Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are well this week as we move closer to the end of the current school year. Our news this week is as follows

• Congratulations to our school hurling team who won the Jonny Cregan Memorial Cup yesterday evening in Wolfe Tones GAA club. We are very proud of all our boys and girls who took part not just in the final but in the qualifiers also. Thank you to Ms Hehir and Ms Hackett for organising.
• All our classes have had an opportunity to take part in orienteering around the school this week. There has been great working out of clues and great team play as the older classes have helped and supported the younger classes.
• Today the 6^th class v teachers Mini Olympic handball match takes place. I hope both teams have a great match and may the best team win!!
• Please see flyer attached from Shannon Family Resource centre in relation to the Rainbows programme.
• Our class allocation for the school year 23/24 means we will have 10 mainstream teachers. We will have two Senior Infant Classes and two First classes next year.  The teachers have been allocated as follows

• We would like to wish all our 6^th class pupils and pupils from other classes who are leaving St. Tolas this year every good wish for the future. We have loved seeing your progress and development in your time in St Tolas and know that we will miss you. We know you will do yourselves and your families proud as you move onto the next stage.
• St Tolas will close for the summer holidays next Tuesday 27^th June at 12p.m. I would like to thank our staff for their hard work, dedication and commitment to the pupils throughout the year. I would like to thank parents/guardians for your support and co-operation. I would like to thank the Parents’ Association for all their efforts on behalf of the school this year. It is greatly appreciated. Finally, I would like to thank all our pupils for a wonderful year. The enthusiasm, good humour, hard work, perseverance and resilience displayed by our pupils has been wonderful to see. We are blessed in St Tolas to have kind, considerate, talented and hard working pupils. I hope that all in the school community has a relaxing and enjoyable summer. Keep safe and have fun!

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are keeping cool in the current heat! Our news this week is as follows

• Congratulations to all our pupils and staff on a wonderful Sport for All day last Tuesday. It was a jam packed day with pupils getting to experience a wide variety of games and activities to suit all. We had musical hoops, an obstacle course and tug of war, parachute games and dodge ball, fun races, GAA skills, basketball skills, art activities, dance/yoga and running races out beside the Green Store. We thank our parents/guardians who joined us in the afternoon for the races and gave great encouragement to everyone. The pupils were fantastic and it was wonderful to see the positive sporting attitude displayed by everyone and how they supported and encouraged each other. Most of all it was great to see everyone having fun. I know there were a few tired people on Tuesday evening (including staff!!!)
• 6^th class are going on their school tour next Tuesday to Bay Sports in Athlone. We hope they have a fantastic day out on their last school tour in primary school. 3^rd class are going on their tour next Wednesday to Just for Fun in Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. We hope they have an enjoyable and funfilled day.
• Our quizbrain competition continues with the top 20 highest scores from the first rounds going head to head for the semi-final. The first semi-final heat took place yesterday and the standard is very high this year. We wish the pupils well for semi-final 2 which will take place next week.
• The Summer Stars Reading Challenge is now live at the library. You can register your child by popping into Shannon library at any stage and filling in an application form. The aim of the programme is to encourage children to keep up their reading skills over the summer. For every book read there are little prizes to be claimed. The best thing about the programme is that it is completely free.
• Please see attached letter with information in relation to books and supplies for the next school year.
• Next Friday 23^rd June we will hold our 6^th class graduation.  Due to lack of space we will only be able to accommodate the parents of 6^th class pupils. The ceremony will take place at 11a.m. and we are looking forward celebrating our 6^th class pupils as they prepare to move on to secondary education.
• Our end of year school reports will be posted shortly and you should receive them early next week. If you have moved house can you please let the office know your new address if you haven’t already done so.
• Tomorrow, Friday 16^th June we will hold a no uniform day in aid of Munster Wheelchair Hurling club.  Pupils may wear their own clothes tomorrow if they wish and donate €1 or €2 euros which will all go to the charity. If pupils do not wish to take part it is not a problem and they can just wear their uniform as usual.
• St Tolas will close for the summer holidays on Tuesday 27^th June at 12p.m.
• Finally we have some sad news this week. We would like to extend our sincere condolences from all in the St Tola’s community to Sarah Meyers (Burke) on the death of her father. We are thinking of Sarah and her family at this difficult time. Ar Dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are keeping well and enjoying the fine weather. Our news this week is as follows

• We were delighted to present the hoodies to 6^th class yesterday here in the school. These hoodies mark the pupils’ time in St Tola’s and will be a memento for them to keep. The 6^th class pupils may wear their hoodies to school if they wish for the remainder of the school year.
• Tomorrow pupils from 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes will take part in the Johnny Cregan Memorial Tournament. This is a 7 a side hurling tournament for Shannon schools only. We wish our pupils taking part all the best.
• To show our support for the Clare Senior Hurling team in their match this weekend pupils may wear saffron and blue to school tomorrow Friday. There is no need to go and buy special clothes for this. If pupils do not wish to take part that is not a problem and they wear their uniform as usual.
• We have completed the final round of stage 1 of our Quizbrain competition yesterday. All pupils in 3^rd-6^th classes took part in the first four rounds. The 20 pupils with the highest scores progress to the semi-final rounds which will take place in the coming weeks. Congratulations to all pupils who have taken part so far. The standard has been high this year and we thank them for their efforts and attention over the first four rounds.
• Today Elaine from Shannon Library visited the school and went into every class to talk to the pupils about the Summer Stars Reading adventure. Please see flyer attached for details.  She also talked to the pupils about joining the library if they are not already a member. The library is free to join for primary pupils. A parent/guardian needs to pop into the library to fill in a registration form for their child. They can then take out up to 12 books at a time for three weeks. If you joined before and you have books at home and you are worried you did not return them Elaine said it is not a problem. Pop into the library and have a chat with them and they will sort you out without any hassle. Over the summer break it is great if pupils can keep up their reading. Pupils can also borrow books form any library in the country if they are away on holidays and bring them back to Shannon when you return home. 
• We have checked the weather for next week and next Tuesday looks like a good day to have our annual Sport for All day. All classes will take part in fun activities in the morning with the class races taking place from 1p.m.  Each pupil has been assigned to a colour team and they can earn points for their team throughout the day. Bonus points will be awarded for positive sporting attitude and willingness to take part and have fun! It is a good idea to make sure your child has plenty of drinks (preferably water), suncream, a sunhat and runners/trainers. We are all looking forward to a great day!

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are enjoying the lovely weather as we enter the final month of the current school year! Our news is as follows

• Juniors and Seniors went on their school tour to Turoe Pet Farm on Tuesday last. They had a great time seeing all the animals and playing in the inflatable city. They loved the rabbits and the llamas! There was great excitement as the buses arrived at the school in the morning! The teachers were very proud of all the boys and girls and how well they did at the farm. I am sure there were lots of tired pupils on Tuesday evening after their busy day!
• If you have moved and changed your address can you please let the school office know by phoning between 9a.m. and 3p.m. or email office@tolasns.com.
• Our sensory room in our Aoibhneas class has been finally finished. We had to wait some time for all the equipment to be installed. We have a sensory den, lights, a projector and lots of sensory wall hangings for the pupils to use. Please see some pictures attached.  Thank you again for contributing to funding our sensory room through our Go Fund Me page. It is making a great difference to our pupils.
• Our annual Quizbrain competition is continuing. Rounds 2 and 3 took place this week with round 4 scheduled for next week. After the first four rounds the 20 pupils with the highest combined scores will go through to two semi-final rounds. We are very impressed with the general knowledge among the pupils and how well they have done so far!
• Please find attached information sent to the school by the HSE in relation to vaping and children. We have been asked to distribute this to parents for your information.
• Yesterday we had the mobile farm visit the school. Every class were scheduled to spend time with the animals throughout the day. We had goats, chickens, baby rabbits, kittens, a piglet, a donkey, ducks, geese, a cockerel and more! Some of the hens laid an egg. If they laid the egg on you, you got to keep it! The kid goat tried to go into 5^th class much to everyone’s amusement and he also tried to come and visit Tracey in the office!!! The pupils were so good with the animals and had lots of interesting questions for Ger, the farmer too! It was a great day!
• As it is quite warm at present it is a good idea to send extra drinks preferably water) with pupils to school. We thank you for your co-operation in this matter.
• St Tolas is closed to pupils and staff next Monday 5^th June and Tuesday 6^th June. St. Tolas will re-open on Wednesday next at 9a.m. We hope the fine weather stays with us for the long weekend and that you can get out to enjoy it with your family.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal