Newsletter 23rd March 2023
Seachtain na Gaeilge
Well done to all prize winners for making a huge effort to speak Gaeilge during Seachtain na Gaeilge. Indeed, well done to everyone, staff included. Comhghairdeas!
Bee-bots
Ms. Walshe’s and Mr. Kelly’s 1st Classes were busy designing parade routes for Bee-bots in small groups. Lots of fun was had exploring different codes to enable the Bee bot get from A to B. They were busy learning about directional language, commands, sequencing and problem solving.
Ramadan
Muslim members of our school community started the month of Ramadan this week. We wish you and your families every good wish for this special time. Ramadan Mubarak.
ALDI’s Play Rugby sticker competition:
Many thanks to Colette Byrne who has organised our participation in Aldi’s play rugby sticker competition. Thank you to all of you whom have supported us and have sent in stickers for our posters. Thanks to you, we have completed 4 big posters and are on our 5th poster. There are two weeks left so with your help we will hopefully complete a 5th poster and be in with a chance of winning fantastic prizes for our school. We are very proud that Molly Scuffil- McCabe is a past pupil of ours and we will be cheering her on during upcoming matches.
From January 9th last, ALDI shoppers collect one sticker for every €25 spent in any of the ALDI stores nationwide. A completed poster of 300 stickers will earn the school an entry into the prize draw. One school will win €50,000 and another 10 schools will win €5,000 for their school facilities. Additionally, each sticker offers ALDI customers a chance to win their weekly shop, all customers have to do is scan the QR code on the back of their sticker and enter the unique code at aldi.ie/playrugby for a chance to win one of 10 x €200 ALDI gift cards weekly from January 16th until April 23rd 2023. Many thanks to those of you who are sending in Aldi stickers- it is very much appreciated. One last big push for our 5th entry! Many thanks!
Visit to the National Gallery
1st classes attended the National Art Gallery recently. A great day was had by all. Many thanks to all that supported the trip.
Parents Association News
Easter Raffle
Our wonderful Parents Association is organising an Easter Raffle. Tickets are on sale at 1.40pm and 2.40pm in the yard each day. 2 Euro per line and 5 Euro for 3 lines. Many thanks to all volunteers and to everyone who purchases tickets for this raffle. Your support is very much appreciated.
Fun Run
It’s back!!!!! After last year’s successful family fun run our Parent’s Association have decided to organise it again. Like last year, we’d love to see past & present students, family members & teachers on the day. The run/walk is a simple 2km route starting and ending in Griffeen Valley Park. This is in line with the Griffeen Junior Park Run. It will be fully supervised. However, we encourage parents/guardians to walk alongside their children.
There is a strict limited capacity – If you want to secure your place at this event, you need to book your slot(s). To book your slot, please fill out the registration form which will be sent home in your child’s bag in due course. You can pay by cash (exact change where possible) or online via the Databiz app. Please then return completed forms to your child class teacher.
Registration will be €8.00 for one child, €11.00 for two children & €16.00 for three children. Parents/guardians are welcome to join the run/walk free of charge. Each registered child will receive as medal and a refreshment. All monies raised will contribute towards the upgrade of our school reception area. Any queries, you can find the Parents Association on Facebook, or you can email them at stthomaspa@outlook.com.
If you wish your child’s run to be timed, as well as registering your child (as above), you will need to also register your child with Junior Park Run https://www.parkrun.ie/events/juniorevents/#geo=6.03/53.384/-8.091&s=2 If you do not want your child’s run to be timed, there is no need to register with junior park run, you can just register with the school to ensure they get a medal and a refreshment.
Library visit
Mr Ryan’s 2nd class were treated to a lovely storytelling experience from Róisín Murphy in Lucan library during the week.
Speech and Drama club There is a Speech and Drama club in operation after school on a Tuesday run by Ms O’Loughlin. A new term will start again on 18th of April for 8 weeks. If you are interested in enrolling your child or for further information please email eskerdramaclub@gmail.comAll camps and after schools activities are run independently of St. Thomas’ JNS
Upcoming Events/Closures
Easter Holidays: March 31st-April 14th. School returns on April 17th.
Free school Books From September 2023, schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for children in primary schools, will be provided free of charge. The books will be on loan and are to be returned at the end of the school year. Further information to follow when booklists are devised.
Earth hour 2023 will take place on Saturday 25th March between 8.30pm-9.30pm. This is organised by the World wildlife fund (WWF). Earth hour started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and it is now a global annual event. People are encouraged to turn off non-essential lighting for one hour as a symbol of our commitment to look after our planet.
Visit to our local Estate Agent’s
Ms. Cobbe’s Senior Infant class visited Sherry Estate Agents last week.Staff read their stories about their dream house created during Aistear. The children helped the manager Tom sell a house to a client called Mary. Thank you to Sherry’s Estate Agents for facilitating our visit.
Starcamp
Starcamp is organising summer camps around the country. Please click on the following link to access further information on this https://starcamp.ie/
Best wishes,
Teresa Moynihan
Principal