Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi Mhaise Daoibh!
It is hard to believe that we have reached the end of term and the end of 2024 - where did that year go???
Our girls have completed a great term's work and had some fun (we hope!) along the way.
I want to thank our teachers, SNAs, secretary and caretaker who together make the 'magic' happen.
And may I wish all of our school community, pupils, parents, families and staff the very best of Christmases and a peaceful and happy new year.
Key Dates Term One & Two
Santa is coming to HP! | Thursday 19th December | All classes |
Final day of Term One | Friday 20th December | All classes |
First day of Term Two | Monday 6th January | All classes |
Catholic Schools Week including Grandparents' Day | Week beginning Monday 19th January | All classes |
St Brigid's Day (School Closure) | Monday 3rd February | All classes |
Cyber Safety Talk | Monday 17th February | Parents |
History Day | Wednesday 19th February | All classes |
February Mid-Term | Thursday 20th February & Friday 21st February | All classes |
Last Day of Term One: Friday 20th December
The school will operate a staggered early finish as set out below:
Finish at | |
Junior & Senior Infants & siblings | 11:30am |
1st & 2nd Class & siblings | 11:45am |
3rd-6th Class | 12:00pm |
This will be a non-uniform day for the girls.
School Calendar 2024/2025
The 2024/2025 calendar is available on www.hollyparkgns.ie
Santa Coming to HPGNS!
We are very excited to hear that Santa will be visiting Hollypark GNS TOMORROW!!!
In honour of this very special visit, girls may wear Santa jumpers/other Christmas accessories to school on Thursday 19th December!
And Santa's Grotto is looking magical - fit for Santa for sure - thank you to our PA!
Voluntary Contribution
Thank you to the 143 families who have already made a Voluntary Contribution for 2024/25.
Your Voluntary Contribution makes a real difference to your girls' learning environment. Thank you! |
If you would like to help in any additional way with our school development, (time, skillset, sponsorship) please let us know.
Frásaí na Seachtaine
"Is breá liom an Nollaig!" |
Labhair Gaeilge linn!
The Moon & Sixpence: Monday 16th December
We thoroughly enjoyed the visit to our school of Puppet Theatre Company - The Moon and Sixpence.
Niall de Burca: Storyteller: Wednesday 18th December
We were spellbound by Niall's storytelling today - another magical experience as we look forward to Christmas.
Hot Chocolate with the Principal
I was delighted to invite the outgoing members of our Student Council to a cup of hot chocolate in my office last week as a way of saying thank you for all their work. We are very grateful to our Student Council who represent us so beautifully and proudly at so many school events.
Best of luck to our incoming Student Council.
And I look forward to welcoming all of our 6th Class Committees to join me for a chat, hot chocolate (and maybe even some cake...!) over the coming months.
4th Class Winners: Piano & Puppeteering
A Special Surprise from MS Dream Space Program
Our Dream Space Ambassadors were delighted to receive this goody bag this morning from Dream Space for all of their commitment to the program so far!
Christmas Art and Performances!
2nd Class sang their medley of Christmas songs!
'It's Nearly Christmas' in Hollypark!
5th Class recited 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' by Clement Clarke Moore.
Senior Infants performed Whoops A Daisy Angel!
Rugby & Soccer in Hollypark
Hollypark GNS PA Update
PA Christmas Gift Bag Appeal
We had an extraordinary response to our Christmas Charity Appeal - Feed Our Homeless.
Your generosity will be make a difference to so many children and families.
A message from 'Feed Our Homeless':
Dear Orlagh,We wish to sincerely thank you , the Parents Association, the Principal, Staff and the children of Hollypark GNS, we are totally overwhelmed at the amazing response from everyone.Orlagh as you have seen through your visits to the warehouse, we have the means to provide the basic food provisions to families, but not the extras, however thanks to everyone's efforts, it will mean that over 300 plus children will wake up Christmas morning to a gift bag, The impact of your kindness on these children is immeasurable.Orlagh, thank you again,Kind Regards,Geraldine Thank you to our PA for co-ordinating this event and especially the members of the Gift Bag Team: Orlagh Buckley, Maryrose Fitzsimons, Elaine Quinn, Sarah Browne, Trina Arnott, Sarah Delaney, Sinead Murphy, Emer Carroll & Evgeniya Abdullova.
6th Class Movie Night
Thanks also to our PA for organising a fun Movie Night for our 6th Classes last Friday evening - the girls had a great time. We really appreciate the work and time that goes into organising an event like this.
Santa Visit to HP
We are eagerly awaiting Santa's Visit to HP tomorrow - thank you to Santa's PA Elves for organising this event and for preparing a very special grotto for Santa!
No Smartphone Voluntary Code
Thank you to the 91% of our families who signed up to our No Smartphone Voluntary Code implemented by our PA in October 2024. This is a really positive development for our school and a model which other primary schools nationwide are now following.
In recent weeks local parents with pupils moving to secondary school in 2025 are now coming together collectively to set up groups continuing to delay smartphone or social media access to their kids. In one school alone almost 80 per cent of their incoming 1st years are expressing to remain smartphone/social media free into secondary. These are spaces for parents who want to delay giving their children smartphones and avoid social media. The aim is simple - to let kids know they are not alone in not having a smartphone or social media and to know it’s doable! Keep an eye out for one if you are leaving Hollypark GNS and wish to extend your commitment to remain smartphone free.
Date for your diary!!! Monday 17th February
Parents Talk on Cyber Safety brought to you by CyberSafe Ireland.
Thank You!
Thank you to our PA and wider parent community for all of your work and support throughout the term. I have asked your daughters to help out at home over Christmas and to give you lots of hugs for all you do for them.
Traffic Safety
Morning & afternoon one-way system:
Reminders:
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.
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.
Birthdays this week &
over Christmas in Hollypark!
Sienna O'Reilly
Fiadh Ryan
Sinéad Kavanagh
Ruby Maher
Maya Walsh
Krutika Koshti
Emer McGing
Ellen Dwyer
Kate Allman
Lauren Reaper
Sophie Gallagher
Keelin Moran
Robin Hughes
Ellen Coyle
Helena Murphy
Zimiao (Sophia) Yuan
Sherry xue fu Zhao
Caoimhe Gleeson
Juliette Conmy
Sofia Dunphy
Georgie Lynn
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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