December 2014
Dear Parents,
Term 1 seems to have flown by and already the distant ring of sleigh bells can be heard approaching Letterkenny!
Christmas is a really special time of year in school and it’s a busy time too. With Christmas shoeboxes to fill, songs to be practiced, lines to be memorized.
Christmas concerts
Juniors: (Junior Infant – 2nd) Tuesday 16th December 12.30-1.30
Seniors: (3rd- 6th) Wednesday 17th December 1.00-2.00
We hope you will be able to join us for these special Christmas celebrations.
Noah’s Ark Children’s Club
We look forward to welcoming back Carol and the Noah’s Ark Children’s Club to share the message of the Christmas story with the children on Friday 19th December.
Choir
The Junior Choir have been invited to join in the fun on the ‘Santa Express’ in Oakfield Park, Raphoe on Wednesday 3rd December. The choir will entertain all the visitors to the Santa Express with their repertoire of Christmas songs.
They will also sing at the Christmas lunchtime Carol Service in Trinity Presbyterian Church at 1pm on Friday 12th December. Do come along and support them if you can.
Garda Visit
Passersby were clearly puzzled by the sight of a garda car in the school playground, with ‘mini gardai’ in uniform, sirens, blue lights flashing and a teacher in handcuffs!
It was all part of a very enjoyable visit from local community Gardai Maeve Logue and Anne Marie McGrath. Both guards spent the day in Ballyraine NS talking to all the classes about a range of topics including Stranger Danger, cyberbullying, seat belt sheriffs and Road Safety. Thank you to Maeve and Anne Marie for their time and enthusiasm. We look forward to welcoming them back in Term 2.
Sports hall Athletics
44 pupils will represent our school in the Primary School ‘Sports hall Athletics’ event in the Aura Leisure Centre on Thursday 4th December. Good luck to all our athletes and a special word of thanks to Sharon Bradley, our athletic coach who has helped to prepare the team for this event.
Parents Association
Congratulations to the newly elected Parents Committee.
Chairperson: R. S.
Secretary: P.H.
Treasurer: (to be elected)
Two amendments to the Parents Association Constitution were agreed and ratified at the Parents Association AGM:
(i)Members who have served on the Parents Association for a total of three years will be eligible to remain on the Committee. However, all post holders namely, Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer will only remain in these posts for a maximum of three years.
(ii)Parents Association meetings will be open to all parents to attend
A parenting Course ‘Fás le Chéile’ is currently being organised for Term 2. The facilitator will be J. D. More details will be forwarded to parents shortly.
Staff
Congratulations to Mrs Gallen on the safe arrival of baby A.
Mrs Smyth (Deputy Principal) will return after the Christmas holidays
Thank you to Ms L Stewart who completed a very successful Teaching Practice with 2nd Class. Ms Stewart is a 2nd Year student in C.I.C.E., Rathmines.
We extend our sincere sympathy to Mrs Mustapha on the death of her father in law and to Mrs Wilkinson on the recent death of her uncle.
Parent Teacher Meetings
Thank you to parents who attended our Parent Teacher meetings in October. It is always a very positive experience and we encourage parents to keep in touch with their child’s class teacher if you have any concerns throughout the year.
‘Something Fishy’
Owen Kelly, inland Fisheries and Sally Bonner, Director of Donegal Education Centre visited 5th and 6th Class on Monday 1st December. They were introducing the ‘Something Fishy’ project to the pupils.
Owen will return to the school with tanks and fish in Term 2.
In the meantime, please encourage your child to check out the excellent Something Fishy website. It’s packed full of interesting information.
Christmas ‘Art Attack’
All pupils have been given homework with a difference! We would like them to get creative and paint, make a collage, model of ‘Christmas’ for our Christmas Art Display.
Don’t forget to visit our ‘Snowman’ Christmas Display in the front hall.
Welcome
We look forward to welcoming past pupils E. B. and A. G. to talk about their recent visit to Bethel Royal School, Uganda.
Thank you
Thank you to E.F., a student in Loreto Convent who has been helping out in the Junior Infant classroom as part of her Transition Year placement.
Book launch
Congratulations to J. C. (4th Class) who travelled to Croke Park, Dublin for the launch of ‘Too cold for sharks’ published by the Health and Safety Authority as part of a National competition on ocean safety and promoting safety within fishing families and coastal communities.
Dates for your Diary
Fri 12th / Lunchtime Carol Service, Trinity Presbyterian ChurchTues 16th / Junior Christmas Concert 12.30-1.30
Wed 17th / Senior Christmas Concert 1.00-2.00
Fri 19th / Noah’s Ark Childrens Club
Fri 19th / Half Day. Close for Christmas Holidays
Gifts
All school staff would like to thank parents for their support and encouragement throughout the term. In these difficult financial times, we would like to remind parents that ‘please, no presents!’
……a little Christmas card or picture with message is the best gift we could ask for this Christmas!
Christmas Holidays
Friday 19thth DecemberNo Uniform Day Theme: ‘Christmas’
School closes at 11.45am for Junior/Senior Infants and 12 noon for 1st – 6th Class
School reopens at 8.50am on Monday 5th January.
We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year