Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are enjoying the fine weather and hopefully it will continue! Our news this week is as follows

• We wish our Junior and Senior Infants all the best as they go off on their school tour this morning. They are off to Moher Hill farm today and we hope they learn lots about the animals and have a great day. Let’s hope the sun keeps shining for them!
• We have organised a parent information evening next Wednesday 22^nd May at 7p.m. We respectfully ask that at least one parent/guardian from each family attends this important meeting in relation to supporting our pupils develop good habits and are safe in their online interactions. We would like to share the findings of our pupil, staff and parents survey and ask for your input into our draft Agree to Agree document. The meeting will not last more than an hour. We look forward to seeing you then.
• Earlier this year we applied to a school scheme to install solar panels here in the school building. I am delighted to report that the application was successful and the solar panels will be installed next week. We hope that this will help with some of the electricity running costs of the school. As you can appreciate the bills to run the school have greatly increased over the past few years but the capitation grant we receive does not cover these increases.
• The free book scheme will continue for the school year 24/25. You may have heard in the news that the amount allocated to schools has been cut by 17% from €96 Euro to €80 per child. When you consider that some of the textbooks can cost over €20 each this amount will be tight for the school. This will mean we can cover the cost of books, workbooks, digital subscriptions (e.g. Accelerated Reader) and copies only this year.
• 3^rd class had a visit yesterday from two members of the Fire Service who spoke to the pupils about fire safety in the home. No doubt many of our 3^rd class pupils checked at home in relation to smoke alarms and the importance of fire safety. We thank our Fire Service for visiting us and raising awareness on this important topic.
• Just a reminder again in relation to our Hot Lunches. A parent can pause the hot lunches at any time if you know that your child will be absent. You need to go into the app and select the dates. You must give a minimum of 36 hours notice but if you know your child will be absent well in advance you can do it at any stage before 36 hours. Don’t forget to turn the service back on when your child returns and similarly you need to give a minimum of 36 hours notice. If you have any suggestions for alternative meals or any queries in relation to the hot lunches you can email the company at info@thelunchbag.ie

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

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

• We would like to wish the pupils in 6^th class who are making Confirmation all the best tomorrow. They have worked hard over the past few months to prepare for this sacrament and we hope they have a lovely day celebrating this milestone with their families.  We are also thankful for the pupils in 6^th class who are not making Confirmation but who have been very patient and understanding while their classmates have been busy. Thank you also to the pupils from 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th classes who are in the choir/band. We hope the weather stays fine for our Confirmation tomorrow.
• We are currently carrying standardised assessments in reading, spelling and maths from 1^st to 6^th classes starting this week and over the next few weeks. We hope that we will have good attendance over these weeks so that we can get the testing completed in a timely manner.
• Our hot lunches are going down very well with the children. We are delighted that Susan Downes has joined the Lunchbag team and is our food operative. If you know your child will be absent for a period of time (e.g. holidays) please pause your order so there is no waste. You need to give 36 hours notice to pause and the same again to reactivate the account on the app.
• Just a date for your diary – our 6^th class Graduation Celebration will take place on Wednesday 19^th June at 11a.m.
• Our school calendar for the school year 24/25 has been finalised. Please see the details attached. It will also be available on our school website.  We return to school after the summer break on Wednesday 28^th August.
• 3^rd class will have a visit from two officers from the Fire Service next Wednesday to give a workshop to the class on Fire Safety in the home. We are very grateful to the Fire Service for this programme and look forward to their visit.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are keeping well as we begin a new month. Our news this week is as follows

• Congratulations to our boys and girls in 2^nd class who made their First Holy Communion last Saturday in Mary Immaculate Church. We were delighted that so many family members and friends joined with the boys and girls to celebrate their day. We were so proud of all the boys and girls who did a great job. Thank you to Ms Kelleher, Ms Burke and Sinead who helped prepare the pupils for the ceremony.  A big thank you to the pupils in 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes who were in the choir and school band and really enhanced the ceremony with beautiful singing and music. Thank you to Ms Hansbury and Ms Flynn who led the choir and band. We also appreciate the great effort put in by the Parents Association and parents in 3^rd class who organised a little party for the pupils and a cuppa for the parents here in the school. We hope our pupils and families enjoyed their special day.
• Swimming lessons are continuing for pupils in 4^th,3^rd and 2^nd classes at present. It is great for the pupils to get the opportunity to have swimming lessons as part of out Physical Education programme. 
• 4^th class have been busy this week learning long multiplication. Yesterday they took part in a digital escape room where they had to use their long multiplication knowledge to solve problems. Well done 4^th class!
• Junior Infants have been busy planting sunflower seeds and cress seeds. I can’t wait to see what will grow in the next few weeks. All we need now is some sunshine! 
• 6^th class are busy preparing for their Confirmation which takes place next Friday 10^th May at 11a.m. As per parish policy pupils wear their uniform to the ceremony. The uniform can either be the grey pants/skirt, grey jumper, blue/white polo shirt OR school tracksuit top and plain navy tracksuit pants (no branding). We are looking forward to the ceremony next week.
• Our boys hurling team are busy training with Ms Hehir at the moment for the Cumann na mBunscoil competition. Ms Kelleher is training the girls camogie team also. Tomorrow (weather permitting) both boys and girls will go to the camogie pitch in Wolfe Tones for a training session. The boys’ competition takes place next Wednesday in Clonlara. The girls’ competition has not been finalised yet. Best of luck to both teams.
• St. Tolas is closed to pupils and staff next Monday 6^th May as it is a public holiday. We will re-open on Tuesday next. We hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable long weekend and hopefully the weather will be kind to all of us.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal