Newsletters Archived
Wednesday 23rd November 2017Procedure for entering the school each morning
To ensure safe and orderly access to the school grounds, the gates will open shortly before 8.30am. Parents and children walking/cycling to school must use the pedestrian gate entrance.
- No Cycling or Scootering is permitted on school Grounds. This applies to pupils, siblings, parents and staff.
- The school bell rings at 08.30am. Children walk to their lines (in the early weeks of Junior Infants, parents may accompany children to the classroom).
- Classes are collected from the yard by their teacher. As soon as the classes have entered the building the doors are closed.
- The Blanchardstown door (nearest door main entrance) remains open until 8.50am.
- Children who arrive after 08.50am must enter via reception and sign the “late book”.
- Children may not enter the school building until 08.30am. Parents are responsible for the welfare of their children until the school’s duty of care begins at 8.30 am.
- On wet mornings please time your arrival for 8.30 – 8.40am.
Dropping in lunches, bags, homework etc.
With the volume of pupils in the school, it is vital that, if you are dropping in any of your child’s forgotten belongings e.g. lunches, bags, homework, etc., that they are CLEARLY MARKED WITH YOUR CHILD’S NAME AND THEIR CLASS TEACHER.
“Don’t be mean behind your screen” Internet Safety Workshop
Paula O’Connor of Cyber Safety Programme “Don’t be mean behind your screen” has appeared on RTE Documentaries and Claire Byrne Live speaking about the dangers posed to our children by everyday web-based games and activities, such as Facebook, SnapChat, Club Penguin and Grand Theft Auto. We are very lucky that Paula has agreed to host workshops for our 5th and 6th classes, on Monday 04 and Tuesday 05 December.
There will also be a talk for parents on Cyber Safety and Cyber Bullying on Tuesday 05 December at 7.30pm in the school foyer. Please do your best to attend as this is a great opportunity to hear Paula give advice on how to prevent our children from becoming victims of cyber-bullies. Feel free to bring a friend.
Junior Infant Christmas Plays
Tuesday 12th December- Ms Parker
Wednesday 13th December- Ms McDermott
Friday 15th December- Ms Harte
Monday 18th December- Mr Thynne
Each play will start at 11.00am.
Donation to Irish Heart Foundation
A donation of €1020 has been made to the Irish Heart Foundation on behalf of the children from St Patrick's. The collection was made following the recent 'Around Europe Run' organised by our Active Flag Team which many classes ran before the Mid-term Break. May we take this opportunity to thank everybody for their participation and generous contribution.
No Presents Please
In view of the present economic state, we would prefer if children made a donation to our St Vincent De Paul appeal rather than bring presents into school.
Upcoming Events
26 November – Christmas Fair
4 & 5 December – Rescheduled Internet Safety Workshops 5th & 6th Classes (see note above)
5 December – Rescheduled Parents Internet Safety Workshop
12 December- Ms Parker 11.00am
13 December- Ms McDermott 11.00am
15 December- Ms Harte 11.00am
18 December- Mr Thynne 11.00am
23 December to 07 January (inclusive) – Christmas Break
12 – 16 February – Mid Term Break
19 March – St Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday
26 March to 08 April (inclusive) – Easter Break
07-08 May – May Bank Holiday
06-05 June – June Bank Holiday
Parents Association News
St. Patricks NS Parents Association's Facebook page is now live at www.facebook.com/schoolPA . Please follow our page to keep up to date on our activities and events.
As this is a Parents Association initiative, it is not possible to pay for Calendars through the school online payment system or at reception.
For your convenience a hard copy of this form will be sent home in your childs' school bag in the coming days.
Christmas Fair
Collection Dates and Times
The last Collection for the Christmas fair this evening at 19:30-20:30 in the school foyer.
All donations accepted toys must be clean and in good working order (no baby toys please) books, dvd's, bric-a-brac, crafts, bottles for our bottle stall. Thanking you in advance as we wouldn't be able to run the fair without them.
Sponsorship
Sponsorship is a vital part of our fair so if you or your company are willing to donate to the fair, we would greatly appreciate it. Please contact Adrienne (086) 3192656.
Volunteers
For all parents who have previously got involved and those who wish to come on board, please contact Oonagh on (086) 3231722.
Cupcake Competition
The Cupcake Competition is on again this year at the Christmas Fair on Sunday the 26th of November. We are calling on all of you fabulous bakers to get your baking hats on. Entries can be accepted up until 1o'clock on the day of the fair at the Cafe area. The winners will be announced at 1.30pm on the day. All entries will then be sold in the
Cafe after the competition.
We also need plenty of donated baked goods for the Cafe, to be sold on the day to make it a big tasty success.
Cupcake Competition Categories are:
Kids aged 8 & under
Kids aged 9-13
Adults
We are happy to announce that this year’s competition will be judged by Mrs. Corcoran.
Reminders
Letters of Attendance
We would ask that if you require Letters of Attendance for Child Benefit/Travel/Visa purposes for your child/children, that you give the office as much advance notice as possible. Please email your request to info@stpatricksns.ie stating the purpose of the letter. If it is for travel/visa request purposes, please advise date of travel so that the letter can be dated within a week of travel.
Active Flag
Our school is involved once again in the exciting & free health homework programme called Super Troopers. It's a great way for children and their families to become more active whilst encouraging the benefits of a healthy lifestyle in a fun way. Each child in the school will be receiving an active journal. Please encourage your child to participate in the 'active homework' as this initiative is an aspect of our Active Flag programme.
Some classes may have to wait a little longer to receive their journals as we are waiting on another delivery of journals. Hopefully they will be with us by the end of this week.
Fire Safety Art Competition
Congratulations to Caoimhe Rigney in Ms. Quinn's class, who has been selected as a runner-up in the First, Second and Third Class Category of the Dublin Fire Brigade Fire Safety week Competition. Caoimhe's picture will appear in the Dublin Fire Brigade's Community Fire safety Calendar 2018 and she has been invited to attend a prize-giving ceremony in the Mansion House. Well done Caoimhe!
Sick Children at School
Please do not send sick children to school for the following reasons:
- Children are unable to cope with the demands of school when they are unwell.
- Infection spreads rapidly in the confinement of the classroom.
- There is no indoor supervision for sick children during breaktimes.
Absences due to 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, chickenpox, etc. There are children
in the school who are at increased risk of contracting these illnesses. Parents must acknowledge their child’s absence
from school, in writing, at the back of the child’s School Journal (Education Welfare Act). Parents of Infants children
should speak to the teacher at the class line on the morning of their return.
Extra-Curricular Activities
If your child takes part in a number of Extra-Curricular activities, it might be useful to write the activities into his/her school journal on the appropriate days. This will help him/her remember the activity and, if there is any confusion, the teacher can help by checking the journal.
Information regarding extra-curricular activities can be found on the website www.stpatricksns.ie under archive newsletters.
Child's Pose Yoga
Ms Nolan is running a four week term, beginning Tuesday Nov. 14th, at a cost of €30.
Days: Tuesdays - 1st class and upwards
Wednesdays - 3rd class and upwards (with Ms. Donnellan)
Time: 2:10 - 3:15pm
Place: Green Room 2
Contact: yogaplaychildspose@gmail.com. If interested, please get in touch!
Futsal
8 week Futsal (indoor football) programme starting November 21st from 3.05-4pm in school hall at a cost of €30.
Places are limited and is only open to 3rd,4th, 5th & 6th class students. Contact Noel McManus on 0879830443 for registration
Art & Crafts
The second term of art and craft begins on Monday 4th and Fri 8th Dec. classes 2.10pm-3.45pm. Last sessions in December will take place on Friday 22 December. Limited places available . All enquiries direct to Blathnaid at 0874123247.
Badminton
The new BadmintonTerm commenced on Friday 17 November, 04 and 11 December. PLEASE NOTE, there will be no Badminton on Friday 22 December. Perhaps you could ask your child to make a note in their Journal so that he/she does not forget.
Tennis
The new Tennis Term commences next week and will take place on 27 November, 04 and 11 December. PLEASE NOTE, there will be no Tennis on Monday 18 December. Perhaps you could ask your child to make a note in their Journal so that he/she does not forget.
Athletics
Athletics will take place tomorrow 23 November and 30 November, 07 & 14 December. PLEASE NOTE, there will be no Athletics on Thurday 21 December. Perhaps you could ask your child to make a note in their Journal so that he/she does not forget.
Diswellstown Community & Recreation Centre and Local Community Activities
Porterstown ParkRun
What is it - A Free Weekly 5km Timed Run.
When is it - Every Saturday at 9:30am
What does it cost - Nothing - it's free! But please register before your 1st run.
Do I need to be a Runner - ParkRun is for ALL abilities (walk, jog or run)
This is a free community event so please lend your support.
website: http://www.parkrun.ie/porterstown/
email: porterstownoffice@parkrun.com
Songs for a Winter’s Evening “A Christmas Celebration”
With Mary Flynn, Mary O’Donnell, Teresa O’Donnell and friends. Sunday 3rd December in St Mochta’s Church, Porterstown at 7.30pm sharp. Tickets €25. All proceeds in aid of St Francis Blanchardstown. Tickets available from Parish Office, phone 01 8213218, Mary at 087 2585398 or Mícheál at 087 2449908 and from St Francis Hospice Blanchardstown Reception.
The Drama Hub (formerly DramaWorks)
The Drama Hub (formerly DramaWorks) Speech & Drama Classes at St. Patrick’s National School, Diswellstown will begin its second term resuming on Saturday 11th November from 1.00pm for Junior to Senior Infants; 2pm for First Class upwards.
Join us every Saturday for Voice Work, Drama, Poetry, Mime, Confidence Building Exercises, Theatre Games, Movement, Improvisation, Storytelling and lots more!
Students will be prepared for our Poetry Festival on December 16th and the Leinster School Speech and Drama Grade Exams in March. Limited places available.
For further details contact Clodagh or Dearbhla on 086 373 6056 check out our facebook page @TheDramaHubDublin or Email us hello.thedramahub@gmail.com
Touch Type, Read and Spell
Many students have completed this wonderful course recently with many more due to receive their Certificate of Completion before the end of this term. As a result there are now places available. For details of how this course can benefit your child and for details of a FREE TRIAL, please contact Carol Pitcher - castleknockttrs@gmail.com - 087 2868910. Details of locations/class times:
MONDAY - St. Brigid's NS, Castleknock 2.40-3.40 pm and 3.45-4.45 pm
TUESDAY - Luttrellstown Community College 3.10-4.10 pm and 4.20-5.20pm
WEDNESDAY - Castleknock Community College 2.50-3.50 pm and 3.55-4.55 pm
THURSDAY - St. Francis Xavier Senior 2.45-3.45 pm
School (beside Tesco Roselawn)