Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are keeping well as we come to the end of Term 2 for the current school year. Our news this week is as follows

• Thank you to all who supported our Bingo fundraiser in Newmarket-on-Fergus Community hall last Saturday night. Thank to the many families who made the journey out. Thank you to our sponsors who supported us and to all who donated prizes for the raffle. Thank you to all staff who helped organise the night and a special thank you to Muinteoir Alanna who put in trojan work to ensure the night was a success. Finally, we are extremely grateful to Ger and the hall committee of Newmarket-on-Fergus for allowing us to use the hall and for running the night for us. We do not have a final figure yet of how much was raised but will let you know after Easter.
• We had a number of boys and girls’ teams take part in the FAI Clare Schools Soccer competition in Tulla last Tuesday. Despite the atrocious weather our teams did us proud with one of our boys’ teams progressing to the medium size school Clare County finals which will take place in Lee’s Road Ennis in late April. Thank you to Muinteoir Gary for coaching the teams in the past few weeks and giving up his lunchtimes to do so. Thank you to Muinteoir Noreen, Karen and SNA Mary who accompanied the pupils on the day also.
• Well done to the pupils in 6^th class who took part in the Ceremony of Light on Tuesday evening last in Mary Immaculate Church. It was a beautiful and meaningful ceremony and every pupil did a job on the night. Well done to all. Thank you to the boys and girls in the choir who gave up their evening to join their friends in 6^th class and enhance the ceremony with their singing and music.
• We wish Teddie in 5^th class every success as she journeys to Chicago over Easter to take part in the World Irish Dancing Championships. Best of Luck Teddie. It is an amazing achievement to qualify for this competition.
• 6^th class visited Shannon Library yesterday to take part in a presentation entitled “A tour of our Solar System” as part of the Irish Astronomy week. The pupils found this talk very interesting and had some great questions.
• Swimming lessons will start for pupils in 4^th class on Tuesday 14^th April, 3^rd class on Wednesday 15^th April and 2^nd class on Thursday 16^th April at 1.30p.m. to 2.15p.m. each day. Lessons will continue for 6 weeks for these classes. Lessons cost €30 for 6 lessons. The pool charges us for the number of pupils booked even if they do not attend every week. Swimming is part of the Physical Education curriculum and unless there is a medical reason your child cannot attend we advise that all pupils must attend.
• Shannon Library have organised a host of events to take place over the Easter holidays. Please see flyer attached with details and booking details.
• St Tolas will close tomorrow 27^th March at 12p.m. for the Easter break. School will re-open on Monday 13^th April at 9a.m. I wish all pupils, parents and staff a relaxing and enjoyable Easter break.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

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

• Our enrolment process for Junior Infants 2026 is currently open. If you have a child that you wish to enrol in Junior Infants for the next school year or you have a friend or neighbour who wishes to enrol a child please contact the office for an application form before the end of January.
• Next week is Catholic Schools week. The theme this year is Catholic Schools – Normal lives, Called to holiness. As part of our Catholic Schools week we celebrate our annual Grandparents Day next Wednesday at 11a.m.  Due to space limitations we would like to invite the grandparents of SENIOR INFANTS to join with the whole school in our celebration of the gift of grandparents in our lives.
• Parent/teacher meetings for pupils in Juniors, Seniors, 1^st, some 2^nd and 6^th class will take place on 28^th and 29^th January. Times for the meetings were sent out by text yesterday. Please contact the school office if you did not receive a time.
• All classes will cover the Stay Safe programme as part of Social. Personal and Health Education this term. This personal safety programme develops children’s ability to recognise, resist and report risk situations or abusive encounters by teaching children to

1.To identify for themselves unsafe or unsettling situations

2.Simple rules to help them avoid abuse

3.To respect and value the rights of others

4.The language and skills they require to seek help.

Further information for parents on this programme is available at www.staysafe.ie.  If you have any further queries please contact your child’s teacher or the principal.

• GAA training continues with Coach Caimin on Thursdays for Juniors to 2^nd class and Coach Mark on Mondays for three weeks only for 1^st to 6^th class.
• Basketball training has started at lunchtimes on Mondays for boys and Tuesdays for girls in 5t and 6^th class who wish to take part. We will be taking part in the Marion Keane memorial Primary Schools basketball competition again this year.
• Please see flyer attached from the Shannon Resource centre in relation to upcoming Circle of Security parent programme.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

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

• Congratulations to our boys’ football team who won the Cumann na mBunscoil final in Cusack Park in Ennis this morning by scoring an amazing 10-4 to 4-1. Thanks to muinteoir Maria and muinteoir Noreen who coached the boys today.  Thank you also to our amazing supporters from 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th & 6^th classes who travelled to Ennis and cheered on the team so well.  Well done to our superstar boys!
• Parent/teacher meeting for pupils in 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5th classes were organised yesterday and today after school. Thank you to all who attended yesterday and we look forward to seeing more parents this evening. Parent/teacher meetings for pupils in Juniors to 2^nd and also 6^th classes will take place at the end of January. We are happy to meet with parents at any stage in the year if you have a concern. Please contact the school office to arrange to ensure your child’s teacher is available to meet with you.
• If you have a child to enrol into Junior Infants for the school year 26/27 please contact the school office for an application form. If you know of families who wish to enrol their child into Junior Infants for next year you can let them know that we are accepting enrolments now and to contact the office for a form. We are happy to post it out to anyone who cannot call into the school.
• Please see attached flyer from Department of Education in relation to an upcoming event tomorrow Fri 21^st, the attached poster about Oiche na hóige/Youth Night 2025 includes a QR code where you can find details of events happening across the country this Friday 21^st November.  Oiche na hOige will see hundreds of youth clubs and services open their doors to celebrate their members, and their youth workers and volunteers, and to build awareness of youth work in your community.  The Department of Education and Youth encourages everyone to find out what’s happening in their area and join in.  More information is available on  gov.ie/youthnight
• Last week a teacher and students from St Patrick’s Comprehensive gave a presentation to 5^th & 6^th classes entitled ‘Escape the Vape’.  The 2^nd level students shared information on the dangers of vaping and the impact this can have on your health.  We were delighted that they took the time to visit us in St Tolas and pass on their knowledge to our pupils.  It was lovely to see some past pupils presenting and revisiting their primary school.
• Well done to Jordan from 6^th class who took part in the Clare Cross Country finals in Lees Road in Ennis on  Tuesday.

Kind regards,

Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are keeping well as we head into the bank holiday weekend. Our news this week is as follows

• In 2021 St Tolas opened our two special classes – one for pupils with Autism and one for pupils with multiple disabilities. We were also approved a two SEN classroom extension to house these classes in appropriate accommodation. We are finally at the stage of applying for planning permission to build these classrooms and our application was submitted to Clare County Council last week. We are delighted to be at this stage of the project and hope the project can progress from this point in a timely manner.
• School tours have started this week! 2^nd class had a lovely day yesterday as they travelled to Galway to Galway Leisure World and the Galway Aquarium. They had lots of questions about marine life and got to see some amazing creatures. Juniors and Seniors are off to Turoe Pet Farm today. We hope the weather improves for them and that they have a great day out. Tomorrow 3^rd and 4^th classes are going to Adventure World in the University of Limerick to try out lots of activities. We hope they have a great day too.
• Congratulations to our team who qualified for the Paddy Carrig final on Monday evening in Wolfe Tones GAA club. They met a very strong St Conaires side who were victorious on the night but I was so proud of the sporting attitude displayed by our team as they kept playing until the end of the game. Thank you to Muinteoir Maria and Muinteoir Noreen who coached the team on the night.
• Well done to our school band who travelled to Cusack park in Ennis on Tuesday to take part in a celebration of school music with schools from around the county. We were delighted to take part and to see our band representing our school. Thank you to Muinteoir Kate and Muinteoir Alanna for organising this event for us.
• Congratulations to Robyn in 6^th class who was the winner of the recent Earth Day art competition organised by Skycourt Shopping Centre. Well done to Ivy in 6^th class who represented Clare in the Primary game at the Clare v Limerick match last weekend.
• Please see flyer attached re Pixel Portraits event in Shannon Library this Saturday.
• Please see flyer attached re Clare mela event in Shannon Town Park on Monday 2^nd June.
• We thank Muinteoir Aisling for all her hard work and dedication in her time in St Tolas since the start of the year. Tomorrow is her last day with us.  We welcome Muinteoir Lisa back next week.
• St Tolas will be closed to pupils and staff next Monday 2^nd June as it is a public holiday. The school will re-open on Tuesday next at 9a.m.  We wish all our past pupils well who will start their Junior Cert and Leaving Cert exams next week. We hope it goes very well for them.

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We hope you are keeping well and enjoying the fine weather for however long it lasts. Our news this week is as follows

• Our pupils in Solas and Aoibhneas Special classes are travelling to Cusack park in Ennis today to take part in the first Réaltaí na Clár (Clare Stars) day. We wish them well and hope they have a very enjoyable day.
• Congratulations to the boys and girls who made their First Communion on Saturday last. We were so proud of you all.  Thank you also to the choir and band who provided the music.  Thank you to the Parents’ association and 3^rd class parents who provided the lovely treats and party for the Communion children here in the school after the ceremony. Mile buiochas to Muinteoir Siobhan, Muinteoir Kate and Muintoeir Fiona for all their hard work and to Muinteor Alanna for leading the choir.
• Well done to all the pupils who took part in the first Shannon Schools Athletics competition in St. Senans Rugby club and on the athletics track yesterday. The pupils were fantastic and did themselves proud. Thank you to Muinteoir Lorna, Muinteoir Diana and Sinead who accompanied the pupils.
• Well done to our boys hurling team who took part in the Cumann na mBunscoil hurling competition on Tuesday last in Caherlohan. Although the games did not go their way the boys gave a good account of themselves and had an enjoyable day out. Thank you to Muinteoir Maria and Muinteoir Noreen who accompanied the team.
• Tomorrow pupils from 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes take part in the Paddy Carrig memorial football competition in Wolfe Tones GAA. We have a number of teams taking part and we wish them well. Thank you to Muinteoir Maria for co-ordinating this event on our behalf.
• We are starting our annual Quizbrain of St Tolas today also. All pupils from 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th classes take part in the first four rounds with 30 questions asked. The top 20 then go through to two semi-finals with 30 questions per round with the top 5 qualifying for the grand final at the end of June. I wish everyone the best of luck in this year’s competition.
• Our school band have been invited to Cusack park in Ennis next Tuesday to join with school bands from all over Clare to perform a number of tunes. I know our band have worked so hard all year and we hope they enjoy this experience too.
• Next week our school tours also start. Class teachers will let you know the specific details for your child’s tour this year. 2^nd Class are off to the Aquarium in Galway on Wednesday. Juniors and Seniors are very excited about visiting Turoe pet Farm on Thursday and 3^rd and 4^th classes are going to Adventure World in the University of Limerick on Friday next week.

As you can see it is a very busy time of the year in St Tolas!

Kind regards, Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, School Principal