Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope this finds you well as we journey through January. Our news this week is as follows

• Congratulations to the boys and girls in 2^nd class who made their First Confession on Tuesday evening. I’m sure your parents were very proud of you as we are here in St Tolas. Well done to all involved.
• Thank you to our Senior Infant grandparents who joined us yesterday for our celebration of Grandparent’s day as part of Catholic Schools Week. Each class had prepared a poem or song to honour our grandparents and to remember those who are no longer with us. A special thank you to the boys and girls in Senior Infants who kindly shared a special memory they had of their own grandparents.
• All the rehearsals are almost at an end as the date for the Peace Proms concert is finally here. Pupils from 4^th, 5^th and 6^th class will join with school choirs from all over the mid-west to sing with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland in the University of Limerick Sports Arena on Saturday evening. Thank you to Ms Halliday, Mr. Tyrrell, Ms Hackett and Ms Coughlan for all the work they have done over the past few months to prepare the pupils. A huge thank you to our pupils who have been fantastic and put in so much work for the concert. We hope you enjoy the experience.
• 4^th class will be playing St Senan’s school in a friendly basketball match tomorrow in Shannon Leisure Centre.  We hope they have an enjoyable time and we wish them all the best. Thank you to Ms Fitzsimons and Ms Coughlan for organising.
• Pupils from 5^th and 6^th class are currently training for the Marion Keane memorial schools basketball tournament which will take place shortly. We have four other schools in our group and there is both a boys and girls’ competition. Best of luck to everyone involved.
• We understand that some evenings pupils may not be in a position to complete homework due to family circumstances. If this is the case we would appreciate if you can put a note in your child’s journal to let the teacher know. We thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
• There will be a Confirmation preparation mass this Sunday in Mary Immaculate Church @ 11am for pupils making their Confirmation. Pupils to wear their school uniform for this.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are well despite the cold weather this week. Our news this week is as follows

• Parents/teacher meetings have been taking place this week. It has been lovely to see so many parents/guardians here in the school. Please remember that it is possible to meet with your child’s teacher at any stage during the school year if you have a worry or concern. It is a good idea to arrange a time through the school office to ensure that your child’s teacher will be available to meet with you.
• Next week we will be celebrating Catholic Schools week. The theme this year is Catholic Schools: Walking Together in Faith and Love. On Wednesday next 25^th January we will celebrate Grandparents Day. Due to the fact that we have less space in the hall this year we would like to extend an invitation to the grandparents of Senior Infant pupils only to join us for a short celebration with the school community if they are available. While this celebration is part of Catholic Schools week we extend the invitation to Senior Infant grandparents from all faith backgrounds and none. Our Grandparents day celebration will take place at 11a.m. on Wednesday 25^th January here in the school.
• Some of the pupils in 2^nd class will make their First Confession next Tuesday evening in Mary Immaculate Church at 7p.m. This is a big milestone as they head towards First Communion. This year we will make our First Confession alongside pupils from St. Senans and St. John’s School. I know our pupils have been working hard over the past few weeks and we wish them well. As per parish policy our pupils wear their uniforms while making First Confession.  On Sunday next 21^st January at 11a.m.  there is a preparation Mass in Mary Immaculate Church for 2^nd Class pupils making First Confession this year.
• You can keep up to date with with St Tolas news on our school website at www.tolasns.com. Why not follow us on our School Facebook and Instagram accounts to see what the children in St Tolas have been up to.  

Instagram: sttolasns or Facebook: St Tolas NS 

• The books in our Accelerated Reader (AR) library have been slowly diminishing over the past year. Can we please ask all pupils and parents from 3^rd to 6^th classes to check at home for these books? They will have stickers on them stating a Quiz number and Level.  Also, if you have any books that your children are finished reading, we would be more than happy to take them off your hands to replenish the books in our library.  
•  The school photographer will visit the school on Thursday 9^th February. Consent forms were sent home this week. If you would like a pupil or family photo please complete the form and return it to school by Friday 3^rd February.
• You may like to get all the family up and moving on a Saturday morning. Why not take part in our local Parkrun that takes place every Saturday morning. All details can be found online at Illaunmanagh Park run. Or through this link  https://www.parkrun.ie/illaunmanagh/ . Its free to register and a great way for all the family to keep fit. 
• Please find information on the flu vaccine sent with this note. We were asked by the HSE to let parents/guardians know of this new service available for children.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

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

• Parent/teacher meetings will take place next week on Wednesday 18^th January and Thursday 19^th January. To facilitate these meetings the school will close to pupils from 1^st class-6^th class at 2.25p.m. on Wednesday 18^th January ONLY. School will close at 2.40p.m. on Thursday.  The times for face to face meetings have been sent out via text yesterday. For parents/guardians who have opted for a phonecall the class teacher will contact you in relation to a time for a scheduled phonecall but this may take place on times or days outside of scheduled parent/teacher meetings. When ringing you the class teacher will be using their own phone so the number will come up as a private number. 
• Rehearsals are continuing for 4^th, 5^th and 6^th class pupils to get ready for the Peace Proms Concert in the University of Limerick on 28^th January. Extra tickets will go on sale tomorrow morning at 10a.m. These tickets will be limited and will be sold on a first come first served basis. When purchasing tickets make sure you choose the Saturday night concert on 28^th January at 8p.m. – the website is www.peaceproms.com, click on tickets and make sure to select Limerick Saturday 28^th Jan @8pm.  If requested the code is SAT28LIM8PM.
• 5^th and 6^th classes were invited to St Caimin’s secondary school on Wednesday last to attend their Talent Show. We would like to extend congratulations to St Caimin’s on a wonderful show and a great display of talent. We thank St Caimin’s for the kind invitation to our pupils.
• We have been asked by the householders in Collins Park that parents would not park there in the mornings or evenings to drop off or collect as you are blocking householders in and they cannot get out of their own driveways. We thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
• 6^th class have been busy this week learning a little about coding and Java Script at their computer time. Well done 6^th class.
• GAA coaching has recommenced for Junior Infants to 3^rd class with Caimin from Wolfe Tones GAA club every Wednesday. The focus is on fundamental movement skills taught in a fun way. Pupils in these classes need to wear their school tracksuit and runners on Wednesdays. Hopefully the weather will improve in the coming weeks and the pupils can get outside to do the training on the astro turf.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you had an enjoyable Christmas break and a Happy New Year to you and your family. Our news this week is as follows

• We all know there is a lot of illness circulating in the community at present. Your child should be kept at home if they have a high temperature or have a sore throat and a cough until these symptoms have eased. Hopefully many of the viral illnesses circulating at present will diminish in the coming weeks. We thank you for your co-operation in this matter. If your child is absent due to illness please fill in this reason on the absence notification form on Aladdin.
• Congratulations to Ms Amanda Corry and her husband David on the safe arrival of their new baby boy called Paddy recently. We send every good wish to Ms Corry and her family and no doubt baby Paddy will keep them busy over the next few weeks.
• 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes will be busy over the coming weeks getting the songs and moves ready for their Peace Proms Concert which will take place on Saturday 28^th January in the Sports Arena in the University of Limerick. Our pupils will join with school choirs from all over the mid-west and will be accompanied by the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland. It promises to be a fantastic experience for our pupils.
• Parent/teacher meetings will take place on 18^th and 19^th January this year. We are giving parents/guardians the option of a face to face meeting or a phonecall from your child’s teacher.  A letter is going out today to the eldest/only child in each family so you can indicate which option you would like. Please return to your child’s teacher as soon as possible and we will organise dates and times for you then.
• Second Class have a busy January ahead as their First Confession will take place on Tuesday 24^th January in Mary Immaculate Church at 7p.m. We wish all the pupils making their First Confession well as they prepare for this sacrament over the coming weeks.
• Thank you to all our pupils, parents and guardians who supported our Christmas draws before the holidays A total of €922 was raised. Thank you to the Parents’ Association for organising this.
• As we begin a new term we ask that all parents/guardians using the car park to please exercise due caution and care when entering and exiting. If there is no place to pull in the gardai have told us you can park on the road as long as you do not cause an obstruction. Please drive very slowly through the car park as many of our pupils may be walking to cars and they can be difficult to see. We thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
• As it is January we ask that you send a coat to school with your child. We will be going outside for break and lunch when the weather allows. It is a good idea to label your child’s coat and jumper/cardigan so if misplaced they can be returned to the rightful owner. For health and safety reasons the only jewellery allowed in school are stud earrings and a watch. Pupils do not need to bring a mobile phone to school. If you need to contact them or pass on a message please contact the school office. If you feel older pupils need a mobile phone for after school it must remain in their bag and be powered off. We thank you for your co-operation in these matters.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal