Newsletter: Wednesday 3rd December 2025

School Calendar 2025/2026

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

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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

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Key Dates: Term One

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
Santa is coming to HPGNS!!	Thursday 18th 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

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Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school

Use this page

https://www2.hse.ie/babies-children/parenting-advice/caring-for-a-child/knowing-if-your-child-is-well-enough-to-go-to-school-or-childcare/

to find out:

• When it's OK to send your child to school or childcare

• When to keep your child at home from school or childcare

  
  

Please note these key points to keep our school (and wider) community safe and well:

High temperature

If your child has a high temperature, keep them off school or childcare until their temperature:

• goes back to normal

• stays that way without taking paracetamol and ibuprofen

In children, any temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above is considered high.

Vomiting and diarrhoea

• Children with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay away from school or childcare until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 48 hours.

Follow advice from your GP

If your child has been diagnosed with an infection such as:

• impetigo

• measles

• mumps

• scarlet fever

• slapped cheek syndrome

• chicken pox

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Well done!

Congratulations Elize & Lily in 3rd Class!

Congratulations to Elize and Lily who competed in the Leinster Irish Dancing Championships over the weekend, bringing home a wonderful haul of gold and silver ware.

Well done ladies!

Congratulations Julia in 3rd Class!

Julia in 3rd Class achieved an impressive second place in a Calisthenics competition in Gorey over the weekend. She represented the Bar Monkey Calisthenics Club. Well done Julia!

Congratulations Alice in 1st Class!

Congratulations to Alice who won a trophy for Most Improved Gymnast at the weekend. Well done Alice!

Congratulations Sadhbh in 4th Class!

"On 22nd November I did a gymnastics competition. I came 2nd on bars, 2nd on vault, 1st on floor and 2nd overall. I really enjoyed it.” Well done Sadhbh!

Congratulations Katie & Penny in 2nd Class!

Congratulations to Katie and Penny in 2nd Class, who competed in a gymnastics competition at the weekend. They did vault and floor routines and both won medals. We are so proud of their achievements!

Congratulations to Zoe in 3rd Class!

Congratulations to Zoe for receiving her certificate for outstanding performance with the Trojan Gymnastics Club! Well done Zoe!

Well done to our Hockey Teams!

Both the A and B Teams played their first league match on Monday against Our Lady of Mercy Booterstown. The A Team led by theri co-captains Kate and Rosalie won their match by a point with a final score of 3-2.
The B Team led by their co-captains Millie and Sophia drew their match 2-2.
Overall we had a great result for our first match. We really enjoyed it and look forward to our next match and more to follow!

By Kate & Ava

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School Choir

We are very proud of our 6th Class Choir girls who sang for the LightUpLauraLynn event last Sunday.

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.

Tickets now on sale via Aladdin.

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Junior Infant Christmas Play

Friday 12th December @ 9:30am

Senior Infant Christmas Play

Friday 12th December @ 11:00am

We are sorry, but due to the restricted space available in the hall, we kindly ask that only two adults per child attend the shows. For health and safety reasons, please do not bring hot drinks into the school building.

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Green Schools

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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!

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Voluntary Contributions 2025- 2026

Sincere thanks to the 90 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.

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PA Update

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.

Casanova's Big Pizza Giveaway!

We were delighted that Hollypark GNS was chosen as one of the winners in Casanova's Big Pizza Giveaway!!! As a result of this community initiative, Casanova's will be delivering 25 complimentary pizzas to our school, freshly made and ready to enjoy!!

Thank you to our parents for leading this drive.

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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.

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Birthdays this week in Hollypark!

Liadh Bates

Elizabeth Coyle

Laoise O'Donnell

Allsún Cleary

Sadie Rhatigan

Esmé Doolin

Ruby Brophy

Neasa Marron

India Morkan

Harley Cafolla

Farrah O'Rorke

Isla Quinn

Robyn Rennicks

Holly Jordan

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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.

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HPGNS

United in Friendship, Together We Strive!