St. Pius X Boys National School
March 2007
PERMANENT ACCOMMODATIONWe are delighted to inform you that our schools have been allocated funding of €300,000 each for the provision of extra accommodation. This grant will enable us to provide the extra classrooms and resource rooms that we require in order to provide first class resources for our children. This money is in addition to the grant that has already been allocated for the resurfacing of the yards which is scheduled to take place during the Summer Holidays. All of these monies will help to enable us to ensure that all of our children have the best possible facilities at their disposal while attending St. Pius. We would like to especially thank one of our parents in our school Minister Conor Lenihan for all his help and support in this area.
TRAFFIC AND SAFETY AT OUR GATES
A meeting was held recently in the school with four representatives from South Dublin County Council, two representatives from the Parents Association and the Principals from both schools to discuss traffic congestion at the school gates each day. We got a very sympathetic hearing from the council officials and are very hopeful of a positive outcome to these issues. Also to help alleviate this problem we would ask as many of our pupils as possible to walk to school each day. We would also ask parents to ensure that their children DO NOT GO behind the School Hall or new building when going to or coming from their classroom.
CONFIRMATION
Preparations are ongoing for the Sacrament of Confirmation which will take place on April 28th at 11 a.m. in St. Pius X Church. There was a very moving and spiritual ceremony for the Service of Light for our Confirmation pupils in the church on Tuesday 20th March. The children were absolutely magnificent. Well done to all involved.
COMMUNION
The Sacrament of Communion will take place on Saturday 12th May at 11.30 am in St.
Pius X Church. Ms. Elliott and Ms. Grennan are preparing the boys extremely well. The Sacrament of First Penance was celebrated by both classes on the 13th March. The sense of spirituality was quite palpable for children so young and moved both parents and teachers alike. We all look forward very much to the First Holy Communion.
CHOIR
The Boys’ School choir under the direction of Anne Purcell have been very busy over the last weeks. They were fantastic in their performance at the Wesley Interschools Music Festival. The choir were also invited to sing at the opening ceremony of the Córfhéile na Scoileanna in the National Basketball Arena. The boys performed in the Mahony Hall at the Helix for the Chernobyl Children’s Appeal Concert on Monday 26th March. The boys were delighted to support this worthy cause. Our choir were the first item after the interval, other acts included an orchestra, a gymnastics display, a drama and a band. The boys performed superbly and received a tremendous applause from the packed auditorium. They sang songs in English, Irish and French. The boys are taking a long earned rest for a couple of weeks before they travel to Rosslare for the A.I.M.S Choral Festival. Check out our website for photos and accounts of the concert. Ms. Purcell and Mr. Matthews classes are busy practising for the National Children’s Choir Concert in the National Basketball Arena on Wednesday 25th April.
SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE
During Seachtain na Gaeilge the 5th and 6th classes took part in a Tráth na gCeist Boird. Each class had a quiz with the winners qualifying for the final which took place in the GP Room. After a three way tie in the final, Mr. Kerins class ran out as eventual winners. The team consisted of Oisin McGrath, Daniel Lambert, Luke McFeeney and Karl O’Brien. Congratulations boys! Two in a row on the cards??? Coimeád suas on dea-obair.
NEW APPOINTMENT
We would like to inform you that Ms. Brenda Dempsey took up a teaching position in Galway following the mid term break. We wish Ms Dempsey all the best in her return home to Galway and to thank her for all her hard work and dedication throughout her teaching years in St. Pius. We extend a warm welcome to Ms. Niamh O’Malley who started with us on Monday 26th February. We are confident that she will have a satisfying and fruitful career in teaching.
ART EXHIBITION
The Art Exhibition will be held on Thursday 19th April at 7pm-9pm Your children’s art work will be on view and may be purchased (all funds going towards equipment for the school) – PRICE - €15 framed €5 unframed. There will be payment points around the school and framed pictures will be available at a later date. Please make payment on the night by cheque payable to the St Pius X Parents Association or exact amount.
SPORT
Hurling
Both the Junior and Senior teams are progressing nicely in their respective competitions. Numbers at training have been excellent since Christmas and the hard work is certainly paying off with some excellent results. A big THANK YOU to parents and staff for all their support so far. Also we would like to acknowledge the great work which Faughs have been doing with the younger classes in supporting the future of hurling in the school. Not to forget our teachers Pat Robinson and Gearóid Ó’Fátharta who have done Trojan work in this area.
Olympic Handball
Our u11 Olympic Handball team played St. Mary’s, Rowlagh, Clondalkin both away and at home recently. They won both matches thanks to great goalkeeping by our goalie Neil Walsh. The team is captained by Eoin Moore. Seamus Owens won Man of the Match in Rowlagh and Robert Moynihan in St. Pius. The team is coached by Linda Pleamonn, Aileen Dunne and Mary Kneafsey.
Golf
Mrs. O’Nualláin’s 6th Class golf programme continued with further outings this month to Spawell. The boys competed in two pitch and putt tournaments, playing in groups of 3 or 4. Both sessions were highly enjoyable with many golfers already showing signs of improvement. It is hoped that some of these players will be selected to take part in the prestigious “Castle Cup” in the Summer. A sincere word of thanks and appreciation to Mr. Coyle ,Mr. Ryan, Mr. Robinson and Mr. O’Fáthárta for all their help and encouragement at both events.
ATTENDANCE
A new information leaflet from the NEWB has been sent to all parents on the importance of school attendance and education. This leaflet is also available on www.newb.ie . We would ask that you would inform the class teacher in writing if your child is absent and we take this opportunity to remind you that absences of more than twenty days are automatically referred to the NEWB.
TRÓCAIRE
We know the boys are doing their utmost, collecting for this worthy cause. We will of course be delighted to accept them, but we would ask you not to send them until after Easter as we cannot accommodate them before then.
VOUCHERS
We have reached that time of year again – Tesco Vouchers. It would appreciate if you can collect these vouchers, in order for us to acquire classroom computers for the school. Our target this year is 45,000 and with your help we will achieve our goal. Also we are looking for old mobile phones and ink cartridges (NOT EPSON) as these are also worth 150 vouchers and 40 respectively.
SPANISH CHILDREN & ROCKBROOK
Rockbrook International, established in 1985, places students in Primary and Secondary schools in Dublin. We have several groups of primary school children coming from Spain and who will be attending local schools after Easter. We are interested in finding families who have children aged between 4 and 14 years who would like to host one of them. The group will be staying for between 6 and 10 weeks. If you are interested please contact Niall or Luis @ 4936692 or email info@rockbrookinternational.com.
Dates for your Diary
Easter Holidays - Friday 30th March – School Closes at 12 noon Re-opens Monday 16th April at 9.00 a.m.
Saturday 28th April – Confirmation 11.00 a.m.
Thursday 3rd May- School Closed – In Service Day
Friday 4th May – School Closed – May Bank Holiday Weekend
Monday 7th May – School Closed – May Bank Holiday
Saturday 12th May –First Holy Communion 11.30 a.m.
Friday 1st June – School Closed – June Bank Holiday Weekend
Monday 4th June – School Closed – June Bank Holiday
Summer Holidays - Friday 29th June - Close at 12 noon
We’ve had a fantastic second term and everyone has earned a well deserved break.
Beannachtaí na Cásca daoibh uile!
Dermot Lynch
PRINCIPAL, B.N.S