St. Patrick's National School, Diswellstown, Castleknock.

Email: info@stpatricksns.ie Phone: 01 824 9930 Fax: 01 824 9928

Address: Diswellstown Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15, D15 PH21.

School Logo

Newsletters Archived

Week Ending 23rd September 2011

Registration – Junior Infants September 2012
Application Forms will be available from the office from Monday 12 September.  Registration will take place on 17, 18 & 19 October.

Important Message for Current 6th Classes
Please note that the closing date for applications for First Year 2012 in Castleknock Community College and Luttrellstown Community College is Friday 30 September at 4.00pm.  Application Forms are available directly from the individual colleges.

HSE Vision and Hearing Tests
Consent cards have been distributed to all children in Senior Infants and First Class for Vision and Hearing Tests.  Please return your child’s card to their class teacher ASAP as they will be collected by the HSE on Tuesday morning, 27 September.

Contagious Illness
Whilst there is no need to telephone the school if your child is sick, we would greatly appreciate if you would contact us if your child contracts a contagious illness e.g. measles, mumps, rubella, etc.  There are children in the school who are at increased risk of contracting these illnesses.  Parents should acknowledge their child’s absence from school due to minor illnesses on their return, in writing, in the child’s School Journal.

Information Meetings
We are holding a series of informal meetings at 8.40am with the parents of each class grouping.  The meetings will take place in the Tigers Room on the dates listed below.  We request that you enter the school via the Diswellstown Door (Tigers Entrance) and up the blue stairs rather than through the main school entrance.  Please note that teachers will return to their classes immediately after the meeting.  Should you wish to speak to the teacher individually, please contact the office to make an appointment.

Class

Date

Class

Date

Second Class

Monday 26 September

First Class

Tuesday 27 September

Open Day to Blanchardstown Garda Station
There is an open day at Blanchardstown Garda Station tomorrow Saturday 24 September from 2.30pm – 5.30pm.  The Garda Band will perform and there will be lots of interesting displays, including a Tour of the Station. All welcome.

Culture Night
Tonight is Culture Night, where lots of attractions all around the city and country have free admission, such as the Croke Park Museum, The Leprechaun Museum and Kilmainham Gaol. For more information, see www.culturenight.ie .

After School Collection Arrangements
Please inform your child to go to reception if he/she is in any doubt about the cancellation of an extra curricular activity or collection arrangements.  We will then try to make contact with parents/collectors.

Healthy Eating Talk
A workshop entitled “Healthy Eating for your Children” is taking place tomorrow Saturday 24 September from 11.00am – 12.30pm in St Mochta’s Parish Centre.  Admission is €5. Local Mum and Nutritional Therapist, Mary Dunne is running the workshop.

Homework
Below are sample time guidelines for homework:
Junior and Senior Infants    5 - 10 minutes
(Informal homework such as the Paired Reading Scheme, sight words, reading review).
First Class                              15 – 20 minutes.
Second Class                          20 – 30 minutes.
Third and Fourth Class          30 – 40 minutes.
Fifth and Sixth Class              40 – 60 minutes.

If your child is having consistent difficulty with homework or is spending well in excess of the recommended time completing it, please speak with the Class Teacher.  It is counter-productive for young children to spend too much time completing homework.  If this is an issue, please feel free to sign the journal stating that your child finished after spending “X” amount of time at their work.

Registration for First Holy Communion and Confirmation 2011-2012  
A letter has been sent out to parents who wish to register their child in the Parish Preparation Programmes to receive the sacraments this coming year. Closing date for Registration is Thursday 29th September, 2011. Registration forms will NOT be accepted after this date. Please read the letter carefully and enclose a Baptismal Certificate if required for your child. The completed Registration Form can be returned to the Church Sacristy after weekday or weekend masses; to the parish office (9.30 – 12.30 weekdays); or post to St Mochta’s Parish, Porterstown Road, Dublin 15.  If you have any queries about the receiving the sacraments or the Registration Form please contact Fr John Daly or Mary GreeneByrne at the parish office (01) 8213218.

Parents Association News

Savvy Schools – School Uniforms
The feedback from the parent body re Savvy Schools has been fantastic but if any parent has an issue or query please contact Savvy Schools on 086 7308525.  Parents can also email Savvy Schools at geraldine@savvyschools.ie.  Uniforms may be bought online all year round from SavvySchools.ie or until mid October, at Savvy Schools, Unit 1 Porter’s Road (opposite Postal Sorting Office), Coolmine Business Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Can you help organize the Christmas Fair?
Would you be interested in joining the Christmas Fair Committee – have you held a long term wish to be the person in charge of that Wheel of Fortune, perhaps you have new ideas for stalls or have ideas on how to improve on the existing stalls?  The Christmas Fair organising committee would love your input and would really welcome some new members.   We will be looking for further volunteers to help out on the big day itself but initially we would love some fresh ideas and some helping hands with all the planning that the event requires.  Our next Christmas Fair meeting takes place next Wednesday evening so if you are interested don’t delay, please do get in touch. Call or text Bridin on 086 3845931 or Karen on 087 4187253 if you can help out.

Volunteer Bag Packers Required  
St Patrick’s NS Parents Association continue fund raising for the school and will be packing shopping bags at Tesco Roselawn at the following times: Thursday 13 October from 4-8pm, Friday 14 October 4 – 8pm and Saturday 15 October 10am – 8pm.  Volunteers will be asked to pack for about two hours.  Older kids are welcome to help.  Please email stpatrickspa@yahoo.com with your name, phone number and preferred dates/times or text 085 8448064. Thanks.

Extra Curricular Activities

FAI "Soccer Sisters" coming to St Patrick's!
A 10-week soccer course for girls aged 8-10 will begin next month on Mon 17 Oct from 3.05-4.00pm in the Hall. This is a once off stand-alone course and costs €30 for 10 weeks. Each participant will also receive a free playing kit. More details will be given to the children in school in the coming weeks.

Art and Craft workshops                                                                                                                   Classes develop many skills and encourage creativity.  Limited spaces available for classes, which are held on Mondays from 2.10pm to 3.45pm. Please contact Blathnaid on 087-4123247 for full details.             

Little Whiz Kids
Starting Monday 26th September New Term Computer Training Classes "Little Whiz Kids" for primary school children.  We teach computers to children in creative ways they can relate too. 8 Week Term Commencing @ 3.10pm-4.10pm Module 1 (Ages 6-12); 8 Week Term Commencing @ 1.10pm-2.10pm Module 1 (Senior Infants Only). All classes held in school. Ring:  087 - 66 95 920 for bookings.

Musical Theatre, Drama & Singing Classes
Classes will take place each Tuesday from 1.10 pm – 2.10 for Junior & Senior infants, 2.10 – 3.10 pm for 1st, 2nd and 3rd class and 3.10 pm for 4th, 5th and 6th class.  Beginners very welcome.  Classes commence on 20 September and will cover Musical Theatre & Drama including good vocal technique, acting and beginning musicianship and optional preparation for Musical Theatre exams.  Group or individual lessons are also available for Junior & Leaving Certificate music preparation.  For further details please contact Toni Martin at 087 7913714 or email martin.toni1@gmail.com

Platform Stage Schools (Liz Brennan)
‘OLIVER’ is Platform Stage Schools end of year show.  Classes recommenced on Thursday 8th September.  Classes cover speech work, drama, song and dance.  Junior & Senior infants -1.15 – 2.00pm; Older classes - 2.15 – 3.15pm.  Fees for term of 13 weeks Junior & Senior infants - €100 per term; Older classes - €135 per term (There are two terms). To register, please tel: 8262813 or 086 2245113 – Liz Brennan   B.A., L.T.C.L.  Website: www.platformstageschool.ie

DramaWorks
Limited places available for the new term of DramaWorks (Speech and Drama Classes) for Junior Infants to 6th Class.  The term began on Wednesday 14th September 2011.  Small Class Sizes – Confidence Building - Mime – Movement – Theatre Games – Puppetry – Storytelling – Creative Drama - Poetry - Speech Work.   For further details contact Clodagh on 086 3736056

Piano Lessons
There are a very limited number of remaining spaces available to any pupils who are interested in taking piano lessons.  Lessons take place in the Library after school each day of the week and last 20 or 30 minutes.  Beginners and advanced pupils welcome. Remaining places will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. For more information please contact Robert Yeo on 085 285 1499 or robert_w_yeo@hotmail.com

French for Children @ St. Patrick’s (3 – 12 year olds)
A few places for ‘’fun after-school French’’ are still available on Thursday or Saturday classes here at St. Patrick’s.  A new class for Junior Infants up to 2nd class is starting next Tuesday 20th September @ 3pm (CETNS). For further information please contact French native Sabine on 087 227 9027 and visit www.frenchforchildren.ie  Merci beaucoup!

Spanish for Children
Have your children learn Spanish at Primary School, the optimum time for them to learn a modern language. Get them speaking and singing, comfortably and confidently from Sept – May, at an age when they are not shy to do so and learn most! It’s not too late to enrol. Classes in St Patrick’s NS (Mon, Tue & Thu) and in CETNS (Wed & Thu). Contact: marygalvin@upcmail.ie / www.spanishclasses4children.com

Stretch-N-Grow (Junior/Senior Infants)
Stage Area, Friday's 1:10pm - 2:10pm (10 weeks). €60 per child. For more information and bookings, please contact Graham at 086 249 5698 sngkidz@gmail.com www.stretch-n-grow.com

Guitar Lessons
Learn easy guitar in a warm and friendly fully equipped studio.  Group or individual lessons available.  This is one the best times to prepare for the Junior and Leaving Cert music curriculum! Special 20% reduction to all the pupils (and parents) of St. Patricks NS on the first 10 lessons. Further details Brian Farrell 086 380 9624 – www.brianfarrell.eu info@brianfarrell.eu.

Irish Dancing Classes- Downey Lanigan Academy
In St Patrick's N.S: Tuesday Junior and Senior Infants 1.10 - 2pm; 2.10 to 3.10 1st - 6th backstage room; Wednesday Advanced and Championship 7.15pm; Thursday Prelim and Intermediate 2.10 - 3.10, meeting room. Saturday 12-1pm all grades. Children prepared for examinations, shows and stage craft, to develop confidence teamwork and poise. Competition to World level if desired.  Or simply learn Irish dancing for fun and cultural development.  Please contact Bernadette 0876204772.

Children's Swimming Classes
Children’s Swimming Classes will recommence from Wednesday 14th September (every Wednesdays 3-4p.m.) at Finglas Leisure Centre (just off M50 Finglas Exit). Beginners & Improvers - 8 Week Course: €68 per child (5 years +). For bookings and more information contact Swim-Fast - 085-7622247 (Ron).

Chester Dance School
Ballet Tap & Hip Hop Classes take place in Diswellstown Community Centre on Mondays from 4.30pm. Registration takes place on Monday 5th Sept @ 4.30pm.  Ph 087 7923955
Email: schester@idtaireland.org; Website: www.chesterdanceschool.com

Children of Lir Gymnastics
This is an activity for all ages it includes, dance, apparatus gymnastics and team sports. This is a great introduction to sport and social engagement, and also physically assists with other sporting activities. Club Membership starts at 4yrs and upwards. www.lirgymclub.com or call 085 7218511.

Shreddies Dublin Parks Tennis
Registration takes place on Saturday 24 September in Riverwood Estate.  Information is available from beside the Parent Information Notice Board inside the main door of the school.

St Patrick’s Parents for Business Network
Your First Choice for Products and Services supplied by parents.
Visit www.stpatricksns.ie for more information or see insert in your child’s Homework Journal.
“LIKE” us on Facebook to win a prize!