Newsletter: Wednesday 25th June 2025
- hollyparkwebsite
- Jun 25
- 6 min read
As we come to the end of another school year in Hollypark GNS, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our pupils, parents, and staff for their support, dedication, and hard work throughout the year.
A gentle reminder to our girls to mind their Mums and Dads over the summer and to help out with chores - Mums and Dads deserve a break too!
Play outside in sun and rain and leave those screens alone! This will also help you to sleep well at night and recharge for the year ahead.
Please protect your skin from the sun - wear a hat and sunblock. And please take care near and in the water. |
I want to thank our hard working and dedicated PA and Class Reps, led by Chairperson Maryrose McCarthy and Committee, for their tremendous fundraising and school community endeavours this year. From the Junior Infant Welcome Coffee Morning right through to the 6th Class Graduation Yearbooks there has always been something happening:
Pre-Loved Uniform Sales
Pre-Loved Jerseys & Hallowe'en Costumes Sales
Christmas Card Fundraiser
Occasion Wear Night
Fiona Forman Teas/Coffees
6th Class Hoodies
Coin Collection
6th Class Movie Night
Dedicated page on our school website
Christmas Wreathes
Feed Our Homeless Christmas Bag Appeal
Santa Visit
No Smartphone Voluntary Code
Tesco Community Fund
Grandparents Day Coffees
Table Quiz Night & Auction
idonate set up for fundraising
Outdoor Classroom
Taskforce on Bi Cineálta PolicyMary's Meals Appeal
Cyclathon
Sunflower Planting
Summer Bake Sale & Raffle
6th Class Yearbook
Thanks also to the many parents who have helped and supported our team sports and of course to our Library Ladies who bring the joy of reading to our girls.
Thanks also for the many many treats which were delivered to the staffroom over the last number of weeks - not expected but so very much appreciated.
I want to thank our dedicated Board of Management and Chairperson Arthur Hutchinson for their, often unseen, support of the school. Our Board is responsible for school governance, policy making, ongoing school development and recruitment. My job would be impossible without their work and support.
This summer, due to the joint efforts of our PA and BOM together with your Voluntary Contributions and individual donations, the tunnel, school hall and adjacent bathrooms will be refurbished for our girls. Thank you. |
A special mention to our wonderful 6th Class – you have been a delight to teach, and we wish you every success and happiness as you begin your journey in post-primary school. We are also looking forward to welcoming our new Junior Infants on 28th August, as they begin their exciting adventure with us.
A sincere thank you to the Hollypark Team – our teachers, SNAs, secretary, and caretaker – for your commitment and care each day. You ensure that our girls get the finest possible educational experience every day.
This year, we bid farewell to two long-standing members of staff who are retiring; thank you Ms Mulvaney and Ms Burns Dooley for your many years of service and dedication to Hollypark GNS. Ni bheidh a léithéid arís ann! You will be very missed by our school community.
2026 marks a milestone year for us as we celebrate 60 years of Hollypark! We look forward to celebrating 'seasca bliain ag fás' during 2025/26!
Wishing our pupils, families and staff a safe, restful, and sunny summer break!
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 |
First Day of Term One 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 |
6th Class Graduation
Yesterday we bid a fond farewell to our 6th Classes. They have been true role models for the younger girls and terrific leaders. We see a bright future for all of our girls as they step in to the next stage of their learning journey.
Last Thursday we held our special Graduation Candle Ceremony. Each of our girls said goodbye to Hollypark leaving a candle with us - a symbol of their light remaining with us as they move on.
You can watch the ceremony below:
Well done!
Congratulations to Alice in Senior Infants on winning first and third place in the Bray Feis last week-end!
Congratulations to Farrah in Senior Infants who won a Medal in the recent Cabinteely Mini World Cup.
Quiz Night Auction Winners!
Voluntary Contribution
Thank you to the 281 families (that is 68% 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.
After School Activities 2025/26
Please contact providers directly for all bookings and queries. All contact details are provided on the schedule.
Pre-Loved Uniform SaleOur PA will hold a Pre-loved Unifrom Sale on Tuesday 26th August 2025. To facilitate this there will be a Uniform Collection Day on Friday 27th June. Please drop pre-loved uniforms into the tunnel on Friday 27th June! |
Lost Property
Are you missing a jumper, tracksuit top? Lost property is located on the Red Corridor beside Suzanne's office. All unclaimed items will be donated to the PA/charity on 27th June.
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
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 Alannah, Carrie & 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
and in July & August in Hollypark!
Maeve Maloney
Rebecca Byrnes
Kayla Farrel
Emily Murphy
Charlotte Cleary
Ellí Fox
Amelia Gibbs
Rosie Blake
Paige Cooney
Jessica O'Hanlon
Zoe Wickham
Ella O'Reilly
Anabel Bailie
Lauren Bartley-Tonge
Elena Holland
Hayley Sewe
Annabel Corboy
Ariene Sereda
Ella Montgomery
Kate O'Halloran
Marnie Woods
Chloe MacGuinness
Éabha Hanly
Eve Cooney
Mary Coyle
Robyn O'Leary
Sophia Kelly
Amalie Holland
Amaya Naidoo
Leisha Rathore
Lily McMahon
Sadhbh O'Rorke
Sienna Grogan
Hannah Browne
Ava Gallagher
Misika Gupta
Haniyah Ghariani
Zoe Broderick
Alexa Power
Juliette Walkin
Lily McCormack
Rosario Lora
Eva Abdullova
Adeline Meagher
Erica Donnelly
Aoife Plunkett
Hannah Carty
Eva Price
Cara Walsh
Katie Kennedy
Rachel Brennan
Cayla McGrane
Lauren McGrath
Siún Heraghty
Holly Dillon
Elsie Wyse
Éabha Whelehan
Erin Duatepe
Isla Maher
Celia Byrne
Olivia Mulholland
Fiadh Daly
Aoibhínn Fallon
Rachel McGonnell
Olivia Buckley
Camille de Rís
Nicole Merrigan
Lucy O'Sullivan
Ailbhe Powell
Laura Leonard
Anna Murphy
Connie Wickham
Lucy Tierney
Méabh Byrne
Darcey Lavin
Emily Zande
Doireann Igoe
Cora Walsh
Emelie Mathews
Isabella Chatharoo
Grace Walsh
Emily Lampasi
Elodie Walsh
Clara Kirrane
Isabel Leavy
Yevanhelina Skomorokha
Zoe Close
Lara Gallagher
Alice Fitzpatrick
Keira McDonagh
Sadhbh Sweeney
Anneliese Nolan
Cameron Barron
Aisling Nolan
Anna Wang
Grace Henry
Molly Cunningham
Aoibhinn O'Herlihy
Dearbhla Ní Tháilliúir
Lauren 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.
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