Avoid dogs, even if you know them, as fireworks can startle even the friendliest dog
Avoid knocking on the doors of elderly neighbours

Costumes for a Safe Halloween

Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colours.
Ensure that fancy dress costumes are flame-resistant (look for the CE mark)
Beware of any small parts on which a child could choke (look for the CE mark)
Make sure that the costume length will not cause the child to trip
Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision. But if choosing a mask double check to ensure that children can see, hear and breath (look for the CE mark)
Have children carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.

Bonfires and Fireworks

Keep a safe distance from bonfires at all times
Never approach a firework that has failed to go off
Keep pets indoors to avoid them being injured by fireworks or bonfires

School will finish at the normal time on Friday 27th October. School will re-open after the midterm break on Monday 6th November.

PA: Christmas Card Fundraiser

Templates have arrived in school and are being completed this week. Further details to follow on how to order your cards for Christmas. Thank you to our PA for this traditional fundraising endeavour.

Date for your Diary: Parent Talk on Wellbeing

In a joint initiative, Fiona Forman, expert on wellbeing, has been invited to talk to the parents of Hollypark GNS & BNS on Thursday 19th October @ 7:30pm. Hollypark BNS are kindly hosting the event in their school hall. Thank you to the PAs of both schools, who will be providing teas/coffees on the evening.

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken adults”

Frederick Douglass

Respect for Our Neighbours

As a Green School we actively encourage our girls to walk, cycle and scoot to school. As 80% of our pupils live within 2km of the school, this is very doable for many.

Walking, cycling and scooting not only provide a wonderful opportunity for chats with friends, improving our physical and mental health and caring for our environment, but these methods also help to reduce traffic, making the area around our school a safer place not just for our pupils but for all our neighbours. Unfortunately, but quite justifiably, our neighbours frequently complain of inconsiderate parking on the roads close to our school.

Please use the Church car park if it’s on your route to school: parking at the Church is free to all families at drop off and collection times.

Budding artists!

Have a look at the artwork completed by our girls this month in Hollypark. You will notice some self portraits and flower art in some classes. We were inspired by Frida Kahlo who is our artist of the month. We love Autumnal art too. We are looking forward to starting our Hallowe'en art next week!