Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope this finds you well this week as we deal with the nasty January weather. Our news is as follows

• On Thursdays we have coaches from Clare GAA coming in to work with Senior Infants, 2^nd, 4^th and 6^th classes on fundamental movement skills for five weeks. They will then work with Juniors, 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th classes for five weeks also.

• Tolas is taking part in Active Schools this year also. A committee of pupils from 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes have met to devise some exercises that can be done on wet days in the classrooms to get everyone moving. We have also sent home a homework challenge to pupils in 1^st-6^th classes. For the next 3 weeks the challenge is to be active for 60 minutes each day. This includes activities your child might already be doing such as football, swimming, hurling, walking etc. There are also some simple exercises to be done each evening. Good luck everyone getting more active!
• The Annual Clare Inter-Schools quiz takes place tonight here in St. Tolas where we welcome teams from primary schools across the county. We wish our own two teams well.
• Our boys Indoor Hurling team which consists of pupils from 3^rd and 4^th classes will go to Cratloe today to take part in the indoor hurling competition. Hehir and Ms. Fitzsimons will accompany the pupils. We wish them the best of luck.
• Shannon Library invites pupils aged 9-12 to register for a Junior Book Club. The first meeting takes place on Saturday 24^th Feb at 11.30a.m. Pupils who are interested need to call into the library to register and collect a mystery book to get started. This is free of charge.
• Catholic Schools week takes place this year from Sun 28^th Jan – Sat 3^rd We will have our annual prayer service to give thanks for the gift of Grandparents on Wednesday 31^st Jan at 11a.m. We would like to extend a warm invitation to all grandparents to join with us for this celebration.
• I would like to say well done to everyone for great improvements in attendance in our first term. Our overall attendance levels for term 1 this school year are significantly better than the last school year. We realise that there is a lot of sickness around at the moment. If your child has a high temperature or is vomiting they should be kept at home. As soon as they are well enough to attend send them back to school again.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, Principal