St. Colmcille’s Boys’ National School, Chapel Lane, Swords, Co.Dublin K67 WP65

(01) 8405132

St Colmcille's BNS

Ní neart go cur le chéile

December 2015

Christmas Week

The Christmas week activities were a huge success in the school and were thoroughly enjoyed by the children. We had a Senior Infant play on Tuesday followed by a visit by Santa, 3rd and 4th class quiz on Wednesday, 5th and 6th class quiz on Thursday, X-Factor on Friday and the school’s Carol Service took place yesterday. Thank you to all of the staff for their incredible hard work that contributed to the success of these activities. It was a real team effort and particular thanks to Ms. Moore for the Senior Infant play, Ms. Noonan and Ms. Smith for organising the quizzes, Ms. Harte, Mr. Fitzmaurice and Ms. Hoey for leading the X-Factor organisation, Ms. Murtagh and Ms. Reynolds for leading the carol service organisation, Ms. Nee for taking charge of the audio and visual equipment and Mr. McGuiness, Ms. McKernan and Mr. Russell for organising the stage area and hall decorations.

Well done to all of the boys for their efforts during these activities, they were a credit to themselves and their families. Well done to the 3rd and 4th class table quiz winners Cormac Dromgoole, Matthew Sansom and Joseph Savage, the 5th and 6th class table quiz winners Jack English, Jack McGuirk and Steven Wang and the X-Factor winners The Christmas Elves aka Raffaele Mazzola, Hope Mlauzi, Teniola Oloopade and Dawid Szkudlarek.

Enrolment of Junior Infants for School Year 2016 / 2017

Parents are advised to collect application forms from our secretary Mary in the office and return completed form accompanied by a birth certificate, baptismal certificate (if applicable) and proof of address by Friday 29th January 2016. Places will be allocated immediately after the mid-term break.

Parent Teacher Meetings

The attendance at the recent Parent/Teacher meetings was very high and we thank you for your continued support as we work together in the best interests of the pupils. Please note that an appointment should always be made if you wish to meet with a teacher. Appointments may be made by writing a note in the Homework Journal or by contacting the Office at 01 8405132.

Board of Management

The current Board of Management of St. Colmcille’s BNS began its four year term this month. The members of the Board are:

Patron’s nominees:                  Ms. Veronica McDermott (chairperson)

Fr. Michael Carey

Principal:                                 Mr. Kieran Lyons

Teachers’ nominee:                 Ms. Ciara Brangan

Parents’ nominees:                  Ms. Karen Bowers

Mr. Alan Dunne

Community nominees:            Ms. Maria McKittrick

Mr. Matthew Ladrigan

Thank you to the outgoing members of the Board for their commitment and service to the school. Thank you to Fr. Peter McCarron (outgoing patron’s nominee), Ms. Blaithín White (outgoing teachers’ nominee), Mr. Joe Dromgoole and Ms. Catherine Vassier (outgoing parents’ nominees) and Ms. Margaret McKernan (outgoing community nominee).

Duty of Care

It is important for parents to note that they are responsible for their children prior to 8.50 a.m. The boys are expected to walk in the yard and remain in their lines until they are collected by their teacher. It is expected that parents or an assigned guardian remain in the Junior Yard with the younger pupils until they are collected from their lines.

Punctuality

School begins at 8.50a.m. and it is essential that all pupils are present at this time. A concerted effort is needed in January to ensure that all pupils arrive on time each morning.

Welcome

Welcome to Mr. Kieran Lyons, Ms. Emma Taylor, Ms. Nessa Doherty, Ms. Megan O’Reilly and Ms. Catherine Nangle who have joined the staff in the school this year.

Parents’ Association

Well done and thank you to the Parents’ Association on their recent endeavours in the school. Their activities included:

  • Organising the teddy bear’s picnic for this year’s junior infants
  • Organising the Hallowe’en cake sale which raised €1,114 for the school
  • Helping Santa deliver a treat to every pupil when he visited our school last week
  • Organising the Christmas raffle which raised almost €3,500 for the school

The Parents Association perform a key role in the school and illustrate the partnership approach to the education of the children in our care. They also help to bridge the gap between the capitation funds that the school receives from the Department of Education and Science and the actual cost of running a school with over 400 pupils. Thanks once again for your efforts and we encourage as many parents as possible to become actively involved in the Parents’ Association. Thanks also to everyone who made donations via the cake sale and / or Christmas raffle, your support is very much appreciated.

School Activites

Pupils are currently involved in Gaelic football, hurling, athletics, soccer, student council, cookery and taekwondo extra curricular activities in the school. Thank you to all staff members involved including Ms. Reilly, Ms. Hoey, Mr. Connell, Ms. Reynolds, Ms. Harte, Ms. Clarke, Ms. Flood, Mr. Fitzmaurice, Ms. Kilkenny, Ms. Moore, Ms. Gannon and Ms. McKernan.

Fingallians GAA Club

Thank you to club trainers Nicky Fitzgerald and Wayne Hutchinson for teaching hurling and Gaelic football in the school. Thanks also to Fingallians for donating a set of hurling helmets to our new hurling team. This was a very generous donation and reflects the positive sense of community in the area.

Kidsmarathon

Well done to the 6th class boys who ran the last mile of the Dublin City marathon recently. Thanks to parent Mr. Niall McGuirk for organising this event and for inviting our school to take part. It was a great success.

Peace Proms Choir

The school will take part in the Peace Proms concerts for the first time early in the New Year. The 3rd, 4th and 5th class children are currently preparing their repertoire and will be performing with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland and other primary school choirs in the RDS Concert Hall at 8pm on Saturday 6th of February 2016. Tickets are available for purchase on www.peaceproms.com

St. Vincent de Paul

The no uniform day today, Ms. Reynolds’ class carol singing and a staff collection raised €850 for the St. Vincent de Paul’s organisation’s activities in the community. Well done and thank you to all involved.

School re-opens at 8.50 a.m. on Wednesday 6th January 2016.

Nollaig shona agus Athbhliain faoi mhaise do mhuintir na scoile