Newsletter: Wednesday 3rd September 2025
- hollyparkwebsite
- Sep 3
- 8 min read
Updated: Sep 8
Welcome Back!

Welcome back to the new school year in Hollypark.
We are looking forward to a busy year of learning
and to celebrating 60 years of the Hollypark Schools!
Thank You
Yesterday, like many of our neighbours, we found ourselves unexpectedly without water due to a burst pipe locally. Thankfully the damage has been fixed and water supply has now been restored. We hope that it has also been restored to our neighbours and that it did not cause too much disruption.
Without running water and access to toilets the Board would normally have been obliged to close the school for health and safety. However Mr O'Donovan, Ms Lynch and the team in Hollypark BNS came to our aid and opened their doors to us for the day to access toilets and running water. Maryrose, Chair of the PA, headed out immediately to get bottled water for all classes and staff. Sincere thanks to our Hollypark community for their support and generosity.
I want to thank our staff and pupils for their resilience and patience and for continuing to get on with their days' work.
For us all it was a tiny insight into the daily lives of the many children and their families where access to water is not a given.
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
The school will commence accepting applications for admission on | 29th September 2025
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The school shall cease accepting applications for admission on | 24th October 2025 @ 3:00pm
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The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application is | 14th November 2025 |
The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is* | 28th November 2025 @ 3:00pm |
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*Failure to accept an offer within the prescribed period above may result in the offer being withdrawn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
HSE Vision & Hearing | 9th - 12th September | Junior Infants |
Class Photos | Friday 12th September | Whole School |
Wellbeing Week | Week beginning Monday 22nd September | Whole School |
STEM Week | Week beginning Monday 13th October | Whole School |
GOAL Jersey Day | Friday 10th October | Whole school |
Hallowe'en Dress Up Day | Friday 24th October | Whole school |
Midterm break | 27th October - 31st October | Whole School |
PT Meetings | Week beginning Monday 17th November | SI - 6th Class |
No After School Activities for one week to facilitate PT Meetings | Week beginning Monday 17th November | 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 |
Start & Finish Times
Start Time | Finish Time | |
Junior Infants until 10th September | 8:40am | 11:30am |
Junior Infants from 11th September | 8:40am | 1:20pm |
Senior Infants | 8:40am | 1:20pm |
1st & 2nd Class | 8:40am | 2:20pm |
3rd- 6th Class | 8:40am | 2:20pm |
Independence Day: Thursday 4th September
Well done to our Junior Infants who are already coming into school so independently and cheerfully. Tomorrow - Thursday 4th September - marks Independence Day for our Junior Infants when parents 'drop and go'. Their class teacher will be waiting for them.

Good luck for Independence Day tomorrow!
Please note
From Thursday 11th September Junior Infants will attend for the full school day: 8:40am – 1:20pm.
School Uniform
Girls should wear the school tracksuit on PE days only.
For health and safety reasons, girls must wear appropriate sporting footwear in order to avoid injury.
School uniform trousers, as an alternative to the school uniform skirt, are available from our uniform suppliers The Schoolwear House.
For health and safety reasons, stud earrings only are permitted. Dangly earrings (to include hoops) are not permitted.
Nail polish, lip gloss, make-up (including mascara), fake tan, fake eyelashes and fake nails are not allowed. Pupils will be asked to remove make up on arrival in school. Wipes will be supplied.
Smart Phones and Smart Devices

The Hollypark GNS community strives, in line with best practice, to create a calm and safe sanctuary, free from the distractions and potential complications posed by social media and the use of personal smart devices. To this end, Hollypark GNS is a smart device free campus. Children are not permitted to use phones/smartphones or smart watches whilst on school grounds (including the yard and the astro pitch).
We strongly support our PA No Smartphone Voluntary Code.
5th and 6th Class
Children in 5th and 6th class who need to bring a device to school in order to facilitate their journey to and from school must seek written permission from Ms. Gunning by completing and signing a Phone Request Form. [Please see our school's Acceptable Use Policy, Appendix A (page 16)]. If given permission, children must hand the device to their teacher at the beginning of each day, and they may collect it when they are going home. The school takes no responsibility for these devices during the day.
Homework
Homework should be within the capability of the attentive child, based on work already done. Homework enables parents to follow their daughter’s progress.
Homework should always be checked, and the journal signed daily by parent/guardian.
Homework is assigned for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday evenings and is not generally assigned for the weekend.


Recommended Times for Homework
Junior/Senior Infants: Class Teacher will advise.
1st/2nd Class: 20 – 30 minutes
3rd/4th Class: 30 – 40 minutes
5th/6th Class: 40 – 60 minutes.
These are suggested times. In practice, the time taken will depend on each child.
If parents feel a child is taking an excessive amount of time to complete work, they should discuss this with the Class Teacher.
Please click here for Homework Tips.
Our New Climbing Wall
Over the summer, renovations were carried out on our tunnel to improve insulation in the classes overhead. In addition a new climbing wall has been installed! This would not have been possible without our parents' generous fundraising and donations. Thank you!

For the health and safety of all, the wall may only be used under the supervision of Hollypark. For this reason, the tunnel gate will be closed and the tunnel may only be accessed when a member of the Hollypark staff is present.
Wellbeing Week 22nd - 26th September
We are looking forward to celebrating Wellbeing Week during the last week of September. We will share all details with our parents in the coming weeks.

For now, we are asking that parents send in a plain white t-shirt to the Class Teacher by Wednesday 10th September.
Green Schools
The Green School Committee met for their first meeting of the year earlier today. We have a busy year ahead as a Green School. We will be applying for our Global Citizenship-Food and Biodiversity Flag later in the year. This is Hollypark GNS’ tenth Green Flag! We are very proud in HPGNS of our ongoing efforts to highlight climate issues, look after the environment and work together for a sustainable future.

We would like to thank the parents and grandparents who supported us in the creation of an outdoor learning space last year. Research has shown that outdoor learning can have huge benefits for children in terms of wellbeing and academic performance. The children really enjoyed spending time and learning in this outdoor space during the last term. The PA are busy recruiting parents/ grandparents who might be able to help develop this space further so that the children can use it throughout the year. Please contact the PA if this is something you could help us with.
The Green School Committee Reps would also like you, the parents, to take a bit of time at weekends or afternoons to help increase your daughters’ awareness of local biodiversity. To help you with this please look at our September’s Nature Spotter Sheet.

This Spotter Sheet includes photographs of the Hawthorn Tree with haws (berries) the Red Admiral Butterfly, Blackberries and Brambles, the Forest Shieldbug, Ash Tree ‘keys’ (seeds) and Ripe Apples. All of these can be spotted in the local parks and green areas. If parents are too busy they might ask grandparents to help!!! Thank you!
Hot Meals for Schools
Hollypark GNS and BNS continue to engage in the government procurement process and will update our families in due course.
Violin Lessons

Violin lessons for Senior Infants to 3rd Class will commence later this month. Our new Violin Teacher Ms Eva Paturyan will focus on aural training, music theory and the basics of violin.
The rationale for this initiative is to give every child in the school the opportunity to experience learning a musical instrument and playing the instrument in a group setting. We have found in the past that many of the girls really enjoyed learning the violin and went on to continue with lessons outside of school after their initial introduction.
The girls will have the use of our school violins. All sheet music, necessary to participate, will also be provided.
Class Photos
County Photos will be taking photos of all classes on Friday 12th September. Girls are asked to wear school uniform this day. If the class is timetabled for PE on that day, they may bring their tracksuit and change after the photo.

Class teachers will send reminders closer to time.
HSE: Vision & Hearing &Flu
Vision & Hearing | Junior Infants | 9th - 12th September |
Consent forms and reminders will issue to classes in advance of above.
Traffic and Safety
One Way Traffic System

Traffic Safety
I am appealing to our parents in the strongest possible terms to put the safety of our children above all else:
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.
Well done!
Congratulations to these young ladies from Ms. Codd's 1st class who won medals in the recent Granada Mini World Cup.

Last weekend Olivia and Bonnie in 3rd Class took part in the Granada Mini World Cup. Olivia was on team Argentina and she was delighted to be named player of the tournament. Well done Olivia! Bonnie played with 5th and 6th Class players and was on team Germany. It was lots of fun and many other girls from Hollypark took part.

I went to a tennis camp over the summer. And after that there were championships. And I came 2nd out of the under 9's! I got a medal. This is me with my medal.
by Alexa
Over the summer I went to a Sewing Class and we were making Zip Pouches. This is me with my pouch; it was hard at first but then it got easier. That tells me you should never give up!
by Viola
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
Birthdays this week in Hollypark!
Heather Branigan Murphy
Lauren Goodwin
Ava O'Brolchain
Juliet Corboy
Angel Luis
Ava Lowey
Lily Cruise
Isobel Farrell
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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