Thursday Note 11th January 2024

January 11th, 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope you had a restful break and are ready for a new year and a new school term. It was lovely to meet all our pupils again this week.  Our news this week is as follows

  • We are currently accepting enrolments for Junior Infants for September 2024. If you have a child to enrol or you know of a child who wishes to attend St Tolas please contact the school office for an enrolment application form before January 26th.
  • Pupils in 5th and 6th classes have started basketball training at lunchtimes. We are very grateful to Dean Flynn and Cliodhna Mulcahy from Shannon Jets Basketball club who are helping out with coaching. The pupils went down to Shannon Leisure Centre this morning to do some training on a bigger court. We will be participating in the Marion Keane Memorial Basketball tournament this term and the pupils are looking forward to this competition.
  • Just a reminder that attendance at school is very important. It is very difficult for pupils to progress if they miss significant time from school. If your child is sick – has a temperature or is vomiting etc they should of course be kept at home. Under the Education Welfare Act 2000 the school is legally obliged to report all absences over 20 days in a school year. It is important that you provide a reason for any absence as we send in the reasons provided by you if making a report. If the reasons are due to exceptional circumstances such as illness you will not hear from the Education Welfare officer. We are now sending text alerts to parents if their child has missed 10 /15 days so this will help you keep track of any absences. If you are taking your child out of school for a holiday we ask that you inform the school of this in writing for our records. We would ask that as much as possible you schedule family holidays for when the school is closed.
  • Parent/teacher meetings for Junior Infants to 2nd class will take place on 31st January and 1st February after school. The times will be sent out tomorrow to parents/guardians concerned.
  • As the weather has turned much colder this week it is important that pupils would bring a coat to school every day. If the yard is free of ice we will be going outside to play and get some fresh air.
  • Can I please remind parents/guardians once again to take due care and caution when entering and exiting the car park.  If there are no spaces you may park on the road as long as you do not cause an obstruction to any neighbours.
  • St Tolas has been informed of an in-service day for all staff on the new Primary Mathematics Curriculum which will be implemented from September 2024. This training will take place on Monday 29th January and the school will be closed to all pupils on that day.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal


Thursday Note 21st December 2023

December 21st, 2023

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!
  • 5th and 6th 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 22nd 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 8th January 2024 at 9a.m.

Nollaig Shona daoibh go léir.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal


Thursday Note 14th Dec 2023

December 14th, 2023

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 20th December at the times below
JUNIOR INFANTS 9.15A.M.SENIOR INFANTS 9.45A.M.1ST CLASS 10.15A.M.2ND CLASS 10.55A.M.
3RD CLASS 11.30A.M.4TH CLASS 12P.M.5TH CLASS 12.35P.M.6TH CLASS 1.10P.M.
  • 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 2nd 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th 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 22nd 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 22nd 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 8th January at 9a.m.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal


Thursday Note 7th December 2023

December 7th, 2023

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 20th December at the times below
JUNIOR INFANTS 9.15A.M.SENIOR INFANTS 9.45A.M.1ST CLASS 10.15A.M.2ND CLASS 10.55A.M.
3RD CLASS 11.30A.M.4TH CLASS 12P.M.5TH CLASS 12.35P.M.6TH CLASS 1.10P.M.
  • 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 5th 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 8th 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 1st, 2nd and 3rd 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 13th 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


Thursday Note 30th November 2023

November 30th, 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are well this week even though the weather has got quite cold. Our news this week is as follows

  • Next Friday is 8th December and we are holding a fundraiser in aid of LauraLynn Children’s Hospice. This charity provides support and care for children facing a terminal illness and their families. If pupils wish to take part they can wear a Christmas jumper or Christmas colours (red /green). We would ask for a small donation from pupils (e.g. no more than €2). We will sing a Christmas song at Cruinniu. You can find out more details on this fundraiser on the school’s Instagram page. If pupils do not wish to take part that is fine also.
  • Please see flyer attached re a FREE webinar next Tuesday 5th Dec at 7p.m. entitled Let’s talk Kids and Online Gaming safety.
  • Pupils in 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes are making Christmas cards this week to be distributed to older members of the community by Shannon Gardai. We are very grateful to the pupils for taking part in this project. Well done!
  • It’s the time of year when illnesses are very common. If your child has a temperature /fever or is vomiting or has diarrhoea they need to be kept at home until they are better. If your child is absent due to illness please inform the school the reason for the absence.
  • As the weather has got colder this week it is important that each pupil comes to school with a coat. If it is dry we will be going outside for breaks but a coat is necessary.
  • The school band will be performing in Skycourt, Shannon Town centre on 13th December (time to be finalised next week). They are busy rehearsing at the moment and I know lots of practise happening at home too. Thank you to Ms Hansbury and Ms Flynn who are giving up their lunchtimes to work with the band.
  • First class recently finished learning all about Antarctica. They learnt about the weather, penguins and other marine life that live there. They made lovely fact sheets which are displayed in the hall for all to see.
  • Our new Student Council are working hard. They recently surveyed pupils in 2nd to 6th classes in relation to their attitude to Student of the Week. They are going to collate this information and present it to the teachers when completed. We are looking forward to seeing the pupils’ views on this topic.
  • All classes are busy with practising for their Christmas performance. It is lovely to hear all the rehearsals taking place in the hall each day. We will be performing for parents/guardians on Wednesday 20th December with times finalised soon.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal