NEWSLETTER 28.11.014

ETHOS: Have a look at this link NOT NOW BERNARD – our students have been reading this story and exploring the child’s voice. We will be having an open assembly before we break up in December. We will be in touch about the details soon.

ACTIVE-SCHOOLS. We are delighted to inform you that we were awarded our Active School’s Flag this week. We revealed this to the school at assembly yesterday. Big thanks to the staff, in particular Fiona who drove this initiative from the start. Thanks also to the parents who were involved in this initiative. We have just submitted our Green-Schools Flag application today. Does anyone know where you can get a ‘two for one’ deal on some flag-poles?

PARENTS ASSOCIATION: A movie night for the children of Portobello ETNS will take place on Saturday 13^th December from 6-8pm at our school.  The Parents Association with be coordinating this event with Michelle Hardy a senior infant parent. This child centred event is being organized to celebrate the forthcoming festive season.  This event is limited to children attending the school only and a parent must remain on the premises for the duration of the event.  Any parent interested in volunteering contact Irenie at [email protected] or by phone. Many thanks.

OUR SCHOOL BUILDING: The bike shed was installed this week. Big thanks to the parents for raising the money towards this. The bike shed is only meant for storage during the day. Please see email for more details.

THE GARDEN: looks great as you will all agree, and we cannot wait to get planting. We have a lot of interest from volunteers to work in the garden. If anyone has any skills or interest in this area, or if anyone has ways of directing labour / materials / grants, please contact the office. We are compiling expressions of interest at the moment and will be organising ourselves into working groups for spring time.

PARENT TEACHER MEETINGS: Thank you all for attending the meetings. The staff really enjoyed the opportunity to meet again and it was lovely to have everyone around the school, to see displays and drink coffee.

COMMUNITY:

An Glór Choir– Celebration in Song, Sunday 7^th December. Children free with a toy donation to Vincent De Paul. A member of our school community is the director of this choir and promises it will be fantastic.

Drimnagh Castle Winter Wonderland next weekend. This sells out really quickly & they have tickets today.

Griffith Barracks Winter Fare – Sunday 30Nov 12 – 3pm

Christmas Tree Lighting at Harolds Cross Park – Saturday 29^th November 5pm.

St Catherines’ Church Thomas Street Christmas Fair Nov 29^th 10 – 4pm

National Print Museum Winter Fair 28,29,30 Nov , 4 to 8pm.

AND FINALLY … SHOoooOES! If you are sending your child in with lace up shoes, please make sure that they can lace them up themselves. The staff need to spend their time supervising the children during yard time, and lacing shoes is a serious distraction and now a health and safety concern.

All the best and enjoy the weekend – Dermot & all the staff.