Mí na Samhna Dáta Eisiúna: 30.11.11
Tionscnamh Tógála: Building Project
At a ceremony in St. Colmcille’s S.N.S. on Monday 21 November, the official Signing of Contracts for the Building of the New School took place. Mr. Alan Shatter T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence was the Guest of Honour. Minister Shatter spoke of the excellent reputation of St. Colmcille’s S.N.S./J.N.S. and of the very high educational standards in the schools. (Please note the Building Project Update from the Boards of Management on the last section of this Nuachtlitir.) Local Public Representatives, members of the Boards of Management, officers of the Parents Association, members of the Design Team and representatives of the various stakeholders were in attendance for the signing.
Cúrsaí Spóirt: Sporting Matters
To secure a place in a final in Croke Park is a tremendous achievement for a school. For three teams from the same school to reach the Croke Park finals has to be unprecedented but such is the fantastic achievement of St. Colmcille’s S.N.S. girls and boys teams this year.
Our Boys Corn Kitterick panel has reached the U-13 Division 1 Final and our Girls Corn Austin Finn panel has also reached the U-13 Division 1 Final. Our second Girls senior team, competing against the first teams from other schools, has reached the Corn Irish Rubies Final. The finals have been scheduled for Croke Park on Tuesday 13 December 2011.
Boys Final Corn Kitterick Throw in 11.45 a.m.
Girls Finals Corn Austin Finn/Corn Irish Rubies Throw in 1.00 p.m.
Pupils from 3rd to 6th class inclusive will be afforded the opportunity to go to the game. The following are the details:
· Cost (includes bus and entry to Croke Park) €8.
· Bus departs from school – 10.30 a.m.
· Bus returns to the school – 3.00 p.m. (approx)
· Pupils wear school tracksuits. Pupils should also bring wet gear, warm coat, hat, scarf and a substantial lunch.
· No pocket money as there will be no shop facility.
· We always emphasise to our supporters the importance of good and sporting behaviour. We would appreciate if you also could have a word with your son/daughter about this.
Best of luck to the girls and boys and well done to their coaches Ms. J. O’Sullivan, Mr. R. Sweetnam, Mr. V. Ruddy, Mr. P. Patten, Ms. N. Ní Fhearghail and Mr. C. Kearney on bringing them to the finals. Click in to our school website www.colmcilles.org for updates on the arrangements in the lead up to the games. The €8 for entry/bus can be brought in from tomorrow Thursday 1 December 2011.
Cruinnithe Tuismitheoirí/Múinteoirí: Parent Teacher Meetings
The recent Parent/Teacher meetings attracted an excellent turnout of parents and provided an important opportunity to exchange information. A vital follow-up aspect of these meetings is pupils receiving feedback and I would encourage parents to take the time to provide this feedback to your children. I also wish to take this opportunity to thank the staff for giving so generously of their time and expertise at these meetings. In St. Colmcille's S.N.S. we are concerned with the all round holistic development of our pupils in the academic, spiritual, physical and moral spheres and the Parent/Teacher contact is a vital factor in assisting each child towards realising his/her potential.
Aonach na Leabhar: Book Fair
This year in conjunction with the Parent/Teacher meetings a Second Hand Book Fair was organised. Over 10,000 books of excellent quality were recycled and great fun was had by pupils and parents alike in sourcing and selecting books at very low prices. Mr. Ruddy and his 6th class did an excellent job on the Book Fair and a total of €2,298.76 was realised for the school library. However, the main thrust of the Book Fair was to provide good quality books to our pupils at low prices and to encourage the habit of reading.
Oíche Cheoil: Musical Evening
Our School Choir, under the direction of Ms. S. O'Brien, Ms. S. Synnott and Ms. E. O’Connor, along with the Scoil Roc Group, under the direction of Mr. D. Casey and Ms. L. Ryan and the Grúpa Traidisiúnta under the direction of Mr. J.Brennan and the 3rd Class Folk Group conducted by Ms. A. Murphy and Mr. R. Maguire will hold their annual Oíche Cheoil on Tuesday 20 December at 7.30 p.m. Amharclann Naithí, a well-appointed theatre in Ballinteer, has been hired for the evening and a full house is assured. Tickets are being distributed to the families of participating pupils this week. Any remaining tickets will be made available to the general school body next week.
Cúrsaí Meánscolaíochta: Secondary School Matters
I refer regularly in the school Nuachtlitir to the importance of parents contacting secondary schools and arranging a place for your child. This task should have already been completed in the case of all pupils in our school, including 3rd class pupils. Parents should not assume that matters will automatically fall into place. Cutbacks in teacher allocation at secondary level will inevitably lead to a reduction in pupil intake to certain secondary schools. Representatives from Presentation College, Terenure spoke to our pupils at recent Tionóil.
Cúrsaí na Nollag: Christmas Events
· School Mass on Thursday 8 December 2011 (Feast of Immaculate Conception). 5th/6th Classes Mass at 10.00 a.m.
3rd/4th Classes Mass at 11.00 a.m. (These are also public Masses).
· Fr. Jimmy will also bless our Christmas Crib on 8 December. Parents are welcome to visit the crib on any afternoon after 8 December 2011.
· Each year our 6th class pupils and their parents are encouraged to collaborate
in making a Christmas Crib. The family designed Cribs are displayed for the benefit of other pupils in the run up to Christmas. We look forward to a great range of imaginatively constructed Cribs again this year.
· Our Christmas Carol Service and Nativity Play (featuring the 3rd class pupils) will be held on Wednesday 21 December at 11.10 a.m. in St. Colmcilles Church.
· It is timely to remind parents in the run up to Christmas that the staff of St. Colmcille’s S.N.S. have absolutely no expectation, requirement or desire that pupils bring in presents for them at Christmas or indeed at any other time of the year.
Cúrsaí Carthannachta: Christmas Hamper Appeal
The following is an excerpt from a letter which the Principal of a large school in an area of Dublin, designated as seriously disadvantaged, recently sent to me.
Our school is situated in West Tallaght, an area that has been designated as socially and economically disadvantaged. Many of the families attending this school are coping with multiple deprivations. Every Christmas, with the help of a small number of donations, we have been able to supply a small number of our most needy families with a hamper. Our hampers are filled with easy to prepare, instant meals as well as a few nice treats. Examples include tinned pastas, beans, peas, stew and meat pies, jars of carrots, jams, chocolate spread, noodles and soups, jellies, pastas and sauces, tea/coffee, sugar, cereals and of course biscuits, sweets, crisps and selection boxes. Foods that can last and be stored would be great.
I understand the very many demands on all families at this time of year especially this year. However, any assistance would be gratefully accepted and very much appreciated. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of your students and their parents with the Christmas Food Appeal last year. They can be assured that their very generous donations went to very deserving families. Our Home School Community Liaison Teacher and Parish Sister worked together to identify the families who benefited. Such kindness made a big difference for these families.
The Principal of the above school will speak to our 6th classes at Tionól on Friday 9 December. Items for the Hamper Appeal can be brought in on Friday 9, Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 December. Ms. Smyth’s 6th class will be coordinating this project, in conjunction with our House Captains. Any parent with a people carrier or other large vehicle, who would be available to bring the collected material to the designated school on Thursday 15 December, is asked to make contact with Ms. Smyth by ringing the school office.
Blúiriní Eile: Other News
· Well done to the following pupils who represented St. Colmcille’s in the Leinster Minor Schools Swimming Championships 2011: Jonathan Murray, Reece Mulhall, Ronan Tan, Jamie Flanagan, Stephen Byrne, Evan Rossiter and Caoilfhinn Tan.
· Well done to Jack Byrne, one of our 4th class pupils, who represented his club
and Ireland, recently at the UK Taekwondo Open in Guildford, Surrey.
· Grace Cowen, 6th class, was a prize winner in the European Year of Volunteering competition run by South Dublin County Council.
· Mr. Ruddy and Ms. Synnott’s 6th classes enjoyed their recent trip to the Science
Workshops held in I.T. Tallaght. The remaining 6th classes had in-school Science Workshops organised in conjunction with Ballyroan Library.
· Sincere thanks to the parents of 4th class pupils who helped with the recent copper count. A total of €588 has been raised to date for the 4th class charity Bóthar. Go raibh maith agaibh.
· Congratulations to Sonia Worthington and Donal Lawlor who were re-elected as Parents Nominees to the Board of Management last evening.
· In line with best practice our Board of Management has recently completed the annual review of our Child Protection Policy.
Féilire na Scoile: School Calendar
The following is the school calendar up the January re-opening.
Christmas Holidays 23 December 2011 to 6 January 2012 (inclusive)
School reopens 9 January 2012
The full school calendar (2011/12) is available on our website www.stcolmcilles.org
Imeachtaí Eile: Other Events
· The visit of the All Ireland Senior Trophy, the Sam Maguire Cup, was a great occasion. Many thanks to Dublin and Ballyboden St. Enda’s players, Michael Darragh McAuley and Darragh Nelson and their Dublin colleague Eamon Fennell for bringing Sam to St. Colmcille’s.
· All the pupils really enjoyed the visit of Niall de Búrca, internationally renowned storyteller, on Friday last. Super value for €1!
· The “You Shall Be My Witness” programme for 6th class pupils is currently being finalised and will commence in early January.
· Folens Christmas Annuals Siamsa and Sonas are now available from the school. Price €4. Please send in €4 in an envelope to the Class Teacher if you wish to order one.
School Building Project Update
30 November 2011
Work is progressing on the required preparations for the commencement of the building of the new school. Contracts were officially signed on Monday 21 November 2011 at a ceremony in St. Colmcille’s Senior School. The guest of honour was Mr. Alan Shatter T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence.
The Boards of Management are still working towards the relocation taking place at the time of the February Mid-Term Break. However, as previously stated, the proposed date for the relocation is obviously subject to the project progressing without delays which may occur due to unforeseen circumstances.
Beir bua agus beannacht,
__________________________
Pádraig Ó Néill (Príomhoide)
The next Nuachtlitir will issue on Monday, 19 December 2011.