Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are well in this lead up to the Christmas break. Our news is as follows

• Thank you to all our parents/guardians and family members who joined us yesterday for our Christmas performances. It was lovely to see you. We are very grateful for your understanding in only staying for your child’s play. Our hall has limited space and we appreciate your co-operation in this matter.
• Well done to each and every pupil who gave a terrific performance at their play yesterday. We were so proud of every pupil. A huge thank you to every staff member who supported the pupils in preparing for their performance. It was wonderful to see everyone shine on the stage.
• Thank you to the Parents’ Association who organised the raffle and congratulations to the winners. We are especially grateful to the members of the Parents’ Association who gave up their time to sell tickets yesterday at the shows.
• Last Friday pupils from Senior Infants went to the sorting office in the Post office here in Shannon to see how the letters and parcels are organised before delivery. They had a wonderful time and had lots of questions for our postal workers. Yesterday they went to visit the Post Office and got to post a special card before Christmas. Well done Seniors!
• 5^th and 6^th classes had a lovely trip on Tuesday when they were invited to see Back to the 80’s Musical performed by pupils in St. Caimins’ school here in Shannon. It was lovely for them to see this performance and some familiar faces who were past pupils. 
• Tomorrow we will hold our annual carol service here in the school for our pupils. This is a lovely tradition on the day of the holidays when we take a little time out of all the busyness to just reflect on the meaning of Christmas together as a school.
• I would like to wish our cleaner Rima every good wish as she leaves us. Rima has given sterling service to St Tolas in her many years working here. She has always given 100% to the school and we will miss her. We thank her for all her hard work and dedication over the years and we wish her every blessing for the future. We hope she will return to us at some point in the future.
• St Tola’s will close to pupils and staff tomorrow Friday 22^nd December at 12p.m. for the Christmas holidays. I would like to wish all in our school community a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.  The school will re-open for all on Monday 8^th January 2024 at 9a.m.

Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

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

• It has been full steam ahead all this week as every class is busy rehearsing their play. We are all looking forward to performing them next week for the school and family.  Due to limited space in the hall we ask that you only attend your own child’s class performance.  The performances will take place in the hall on Wednesday 20^th December at the times below

• Our school band went to Skycourt Shopping Centre yesterday to perform their Christmas medley. They were absolutely brilliant and did themselves proud.  We collected €320 which will be used to purchase instruments for the band. The new owner of the Town centre heard their performance and bought a big bag of sweets for every member of the band! Today the school band will perform at Shannon Old Folk’s Christmas party in Wolfe Tones GAA club. We wish them well.
• Pupils from 2^nd 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes visited Mary immaculate Church last Tuesday as part of our advent preparations. It was lovely for the pupils to meet Fr. Tom who made them feel very welcome in the church. Fr. Tom hopes to visit the school and meet the pupils after Christmas.
• Pupils from our Solas and Aoibhneas classes are off to the airport for a visit today. They will get to see departures and will get to spend time in the sensory room in the airport. We hope they have a lovely time.
• Pupils from Senior and Junior Infants are learning all about the Post Office and sending letters and parcels at the moment. To tie in with this theme they are going to visit the sorting office in Shannon Post office in Smithstown tomorrow. They will travel there by bus. I know they will have lots of questions for the post office staff. We are very grateful to Shannon Post Office for facilitating this visit at this busy time for them.
• A big thank you to Analog Devices Community Award and Charitable Donations program who awarded €1500 to St Tolas. This money will be spent on Physical Education equipment. We need to replace and add to our P.E equipment and every pupil will get to use it. Thank you to Geraldine Frost who nominated the school for this award.
• The Parents’ Association have organised a class raffle for each class. Tickets cost €2 for one strip and three for €5. Tickets are on sale until next Friday 22^nd December when the raffle takes place. There is a prize of a Christmas hamper per class. We thank the Parents’ Association for organising this raffle.
• The school will close to all pupils and staff next Friday 22^nd December at 12p.m. We hope you all have a healthy and Happy Christmas. St Tolas will re-open to pupils and staff on Monday 8^th January at 9a.m.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are well and enjoying the start of December. Our news this week is as follows

• It’s that time of year when lines are being learnt, costumes are being sorted and excitement is mounting as we prepare for our annual Christmas performance. Due to limited space in the hall we ask that you only  attend your own child’s class performance .  The performances will take place in the hall on Wednesday 20^th December at the times below

• A big thank you to two parents Caoimhghin Phelan and Jim McCormack who came into the school last Friday evening to help our caretaker to assemble the school stage. Also, a massive Míle Buíochas to Jack in 5^th class who helped put up the stage with his Dad and did a brilliant job.  We couldn’t have managed without him! It is greatly appreciated.
• Tomorrow Friday 8^th December we are having a Christmas Jumper day in aid of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice. Pupils may wear a Christmas jumper or colours -red or green. We are asking for a small donation of  €2  or less per child which will all be donated to this worthwhile charity.  If pupils do not wish to take part or make a contribution that is not a problem.
• Thank you to the pupils in 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd classes who made beautiful Christmas cards for our Senior Citizens here in Shannon. These were collected today by Shannon Gardai who will distribute them along with a treat box for our older friends.
• Our School Band will perform in Skycourt Town Centre next Wednesday 13^th December at 12.30p.m. to 2p.m. If you are around we would love if you could come along and support the pupils.  The school band have also been invited to perform at the Shannon Old Folks Christmas party on Thursday next in Wolfe Tones GAA. We thank all the pupils and the teachers involved for all their hard work in relation to the band particularly over the past few weeks.
• Please see attached flyer on information for kids fitness classes taking place in Shannon.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald