Newsletter: Wednesday 26th November 2025

hollyparkwebsite
6 hours ago
7 min read

The Admission Process for Junior Infants 2026

is now closed.

Applicants have been notified of the decision on their application and have until Friday 28th November @ 3:00pm to confirm acceptance of the offer of admission.

Failure to accept an offer within the prescribed period above may result in the offer being withdrawn

Note: the school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance with the school’s Admission Policy.

School Calendar 2025/2026

The 2025/2026 calendar is available on www.hollyparkgns.ie

Staggered Finish: Friday 19th December

Friday 19th December is the last day of term. We will close for a half day and operate a staggered finish as set out below:

Junior & Senior Infants & older siblings	11:30am
1st & 2nd Class & older siblings	11:45am
3rd - 6th Classes	12:00pm

Key Dates: Term One

Christmas Jumper Sale	Friday 28th November	Whole School
Graffiti Classics	Friday 28th November	Whole School
Light Up Laura Lynn	Sunday 30th November	School Choir - 6th Class choristers
Christmas Bag Appeal Drop Off Days	5th & 8th December	Whole School
Junior Infant Christmas Play	9:30am Friday 12th December	Junior Infants
Senior Infant Christmas Play	11:00am Friday 12th December	Senior infants
The Moon & Sixpence Theatre	Monday 15th December	Whole School
School Choir Charity Christmas Concert	Monday 15th December	School Choir
Carol Singing at The Four Ferns	Tuesday 16th December	School Choir - 6th Class choristers
Niall de Burca - Storyteller	Wednesday 17th December	Whole School
Last Day of Term One (Early Finish)	Friday 19th December	Whole School
First Day of Term Two	Monday 5th January	Whole School
Staff Inservice School Closure	Wednesday 11th February	Whole School
Staff Inservice School Closure	Wednesday 13th May	Whole School

Well done!

Congratulations to Lucy in Senior Infants!

Congratulations to Farah in 1st Class!

Farrah in 1st class took an amazing haul of medals in the recent Trojan Gymnastics competition. Keep it up, Farrah! We'll be watching you in the Olympics before long!

Congratulations to Hannah in 6th Class!

Hannah in 6th class played up two years (with her sister, past pupil Grace) to U14s winning the U14 Championship Football Finals with Kilmacud Crokes this weekend. Well done Hannah!

Cogratulations to Sophie in 2nd Class!

Sophie was awarded a High Merit in her ballet exam. Well done, Sophie!

Congratulations to Cameron in 6th Class!

Cameron Barron, a pupil in 6th class stars in this short movie WRECKERS which was shown on RTE 1 during the week!

A little bit of history.....

The Wrecker was a reviled figure in Famine Ireland and the role they played in evictions was long remembered in many communities. Often referred to as the ‘hut tumbler’ or ‘leveller’, the Wrecker was involved in the levelling of houses which resulted in an estimated 250,000 families losing their homes during the Great Famine.

We are so proud of her achievements!! Click on the link here to view this short movie.

https://www.rte.ie/player/movie/shortscreen-wrecker-s1-e1/727741480154

Well done Cameron!

Congratulations to Charlie in 5th Class!

I started dancing when I was 3 years old in Foxrock Community Centre. When I moved to Paris (for 5 years), I continued my ballet. In 2023, I got joint 1st place in Paris Concours de Ballet and then placed 2nd in the Confederation de Danse Nationale competition. I am a member of the Irish National Youth Ballet and we dance in The Nutcracker in O'Reilly Theatre on 7th-9th December 2025. I have been offered a 6 month placement in Paris Opera Ballet starting in January 2026. In my spare time, I dance, read and also play the Concertina.

Charlie in 2018 and in 2025

Congratulations to past pupils Rachel and Molly!

Many congratulations to our past pupils Rachel and Molly who, along with Charlie, will be performing in the Irish National Youth Ballet's production of 'The Nutcracker' this Christmas.

This is a fantastic achievement and we are very proud of them. Wishing the girls the very best of luck in the performances!

School Choir

Our 6th Class Choir girls are looking forward to singing for the LightUpLauraLynn event - now becoming a much-loved tradition in our school calendar. Our girls have also been invited to sing for the residents of The Four Ferns later in December. — Our 6th Class Choir girls are looking forward to singing for the **LightUpLauraLynn** event - now becoming a much-loved tradition in our school calendar. Our girls have also been invited to sing for the residents of **The Four Ferns** later in December.

We are delighted that 10 of our choir girls have been invited to sing at The Dedication to Phil Lynott concert in the 3Arena in January. This group of girls will have their first rehearsal for this event on Thursday afternoon. — We are delighted that 10 of our choir girls have been invited to sing at **The Dedication to Phil Lynott** concert in the **3Arena** in January. This group of girls will have their first rehearsal for this event on Thursday afternoon.

And to finish off a busy term's work, our School Choir looks forward to bringing you Christmas joy at their charity concert on Monday 15th December in Foxrock Church.

All funds raised will be donated to St Vincent de Paul and Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland.

Tickets will go on sale shortly through Aladdin.

Green Schools

We had a really successful visit from Fergal McCollum our Green School Advisor yesterday! He met with the Committee and they were extremely well informed and articulate.

Fergal was very impressed by the work of the girls on the Committee and commended them on their dedication and passion for all green issues in both the school and the wider community.

We are well on our way to achieving our 10th Green Flag Food and Biodiversity - Global Citizenship!

Well done girls!

Please see below the Nature Spotter Sheet for November!

Take some time at weekends to spot some of these during the month of November!

CyberSafeKids

The new CyberSafeKids Gadget Gift Guide supports parents and guardians in making safer, more informed decisions when purchasing smart devices for their children during the festive season and throughout the year.

Packed with practical advice, safety tips, and guidance on responsible use, the guide highlights the benefits and potential risks of today’s most popular smart devices, from VR headsets and gaming consoles to AI-powered toys and smartphone alternatives.

TOP TIP: Whatever the smart device, don't allow it into bedrooms at night—charge all devices in communal areas of the home overnight!

If you're thinking of gifting any kind of smart device this year – a tablet, gaming console, smart watch or toy – this webinar is for you. Two expert trainers, Ann Harte and Olwyn Beresford, will walk you through our CyberSafeKids Gadget Gift Guide, providing lots of tips and practical advice to keep your children safer online all year round. To register for the webinar on Zoom please click on the button below.

Click Me

Voluntary Contributions 2025- 2026

Sincere thanks to the 74 families who have already made a Voluntary Contribution to the school for 2025-26.

It may interest our families to know that you can choose to make frequent small payments to your Voluntary Contribution via Aladdin at any time during the school year, up to and including 31st August 2026.

Any and all contributions are very much appreciated and make a real difference to your daughter's learning environment.

PA Update

Advent Wreathes

Huge thanks to our group of parents under the leadership of Pat Perara who have been visiting the school this week helping us to create beautiful Advent Wreathes.

And look who popped into 1st Class with Mrs. Perera to show us how to make advent wreaths! Ava had quite the shock when her granny walked in! Huge thank you to Mary and Pat for telling us all about Advent and the significance of the season. We're delighted with our wreath which now sits in our Sacred Space in the classroom.

Pre-Loved Christmas Jumper Sale:

Friday 28th November!

Feed Our Homeless: Annual Christmas Appeal

Once again this Christmas we are supporting the Feed Our Homeless charity.

A few words from Geraldine in Feed Our Homeless charity -

"Thank you so much for this wonderful kindness, you are all amazing, please also thank the school, parents and the children, on behalf of the kids that will benefit from their goodness."

The drop off dates for the gift bags are Friday 5th & Monday 8th of December.

Traffic and Safety

Please note:

It is illegal to park in a way which interferes with traffic flow or obstructs or endangers other road users, for example:

Opposite a continuous white line.
On a footpath (either partly or wholly).
Within 5 metres of a junction.
Within 15 metres on the approach side or 5 metres on the other side of a pedestrian crossing or traffic lights.
At a school entrance.
Obstructing any entrance for vehicles except with the occupier’s consent.
On a grass margin or median strip.

[Dublin Street Parking Services]

Once again I am reminding our parents/guardians/minders to drive and park with consideration for our children and our neighbours - many of whom are elderly and vulnerable.

Morning Drop Off

In the interest of the safety of all pupils, parents/guardians are not permitted to drive into the yard for drop-off or collection. Thank you to the many parents/guardians who abide by this rule.

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.

Birthdays this week in Hollypark!

Millie O'Malley

Adeline O'Donovan

Aisling Maher

Eva Freeman

Isabelle Mullane

Penny Rose Crotty

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!

St.Patrick's GNS HOLLYPARK