Dear Parents,
Parents’ Association (PA) – AGM
Thanks to all the parents who logged in and attended our annual PA AGM which took place virtually last night. The AGM facilitated the PA to elect new officers to the committee and to give an overview of the work of the Association over the last year, including the generous fundraising efforts of all parents/guardians.
Our guest speaker was Professor Donal O’Shea and he gave some invaluable advice on dealing with the high level of childhood obesity in Ireland. He spoke of the danger of product placement of foods with high levels of sugar and convenient foods in shops which attracts children. He complemented the great work of the recent Safe Food Programme which encourages parents to be brave and not give into the constant request from children for sugary foods. He also complemented all the efforts of schools that implement a Healthy Lunch Policy and who also encourage physical exercise.
Thanks to Cliodhna Carroll for sourcing our guest speaker and we are very grateful to Dilly O’Brien for organising the AGM.
Congratulations to the six successful officials who were formally elected last night. They are as follows:
Chairperson: Dilly O’Brien
Vice Chairperson: Lorraine Norry
Secretary: Cliodhna Carroll
Vice Secretary: Farrah Higgins
Treasurer: Louise Ralph
Vice Treasurer: Margaret Brady
Closing date for enrolment for Junior Infants for September 2023 tomorrow at 3pm
The closing date for enrolment for Junior Infants for September 2023 is tomorrow, Friday 18th November at 3pm.
Dates for the Diary
School will close at 1.55pm on Tuesday 22nd and Thursday 24th November for our Parent/Teacher meetings.
School will close at 11.50am for infants and 12pm for first to sixth class on Friday 25th November for staff inservice.
Dates for the Nativity Play
We are delighted to welcome back our annual Nativity Plays. Unfortunately we have had to cancel this performance for the past two years because of Covid 19 restrictions. Please note the following dates and times for performances which will take place in the school hall:
Tuesday 13th December at 11am: Ms. Friel’s Junior Infants
Thursday 15th December at 11am: Ms. Brennan’s Junior Infants
Thursday 15th December at 1pm: Ms. Killane’s Senior Infants
Friday 16th December at 11am: Ms. Ward’s Junior Infants
Friday 16th December at 1pm: Ms. Maguire’s Senior Infants
Novelty Hats not permitted in school
There have been a couple of issues on the yard due to certain novelty hats with excessive long ears or long tails that hang down towards the boy’s waist. Other boys are pulling and dragging the hats causing injuries. Other boys are swinging these hats on the yard and hurting other boys so we ask parents to please leave these hats at home.
Science Week
All classes are making an effort to mark Science Week. Many classes will be carrying out experiments next week. We are very grateful to Paul Dillon (father of James in Mr. Clandillon’s sixth class) who has kindly agreed to give some science lessons to our fifth and sixth classes next week.
School Cleaner
We are still looking for a school cleaner. If anyone is interested or if you know anyone who would be interested then please contact the school office.
Leinster Schools Table Tennis Competitions
St Mary’s is delighted to announce that four teams have been entered into the Leinster Schools Table Tennis League and Cup competitions for the coming season. This is a first for St Mary’s and huge credit is due to the fundraising efforts of our Parents’ Association and REA McDonald. The Sixth Class teams are as follows:
Team 1: James Dillon, Johnny Donovan, Mamadu Bah & Daragh Kelly
Team 2: Aaron Farrell, Rohan Malik, Adam Elhadi & Cian McCarthy
Team 3: Ryan McElhinney, Alex McMahon, Eoin Gleeson & Ben Kelly
Team 4: Samuel Wright, Alex Mitchell, Jayden Singh & Mason McEvoy
Thanks to Mr. Clandillon and Mr Dineen for organising.
Gaelic Football Blitz
Well done to our Senior A team who won the Lucan Sarsfields local blitz competition today. They beat Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada in the final. Fourteen teams took part in the competition. We had three teams with 43 boys taking part. Our three junior teams will take part on Tuesday 29th November at a time to be confirmed. Thanks to Alan O’Neill from Lucan Sarsfields for organising this competition and to Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Clandillon and Mr. Dineen for helping out with the teams.
Le dea-ghuí,
Dara Burke, Principal.