Tel: (074) 9734363

Principal: Mrs Dawn Somerville

• Fishing Trip - Thank you to everyone involved in the organisation of our fishing trip to Mountcharles. Although we didn't manage to catch any fish, there were plenty of prize winners and we would like to thank everyone who donated/sponsored prizes and chocolate! It was great to have the opportunity to put everything we had learned in our 'Something Fishy' project into practice. Have a look at the photographs here or on our 'Something Fishy for Kids' website.

• Discover Science Event - We hope you will be able to join us at 1.30 p.m. on Thursday 7th April. We will be showing you some of the science work we have been doing for this year's 'Discover Science' project.

• Library Competition - Congratulations to Laura and Benjamin who won prizes in the Library World Book Day competition.

• St. Patrick's Day - School will be closed on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th March.

• Book Fair - This year’s Book Fair total was €613. This meant that we were able to put new books worth €245 into the classrooms.  I would like to thank Mrs Geraghty for the work she put into organising and running the Book Fair this year.  A thank you also to the children from 6th Class who were very helpful and to everyone who purchased books this year.

• Weather - Although it is only the beginning of January, I hope that the disruptive winter weather has done its worst and will not cause any further problems.  Thank you for your patience and understanding over the past weeks and for the efforts made, particularly during the last week, to get the children to school. I would also like to thank the other members of our staff who made journeys in very difficult conditions.  Thank you also to Ezra who has spent a considerable amount of time spreading grit around the school and for clearing paths for us.
  As before, should there be any further weather disruption, we will keep you informed by text.  If Santa has been especially kind at Christmas and you have a new phone number, please make sure to let us know.

• Science Workshop - The Science/History Workshop planned for December was cancelled twice because of the weather.  We hope to rearrange it this term.

• 'Flu - You will be aware from recent news headlines that the incidence of Swine ‘Flu and seasonal ‘Flu is on the increase.  I would therefore like to draw your attention again to the following information.
  The Staff of the school will raise awareness among the children of the importance of good hygiene habits/using tissues/handwashing etc. in school. You can help by talking to your child at home.  Children are welcome to bring and use their own hand sanitiser, provided it is used sensibly.
  Please make sure your child has his/her own supply of tissues for use in school. Bear in mind that tissues should only be used once before being thrown in the bin.
  Paper towels are provided in toilets. We do not have hot water in school but have been advised that using handwash and cold water is just as effective providing the children spend an adequate time washing their hands. For younger children, ask them to sing the alphabet song while they are washing. Older children should count to 20 slowly.
  We will continue to make sure that the surfaces in school i.e. desks, door handles and work surfaces are wiped down and cleaned regularly.
  Children displaying symptoms of flu  e.g. high temperature and sore throat, should not be sent to school.  For more information, there are links to the H.S.E. on the school website.

• Parent Teacher Meetings - As we had a change of staff earlier in the year, we decided to postpone our Parent Teacher Meetings from November until this term.  Dates and details will follow shortly.

• Congratulations - The long wait for Gerard's and George's baby sister is finally over. We send our warmest congratulations to Margaret and George Clarke on the birth of their little daughter last Thursday.

• Healthy Eating Guidelines - Following a discussion at the last Parent Teacher Meeting about lunches, we hope to invite a representative from the H.S.E. into school shortly to work with the teachers and all parents on a review of the Healthy Eating Guidelines. For your information, here is a link to our current guidelines as a reminder of what is and isn't encouraged in school lunch boxes. In particular, I would like to draw your attention to the Friday 'treat'. This should be something small e.g. a funsize bar or a biscuit but not sweets, lollies etc.

• Hallowe'en Fundraiser - For a donation of €2, children may wear their own clothes or a Hallowe'en costume to school on Friday 22nd October. (No scary masks please).

• Unihoc - Thank you to Muriel and Ezra for all the time, effort and expense that went into organising our annual Unihoc night. Thank you to all the parents who helped out on the night and also to those who supported the school by turning up to play and cheer the children on. The night was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Hopefully we will get some photographs online soon. Thank you to those who have already returned their sponsor money.

• Thank you - Thank you to everyone who has visited us with their baby animals in recent weeks. We have thoroughly enjoyed seeing them.

• Congratulations - Congratulations to Jenny and Alan Mahon on the birth of beautiful baby Jemma, a little sister for the girls. She has already made her first visit to school and hopefully will come in again soon.

• Thank you - On behalf of everyone in school, I would like to thank Noel Given and John Barnett for their continued work in the school over the summer holidays.  The school grounds look fantastic and have done all summer.  Our thanks also to Ezra and Muriel for ensuring that we returned to a spotless building.

• Last year's news - Click here