Staff In-Service: Bí Cineálta Training
Please note that school will close early on Wednesday 19th February to facilitate mandatory whole staff in-service on the new Bí Cineálta Guidelines.
We will operate a staggered closure as outlined below:
Staggered Closure | |
Junior & Senior Infants & older siblings | 11:30am |
1st & 2nd Class & older siblings | 11:45am |
3rd - 6th Class | 12:00pm |
Key Dates Term Two
Laudate | Wednesday 29th January | 4th Class |
Grandparents Day | Friday 31st January | All classes |
St Brigid's Day (School Closure) | Monday 3rd February | All classes |
Cyber Safety Workshops | Friday 7th February | 3rd & 4th Classes |
Safer Internet Day | Tuesday 11th February | All classes |
Cyber Safety Workshops | Monday 17th February | 5th & 6th Classes |
Cyber Safety Talk & Pre-Loved Uniform Sale | Monday 17th February | Parents |
Staff In-service (Early Closure) | Wednesday 19th February | All classes |
History Day | Wednesday 19th February | All classes |
February Mid-Term (School Closure) | Thursday 20th February & Friday 21st February | All classes |
Seachtain na Gaeilge | 10ú - 14ú Márta | Gach rang |
Book Fair | 10th - 14th March | All classes |
St Patrick's Day (School Closure) | Monday 17th March & Tuesday 18th March | All classes |
Mary's Meals Bucket Collection | Friday 11th April | All classes |
Final Day of Term Two | Friday 11th April | All classes |
First Day of Term Three | Monday 28th April | All classes |
School Calendar 2024/2025
The 2024/2025 calendar is available on www.hollyparkgns.ie
HSE Guidance
There are many bugs and colds circulating at the moment in the community. As per the HSE Health Protection Guidance, if your child is unwell or is showing symptoms of illness please refrain from sending them to school.
Grandparents' Day 2025: Friday 31st January
We are very much looking forward to this landmark day on our annual school calendar, which will take place this Friday 31st January.
(If for any reason we have to reschedule our Grandparents Day, we have a contingency date of Friday 7th February).

On this special day, Grandparents will visit their grandchildren's classroom and will have the opportunity to share stories of their time in school with the girls. (For the comfort of all, we ask that only one grandparent attends per family). Grandparents will also join the children in the school hall for a short Prayer Service and will then be invited into our staffroom for light refreshments.
To accommodate the expected numbers (already over 200!), we will operate staggered arrival and departure times, as set out below.
Junior & Senior Infants & 1st Class | ||
8:45 – 9:15 | Visit | Classroom |
9:15 – 9:45 | Prayer Service | Hall |
9:45 – 10:15 | Tea/coffee | Staffroom |
2nd, 3rd & 4th Classes | ||
11:00 - 11:30 | Visit | Classroom |
11:30 – 12:00 | Prayer Service | Hall |
12:00 – 12:30 | Tea/coffee | Staffroom |
5th & 6th Classes | ||
12:45 – 1:15 | Visit | Classroom |
1:15 – 1:45 | Prayer Service | Hall |
1:45 – 2:15 | Tea/coffee | Staffroom |
If one of your grandparents is visiting the school for Grandparents' Day, please email your daughter’s class teacher and tell her the name of the grandparent who will be attending.
Due to the volume of correspondence on the office email, and to avoid any missed communications, we ask that you email the class teacher directly.
We are looking forward to seeing you all then!
Laudate Festival 2025
4th Class have been working on the 15 song Laudate Repertoire since last September and are very much looking forward to participating in this year’s Laudate Festival which takes place this evening, 7:00pm-8:15pm, in the Church of St Therese, Mount Merrion.

All parents and families are welcome to attend.
Voluntary Contribution
Thank you to the 188 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. 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
Lá ‘le Bríde atá ann! |
Labhair Gaeilge linn!
History Day in Hollypark
We look forward to celebrating History Day on Wednesday 19th February 2025 with many fun activities on the day.

The girls in 2nd – 6th class will have the opportunity to dress up as a character based on an era or event they have been working on in class. Alternatively, the girls could pick their favourite character from history. Your daughter’s class teacher will give the girls further details.
‘The more we know about the past, the better prepared we are for the future’.
Old School Furniture
True to his word, and despite Storm Éowyn, Joe Clancy arrived at the school on Saturday morning to collect our old school furniture. Thank you to Orlagh (PA), Maryrose (PA) and Kevin who were there to greet and assist.
There was so much, everyone had to return on Sunday to complete the delivery. An enormous thank you to Joe, Orlagh, Maryrose and Kevin.
Hollypark Tennis Team
Congratulations to our 5th and 6th Class girls who have made the Hollypark GNS Tennis Team. The girls took part in trials last Wednesday in Newpark Tennis Club.
Huge thanks to Steve Landon for all of his support and to Louise Doolin and Sarah Tijs, for coming on board as our parent reps.


Hollypark GNS PA Update

Cyber Safety Talk: Monday 17th February
A Parents Talk on Cyber Safety brought to you by CyberSafe Ireland takes place on Monday 17th February @ 7:30pm.
Pre-Loved Uniform Sale
The PA will hold a Pre-Loved Uniform Sale before the Cyber Safety Talk - Monday 17th February @ 7:00pm.
Thank you to our PA who will serve tea and coffee at this event.
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.
Open Rugby Training: Sunday 2nd February

Mid-Term Soccer Camp

Be Winter Ready

Birthdays this week in Hollypark!
Leah Smyth
Zoe Cahill
Alexa Hart
Holly Maher
Anna Merriman
Fiadh Plunkett
After School Minding Service
I have been running a small after school club in Hollypark for the past 7 years. I collect from the school. We have outdoor activities, playground, picnics, then homework/ drawing /games in my house. Home cooked meal and everyone dropped home at 5.30. I have one space available now and am taking enquiries for September Contact Louise 087 7992306 Many thanks Louise Murphy |
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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