Dear Parents,
School Reports and Standardised Test Scores
Parents will receive their school reports tomorrow evening. Teachers make every effort to keep the reports as positive as possible and will ask boys to work on different areas during the summer holidays.
Parents of boys from first to sixth class will see the standardised scores on their report. Standardised tests measure how well your child is doing in reading and maths and how much progress they have made. These skills are important because they support learning in all areas of school. Boys from second class will receive Sten Scores (scored from 1 to 10). It's important to remember that standardised tests are just one part of how teachers assess your child’s overall learning. This is just an insight from a particular day when your son may be sick or not feeling well so they may not give a true reflection of your son’s ability over the course of 12 months. They do not measure a child’s talent for so many other areas of school life such as music, sport, science, drama or art. Please read the attached information note from the Department of Education.
Bí Ghnothach – Entrepreneurial Programme for fifth class
Fifth Class held their Sale today in the school hall. They have been taking part in the Bí Gnóthach Programme in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland. The boys have worked tirelessly to raise capital last March with the Cake Sale, to generate product ideas, to design and create their products, market and advertise and finally sell and keep track of the finances. It has been a very rewarding and active learning experience and the boys gained great experience in all aspects of business. Thanks to Donie, Ms. Killane and Ms. Noonan, our school sharks, who put the boys through their paces when presenting their product ideas. Thanks to Vinnie Lynch who visited both fifth classes and gave great advice about life in business and thanks to all parents who helped and supported us.
Two charities, ‘The Irish Cancer Society’ and ‘Build for the Boys’, will be given donations as part of the money raised.
Thank you to all the boys who came and bought the blind bags and helped make today a great, exciting event in our school. We are very grateful to Ms. Joyce and Mr. Keegan for organising this event.
Food Dudes
All boys received an information leaflet today from Niall Shannon on the ‘Food Dudes’ Programme. The EU School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is delivered to primary schools in Ireland through the Food Dudes Healthy Eating Programme. Food Dudes is designed to positively change children’s attitudes towards eating fresh fruit and vegetables, by combining three key elements: Repeated tasting, Rewards and Role modelling. The Food Dudes Programme will start on Monday 16th June and will continue for five days. The boys will be given samples of different fruit and vegetable each day. Please complete the consent form if you do not want your son to take part. Thanks to Mr. Shannon for organising this activity.
Sports Day
Thanks to the Parents’ Association (PA) from our school and the Girls School for organising another wonderful Sports Day. It was a great event and we were so lucky with the weather on the day. Thanks to all the parents and teachers who volunteered. Our PA have requested even more volunteers for next year as the success of this event depends on the number people who can help out. We are also very grateful to our caretaker, Donie Gaire, for presenting the school so well and for lining the pitch. Many thanks to Mr. Clandillon for his work on the microphone throughout the day.
Parents Association Social Event
The Parents Association will host a Social Event for the parents of our school.
The pub quiz will take place on Friday 20th June at 9pm In Kennys Pub, Lucan Village (Function Room).
There will be music following the quiz and we will have raffle tickets on sale on the night, with some great prizes on offer. We look forward to seeing lots of parents on the night!
Hurling
Hard luck to our senior hurling team who lost to St. Mary’s BNS Rathfarnham in the Division 1 semi-final of the Herald Cup. Thanks to Mr. Clandillon, Mr. Keegan, Mr. Shanahan, Mr. Walsh, Mr. O’Brien, Mr McHugh and Ms. Ryan for all the time and effort they give to training the boys.
Le dea-ghuí,
Dara Burke, Principal.