Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are well. Our news this week is as follows:

• The Parents’ Association A.G.M. took place on Tuesday last via Zoom. The officers of the committee are as follows:

Sara Marren O’Callaghan – Chairperson

Kate Flynn – Secretary

Danka Kochanova – Treasurer

The Parents Association are organising a Christmas raffle with the prize of a hamper for each class. More details to follow shortly. There will be a lovely surprise tomorrow for all the pupils and we are thankful to the Parents Association for supporting us with this. All will be revealed tomorrow!

• As we head towards the Christmas season we all realise it will be a very different Christmas for us this year due to Covid restrictions. One of the things we will not be able to do is the tradition of pupils handing out Christmas cards. We have to ensure that pupils only handle their own copies/books etc and it just would not be advised to hand out Christmas cards to multiple pupils in classes.  Just in case some pupils are working on their Christmas card list early we wanted to let you know this in good time. We look forward to next year when we hopefully can resume this lovely tradition.
• Thank you to the MidWest Simon Community who donated a number of stationery packs to the school earlier this term. There was enough to give one to all pupils in 6^th class and 1^st class. We hope the pupils will find these useful.
• As the weather has turned colder this week please ensure that your child has a coat. We will be outside for breaks as much as possible. This is so important as we need to ventilate the classrooms several times each day. Please make sure that your child’s coat has their name on it. We thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, Principal

Dear Parents/guardians,

We hope this week finds you well. Our news is as follows

• The Parent’s Association will hold their AGM next Tuesday 24^th Nov at 7.30p.m. via Zoom. All parents are entitled to attend. If you would like to attend please email the office at office@tolasns.com and we will forward the link on Monday.
• 5^th class had a lovely treat last Tuesday when they all got pizza from Supermacs following Kaytee winning an art competition for her class. I visited the class Tuesday afternoon but was too late for the pizza!!! I hope you all enjoyed it 5^th! Well done Kaytee!
• Thank you for your continued adherence to COVID 19 protocols. We really appreciate all parents/guardians wearing a facemask when on the school grounds collecting and dropping off pupils.  The Department of Education recently advised schools on an updated definition of a close contact in an educational setting
  • a)Any person who has had face to face contact within less than 1 metre with a confirmed case of COVID 19 for more than 15 mins in a school day
  • b)Any person who has been between 1 and 2 metres from a confirmed case of COVID 19 for more than 15 mins in a school day with consideration of other mitigation measures e.g. face coverings, pods, ventilation, IPC measures or uncertain compliance with mitigation measures in place ( assessed through clinical PHRA). Contacts are assessed from contact with a confirmed case of COVID 19 during their infectious period – 48 hours before the onset of symptoms if symptomatic or 24 hours before the test for COVID 19 was taken in those who are asymptomatic.
• Please note that if there is a confirmed case of COVID 19 in the school the public health team carry out a risk assessment and advise on the course of action. 
• We are continuing to implement hand hygiene measures, an enhanced cleaning regime every day, all staff wearing facemasks when they cannot maintain a distance of 2m from pupils and ensuring social distancing through pods and designated play spaces for each class bubble when on breaks.
• We also thank you for not sending pupils into school if they have any symptoms of COVID 19. If you are unsure please contact your G.P. who will advise whether your child should come to school or stay at home. Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are well this week. Our news is as follows

• We have been very busy in all classes this week marking Science week.
• Junior Infants have been learning about magnets. They did an experiment on dancing raisins to learn about forces and an experiment with skittles to learn about colour dispersion.
• Senior Infants did an experiment on making a cloud and were learning about solids, liquids and dissolving.
• 1^st class have been exploring the Antarctic and learning about magnetism in relation to the earth.
• 2^nd class did a skittles in water experiment to learn the science of why colours do not mix. They also did a bubbling magic potion to find out about the chemical reaction using bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, food colouring and glitter. Later this week they will be exploring sinking and floating and a leakproof bag experiment to see if polymer chains work together to prevent the water from leaking out of a bag even when we pierce it with pencils.
• 3^rd classes have been measuring pulses, making volcanoes, and making spaghetti towers!
• 4^th class have made lava lamps and carried out experiments on sound and heat both in school and at home.
• 5^th class have been exploring liquid density and making balloon cars.
• 6^th class have carried out experiments on density, keeping hands clean (very relevant!!) and discover your tap water.
• 6^th class also did a number of webinars this week. For some photos and more detail why not follow us on twitter at StTolasNS

• If you wish to order the Folen’s Christmas annuals please see details on flyers going home tomorrow. If you wish to order these can be paid for via Aladdin. The annuals will be delivered well before Christmas.
• Following guidance from the Department of Education and Skills it will not be possible to have our usual face to face parent/teacher meetings this year due to Covid restrictions. We will schedule parent/teacher meeting via phone in January. Dates and times allocated will be sent out in the New year. If you have any concern re your child or you wish to talk to your child’s teacher at any stage please either ring or email the office to arrange a time to speak with your child’s teacher.
• Fr. Arnie met with 2^nd class yesterday via Zoom to link in with the pupils in their Communion year. We do not have any dates yet for 1^st Communion or Confirmation next year. It is very difficult for the parish to plan these ceremonies at the moment. As soon as there are dates we will let you know.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope you had an enjoyable and relaxing midterm break. Our news this week is as follows

• Over the mid-term there were further upgrades carried out to the outside spaces of the school. The path beside 2^nd class was widened and tacmaced. In the past this area got quite muddy and waterlogged. This upgrade has greatly enhanced access to the school for 1^st class and 3^rd class who use the back gate.  The Board of Management also resurfaced the pathways beside Junior Infants and the walkway into Junior Infants. This means that Juniors can now have their own dedicated entrance and exit point.   From today we are asking Junior Infant parents to drop/collect their children at this gate where they only have a short walk directly into the building. We thank you for your co-operation in this matter.    
• Several classes took part in the recent Credit Union Art Competition. St Tola’s did very well with several winners across a number of classes. Congratulations to the following who all won prizes Rebekah (1^st Class), Talulah and Kyomie (2^nd Class), Charize and Amelia (4^th class) and Lauren (6^th class). Well done to all of you!
• As we have a number of pupils with nut allergies in a variety of classes we ask that pupils do NOT bring nuts or products containing nuts to school in their lunches. We appreciate your co-operation with us in this important matter.
• As the weather is colder can you please ensure that your child brings a coat to school every day. We will be going outside at breaktimes and it can be cold in the mornings especially. Please make sure that your child’s coat is labelled with their name.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald