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· Congratulations to our athletes who took part in the Cumann na mBunscol Athletics Competition in Santry at the beginning of June 2008. Great success for St. Brigid’s Girls School yet again! All the girls in the team performed very well, but special congratulations to

Well done, too, to our Under 10 relay team who came first (again!) and brought home the cup for a second year. Our other Relay Teams also did extremely well. The Under 11 Relay Team, under 12 Relay Team and Under 13 Relay team all came home with bronze medals. Special thanks to Mrs. O’Connell, Mrs O’Farrell and Mrs. Cusack, who trained the teams to such a high standard.

· An Assembly was held in the school hall on Friday 30^th May to mark the sad loss of our teacher Nuala O’Shea. The girls and their teachers prepared a joyful celebration of Ms. O’Shea’s life in the school, expressed through song, poetry and the childrens’ memories. We were delighted to be joined by Nuala’s mother Mary, her sister Aedin, and her niece Katie, who really appreciated the assembly and visited Nuala’s class afterwards. Nuala will be missed in St. Brigid’s by her colleagues and her pupils.

· Our wonderful senior choir performed in the New Ross Choral Festival at the end of May and took first place in their section. As ever, thanks to Mrs. Gillan for all her hard work and for sharing her wonderful talent in music with the girls in the school. Thanks too, to Mrs. Gorman for her piano playing, and her dedication to music in St. Brigid’s. The girls had a great day in New Ross and visited the Dunbrody Famine Ship while they were there.

· The school will be saying farewell to Mrs. Una Davis at the end of June 2008. Una is taking a well earned retirement. She has been a member of the teaching staff in St. Brigid’s for 19 years and is much loved by pupils and colleagues alike. While we are extremely sad to see her go, we are delighted for her, as she looks forward to a new and fulfilling phase of life.

· Many thanks again to all who helped to make Garden Day on June 6^th, such a success – especially all who volunteered their time or who donated prizes. Special thanks to Ms. Nuala Keane and Mrs. Gabrielle O’Herlihy who co-ordinate all the planning for Garden Day. Thanks also to the Teaching Staff, the pupils and all the Garden Committee who work hard to make the day run so smoothly.

· St. Brigid’s Girls’ School was presented with our second “Excellence in the Sciences” award in Croke Park at the beginning of June. Mrs. O’Connell, who co-ordinates the Science Curriculum in the school, attended the ceremony with a group of our pupils. Our school Garden has yet again proved to be a great resource for the Science Curriculum. The 4^th class pupils engagement with the “Steps to Engineering” Project was most enjoyable and educationally rewarding.

· St. Brigid’s Girls’ School would like to wish Fr. Tom O’Keeffe well in his retirement. We are delighted that he has promised to continue his association with the school, and especially that he will continue to help prepare the girls for their First Holy Communion and celebrate the Sacrament with them.

Dates for your Diary

Musical Evening Parents of 5^th & 6^th class and Orchestra

Thursday, 19^th June at 8p.m.

Sports Day Friday next, 20^th June in The Park

Junior Infs – 2^nd classes 11.00a.m. – 12.30p.m.

3^rd – 6^th classes 12.30 – 2p.m.

Graduation Mass 6^th Class – Wednesday 25^th June at 8p.m.

School Re-opens on Monday, 1^st September 2008 at 8.45a.m.

· Fund Raising this year : this year we have held 7 fund raising events so far. Our final fundraiser of the year will be a “No Uniform Day” on Friday, 27^th June, the day the school closes for the holidays. We are supporting the Cabinteely – Kitui Partnership”. In particular we hope to help the “Friends of Kitui Education Project”. We have over 500 pupils in the school. If every child was to donate at least €2 on the day, we would raise enough to feed, clothe and educate 2 children at boarding school for 1 year. So please be generous on the day.

· Other fund-raising events held this year were : St. James Hospital Oncology Unit €1250, Chinese Childrens’ Heart Transplant Unit €800, Chinese Earthquake €1570, Tallaght Childrens’ Hospital €1100, Goal Badges €360, Trocaire €5754.50 and Br. Kevin Treacy, Missionary, Mongu, Zambia €1620

· We wish our 6^th Class all the best as they move on to Second level. They are talented and hardworking girls who, we know, will do very well in the future.

· LOST PROPERTY : All lost property will be on display in the school hall on Tuesday next, June 24^th. Any clothing not collected on this day will be sent to charity.

We wish all our families a relaxing and happy summer and look forward to seeing you all in September.