March
Dates for your Diary:
Wednesday the 7th of March: Board of Management meeting @ 8.30pm
Wednesday the 14th of March: First Confession @ 7.30pm
Monday the 19th of March: Bank Holiday
Friday the 23rd of March: School closes @ 12pm for Easter Holidays.
Friday the 23rd of March: Parents Association Easter Raffle & Disco 7pm – 9pm
Monday the 9th of April: School re-opens after the Easter Break
Wednesday the18th of April: Fundraising meeting @ 8pm
St. Kieran’s Day: St. Kieran’s Day took place on Monday the 5th of March. The children attended mass on this day.
Engineering Week: This took place on the week (26th of February to 2nd of March). Children from 1st to 3rd class visited Birr Theatre on the 27th of February, attending an Engineering/Science Show. They also visited Birr Library. Children from 4th to 6th classes were due to visit Birr Castle last Thursday for a robotic arm workshop. This workshop was postponed until after Easter due to the inclement weather last week. We thank our Board of Management and Parents Association for funding these activities.
Swimming: The final session of swimming will take place this Thursday, the 8th of March. We would appreciate any outstanding swimming money being paid as soon as possible.
Author Visit: Children’s author, Olive Mooney visited the school on Thursday the 22nd of February. She spoke to children from 3rd to 6th class on being an author. She also read from one of her novels.
Fundraiser Meeting: A follow up to our initial fundraiser meeting was due to take place on Thursday the 8th of March. This will now take place on Wednesday the 18th of April at 8pm in the school. At this meeting we will be finalising what our Field Day in June will comprise of. As is always the case, representation from all families is expected on the night. So please keep this date in your diaries.
Cumann na mBunscol: The boys and girls are training every lunch time as conditions allow. We played a challenge match against Clonlisk NS on Monday the 26th of February. We will try to get a challenge match each Monday. Failing this, there will be training from 2.35pm to 3.30pm each Monday. You will be notified by text in advance of each Monday to let you know what is happening. Children from 3rd – 6th are encouraged to attend training and matches.
Confirmation: Unfortunately Confirmation had to be postponed in the aftermath of the big snowfall. Monsignor Dermot Farrell is being ordained as the new bishop of Ossory next weekend. Father is looking into the possibility of the new bishop celebrating the ceremony. One way or another a date will be finalised next week.
First Penance: Best wishes to our pupils in 2nd class who will celebrate the sacrament of First Confession on Wednesday the 14th of April
Child Protection & Safe Guarding Statement: The school has completed all stages in preparing a Child Safe Guarding Statement for the school. This will be signed off on at our next Board of Management meeting which takes place on Wednesday the 7th of March. Following this the statement will be put up in a prominent viewing place in the school as well as being posted up on our school website.
Parents Association Talk: Each year the Parents Association organise a talk for parents on a relevant topic. Over the last two years the Parents Association organised talks in the area of Food Nutrition and Internet Safety. This year at its AGM the subject of mental health, well-being etc. was put forward as a topic. I am currently working with Finbarr to organise a suitable speaker and hope to have more to report in the next newsletter.
Parents Association Easter Raffle: Please see card attached for Parents Association Easter raffle. Every effort should be made by every family to sell as many lines on the card as is possible. All cards, whether completed or partially completed should be returned to the school no later than Friday the 16th of March. The Parents Association are holding a disco in the GP Room on Friday the 23rd of March from 7pm – 9pm and the draw will take place on the night.
Gymnastics: Gymnastics will begin on the first Wednesday after the Easter break and it will run for 5 consecutive Wednesdays. The cost of gymnastics is €5 per child. Again this is being subsidised by the Parents Association and the Board of Management. This payment can be furnished in a sealed envelope with details clearly marked on it before the end of April.
Parish Auction: The Parish Auction will take place this Sunday the 11th of March. Your support would be very much appreciated.
Bingo: The Parish Active Retirement Group will hold their next Bingo night on Wednesday the 21st of March. The Group is excellent in the financial support it gives to our school, so please come out and support it, if you can.
Wednesday the 7th of March: Board of Management meeting @ 8.30pm
Wednesday the 14th of March: First Confession @ 7.30pm
Monday the 19th of March: Bank Holiday
Friday the 23rd of March: School closes @ 12pm for Easter Holidays.
Friday the 23rd of March: Parents Association Easter Raffle & Disco 7pm – 9pm
Monday the 9th of April: School re-opens after the Easter Break
Wednesday the18th of April: Fundraising meeting @ 8pm
St. Kieran’s Day: St. Kieran’s Day took place on Monday the 5th of March. The children attended mass on this day.
Engineering Week: This took place on the week (26th of February to 2nd of March). Children from 1st to 3rd class visited Birr Theatre on the 27th of February, attending an Engineering/Science Show. They also visited Birr Library. Children from 4th to 6th classes were due to visit Birr Castle last Thursday for a robotic arm workshop. This workshop was postponed until after Easter due to the inclement weather last week. We thank our Board of Management and Parents Association for funding these activities.
Swimming: The final session of swimming will take place this Thursday, the 8th of March. We would appreciate any outstanding swimming money being paid as soon as possible.
Author Visit: Children’s author, Olive Mooney visited the school on Thursday the 22nd of February. She spoke to children from 3rd to 6th class on being an author. She also read from one of her novels.
Fundraiser Meeting: A follow up to our initial fundraiser meeting was due to take place on Thursday the 8th of March. This will now take place on Wednesday the 18th of April at 8pm in the school. At this meeting we will be finalising what our Field Day in June will comprise of. As is always the case, representation from all families is expected on the night. So please keep this date in your diaries.
Cumann na mBunscol: The boys and girls are training every lunch time as conditions allow. We played a challenge match against Clonlisk NS on Monday the 26th of February. We will try to get a challenge match each Monday. Failing this, there will be training from 2.35pm to 3.30pm each Monday. You will be notified by text in advance of each Monday to let you know what is happening. Children from 3rd – 6th are encouraged to attend training and matches.
Confirmation: Unfortunately Confirmation had to be postponed in the aftermath of the big snowfall. Monsignor Dermot Farrell is being ordained as the new bishop of Ossory next weekend. Father is looking into the possibility of the new bishop celebrating the ceremony. One way or another a date will be finalised next week.
First Penance: Best wishes to our pupils in 2nd class who will celebrate the sacrament of First Confession on Wednesday the 14th of April
Child Protection & Safe Guarding Statement: The school has completed all stages in preparing a Child Safe Guarding Statement for the school. This will be signed off on at our next Board of Management meeting which takes place on Wednesday the 7th of March. Following this the statement will be put up in a prominent viewing place in the school as well as being posted up on our school website.
Parents Association Talk: Each year the Parents Association organise a talk for parents on a relevant topic. Over the last two years the Parents Association organised talks in the area of Food Nutrition and Internet Safety. This year at its AGM the subject of mental health, well-being etc. was put forward as a topic. I am currently working with Finbarr to organise a suitable speaker and hope to have more to report in the next newsletter.
Parents Association Easter Raffle: Please see card attached for Parents Association Easter raffle. Every effort should be made by every family to sell as many lines on the card as is possible. All cards, whether completed or partially completed should be returned to the school no later than Friday the 16th of March. The Parents Association are holding a disco in the GP Room on Friday the 23rd of March from 7pm – 9pm and the draw will take place on the night.
Gymnastics: Gymnastics will begin on the first Wednesday after the Easter break and it will run for 5 consecutive Wednesdays. The cost of gymnastics is €5 per child. Again this is being subsidised by the Parents Association and the Board of Management. This payment can be furnished in a sealed envelope with details clearly marked on it before the end of April.
Parish Auction: The Parish Auction will take place this Sunday the 11th of March. Your support would be very much appreciated.
Bingo: The Parish Active Retirement Group will hold their next Bingo night on Wednesday the 21st of March. The Group is excellent in the financial support it gives to our school, so please come out and support it, if you can.