Nollaig shona agus beannachtaí na hathbhliana daoibh!

There is a great buzz around the school with all the children preparing for our Christmas Concerts and Carol Singing in our local nursing homes.

Here are the arrangements for a very busy last week!

Arrangements for our Christmas Concert

Our Christmas Concerts will take place on Wednesday December 17th at 7 p.m. This year we will also have a matinee performance on Tuesday afternoon December 16th at 12.30 p.m. Doors will open shortly after 12 noon for this performance, with our normal school day in operation. Entry is €5 per person.

St.Vincent De Paul Food Hampers:

We have been asked to support the local group with their annual Christmas Hamper appeal. Non-perishable items are requested. Such items include: Canned food, pasta, rice, dried food and fruits, tins of biscuits and cereals are most welcome. All food items should be brought to school before Tuesday December 16th. Collection points have been stablished in all classrooms. Many thanks to you all who have supported this appeal to date.

Rang 3/6 to Sing in the Local Nursing Homes: Our annual visits to the local Nursing homes will take place on Thursday December 18th. This is a lovely tradition and we are delighted as always to have this opportunity. We will begin at St. Anne’s at 1.20 p.m. and proceed then to St.Attracta’s for 2 p.m.

On Friday morning December 19th next we will conclude our Christmas celebrations with the visit of a very special person to our school at 10.30 a.m.

A great way to end our busy first term!

We are looking forward to seeing you all over the coming days.

What a hectic week we’ve just had! We’re in the middle of preparing for the Parish Christmas Carol Service, carol singing in the Square, our Christmas Play, our visits to the local Nursing Homes and ensuring our Christmas Cards got off to print earlier in the week. All this while squeezing in the important learning/classwork that is central to what we do!

Obviously we ask a lot of the students at this busy time of the year and we were delighted with the response we received at all levels. The students selected this week have all excelled in their preparation for the busy Christmas schedule, continuously giving their best effort and working well. A lovely comment from one teacher this week reported that the student they selected has a very positive influence on their classmates, is always nice to those around her and gets on very well with everyone. High praise indeed!

We also had excellent recommendations based on great improvements in reading, writing, handwriting and about a student who continuously works well even when things are difficult. Always giving their best.

It was really great this week to hear from all the teachers, that working well with others was so important in all classes especially at this time when it’s very much all hands on deck! This is very much a life skill which we’re sure will stand to all of our students going forward!

Finally another busy week lies ahead…

Monday December 8th is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. All classes from 1st to 6th will attend 12 Midday Mass accompanied by their teachers.

The Parish Christmas Carol Service will take place on Wednesday evening December 10th at 7 p.m. Further details of the evening’s events (times/clothing etc) will follow in a circular to all parents on Monday.

As mentioned last week, we will sing Christmas Carols in the Square on Saturday December 13th. The blessing of the crib is now at 1.30 p.m. We will sing either side of the blessing before finishing on time for all the children to participate in the Elf Trail at 2 p.m. Details will again follow of this event in Monday’s circular.

Finally our Christmas Concert will take place on Wednesday December 17th at 7 p.m. This year we will also have a matinée performance on Tuesday afternoon December 16th at 12.30 p.m. The children are working very hard preparing for what promises to be a wonderful night!

In the last few weeks, we learned about Neil Armstrong, the first man to land on the moon. We saw pictures of him on the Internet and we wrote about him in our copies. For Art, we made some rockets with black paper and tinfoil.

Here are some very interesting facts about Neil Armstrong’s life..

• Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon in 1969
• He went with Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins
• Buzz Aldrin was the second man on the moon
• They put an American flag on the moon
• They went to the moon in 1969 in a spacecraft sent by NASA
• NASA stands for National, Aeronautics and Space Administration
• They travelled in a spaceship called “Apollo 11”

We are now very busy getting ready for the Christmas concert.An exciting end to 2014 lies ahead!

We were delighted to reward these excellent students with the much sought after ‘Student of the Week’ award! The teachers were amazed that some of these students had yet to receive this award as they always work quietly and try their hardest in class.

It also emphasised the effort that these students made in preparation for their Parent Teacher Meetings, really focusing when required. We learned that some of our students had made a very special effort in an area that they had previously found difficult and this has made a great difference to their work and learning.

Hard work and enthusiastic attitudes were also common themes throughout, alongside an eagerness to do very well in class and a willingness to go that extra mile with their homework.

As in previous weeks students have made great improvements. Some with their handwriting and others with their behaviour and application. Some students are always so helpful, reliable and above all so kind to others- a comment we were delighted to hear.

One of this week’s students was also described as a great team player, very mature and helpful and this student is always willing to own up if and when they make a mistake. This student really sets a great example to younger students throughout the school.

Comhghairdeachas mhór do na daltaí, bhí sibh ar fheabhas!

A special thank you to all our Parents/Guardians and members of the local community who supported our Clothing Collection. As always we really appreciate your support. The collection will be early next week so there is still time if you wish to leave a bag to us!

Finally a thank you to all who attended our Parent Teacher meetings in such great numbers. These meetings are crucial to the progress of our students, to ensure they are on the path to reaching their potential.

Dates for your Diary

Saturday 29th November

The Lighting of the Christmas Tree will take place tomorrow Saturday, 29th November and all are invited to participate in Carol Singing as we light the tree and welcome Santa Claus (3 p.m.)to his new Grotto in Charlestown (the old AIB buildling). Singing will commence at 4:30 p.m. with song sheets available to help you get into the festive spirit!

Tuesday/Wednesday December 2nd/3rd

Third Class boss and girls will compete in their Mayo Primary School Futsal Competition in Barnacarrol Community Centre. We wish them every success.

The Parish Christmas Carol Service will take place on Wednesday evening December 10th at 7 p.m. Further details of the evening’s events will follow.

A change from this week’s circular to all parents/guardian our school will sing Christmas Carols on Saturday evening December 13th. Details will again follow of this event. We were originally down for the Saturday December 6th.

Finally our Christmas Concert will take place on Wednesday December 17th at 7 p.m. This year we will also have a matinée performance on Tuesday afternoon December 16th at 12.30 p.m. As with the Parish Carol Service arrangements will also follow.

As always with our students of the week it was really lovely to hear the recommendations the teachers gave their respective students. All the children are aware that we are entering a very busy time of the year from our Parent Teacher Meetings through to our Christmas Concerts and to their credit have really put their best foot forward.
Those chosen this week are very supportive of all that is happening in and around our school. A consistent comment from all the teachers was that all these students are working very hard whilst giving excellent care and attention to their work. It was lovely to hear of kindness/helpfulness to both classmates and teachers with a lovely comment about one particular student that they are very nice to everyone!
We heard this week also, of a very creative and artistic young lady using her talents to the full and of another student who is showing great focus and maturity in order to succeed in class. We were delighted to learn of a student who places great importance on understanding what has been asked of them, taking their time and ensuring they have grasped it before moving on, very conscientious and eager to succeed.
Well done to those who were chosen this week, all are very deserving winners.

Reminder: Dates for your Diary

Clothes Collection: As we have mentioned previously our Parents Association is holding a ‘Cash for Clothing Fundraiser’ throughout next week (Monday 24th to Friday 28th November). Please bring your unwanted clothing, paired shoes, handbags & accessories and good quality bed linen sheets to the GP Room. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to accept clothes in an un-wearable condition, pillows, curtains, underwear, shoes in poor condition or uniforms with crests. A special word of thanks to our Parents Association who are organising this fundraiser.

On Wednesday and Thursday (November 26th/27th) of next week we will have our Parent Teacher Meetings: Letters have been sent home, this week via school bags with the day and time for meetings – so check the bags please! Should the day and time not suit you please inform the class teacher as soon as possible and another appointment can be arranged for you at a time convenient to both parents and teacher.

The Parish Christmas Carol Service will take place on Wednesday evening December 10th at 7 p.m. Further details of the evening’s events will follow.
Finally our Christmas Concert will take place on Wednesday December 17th at 7 p.m. This year we will also have a matinée performance on Tuesday afternoon December 16th at 12.30 p.m. As with the Parish Carol Service arrangements will also follow.