Dear Parents/guardians,

We hope you are keeping well as at last there seems to be some signs of Spring in the air. Our news this week is as follows

• Our boys’ and girls’ soccer teams made up of pupils from 5^th and 6^th classes took part in the FAI schools competition in Lee’s Rd. in Ennis on Tuesday last. All the teams gave a great account of themselves and represented their school with pride. A special mention goes to Chloe in 6^th class who scored a total of 15 goals on the day! Thank you to Mr. Tyrrell, Ms Hackett and Aoife who accompanied the pupils on the day and also organised coaching over the past few weeks.
• Thank you to all who supported our annual bookfair last week. I know some pupils are waiting on books ordered. The order went in last Friday and we will distribute the books as soon as they come. A big thank you to our student council who helped out at the bookfair on Thursday and Friday and even stayed after school to do so. It is greatly appreciated. Thank you to Ms Riordan for organising.
• Last Friday we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in style with a special Cruinniu Gaelach. Most classes performed a poem/song as Gaeilge and we even had a rap battle (in Irish!) from 6^th class. Maith thú rang a sé.
• On behalf of everyone in St Tolas we extend huge congratulations to Mr. Gary Tyrrell and his wife Aoife on the safe arrival of their new baby son Charlie. I believe his daughter Ada is delighted to be a big sister. I also understand that baby Charlie has decided it is great fun to keep his Daddy awake at night!!!
•  As part of our Agree to Agree project where we are developing an Internet and Technology Use Agreement.  Pupils in 3^rd to 6^th classes filled out surveys recently. I would like to thank the pupils for their engagement  and insight into this important topic. We will be asking parents/guardians to contribute after the Easter holidays.
• We are very proud of our 4 6^th class pupils who have represented St. Tolas in the primary Game this year. This is a series of trials for children to represent their school to play at half time during Clare’s football and hurling championship games. The competition is extremely tough with over 60 competing. Daithi Lynch represented us in hurling, Chloe Mullins for camogie, Lily Cummins for ladies football and Dylan Keane for boys football. They all did themselves, their families and their school proud. Huge congrats to Dylan who was one of the players chosen for the boys football. We wish him all the luck in the world and look forward to seeing him in a Clare jersey at half time on April 21^st in Cusack Park when Clare take on Limerick.
• Just to let you know that the Months Mind Mass for our beloved and greatly missed pupil Dylan Coady Coleman will take place in Mary Immaculate Church on this Saturday 23^rd March at 12p.m.
• St Tolas will close tomorrow at 12p.m. for all pupils and staff for the Easter holidays. I hope that everyone gets a chance to relax and recharge over the break. School will re-open on Monday 8^th April at 9a.m. Beannachtai na Cásca daoibh go leir. (Easter blessings on everyone in our school)

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

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

• We will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow in St Tolas with Lá Glas. Pupils may wear green tomorrow if they wish to mark our national holiday. Please be mindful that the weather is cold and wet so ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather too. At Cruinniu tomorrow we will have lots of performances of songs and poems as Gaeilge. Classes have been busy preparing over the past few weeks.We will also have a Tráth na gCeist for pupils from 3^rd to 6^th classes tomorrow morning. Go n-eirí an t-ádh le gach dalta . (Best of luck to all pupils)
• Pupils from 5^th class represented our school yesterday in a Tráth na gCeist (Quiz) as Gaeilge for primary schools organised by Wolfe Tones GAA. We had several teams entered and all did very well. Well done 5^th class.
• Last Friday evening our football team took part in the final of the Paddy Carrig memorial Tournament and they won the cup competition against St Conaire’s. Thank you to Ms Hehir for coaching the team. Well done to all involved.
• Our annual bookfair is taking place today (Thurs) and tomorrow Friday in the school hall. You may purchase books for your child at the following times 1.40p.m.-2.15p.m. Junior and Senior Infants and 2.40p.m.-3.15p.m. for 1^st to 6^th class pupils. Please note that transactions will be cash only. Depending on how many books we sell the school will get free books for our school libraries.
• Pupils from 3^rd and 4^th classes are taking part in an Indoor hurling competition today in Cratloe. We wish them all the best. Thank you to Ms Hehir, Ms Connolly and Michelle who are accompanying the pupils to the competition.
• St Tolas is taking part in a project called Agree to Agree organised through Clare Education Centre. The purpose of the project is to come to a school wide agreement around the use of internet enabled devices by pupils and to support parents in implementing this. The first step of the project is to survey pupils, staff and parents in relation to digital wellbeing. I have gone into 5^th and 6^th classes so far to carry out pupil surveys. I would like to thank the pupils for their co-operation. It has been very interesting. I will carry out the survey with 3^rd and 4^th class pupils in the coming days. We would love if we could have a parent focus group to look at benefits and challenges for parents around the online world. If you would have an hour to spare next week and would like to be involved please contact the school office.
• Please see flyer attached from Shannon Athletics club.
• St Tolas is closed on Monday next 18^th March as it is our national holiday. St Tolas will close next Friday 22^nd March at 12p.m. for our Easter break. The school will re-open on Monday 8^th April for Term 3 of the current school year.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

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

• Thank you to everyone in our school community who came together to support each other since we learnt of the tragic loss of our beloved pupil Dylan Coady Coleman. We were especially proud of all our pupils who paid their respects to Dylan’s family last weekend.  Please rest assured that the staff in St Tolas will do all they can to support every pupil in the weeks and months ahead. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dylan’s family at this time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
• We applied for free hot lunches for all the pupils in our school and we have been informed by the Department of Education that our school can enter this scheme this year.  The Lunch Bag company will be the provider for St Tolas. Please see flyer sent home in your child’s bag with information for parents from the Lunch Bag. We are awaiting confirmation of our start date but expect it will be in the summer term.
• Pupils from 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes took part in the Paddy Carrig Memorial Football Tournament on Tuesday last organised by Wolfe Tones GAA. One of our teams has qualified for the A final which will take place tomorrow evening. Thank you to Ms Hehir, Ms Flynn, Ms Hackett and Ms Fitzsimons who accompanied the pupils to the competition. All the teams gave a sterling performance despite the muddy conditions.
• Our boys and girls basketball teams took part in the Marian Keane memorial Schools Competition yesterday in Shannon Leisure centre. Unfortunately neither team progressed to the next round of the competition but they played well and gave a great account of themselves. Thank you to Dean Flynn and Cliodhna Curley from Shannon Jets club who gave up their time to come in and help coach our teams. It is greatly appreciated.
• Today our 6^th class pupils have gone to Ennis N.S to take part in a schools Chess competition. This is the first time St Tolas has participated in this competition and we wish all our pupils well. Thank you to Mr. Tyrrell and Ms McGuane who have accompanied the pupils today.
• Today is World Book day and to celebrate everyone in our school took part in D.E.A.R time – Drop Everything and Read. Senior classes will buddy read with Junior classes today and early next week.  There is always great excitement when the older pupils go and read with the younger pupils.
• The Scholastic Bookfair will be in the school next week. This is an opportunity for parents to purchase books  for their children.  The bookfair will be open to parents and pupils at the following times

Thursday 14^th March and Friday 15^th March 1.40p.m. – 2.20p.m. for Junior and Senior Infants and                2.40p.m.-3.30p.m. 1^s to 6^th classes

Depending on how many books we sell the school will get credit to buy additional books for our school libraries.

• St Tolas will be closed to pupils and staff tomorrow Friday 8^th March as the school is being used as a polling station. We will re-open at 9a.m. next Monday 11^th March.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal