Newsletter 7th October 2026
Admission to Junior Infants September 2027
Applications for Junior Infants 2027 are now being accepted -
please see link on the website.
Application and Decision Dates for Admission to 2027/2028 school year.
The following are the dates applicable for admission to Junior Infants 2027/2028
The school will commence accepting applications for admission on | 28th September 2026
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The school shall cease accepting applications for admission on | 23th October 2026 @ 3:00pm
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The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application is | 13th November 2026 | ||
The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is 27th November 2026 | 27th November 2026 @ 3:00pm |
Note: the school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance with the school’s Admission Policy.
*Failure to accept an offer within the prescribed period above may result in the offer being withdrawn
The school cannot accept applications for Junior Infants 2027 before this process commences.
Coming soon!!!
Daly Exercise After-School Club!
We are very excited to announce that....
Daly Exercise will deliver a structured five-day afterschool activity programme for all pupils at St. Patrick’s GNS starting from 1.20pm (Infant Collection Time) – 2.20pm with the option to extend collection until 3.20pm.
This after-school club will start on Monday 2nd November.
Details regarding bookings etc will be released to parents/ guardians in the coming fortnight.
PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF PEDESTRIANS AS YOU JOURNEY TO AND FROM THE SCHOOL!
There have been reports of motorists failing to observe the pedestrian crossing lights on Kill Lane. Please take extra care when approaching these lights and ensure that you stop when required.
Children and families rely on motorists to follow the signals and help keep everyone safe. Thank you for your care and consideration.
Thank you to the Gardaí in Cabinteely Garda Station. They will be conducting quick checks at drop-off and collection times over the coming weeks.
The realities of children's digital lives: the opportunities and the harms and
what parents can do.
MONDAY 12th OCTOBER
Please remember to book a ticket for Mick Moran's Talk : THE REALITIES OF CHILDREN'S DIGITAL LIVES- THE OPPORTUNITIES AND THE HARMS AND WHAT PARENTS CAN DO.
This talk is suitable for parents/ guardians of all children. The evening will provide an opportunity to hear up do date expert advice on children's online experiences, the potential risks they face and importantly the practical steps you can take as parents and guardians to support and protect them. It is also an opportunity to meet and connect with other parents and guardians who share the same concerns and values around keeping children safe online.
Tickets cost €5 and can be purchased by clicking on this link.
The PA Halloween Disco!!
GOAL JERSEY DAY
We had a super day in Hollypark GNS last Friday! Children wore their jersey's in support of GOAL. Please see link here for further information about this nationwide initiative. We are keen to impress on our girls the importance of supporting charities, particularly charities who help children. Our Green School work includes Global Citizenship education which gives children insight into the lives of other children around the world.
TOTAL RAISED: €1250
We have a saying in Irish Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine- it means 'in the shelter and care of others, people survive!'
We are extremely proud of our girls and their charity work.
Maith sibh a chailíní- another super day in Hollypark!
THE ASH TREES
In 4th Class we are learning about the Ash tree, a native Irish tree commonly found in hedgerows. We went on an expedition to find an Ash tree within the school grounds. We were happy to find a few!
As previously mentioned we are continuing to focus on STEM this year in HPGNS.
Last week we featured Brickswise our engineering workshops which are running in the school for ten weeks. This week our 4th class had great fun learning about angles!
STEM Week Planning Meeting!
Our 6th Class STEM Team met with the teachers involved in organising this years STEM week which will take place next week in Hollypark GNS.
Our 6th Class leaders are a super asset to the school- their creativity and ingenuity comes in so handy when we are planning events.
We have a great week planned for all the children next week.
In Hollypark GNS we use this acronym for problem solving.
STEM Week POSTER COMPETITION
Our STEM Committee in 6th class went around to our girls in 1st - 6th class on Monday to tell them about our exciting STEM art poster competition to kick off STEM week next week. Please see information below related to each class level!
STEM CAREERS
A number of parents will be joining us in school next week to share their experiences and insights into their careers across the diverse and exciting fields of STEM. We are really looking forward to this wonderful opportunity for the girls to learn about the many possibilities available to them.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of the parents who have generously given their time and to the PA for facilitating this fantastic event. We are very grateful for your support in inspiring the next generation of STEM enthusiasts!
CHRISTMAS JUMPER SALE....preparation!
Members of the 6th class Culture Team will meet with the Parents Association on Friday morning to plan the Christmas Jumper Sale which will be in aid of a charity
(to be decided!).
They will be hard at work designing posters, creating awareness and putting together a business plan!! If you happen to find any pre-loved Christmas jumpers at home please put them aside as they will collect them after mid-term break!
Well done girls!
Mass tomorrow
Children from 2nd - 6th will attend mass tomorrow morning at 10am to celebrate the start of the school year. The boys will also attend. We are looking forward to this special celebration.
Library Visit
6th Class paid a visit to the Deansgrange Library on Tuesday, October 6th to listen to author Carmel Uí Cheallaigh speak about "The Forgotten Tragedy" of the RMS Leinster. Carmel read extracts from her novel and spoke to the girls all about the event and the impact is has had on the history of Dún Laoghaire - Rathdown.
Industrial Action
THE SCHOOL WILL BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY 14th OCTOBER.
We will keep you updated.
Take the Lead...
When these girls called to their neighbours to seek sponsorship for our recent sponsored walk, their neighbours kindly gave them a copy of Take the Lead, a book they had used when training their own dog, Lexi. They found it incredibly helpful during Lexi’s training and thought it might be useful for the school too!
We are so grateful for their thoughtful and generous gesture and we look forward to putting the book to good use!
Creativity Takes Shape in 6th Class!
The girls in 6th Class created some truly fabulous shape poems last week! It was wonderful to see their creativity, imagination and love of language shine through in such beautifully crafted pieces. Their advanced literary skills and thoughtful use of words made each poem a joy to read.
Gaeilge i Hollypark!
We place a strong emphasis on the learning of Irish in Hollypark. Gaeilge is very much a living language amongst our school community!
The girls in the older classes participate in the Fáinne initiative which focuses on spoken Irish. As well as all of the initiatives which we have embedded over the years we have now been chosen to participate in the CLIL- Content Language Integrated Learning Project. We will be working on completing some orienteering tasks through Irish - very much focused on the language of directions etc. Rang Naíonáin Bheaga (Junior Infants) Rang Naíonáin Mhóra (Senior Infants) Rang a cúig agus a sé (5th and 6th Class) will all be working together on this initiative!
For your interest please see link here to the
Is féidir liom, is féidir linn- Action Plan for Irish in English Medium Schools.
Please note the following Catechism Class facilitated by Foxrock Parish.
October Nature Spotter Sheet!
Please take the time to spot some of these signs of nature in our
local parks and green areas.
DISCONNECT TO RECONNECT!!
The hot meals are very popular with our children.
However, please check in often with your child about their lunches and if possible involve them in choosing their hot meals.
Please take the time to chat to your child about their hot meals.
Ask the following:
Are you enjoying your lunch?
Are you eating your lunch?
Would you like to try something else/new/different?
Tesco Blue Tokens!
Great news we have been selected for the Tesco Community Fund collection in Tesco Honeypark. Please support this worthwhile cause if you shop in this store!
Thank you to Adrian on the PA for his work on this.
6th Class Subject Leaflets
Department of Education and Youth
The Department of Education and Youth has created new subject and career leaflets
for all 6th class pupils, their families and their teachers.
I shared this with 5th and 6th class families yesterday. These leaflets explain the
subjects your child can choose for Junior Cycle and give short, easy to understand
information on each one. You can find the leaflets by scanning the QR code below.
Parking in the parish centre!
Fr. Philip visited the school on Monday and spoke to all of the girls.
Parents are invited to park in the parish carpark during drop off and collection times. We appreciate the parish facilitating us as we encourage the girls to walk to school.
School Calendar / Féilire 2026/2027
The 2026/2027 calendar is available here.
Dates Term One
Please note extra school closure to accommodate
Curricular Area: STEM Training for teachers 8th December.
Hallowe'en Disco | Thursday 22nd October | 3rd - 6th class |
Hallowe'en Dress Up Day | Friday 23rd October | Whole school |
Midterm break | 26th October - 30th October | Whole School |
PT Meetings | Week beginning Monday 23rd November | SI - 6th Class |
No After School Activities for one week to facilitate PT Meetings | Week beginning Monday 23rd November | Whole School |
SCHOOL CLOSURE | Tuesday 8th December | Whole School |
Last day of Term One (early finish) | Tuesday 22nd December | Whole school |
First day of Term Two | Wednesday 6th January | Whole school |
Start & Finish Times
Start Time | Finish Time | |
Junior Infants until 9th September | 8:40am | 11:30am |
Junior Infants from 10th September | 8:40am | 1:20pm |
Senior Infants | 8:40am | 1:20pm |
1st & 2nd Class | 8:40am | 2:20pm |
3rd- 6th Class | 8:40am | 2:20pm |
FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY REASONS...
NO DOGS ALLOWED ON SCHOOL GROUNDS PLEASE!!
School Uniform
Girls should wear the school tracksuit on PE days only.
For health and safety reasons, girls must wear appropriate sporting footwear in order to avoid injury.
School uniform trousers, as an alternative to the school uniform skirt, are available from our uniform suppliers The Schoolwear House.
For health and safety reasons, stud earrings only are permitted. Dangly earrings (to include hoops) are not permitted.
Nail polish, lip gloss, make-up (including mascara), fake tan, fake eyelashes and fake nails are not allowed. Pupils will be asked to remove make up on arrival in school. Wipes will be supplied.
Smart Phones and Smart Devices
The Hollypark GNS community strives, in line with best practice, to create a calm and safe sanctuary, free from the distractions and potential complications posed by social media and the use of personal smart devices. To this end, Hollypark GNS is a smart device free campus. Children are not permitted to use phones/smartphones or smart watches whilst on school grounds (including the yard and the astro pitch).
We strongly support our PA No Smartphone Voluntary Code.
5th and 6th Class
Children in 5th and 6th class who need to bring a device to school in order to facilitate their journey to and from school must seek written permission from Ms. de Fréin by completing and signing a Phone Request Form. [Please see our school's Acceptable Use Policy, Appendix A (page 16)]. If given permission, children must hand the device to their teacher at the beginning of each day, and they may collect it when they are going home. The school takes no responsibility for these devices during the day.
Homework/ Obair bhaile
Homework should be within the capability of the attentive child, based on work already done. Homework enables parents to follow their daughter’s progress.
Homework should always be checked, and the journal signed daily by parent/guardian.
Homework is assigned for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday evenings and is not assigned for the weekend.
Recommended Times for Homework
Junior/Senior Infants: Class Teacher will advise.
1st/2nd Class: 20 – 30 minutes
3rd/4th Class: 30 – 40 minutes
5th/6th Class: 40 – 60 minutes.
These are suggested times. In practice, the time taken will depend on each child.
If parents feel a child is taking an excessive amount of time to complete work, they should discuss this with the Class Teacher.
Please click here for Homework Tips.
Headlice!!
PLEASE KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON YOUR DAUGHTER'S HAIR OVER THE COMING WEEKS.
We have had numerous reports of headlice throughout the school.
REMINDER!
One Way Traffic System
After School Activities 2026/27
Please contact providers directly for all update.
Details can be found here
Birthdays this week in Hollypark!
Lá breithe sona daoibh go léir!
Carolyne Doyle
Shona Hunt
Aoibheann McGuinness- Morrissey
Zihan Huang
Emma Whelan
Hannah Weinmann
Andriya Alphonse Sobin
Grace O'Hagan
Alaa Jerbi
Éabha Reid
Advertising on our school newsletter
If you would like to place an ad on our school newsletter, please email Suzanne at the office hollyparkgns@gmail.com for further details and pricing.
HPGNS
United in Friendship, Together We Strive!
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