It was with great sadness on Friday afternoon that we said goodbye to Mr.Karol Rushe who departed our school to become the Principal of Lisacul NS Co. Roscommon.

As with our recent retirees Karol gave so much to our school. Sixteen years of kindness, hard work, commitment, and professionalism. A loyal and trusted colleague who was a great friend to young and old in our school. He began each day with a smile. His good humour and sense of fun always shining through. Karol embraced new projects and change with ease. This is to his credit as he played an important part in the recent growth and development of our school.

He promoted and led many extracurricular activities from Active Schools to Féile Dramaíochta and for this, we are so grateful for his interest, enthusiasm and time. However, above all what was most apparent was the special relationship he had with the pupils fortunate to be in his care.

I’m certain, I’m speaking for all when I wish Karol the very best in his new role and health and happiness in the future. We’re certain here in St.Attracta’s that he will be a great success and look forward to welcoming him back to us very soon.

Another busy week has just passed by with all classes settled back and working very hard. As a result, the teachers found the selection of ‘Students of the Week very difficult, as many students have again put themselves forward.

At the outset, it is important to say well done to our younger classes who are all doing so well. We were delighted at how well you’ve all settled back and for some into our school. We hope you have had a good rest over the weekend and look forward to another busy week.

A common theme last week among those selected was kindness to others, alongside being very helpful to classmates/teachers and always working very hard. Two of the ‘Students of the Week’ were also recommended for working very quietly, giving 100% to everything that they do while displaying a great attitude. We learned of students who have settled so well into new classes and indeed a new school and of students who are making a special effort in areas that perhaps last year they found difficult and are now making great progress. It was also fantastic to hear of a student whose work is always presented to the highest standard. Well done again to all those selected. You all have worked very well throughout the past week.

Assembly concluded by wishing the Charlestown ladies well in their Championship fixture and our runners well in the Mayo Cross Country Finals in Belleek, Ballina on Thursday next.

Please find a letter below from our Parents Association in relation to the Family Fun Day planned for this Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, having considered the forecast, a collective decision has been made to postpone this event to a later date.

We are most grateful to the members of our Parents Association for their time, hard work and wonderful support of our school. Thank you also for many generous and kind offers of help and support to ensure this day would be a great success. We are so appreciative of this.

As mentioned in the letter below, this event is not cancelled but postponed. We look forward to a new date in late Spring/ early Summer when we can all celebrate all that is good in our school community.

Dear Parents,

We are writing in relation to the Family Fun Day event. Firstly, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported the event, either by offering to share their skills, resources or time. Your willingness to volunteer and make this event special means the world to us.

Unfortunately, the weather is conspiring against us. Having considered the forecast for Sunday it is with heavy hearts that we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the event. We understand that this news may come as a disappointment, and we share in that disappointment ourselves. However, rest assured that this event is not cancelled but postponed. We are actively working to reschedule the Family Fun Day to a date where we can gather in dryer conditions and enjoy the activities and festivities that were planned.

Once again, we extend our sincere gratitude to all the volunteers within and outside of our school community who generously offered their time and effort to making the day a success.

We will keep you updated on the rescheduled date as soon as it is confirmed. We are looking towards the Spring/Summertime.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. We look forward to celebrating our Family Fun Day together in the near future with brighter skies and better weather!

Warm Regards,

Joanne O’Hara.

On behalf of St. Attracta’s National School Parents Association.

Firstly, well done to our Junior Infants who experienced their first week of long school days to 2.00 p.m. this week. They have all settled so well into our school. We are delighted to have them with us a little longer each day!

The teachers again this week had a very difficult time choosing their respective ‘Students of the Week’ as many students throughout the school really put themselves forward through their hard work and excellent attitude.

Lovely comments for this week’s group included that the students had listened so well, completing all their exercises with great care and attention, while working consistently hard in every subject. We were also delighted to hear that they had been kind and considerate to their classmates and teachers. Other students have moved to our school and settled so well with us. It’s almost as if they had always been here much longer as they have made a big impact on their classmates and teachers.

We often mention to the students that not everything will always be easy for any of us and that there will be times when topics or areas of school are difficult. We all must battle through these times and this week we were delighted that teachers mentioned students who had found things difficult in the past but have really grown in confidence and displayed a huge willingness to succeed. This, in turn, sets a great example to others throughout the school.
Well done to all the students selected and to all our students who worked very hard throughout this past week. Maith sibh go léir.

Finally, we wish all our Cross Country participants well in their East Mayo Finals in Swinford on Thursday next.

Well done also to our Junior Infant students who have completed their first full week in Primary School. We are delighted with how well they have settled into their new school.

Last week also saw the girls and boys from 3rd to 6th take to the pitch and playing areas behind the school to train for the Primary School Cross Country Championships which will take place shortly in Swinford. It really is fantastic to see the children’s progression to date and also the great attitude they displayed of never giving up even when things were difficult! Well done to all the children who worked so hard throughout their lunch breaks.

And so to our first students of the week for our new school year. At the outset the teachers were unanimous in saying how difficult the decisions had been this week with so many students in contention, however, the focus, concentration, hard work, excellent manners and willingness to succeed of this week’s students pushed them very much to the fore.

Each of this week’s students of the week has made a wonderful start to the new school year. We hope they can continue to work in this manner throughout the school year.

Well done also to all those who have worked so hard to date. We’re certain all the teachers can see how well you are doing and are sure your time will come very soon. A reminder also that in the coming weeks, we will see our Junior Infants class included in these special awards for the first time.

Our Parents Association are delighted to host a Family Fun Day on Sunday afternoon, September 24th, 2-5pm. This promises to be a fantastic afternoon for young and old, our students and family members who are all invited to attend. Plans are well advanced and we ask that you pencil this date into your diaries/calendars. Details will follow in the coming week to all families regarding arrangements.

Finally, well done to Layla, Chloe and Freddie who were winners of our Family Fun Day Poster Competition prior to the Summer Holiday! A very special word of thanks to our very hard-working Parents Association for their enthusiasm, interest and continued support of our school. This is very much appreciated.

As we approach the end of our school year, we always stress the importance of finishing it out on a high. This week’s assembly saw many of our students praised for their continued eagerness, enthusiasm and willingness as the term draws to a close.

Students were commended on giving their best effort in all aspects of school life. We learned of those who have impressed in their classrooms with a positive attitude, becoming more independent, trying their very best and of those who are excellent role models and a great help to the younger students and indeed, the teachers, in our school.

We learned of students who have conquered fears alongside those who have made a great impression on all since joining our school. We also learned of students who have made great progress in recent weeks, this example shows us that there is always room for improvement and that it’s never too late to put our best foot forward! Maith sibh!

We have a very busy end to our term planned with our final day of swimming tomorrow, Tuesday, Sports Day (Wednesday) and Class Graduations (Thursday) planned.

Reminder: We break for our summer holiday on Friday at 12 noon. We look forward to welcoming all our parents/guardians and family members to school in the coming days.

Comghairdeachas to Liliana (Ms.Henry’s 3rd Class), Naïya and Shanna (Ms.Ruane’s Senior Infants) who recently received Certificates of Commendation from the Texaco Art Competition.

These awards as for wonderful entries in this year’s competition. Liliana, Naïya and Shanna are very creative and talented artists and we were delighted to see all three recognised at a national level.

We are very proud of the girls and look forward to learning about many more achievements in the years to come.

Huge congrats to our sixth class student Emily Higgins and past pupil Síofra McGuinness (Mayo Captain) and their clubmates Sophie Tiernan and Mikayla McLoughlin who were part of the Mayo team who were crowned 2023 All-Ireland LGFA U14 Platinum Champions following a brilliant victory over Cork at McDonagh Park in Nenagh this afternoon.

To say that we are proud of the girls is an understatement! Both have contributed so much to our school, and it is lovely to see their talents showcased on this stage. For Síofra also to captain the team is a remarkable personal achievement.

Well done also to all at Charlestown LGFA. It was fantastic to have four representatives on this very talented squad.

We hope the girls enjoy the celebrations and special time!