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Update on School Redevelopment PlansIn
the run up to the recent elections, all of our local public representatives
along with the candidates standing in the recent elections were invited to our
school. There was an impressive
attendance on the day and we briefed them on the need to address as a matter of
urgency the poor condition of the prefabricated classroom accommodation.
On
Wednesday of last week, the Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Batt O'Keeffe
T.D., visited our school and he was shown at first hand the substandard nature
of the prefabs. Minister O'Keeffe
was accompanied on his visit by Mr. Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for Communication
and Energy and Mr. Tom Kitt T.D. The
model of the proposed re-build was also viewed by the Minister. Having
viewed the model of the proposed re-build and having visited the pre-fabs and
having seen the sub-standard conditions, Minister O'Keeffe sanctioned our
Board of Management to proceed with the planning application for our proposed
new school. We
are grateful to the many parents who raised the issue of our school
redevelopment plans with the politicians in the lead in to the recent elections.
A special thank you to the officers of our Parents Association in this
regard. All
of our local public representatives have been very supportive of our plans.
A particular word of thanks is due to Minister Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister
for Communication and Energy, who has been very proactive and extremely
supportive of our school rebuilding project.
His input has been extremely helpful and important and was crucial to
sanction being received to proceed to. This
is very positive news and is a significant boost to our long running campaign
for the redevelopment of our school. The
Project Management Team has been instructed to proceed with the planning
application as quickly as possible. Féilire
na Scoile: School Calendar Tuesday 30 June 2009 School closes at 12 noon for summer holidays. Monday 31 August 2009 School re-opens after summer (12 noon closure). The
pupils will go home at 12 noon on 31 August to facilitate a staff meeting. The
school calendar for 2009/10 is available on the website www.stcolmcilles.org The school
year may be drawing to a close but the pace still doesn’t flag!
Tomorrow, Tuesday 23 June, our Girls and Boys Senior Camogie and Hurling
teams enjoy the “Croker” experience. Best
wishes to the Girls team coached by Ms. Ní Reachtabhra and Ms. O’Sullivan who
will contest the U-13 Division 1 Camogie Final at 12.30 p.m. and best wishes to
the Boys Senior Hurling Team coached by Mr. Dundon and Mr. Sweetnam who will
contest the Herald Shield Final at 1.30 p.m.
We are very fortunate that on a regular basis our school teams reach the
Croke Park finals – it’s a ‘magical moment’ the pupils will never
forget. Arguably, the team of the
season in our school this term was the Senior 'B' Hurling team who reached the
Semi-Final of the Corn Aghais where they were narrowly defeated.
This was a great achievement for the team, coached by Mr. Ruddy and Mr.
Patten, as they were competing against the first choice teams from the other
schools. It is planned that
supporters travelling to the Croke Park finals should be back at the school at
3.30 p.m. (approx) on Tuesday. Rang
a 6: 6th Classes – Graduation Wednesday 24 June 2009 On
Wednesday next 24 June 2009, our 6th class pupils will have their
Graduation ceremony at 8.00 p.m. in St. Colmcille’s Church.
Earlier that day our Parents Association will hold a Coffee Morning in
the school hall for the parents of 6th class pupils. The Coffee
Morning will run from 10.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. Leabharliostaí:
Booklists Many thanks to all parents for the
prompt return of the Book Lists. The
pupils' texts will be ready for them on the first day back, Monday 31 August
2009. Éide
Scoile agus Siopa na Scoile: School
Uniforms and the School Shop As stated in previous Nuachtlitirs the
school shop reopens on Thursday 3 September (1.30 p.m.-2.30 p.m.) Cuairt
chuig Ambasáid na Síne: Visit to Chinese Embassy A
number of months ago the Chinese Ambassador visited our school.
The week before last, thirty of our pupils, accompanied by a number of
teachers and S.N.A.'s travelled to the residence of the Chinese Ambassador on a
return visit. We were overwhelmed by
the warmth of the welcome afforded our representatives.
Our pupils sang, danced, played musical instruments and demonstrated
other elements of Irish culture for an appreciative audience consisting of the
Chinese Ambassador, all members of the staff of the embassy and their families. Athraithe ar an bhFoireann Teagaisc: Staff ChangesCongratulations
and best wishes to Mr. A. Byrne who has been appointed to a position as
Principal in a school in Co. Cavan, commencing in September.
He has played a huge role in our school since he started in St.
Colmcille's in 2002. His
contribution as P.E. Co-ordinator
is particularly worthy of mention. Go
néirí go geal leis sa phost nua. Knocklyon's
loss is Cavan's gain. Also, as
announced in the May Nuachtlitir, Mr. S. O'Neill is retiring at the end of the
end of this school year.
On behalf of all in St. Colmcille's, I wish them the very best and thank
them for their marvellous contributions. Blúiriní: Snippets·
All
pupils entering St. Colmcille's S.N.S. for the first time will be given a tour
of the school on Friday next, 26 June at 12.30 p.m. ·
The
end of school year Mass for the current 3rd/4th/5th
classes will be celebrated on Monday 29 June at 11.10 a.m.
Parents are very welcome to attend this end of school year Mass. ·
Over
60 boys and girls from our school competed in the Dublin Primary Schools
Athletic finals in Santry recently with the usual quota of excellent
performances. ·
Well
done to Adam Carney, 6th class who came first in the individual event
in the South Dublin Primary Schools Golf competition held recently at the Castle
Golf Club. ·
There
are still a number of places available for the Summer Camp, which will be held
in the Senior School commencing on Wednesday 1 July.
Please contact Ms. Glennon, Room 10. ·
Our
recent school tours were hugely enjoyable. We
covered a wide sweep of the country, ranging from Achill, Co. Mayo to Lullymore,
Co. Kildare, Blessington, Wicklow Gaol, the National Aquatic Centre and other
locations closer to home. ·
A
group of 5th class pupils from Mr. Byrne's 5th class
recently exhibited at the Steps Engineering Exhibition at the Helix Centre. ·
The
Colour Review of the school year 2008/09 will be available from Wednesday next.
The review has been complied and produced by Mr. Connolly (Deputy
Principal). ·
Well
done to Rian Cannon and Saoirse O'Donoghue who have been selected to play in the
INTO Mini Sevens in Croke Park during the championship games this summer. ·
Hannah
Hyland (5th class) was on the Dublin Schools Camogie team which
played in Belfast recently against the Belfast team. ·
Scoil
Roc, our talented contemporary music group were a huge hit when they performed
for all the other pupils at an end of year concert last week.
The pupils in the band have made great strides this year.
Well done and thanks to Mr. Casey for all his hard work. Tuairiscí
Scoile: School Reports All
school reports will be posted to parents during the coming week.
For the current 3rd, 4th and 5th classes
these reports will also contain details of your child's allocated teacher for
the next school year. Teacher
allocation for September is provisional in nature and subject to change over the
course of the summer. An Brat Glas: Green Flag No. 4On 22 May 2009 at a presentation ceremony in Croke Park we
were delighted to receive our 4th Green flag.
Very few schools have achieved this so we were delighted to add the
Travel Flag to our 3 other flags for Litter, Water and Energy.
Danielle Rock and Keith Buggy from our Coiste Uaithne accepted the flag
on the school's behalf. Congratulations
to the entire school community on a O'Gara who masterminded the entire
operation.
Lá
Fhéile Cholmcille: St. Colmcilles Day The
theme for our Design and Make this year was ‘Flight’.
One of our parents, Paddy McNamee, an Aer Lingus captain, had delivered
an excellent presentation on the topic of ‘Flight’ to our classes at Tionól
on the previous Monday. Paddy
attended our Design and Make Exhibition and enjoyed the creative, imaginative
and innovative designs produced by our pupils.
As I had previously explained to our Senior Classes, this type of
creativity and imagination is an example of what our country needs in the coming
years in order to create employment opportunities in the rapidly changing world
we live in. Sincere thanks to Paddy
McNamee for his input to the activities connected with St. Colmcilles Day. Our
inter-house relays were as always keenly contested and congratulations to Doire
on their success. The teachers v 6th
class pupils relay was the highlight of the day and well done to the 6th
class pupils from Mr. Patten's class who took the
honours.
Our Aoí Speisialta (Special Guest) for the day was Ms. Brenda Warren,
who has been teaching Irish Dancing in Knocklyon since 1973. The final event of the
day was the Design and Make and Art Exhibition held from 7.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m.
The fine evening brought out the crowds and hundreds of pupils and
parents attended. St. Colmcilles Day
is now firmly established as a great day of community celebration.
Sincere thanks to the group of teachers, led by Mr. Connolly who
organised the day and to Ms. O'Regan, Ms. McCann and Ms. Woods who put countless
hours into the decoration of the hall and foyer.
Focal Scoir: Last WordAs
the school year 2008/09 draws to a close, I would like to compliment our pupils
on their progress and achievements throughout the year.
We are very proud of our pupils and they have made our job so much easier
through the co-operation, interest and enthusiasm which they have manifested at
all times. A
very sincere word of thanks to the Teaching Staff, Special Needs Assistants,
Office and Maintenance Staff for the energy, enthusiasm and expertise which they
bring to bear on their work for our pupils.
The members of the Board of Management play an extremely important and
valuable role in providing direction for our school.
The Parents Association and their officers have worked closely with the
school over the last year and I thank them on behalf of all parents.
A particular word of thanks to Fr. Jimmy and the Carmelite Community for
their invaluable support. May you
all enjoy a safe, happy and relaxing summer. Beir
bua agus beannacht,
Pádraig Ó Néill (Príomhoide) |
