It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the tragic death of our beloved pupil Dylan Coady Coleman. Dylan is a much loved 4^th class pupil in St Tolas N.S. His gorgeous smile and kind heart endeared him to everyone in our school community. He will be greatly missed.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his Mum Laura, dad Garry, little sister Zoe and his new baby brother Shane, his grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, his wider family and his wide circle of friends, especially here in St Tolas.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.

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

Dear Parents/Guardians,

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

• On behalf of everyone in our school community I would like to offer sincere condolences to Alex in 2^nd class, his Mum Josie and his little sister Emilia on the sudden and unexpected passing of his dad Damien Birchall on Sunday last. Our thoughts and prayers are with Alex and his family at this sad time.  Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.
• 2^nd class pupils will make their First Confession on Monday next 12^th February in Mary Immaculate church at 7p.m. We wish all our pupils well on this occasion.
• Congratulations to our boys’ and girls’ basketball teams who both won all their matches in the Marian Keane memorial basketball tournament in Shannon Leisure centre yesterday. The pupils played really well and were also a credit to the school. Both teams now progress to the next rounds of the tournament as winners of their respective groups. Well done to all involved.
• Our Bingo fundraiser will take place next Wednesday 14^th February in Newmarket-on-Fergus Community hall starting at 7.30p.m. For this occasion children are allowed attend as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Bingo books cost €12 for a single and €15 for a double. Children’s bingo books cost €4. There will also be a fabulous raffle on the night with the top prize a 50” HD TV . Why not come along and make a family night of it. It promises to be lots of fun and you might even win a prize or two.
• 6^th class will have some visits over the next few weeks from David Donoghue who is a songwriter and published author as part of the artist in schools scheme. . He will be working with the pupils in the areas of music and literacy. We are looking forward to seeing what the pupils produce.
• Please see flyer in schoolbags sent home today in relation to school photos. These are entirely voluntary and you do not need to have a photo taken if you do not wish.
• St Tolas is closed to all pupils and staff next Thursday and Friday 15^th and 16^th February for mid-term break. The school will re-open on Monday 19^th February at 9a.m. We hope you have an enjoyable and restful mid-term break.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are keeping well as we start a new month. Happy St. Brigid’s Day. Our news this week is as follows

• Parent/teacher meetings for Juniors to 2^nd class took place yesterday after school and continue today. Thank you to all those who attended yesterday. Please note that it is possible to meet with your child’s teacher at any stage if you have a worry or concern. Please contact the office to arrange an appointment so that the teacher is available to meet with you.
• As today is St Brigid’s day many of our classes are continuing a tradition that dates back 1500 years in Ireland by making St. Brigid’s crosses from rushes. 3^rd class were busy yesterday making these crosses. Well done 3^rd class.
• St. Tolas has registered to take part in Safer Internet Day which takes place on Tuesday February 6th.  Each class will be exploring age-appropriate lessons on how to stay safe online. We will also be designing posters to promote staying safe online. The theme of our weekly Cruinniú next week will focus on Safer Internet Day and the children will be given the opportunity to share their experiences about what they learn during the week. 
• The Webwise website is a valuable resource for schools and also has a Parents Hub which gives very good guidance for parents and guardians about helping to keep their child safe online. You can follow this link for excellent supports and advice to help you ensure your child makes the most of their time online. https://www.webwise.ie/parents/
• Pupils from 5^th and 6^th classes will be taking part in the Marian Keane memorial basketball tournament in Shannon Leisure centre next Wednesday. They will be playing teams from Clarecastle N.S and Stonehall N.S. We wish them all the best.
• First Confession for pupils in 2^nd class will take place on Monday 12^th February at 7p.m. in Mary Immaculate Church.
• For pupils in 6^th class making confirmation this year the Ceremony of Light will take place in Mary Immaculate Church on 24^th April at 7 p.m.
• Please see flyer attached re Check It Fits service where the RSA will check if your child seat for your car is safely fitted. They will be in Shannon next week. See flyer for details.
• Tomorrow 2^nd Feb is a national day to raise awareness around people living with Congenital Heart Defects. To celebrate the day people are asked to wear red. Pupils may wear a red tshirt/top on that day if they wish. There is no charge as the aim of the day is to raise awareness.
• As next Monday 5^th Feb is a public holiday St Tolas will be closed to pupils and staff. School will re-open as usual at 9a.m.  on Tuesday 6^th February.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are keeping well as we power through January! Our news this week is as follows

• Yesterday we celebrated Grandparents Day as part of Catholic Schools week. We were delighted to see so many grandparents from Senior Infants able to attend. We also think of those grandparents who could not be with us. Well done to all the pupils who performed lovely songs and poems to honour and celebrate the gift of grandparents. A special well done to Senior Infants who shared lovely memories of their grandparents with all of us.
• Pupils from 5^th and 6^th class are going to Shannon Leisure centre today for basketball training. They have been training at lunchtimes in school on Mondays and Tuesdays for the past few weeks.  Well done to all involved.
• Please see flyer attached re an Easter Camp that is being organised by some of the staff here in the school for pupils from St. Tolas.
• Shannon Athletics Club has been reformed after an absence of a few years since Covid. Training restarts next Wednesday 31^st Jan in the All Weather pitch here in Shannon. Please see flyer attached for details.
• Juniors are working on the theme of the Doctor’s Surgery in Aistear for the month of January. They are having great fun in the roleplay corner being the doctor, the nurse and the patients. I popped into Juniors this morning and they are working so hard on learning their letter names and sounds too! Well done Juniors.
• Next Friday 2^nd Feb is a national day to raise awareness around people living with Congenital Heart Defects. To celebrate the day people are asked to wear red. Pupils may wear a red tshirt/top on that day if they wish. There is no charge as the aim of the day is to raise awareness.
• Today we had two Gardai from Shannon Garda station visit 6^th class and Junior Infants. They discussed cyberbullying with the pupils in 6^th class and they talked about how the Guards help people in Junior Infants. They hope to come back another day and visit other classes.
• St Tolas has been chosen as the beneficiary for funds raised at Bingo on Wednesday 14^th February in the hall in Newmarket-on-Fergus. All monies raised that night will go to the school. The main prize for the raffle is a 50 inch Toshiba HD TV. There will be lots of other amazing prizes to be won on the night also.  As it is the start of the mid-term break children will be allowed attend Bingo that night as long as they are   accompanied by their parents.  We are now looking for sponsors for some of the games to be played on the night. Sponsorship for a game costs €140. If you know a company who would be willing to sponsor a game please ask them to contact the school office and we will arrange this. So make sure to mark your diary for a great night out on Feb 14^th.
• We are currently accepting enrolments for Junior Infants for September 2024. Please contact the school office for an enrolment form if you have a child or know a child who wishes to start school this year. The closing date is next Friday 26^th January.
• St Tolas will be closed to pupils next Monday 29^th January to facilitate staff inservice on the revised Primary Maths Curriculum. School will reopen to pupils on Tuesday next.
•  We have been informed that First Confession will take place for pupils in 2^nd class making First Communion this year will be on Monday 12^th February in Mary immaculate Church at 7p.m. We will be sharing First Confession with St. Senans school.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal