Dear Parents/Guardians,

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

• Thank you to all the parents/guardians who have completed our survey in relation to your child and the online world. If you have not had a chance to complete the survey yet we would be very grateful if you could do so at your earliest convenience. A text message with a link was sent out again this week. We will be using the information in the survey to inform our guidance and school agreement on the use of internet enabled devices.
• We still have some spaces available in Junior Infants for September 2024. if you know of any parents whose child requires a place for September 2024 please ask them to contact the school office.
• Our 6^th class pupils will have the Ceremony of Light next Wednesday 24^th April at 7p.m. in Mary Immaculate Church. As per parish policy pupils wear their school uniform (their blue top and navy tracksuit pants are fine). Thank you to the pupils in 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th who are part of the school choir and school band who will also help out with the music. We wish our 6^th class pupils well on this step of their journey towards Confirmation.
• It is also a busy week for our 2^nd class pupils as they prepare for their First Communion on 27^th April at 11a.m. in Mary Immaculate Church. There is a lovely long standing tradition of having a small party for the 1^st Communion pupils and a cuppa for immediate family here in the school after the First Communion ceremony. Due to space restrictions we ask that only the First Communion child and the family in their household attend the school. If there are parents /guardians in 3^rd class or indeed in any class across the school who could spare a couple of hours to help the Parents Association with this please contact the school office and we will pass on your details.
• Well done to 5^th class and Senior Infants who are gone on a walk this morning in the locality to look at logainmneacha (placenames – as part of their Gaeilge).
• Thank you to 4^th class who visited Senior Infants earlier this week to carry out some shared reading. Both classes really enjoyed this activity and it was lovely that they got the chance to read to each other.  Keep up the great reading.
• Our pupils in 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes are doing great reading with our Accelerated Reader Programme. We have a number of pupils who are word millionaires – have read over a million words since September 23. Reading independently at this stage is fantastic to develop skills such as word vocabulary, comprehension skills and fluency. It impacts right across the curriculum and benefits the pupils in all subject areas.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to Term 3 of the current school year. We hope you had an enjoyable and relaxing break as we head into the final term of the current school year. Our news this week is as follows

• On behalf of everyone in our school community we extend our sincere sympathies to the family, friends  colleagues and parishoners of Canon Brendan O’ Donohue who died on the 4^th April last having lived and served as parish priest and retired priest here in Shannon since 1988. Canon Brendan was well known to us here in St Tolas having officiated at many school ceremonies including our most recent First Confessions. His wisdom, empathy, good nature and fantastic sense of humour will be greatly missed. I thank the pupils in 5^th and 6^th classes who stood outside the school on Monday last to honour Canon Brendan as the funeral cortege passed the school. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílís.
• We are looking forward to the start of free hot lunches for every pupil in St Tolas starting soon. The LunchBag will be our provider of hot meals and over the Easter break a lot of work was completed to get the food preparation area ready. There are still a few jobs to complete but we expect the launch of this new service to take place very shortly. As soon as everything is ready we will update you. This will be a fantastic addition to the school and we are looking forward to the service being rolled out.
• As mentioned before Easter we are taking part in a project with Clare Education Centre called Agree to Agree. We are gathering information on internet enabled device usage in relation to our pupils. So far we have surveyed pupils and staff. Now is your chance as parents/guardians to participate also. Please note the link to the survey will be sent out today via text message to parents/guardians. The survey is completely anonymous and we would be very grateful if you could complete it at your earliest convenience.
• Swimming lessons are starting next week for pupils in 4^th, 3^rd and 2^nd classes in Shannon Leisure Centre.  4^th class are scheduled on Mondays at 1.30p.m., 3^rd class have their lessons on Tuesdays at 1.30p.m. and 2^nd class have their lessons on Wednesdays at 1.30p.m.  The lessons will continue for 6 weeks. Lessons cost €4.50 per day and can be paid via Aladdin or in cash.  Swimming lessons are part of the Physical Education curriculum and apart from medical reasons all pupils are expected to take part in the aquatic strand of P.E.
• Please see flyer attached from Shannon Library in relation to a free weekly storytime and colouring session for 3 to 6 year olds.
• Our school photos will take place on Thurs 2^nd May. if you have already sent in an order form there is no need to do anything else. If you would like to get photos of your child/children on that day please contact the office.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

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