Dear Parents/Guardians,

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

• Thank you to all our families who supported us last week in our Bingo fundraiser in Newmarket-on-Fergus Community hall. Thank you also to all our sponsors Curtronics; C&F Ceilings; David O’Flanagan Carpentry; Eirtech Aviation; Evcone Consruction; Hansbury Family; ICODA; Newmarket on Fergus Bingo Committee; Rogerson Reddan & Associates; Ryan Oil; Shannon Springs Hotel; Skycourt Shopping Centre; St Tolas Parents Association; TNT Buses; Tony Mulcahy. We are very grateful for your support. Thank you to all the staff who helped out in any way and especially Ms Hansbury who did so much work in organising this fundraiser. I am delighted to report that the school will receive €5050 from the night. All the monies raised will be used to purchase additional maths equipment and resources, additional readers for emerging readers and other resources for the pupils to use. We have been told that we can have a night again next February and we are looking forward to it already!!!!
• Our boys and girls indoor hurling and camogie teams took part in the Cumann na mBunscoil competition in Shannon Leisure Centre on Tuesday last. The boys competition is for pupils from 3^rd and 4^th classes only. The boys did a great job and won all their matches. They now progress to the next level of the competition. Thank you to Ms Hehir and Michelle who accompanied the boys to their match. The girls’ competition is for pupils from 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th classes only. The girls did very well also winning one of their matches and being narrowly defeated in their other two games. Thank you to Ms Kelleher, Ms Riordan and Aoife for accompanying them to their games. Well done to all involved.
• 6^th class have been working with songwriter and author David Donohue as part of the Teacher Artist Partnership programme run through Clare Education Centre. David has guided the pupils to compose the lyrics and music for their own song which they recorded yesterday. It is a fabulous song and we are looking forward to 6^th performing it at Cruinniu soon. Well done 6^th class!
• The school photographer will be here next Tuesday to take school photos. If you wish your child to have their photo taken please ensure you have returned the consent form before then.
• Our basketball teams are busy practising for the next round of the Marian Keane Memorial basketball tournament. They are going to Shannon Leisure Centre tomorrow morning for additional training.
• Please see attached flyer from the HSE National Immunisation office about Measles and parents can get more information on www.immunisation.ie
• Can we once again ask all parents/guardians using the car park to take extra care and caution. It can get very busy in the morning. For the older pupils it would be great if you can drop and go to avoid congestion in the car park. For the younger pupils please do not cause an obstruction or block an empty car park space in the morning. Staff need these to get into school on time. The gardai have told us it is ok for parents to park on the road for a short time as long as you do not cause an obstruction to the neighbours.  In the evening please have patience and exit the car park slowly. Try not to cause an obstruction and block other drivers in. Please remember that our car park is used by our pupils and exercise due care and caution. We thank you for your co-operation with this very important matter. We all want our pupils to be safe.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal