ST. BRIGID’S GIRLS’ SCHOOL, THE PARK

NEWSLETTER  - MARCH 2011.

Weather Issues     

The snow caused considerable problems for the Girls’ School, and indeed in the Park housing estate.  The slope of the land (an 11 meter drop on the school site) raised issues of health and safety for the school and for people trying to walk / drive in the Park estate.  Emergency Works, were carried out over the Christmas holidays to upgrade the heating, water and electrical supply to the prefabs.

Please note, in an effort to minimize any further disruption to teaching time, teachers meetings / staff meetings will be held outside school time completely for the rest of this school year. Therefore half days scheduled for 11^th March, 13^th May and 10^th June will now be full school days.  We will not be closing early, on those dates, as originally listed on our school diary.  Also, the In-Service day, scheduled by the Department of Education and Skills (referred to at end of school diary sheet) will not be taken during school hours.  Staff will attend in-service outside  school hours.

Sign Out System    

There is a slight change to the “sign out” system in operation in the girls school.  Pupils who have to leave before the end of the school day must be signed out by an adult at the school office.  The adult will collect an “Exeat” form and should hand this to the teacher in the classroom / on the yard when collecting the child. This is being introduced to ensure the children’s safety, especially when being collected from the yard by adults who might not be known to the teachers on duty.

Green Flag         

Our school is very proud of being awarded four Green Flags to date.  The 1^st – 4^th being Recycling, Energy Conservation, Water Conservation and Travel and Transport to school.  We have been invited to apply for a 5^th flag : Global Warming and Climate Initiative, and we are amongst a small number of school who have reached the 5^th stage in the Green School Initiative.  Our aim is to promote awareness from school to home so that we can extend the Green Corridor beyond our school walls.  This year we will look at issues of monitoring cost of Oil, E.S.B., Water and Waste charges in the school and compare end of year costs with last year’s costs.  The school has installed a short flush button on all toilets as an example of how we respond to environmental audits.  We will work together to achieve real goals  in reducing our carbon footprint.  In our school garden project we will investigate the opportunities to reduce the fuel miles that so many of our vegetables and fruit take in being transported by air/sea to reach our shops, when we could grow them at home.

School “Text a Parent” System.              

We still have approximately 15% of parents who have not joined the School Text-a-Parent System.  This is a very efficient way of reminding parents of upcoming events, meetings, special closings, staff meetings, or unscheduled closings in cases of severe weather such as this  last winter.  We would urge all parents to join this system.  If you need the code and instructions again, or are having difficulty joining the system, please call into our Secretary, Ms Toomey, any time, and she help you.

Internet Safety

Thanks to the Parents’ Association for organizing an excellent talk for parents on the topic of Internet Safety.  The girls in 6^th class have already completed a workshop with the “e-safety” group addressing the topic of safe use of the internet and mobile phones.  “E-safety “ will also visit the 5^th classes later this term.

First Penance, Confirmation and First Communions

First Penance Service will be held on Tuesday next, 8^th March at 7.30p.m. in Brigid’s Parish Church. (Second Class).

The date for our Confirmation this year is Thursday 24^th March.  The girls will be confirmed by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin in St. Brigid’s Parish Church.

Confirmation school photographs will be taken on Monday 28^th March.

First Holy Communions will be held on Saturday, 21^st May in St. Brigid’s Parish Church.

First Communion School photographs will be taken on Tuesday 24^th May.

Music, Music, Music !      

Fifth and Sixth class pupils will take part in the National Children’s Choir gain this year.  They will perform in the National Basketball Arena on Friday night, 1^st April.

We are delighted that a representative group from 5^th and 6^th class are also taking part in the Inter-schools Music Festival this coming weekend in Wesley College. The choir will perform on Friday afternoon and our Orchestra will perform on Saturday afternoon.  Parents are most welcome to come along to support the Choir and Orchestra.

Tesco Tokens

Tesco Supermarkets have just launched this year’s Tesco's Schools and Clubs initiative.  All tokens will be greatly appreciated!!

 Cake Sale

5^th class girls are organising a cake sale on Friday 11^th March to support the Habitat for Humanity Charity.  Funds raised will go towards building a home for the homeless people in Romania. Trocaire boxes are also being distributed this week.

Gaelic Football

We're very proud that St. Brigid's is one of three schools in Dublin which fields two girls' football teams and extra proud that one of those teams made it to the Divison One Cumann na mBunscol final. On Wednesday January12^th the pupils from third to sixth class travelled to Croke Park to cheer on the girls in red who were taking on our friends and neighbours from Hollypark. It was a thrilling match with end to end action. The defences of both teams worked hard to control their very lively opposing forwards. Midfield was a battle zone as great skill and determination was shown by all. Voices were hoarse by the end of the match and some spectators literally fell off their seats! One team had to win and Hollypark snatched the title from us in the final minutes. We would like to congratulate the girls of Hollypark, Ms. Candon and Ms. Haugh on their victory. We hope that they keep the cup polished for us as we have a space ready for it in our trophy cabinet. Well done to our girls who were superbly captained by Robyn Magennis on the day. The squad were a terrific group to work with over the past two years and we are very proud of them and of how they represented our school. Thanks to the parents for their co-operation and assistance and a huge thanks to Pat Ring and all at Foxrock Cabinteely for their invaluable support.

BANK OF IRELAND GAA CLUB FUND RAISING

Bank of Ireland are organising a series of club fund raising events as detailed below to be held in Croke Park in the coming months. If you are interested in attending and wish to avoid Ticketmaster fees, please contact Seán Carney on 087-2336410 or sean.carney@boimail.com. Group bookings can also be facilitated

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Spanish Lessons

Spanish Language Lessons are being introduced as part of our extra curricular activities.  The Jolie Ronde System is being introduced by Spanish Teacher Siobhan Lunn.  Visit www.lajolieronde.co.uk for more information about this fun learning system or contact Siobhan at 086-6010614 for information about Thursday afternoon classes.

Seachtain na Gaeilge -  5^th – 17^th March 2011.

Seachtain na Gaeilge is a two week festival held every year in March to promote the use of Irish language and culture.  Lots of information available on www.snag.ie  The girls in the school are already practising their Irish dancing with Mrs. Cusack and we look forward to yet another wonderful music session in the school with Airnean, traditional Irish music group, on Monday 14^th March.

Parking – Urgent!                         

A reminder to parents – please do not park on the double yellow lines or the zig-zag lines outside the school, or use them as a set down area. These lines should be kept clear at all times,  in the interests of the health and safety of the children.  The school warden has complained that her view of the children and the traffic is restricted by people using these areas as a set down point.  The issue has been reported to the Gardaí.  Parking on the yellow lines at the main drive-in gate completely blocks the view of those entering and leaving the school premises and will cause an accident.  Parents should not pull into the school grounds or use the gate area as a turning point – it is highly dangerous.

Supervision / Parking Issues

Please note that school opens at 8.45a.m. and finishes at 2.25p.m. (1.25p.m. for infants).  The school can only accept responsibility for the children during these times.  No supervision is provided before 8.45a.m. No arrangements exist for the supervision of children who arrive to school before the official opening time, or who remain after school hours.

The Traffic Wardens are also appealing to parents to cross with the wardens, and not further down the road.  Children should be shown good example and taught to cross safely. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown regularly audits use of the crossings and can withdraw the wardens.