Newsletter: Wednesday 24th September 2025
- hollyparkwebsite
- Sep 24
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 26
Admission to Junior Infants September 2026
Application and Decision Dates for Admission to 2026/2027 school year
The following are the dates applicable for admission to Junior Infants 2026/2027
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*Failure to accept an offer within the prescribed period above may result in the offer being withdrawn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 2025 before this process commences.
Once the admissions process is open, 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.
School Calendar 2025/2026
The 2025/2026 calendar is available on www.hollyparkgns.ie
Key Dates: Term One
Sacramental Meetings
Fr Philip invites 2nd Class and 6th Class parents/guardians to the following Sacramental Information meetings:
First Holy Communion (2nd Class) Thursday 2nd October @ 8pm Foxrock Church
Confirmation (6th Class) Thursday 9th October @ 8pm Foxrock Church
Opening of the School Year Mass:
Tuesday 30th September
2nd - 6th Classes will be attending 10 o'clock Mass in Foxrock Church for the opening of the New School Year on Tuesday 30th September. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend.
Celebrating 60 Years!
Wellbeing Week: 22nd - 26th September
We are celebrating Wellbeing Week this week in Hollypark!
Mindful Monday: Designing t-shirts and mindful yoga in Ms McHale’s class
Emilio the Emoo! by Emer Cleary
We were delighted to welcome Emer Cleary author of Emilio the Emoo! to our assembly this morning to read her lovely book to us.
The book follows Emilio, a bright and fun-loving emu raised by his adoptive Mommy and Daddy Cow on an Irish farm. Emilio is full of personality and loves his family dearly, but his “moo” makes him stand out in ways he doesn’t always expect.
We all know that children perceive differences in themselves and others. Sometimes, those differences are embraced, but far too often, they can become barriers. Whether it’s the child with the stammer, the one who hates wearing shoes, or the one who loves “non-traditional” colours for their gender, children can feel isolated simply because they don’t fit a mould. Emer wanted to create a character who could represent all of these kids – the ones who feel different and the ones who are afraid of those differences.
Emilio is neurodivergent. He wears noise-cancelling headphones, often prefers reading alone, and doesn’t always fit in with the others around him. When a call comes from his emu relatives in Australia, Emilio embarks on a brave adventure across the world to discover what it means to embrace his differences and celebrate who he truly is.
GOAL Jersey Day: Friday 10th October
Wear your favourite sports jersey to school on Friday 10th October and support GOAL Jersey Day!
School Library
We are delighted that our School Library opened this Monday after the summer break.
The library volunteers, headed by Berna and Jenny have done an amazing job processing donated books and organising the library. We are sure that the girls will love all of the new books.
Girls are allowed to bring their library books home and they should be encouraged to read every evening. After all, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go” Dr. Seuss.
Lego Robotics: 4th Class
4th Classes had their first amazing STEM session last Friday. Their challenge was to build a race car ! It was incredibly exciting and fun for all.
Green Schools
The Green School Committee have been hard at work collecting data as part of our Biodiversity & Food Survey. Results to follow!!
Meanwhile 6th Class had a brilliant Outdoor Learning Morning in Cabinteely yesterday. They did two science activities, two maths activities and an art lesson in the park. We are so lucky to have these beautiful natural amenities on our doorstep. Here are some photographs of the girls hard at work.
Huge thanks to our volunteering parents who will be giving of their free time this weekend to work on our outdoor learning space - it really makes a difference!
GAA
The Senior Girls’ Football Team enjoyed a standout week, claiming victory in both of their matches.
They took on St. Mary's NS on Monday, followed by a clash with St. Brigid’s GNS two days later. These strong performances have earned them a well-deserved spot in the quarter-finals.
Well done!
New Primary Curriculum:
Information for Parents/Guardians
NCSE INFO
Hollypark PA Updates
Thank you to all our families and the team in Tesco Stillorgan for supporting our school in the Tesco Community Fund initiative. You raised €500 for our school!
A special thank you to Grace and Lily's Dad, Adrian for all his quiet work behind the scenes on this initiative and for his ongoing work in updating the PA page on our website.
St Patrick’s GNS and BNS, Hollypark are thrilled to co-host two guest speakers for our October event ‘Your Kids online. What’s really going on?’
The well renowned online safety experts:
Eoghan Cleary (GenFree) will discuss the impact of being online for your child’s personal, social and sexual development and the real risk of your child being online now and
Alex Cooney (Cybersafe Kids) on how to keep them safe while they are online.
This talk is suitable for all classes if you have access to smart devices, gaming or even faced with the pressure of buying a smartphone!
Register using the link
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/your-kids-online-whats-really-going-on-tickets-1710510786809?aff=oddtdtcreator or see above flyer.
PA Hallowe'en & Jersey Sale: Friday 3rd October
Thermomix Demo for Parents
Thanks to Zoe's mum Emma for her Thermomix Demonstration on Monday evening!
DLR Sports Partnership
Traffic and Safety
One Way Traffic System
Traffic Safety
Please use the church car park at drop off and collection times and walk the last 6 minutes with your child.
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.
Please park legally and with care.
As things stand, in the event of an emergency, it is unlikely that a fire tender or ambulance would be able to access the schools, or any homes in the vicinity, at drop off and collection times.
After School Activities 2025/26
Please contact providers directly for all updates.
Post-Primary Open Evenings
Dominican College Sion Hill Tuesday 30th September 4:30pm - 7:00pm
Rathdown Senior School Monday 15th September 3:30pm - 7:30pm
Holy Child Killiney Thursday 18th September 4:30pm - 7:00pm
Loreto Foxrock Thursday 18th September 6:00pm - 8:00pm
St Joseph of Cluny Thursday 25th September 5:00pm- 8:00pm
Blackrock Educate Together Tuesday 30th September 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Sion Hill Tuesday 30th September 4:30pm - 7:00pm
Loreto Dalkey Thursday 2nd October 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Rockford Manor Thursday 2nd October
Cabinteely Community School Thursday 2nd October 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Loreto Abbey Thursday 2nd October 4:00pm- 7:00pm
Cabinteely Community School is also running 'Sampler Saturdays' in September and October for 6th Class pupils in subjects such as Home Economics, Art and Woodwork. For further information please check: Instagram @cabinteelycs.
Birthdays this week in Hollypark!
Alannah Maunsell
Lily Conlon
India Sheridan
Sophie Finnegan
Eloise Ó'Faoláin
Yasmine Rahmani
Zoe Frances Gallagher
Saoirse Fogarty
Emily Carty
Chloe Hsu
Laoise McCrohan
Isla Sheahan
Mia Poppy Moorcroft
Doireann Collins
This week's advertisements
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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