Dear Parents Issue: 08 February 9th 2022
Condolences:
Our heart-felt condolences to Mrs Cronin and her family on the recent passing of her father, may he rest in peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very sad time.
Congratulations:
- Well done to Ailbhe Mannion who won 3rd place in Athenry Pharmacy’s Christmas Art competition!
- Well done to the girls in 2nd class (who were in Mr Hanley’s 1st class last year)! Mr Hanley received a “thank you” letter from President Higgins. This letter was to thank all the pupils from Scoil Chroí Naofa who sent letters & cards to President Higgins on the occasion of this 80th birthday last year.
Donation:
- We got an amazing surprise a couple of weeks ago when we received a donation of $2,500 in the post!!
- The donation came from the “Irish American Partnership” based in Boston and was made on behalf of Marjie Delaney Fitzpatrick who is a member of the partnership.
- The programme encourages Irish Americans to go back to their roots and give something back to the young people who live there today
- Marjie’s grand niece; Saoirse Delaney is in Mrs Duffy’s Junior Infants class.
- The benefactors have asked that the donation be used to enhance our literacy, science & maths materials for the pupils.
- We are so grateful for this incredible generosity and will be putting the funds to very good use.
Enrolments for September 2022:
- Enrolment forms for pupils due to start school in September 2022 are available from the office. The closing date for receipt of completed forms is Monday February 14th.
- Due to the high interest for places, please ensure any siblings who are due to start in September 2022 have their information in on time. Thank you!
- Mr Connolly from the Boys school will be visiting the boys in first class tomorrow (Thursday) and will distribute enrolment forms to them. If you wish to send your son to the Boys school in September, please complete the form and return it to the Boys school as soon as possible.
Best Attendance:
- Congratulations to Mr Hanley’s 1st class on having the Best Attendance for the month of January.
Child Protection:
- As you know, all school staff are “Mandated persons” from a Child protection perspective.
- This means that if a child makes a disclosure to the school, the school is obligated to report this to Tusla
- Tusla is the Child and Family Agency for the state
- The school is not obligated to inform the family directly that it has or will be making a report
Annual Book Fair:
Our annual book fair in partnership with Tara Book company is continuing this week (until Tuesday of next week Feb 15th). The Book Fair is taking place online again this year. This gives us added benefits:
- Order from the comfort of your home, open 24 hours until Tuesday February 15th.
- Easy to use online system, quick checkout, no need to register
- Wider choice of titles, over 1,500 books to choose from
- Age-graded website to make it easy
- Our school will get fantastic commission of 50% in free books (so for every 2 books you buy our school gets 1 book for free!!)
It is important that you use this link so that our school gets the commission on your purchase:
To order click on https://bookfair.tarabookco.ie/
Click on “shop now”
Password: 16071M
Heritage Schools:
- Ms Alani’s 3rd class are going on a Heritage trail of Athenry on Friday morning. They will finish up with a cup of hot chocolate in the Old Barracks coffee shop!
- Dale Treadwell will visit all the Junior Infant, Senior Infant, First and Second classes next week.
- Dale is well known for his boundless enthusiasm for all things in the world of nature. His visits introduce the children to the 5 Bs of Biodiversity: bugs; butterflies; bees; bats and birds through interactive, fun and hands-on activities. Dale has worked with the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service and presented on children’s television in Ireland for 10 years.
World Book day:
- World book day takes place on Thursday March 3rd this year.
- This will be a non-uniform day and the pupils may dress up as a character from their favourite book on this day, if they so wish.
Confirmation Programme:
- Fr Benny has confirmed that Confirmation will go ahead on Sunday May 8th at 12.30pm.
- The girls making their Confirmation this year are attending a “school retreat” to Knock Shrine in Mayo on Friday of this week (Feb 11th).
- The cost of the retreat is €10 per person
- Sincere thanks to the Parents Council for funding the price of the bus fare to Knock for the girls
First Holy Communion:
- Fr Benny has confirmed that First Holy Communion for Scoil Chroí Naofa will take place on Saturday May 28th at 12.30pm
- The “Do this in Memory” programme is due to commence shortly for the girls making their First Holy Communion this year.
Amalgamation Update:
- We have received confirmation from Seán Canney TD that the proposed amalgamation between Scoil Chroí Naofa and Athenry Boys school is progressing
- The Patron of both schools has agreed to an amalgamation of both schools
- The next stage in the process is the development of a plan for a new school for the new entity. It is envisaged that additional land will be required for the new national school campus and the process to acquire this land is currently in train.
- Minister Norma Foley has also confirmed that the department is currently developing a project brief for the school.
School Doors:
- I would like to sincerely thank all the staff for facilitating the earlier school opening times during the worst of this pandemic. We will be reverting back to the pre-pandemic opening time of 8.45am after the February mid-term break. This means that from Monday February 28th school doors will open at 8.45am.
- No pupil should enter the school building before 8.45am, even if they find that their door is unlocked.
- School starts at 8.50am sharp
- For security purposes all the hall & yard access doors will be closed at 8.50am.
- Children who arrive after 8.50am to find their normal school door closed are to enter via the main school door, where they will be escorted to their classrooms.
Hockey:
- Mr Kelly has completed a Hockey Fundamentals training course
- The school has purchased some hockey equipment for the pupils
- The pupils will now have the opportunity to experience this lovely sport during their PE lessons
- Sincere thanks to the new Athenry Swans Hockey club for their help and guidance with this
Parents Council:
- As soon as the public health situation allows we will arrange an in-person meeting of the parents council
- We have been keeping representatives informed of any major developments via email, but it would be so much better if we could have a face-to-face meeting before too long.
May Bank Holiday:
- The government introduced a new public holiday on Friday March 18th this year.
- As the school is already scheduled to be take this day as a school holiday, we are permitted to take a day in lieu of this
- It has been decided that for this reason the school will remain closed on Tuesday May 3rd. Enjoy the extra-long bank holiday weekend!
Dates for Diary & School Closures:
- Monday February 21st to Friday February 25th: Mid-term break
- Thursday March 10th – Staff training Term 2 (PLC webinar). All children go home at 1.15pm
- Thursday March 17th & Friday March 18th – school is closed for St. Patrick’s day
- Tuesday March 22nd: School Photographer
- Monday April 11th to Friday April 22nd: Easter Holidays
- Monday May 2nd & Tuesday May 3rd – May Bank holiday long weekend.
Community Links:
- Ultraflex Academy of Dance are running a “FREE FRIEND FEBRUARY” promotion. Places are limited so pre-booking is essential. Athenry timetable for Tuesday’s in the Community Hall:
- Mini’s 4pm
- Juniors 5pm
- Seniors 6pm
We also have classes in Craughwell in Thursday and Oranmore on Friday. If you can’t book online www.flexyostyle.ie , please add your name to our waiting list or call Kim on 087 799489
Fergal Naughton
Príomhoide
