Newsletter: Wednesday 11th June 2025
- hollyparkwebsite
- Jun 11
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 18
DE Curriculum Evaluation: Music
The Board of Management of St Patrick’s GNS, Hollypark welcomes the findings of the recent curriculum evaluation in Music. The report affirms the high standards achieved across the school, particularly in the performing strand, where pupils demonstrated excellent outcomes. It highlights the very good quality of pupils’ learning and their strong engagement, confidence, and enjoyment in musical experiences.
Music holds a central place in school life, and pupils benefit from rich, high-quality learning opportunities. The quality of teaching is described as very good overall, with examples of excellent practice. Teachers’ effective collaboration and sharing of expertise at a whole-school level are noted as key strengths supporting consistent, high-quality provision.
The Board also welcomes the positive evaluation of whole-school planning and the implementation of the School Self-Evaluation (SSE) process. The strategic, coordinated approach of school leadership has clearly supported the sustained development of Music throughout the school.
Please read the full report below:
Well done to our girls and staff who shone in this recent curriculum evaluation.
Last Day of Term: Friday 27th June
The last day of term will be a non-uniform day. We will operate a staggered closure as laid out below.
Junior & Senior Infants & older siblings | 11:30am |
1st & 2nd Class & older siblings | 11:45am |
3rd - 6th Class | 12:00pm |
School Calendar 2025/26
School will reopen for the new school year on Thursday 28th August 2025. Please see below School Calendar for 2025/26.
Please note that the staggered start/finish times introduced during COVID will conclude at the end of this school year. The school will revert to pre-COVID opening and closing times from Thursday 28th August 2025 as set out below:
Junior & Senior Infants | 8:40am - 1:20pm |
1st - 6th Class | 8:40am - 2:20pm |
Key Dates Term Three
Creative Schools Week | Week beginning Monday 9th June | All classes |
Live Art Exhibition | Thursday 12th June | All classes |
6th Class Graduation | Tuesday 24th June | 6th Class |
Last Day Term 3 | Friday 27th June | All classes |
First Day Term 1 2025/2026 | Thursday 28th August | All classes |
School Tours May/June 2025
Junior Infants | Glenroe Farm | 18th June |
Senior Infants | Festina Lente | 30th May |
1st Class | Lullymore | 20th June |
2nd Class | Tallaght Astro Park | 19th June |
3rd Class | Fort Lucan | 11th June |
4th Class | Clara Lara | 19th June |
5th Class | CP Adventure Russborough House | 13th June |
6th Class | Alive Outside Kilruddery | 13th June |
Class teachers will contact classes, via Aladdin, with all relevant details.
Creative Schools Week
We are celebrating Creative Schools Week in Hollypark GNS this week.
There will be two ‘live art exhibitions’ in the school yard on Thursday 12th June.
Each child will showcase one piece of artwork at their exhibition.
We are delighted to invite our parents/guardians to attend this event.
Please see below the date/time of your child’s art exhibition:
Class Level | Date | Time |
Junior Infants – 2nd Class | Thursday 12th June | 9.00am - 9:15am |
3rd – 6th Class | Thursday 12th June | 9.30am - 9:45am |
You are welcome to the tunnel for tea/coffee (9:00am - 9:45am) on the morning. Many thanks to our PA for organising the refreshments!
School Choir Concert
Well done to our School Choir who not only raised the rafters at our recent concert in Foxrock Church, but also raised €1300 for Laura Lynn!
Thank you to all our parents and families for their very generous support. Thanks also to Paul Markey for his help, support and encouragement 'backstage'!
Well done to all our girls for their work and commitment throughout the year. This was the final performance for our 6th Class Choristers and we will miss them! Not only were they talented entertainers, but also terrific organisers who ensured that every rehearsal ran smoothly.
Our 4th and 5th Class Choir Girls were back in action on Saturday morning when they sang so beautifully for the 6th Class Confirmation. They have one more task this year when they will sing at the Graduation Mass on Tuesday 24th June. Well done girls!
Violin Concerts
Our Violin Concerts for Senior Infants to 2nd Class took place yesterday. Our girls were very excited to perform for their Mums and Dads and thoroughly lived up to expectations!
Welcome Day for Junior Infants
We were delighted to welcome our newest Hollyparkers into our school on Thursday 29th May. They are all well-ready for their move to 'Big School' and we look forward to welcoming them on Thursday 28th August!
Tea with the Principal
I was delighted to welcome our 6th Class Teams to my office for a cup of hot chocolate and some treats last week.
Our 6th Classes have shown great leadership throughout the year and this is a wonderful opportunity to ask how things went, what we can do better and simply to say thank you for being such great role models for the rest of the school.
Wishing all of our soon-to-be-graduates the very best as they continue on their learning journey!
Camogie
Our Camogie Team reached the semi-finals last week and played valiantly against Gaelscoil Míde, Kilbarrack. Sadly despite a fantastic effort, they lost the match. Heartbroken but proud!
Go Hollypark!
Well done!
Well done to Sophie, Lara, Anna, Cameron & Emily who sold raffle tickets for Laura Lynn and raised over 100 euro for the charity!
Well done to Abbie & Tess who won trophies and medals at their recent Irish Dancing Feis!
5th Class make Steph's day!
The girls in my 5th class group gave me chocolates, jellies and a card on Friday because they’re away this week on a school trip. I thought it was very thoughtful of them! 😁Confirmation: 6th Class
Well done to our 6th Classes who were confirmed last Saturday 7th June.
Thank you to our 6th Class Team, Ms de Frein, Ms O'Connor, Ms Coll and Ms Mulligan for their excellent preparation of the girls.
Thank you to Fr Phillip and the Parish Team and thank you to our School Choir who truly enhanced the ceremony with their beautiful singing.
Voluntary Contribution
Thank you to the 274 families (that is 67% of all families) who have already given a Voluntary Contribution to the school for 2024/25. Each and every contribution is very much appreciated and will be used to enhance your daughters' learning environment.
Your Voluntary Contribution makes a real difference. |
If you would like to help in any additional way with our school development,
(time, skillset, sponsorship) please let us know.
PA Cake Sale: Friday 30th May
Thank you to our hardworking PA for all the work, time and preparation involved in making this special day for our girls.
€2647.10 was raised directly through the Cake Sale and a further €1645.00 was raised via the Raffle - thank you to all our sponsors. And thank you and well done to the team!
Cake Competition Winners!
Raffle Winners!
Thanks to the fundraising efforts of our PA and your Voluntary Contributions, our hall and nearby bathrooms will be refurbished during the summer. We were also able to purchase a new state-of-the-art screen which we can use for presentations, movies, pre-teaching videos for PE and music lessons. Thank you!
During the summer, renovations will take place in our tunnel. This will ensure better insulation and warmer classrooms above.
Don't forget!!! Tesco Community Fund
Our PA have secured a spot for our school on Tesco's Community Fund initiative!
If you are shopping in Tesco Stillorgan, please support our school by putting a Blue Token in our drop box!
Summer Art Camp
After School Activities 2025/26
A full schedule of After School Activities for the school year 2025/26 will issue next week.
DE Recommendation: Wear a Wide Brimmed Sun Hat!
Parents and guardians, please read the letter below from the Department of Education regarding the recommendation that wide-brimmed sunhats be worn by all primary school children.
Follow Millie, Lucy & Alice's example and wear suncream to school during the summer months! (slide to picture 3 to view the three Hollypark sisters!)
Post-Primary Open Day
St Joseph of Cluny Open Day: Thursday 25th September 5pm - 8pm.
Traffic Safety
Morning & afternoon one-way system:
Reminders:
The school has received many complaints of dangerous driving and parking in the vicinity of the school. Children and local residents are being put at risk.
Please use Foxrock Church car park at drop off and collection times and walk the last 6 minutes with your child.
Deansgrange Cemetery has requested that our parent body do not park and stride from the Cemetery carpark.
80% of our pupils live within 2 kilometres of our school. Please encourage your older children to walk with their pals to and from school.
Please ensure that younger children are held by the hand when walking with them to and from school.
Please do not block the driveways of local residents when parking. Many of our residents – often elderly - are virtual prisoners in their own homes at drop off and collection times. And when they speak up are often subject to abuse.
In the event of an emergency, when cars are parked illegally, it is unlikely that a fire tender or ambulance would be able to access the schools, or any homes in the vicinity.
Hollypark GNS & BNS understand and appreciate how busy the roads are each morning. We continue to engage with DLR & An Taisce, Safe Routes to School, for a safer school zone.
Birthdays this week in Hollypark!
Alicia Campeáo
Martha Askins
Juliet Collins
Mia Akkerman
Lucy Doyle
Milena Gallagher
Hayley Lyons
Rebecca Twomey
Audrey Kiernan
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.
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