DEC 2016 PASSPORTS

Passport application forms for children can be witnessed by a principal or deputy principal of a school once the parent shows photographic ID and signs in their presence. If you need a form witnessed please make an appointment to see Ms. Higgins or Ms. Meagher in advance of calling to the school.

ENROLMENTS

Applications for enrolments in third classes for the 2017/18 school year will be accepted from January 16th to January 30th 2017. Our enrolment policy and application forms are available from our website www.st-kilians.com and from the school office between 9am and 2pm.

ROAD SAFETY

The Road Safety Authority will visit all classes this month to remind our pupils of the importance of being traffic aware when out and about, particularly on dark mornings and evenings. Adults are respectfully reminded that parking/stopping on double yellow lines, in front of or adjacent to our school gates puts all our children in danger.

NUACHT

Fifth classes visited Tallaght Community

School to see their show TCS factor.

Our school librarians do a tremendous job of organisation in the library. We hope to be able to add to our stock of books after our book fair next March. Meanwhile donations of children’s books in good condition are always welcome.

Comhghairdeachais to Nathan Tobin, Niamh Dolan and Aíbhe Murray who were recent winners in the Credit Union Art Competition.

Our class Christmas cards were beautiful this year. We hope you enjoyed sending them to friends & family. Sales of the cards raised €300 for school funds.

6th classes would like to thank Betty Fitzpatrick for their invitation to the Christmas celebration in St. Kilian’s Church. The cakes & treats were delicious.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

St. Kilian’s SNS will close at 12:00pm on Thursday 22nd of December for Christmas holidays and reopens on Monday 9th January at 8:50am. Parents/guardians are asked to note that St. Kilian’s SNS will be closed to pupils on Thursday 12th of January to facilitate staff professional development in the new primary language curriculum.

AN NOLLAG

Now that December is here, we’ll begin preparing for Christmas. Our crib is in reception and the student council have decorated our Christmas Tree. The spirit of kindness, generosity and goodwill is always very evident in St. Kilian’s SNS. There are absolutely no expectations from staff that children would purchase a gift for teacher.

PARENTS ASSOCIATION

Míle buíochas to our parents association for organising a wonderful Christmas Fair this year. The fair requires a huge amount of time and work but is always a very enjoyable event for all.Congratulations to the winners of the raffle. Tickets for the draw for the television are still on sale you can get them from the office any day up until the 21st of December when the draw will take place. Tickets are €2 each or 3 for €5.

WINTER READY

Fresh air and exercise is just as important in the winter. Pupils have been reminded to bring a jacket to school so they can keep warm on yard or school walks.

Our school opens for pupils at 8:50am each morning. No responsibility is accepted for pupils arriving before that time. Our school closes at 2:30pm. The school cannot accept responsibility for looking after any child after that time. Parents who wish to have their children escorted home should make their own arrangements for a meeting point.

In the event of an unforeseen/ emergency closure, parents will be notified as soon as possible by text and on the school website www.st-kilians.com . It is important to make sure our school secretary is informed of any changes to contact details.

School attendance is very important but please do not send a sick child to school. If your child becomes unexpectedly unwell during the school day we will contact you. Children are not routinely ‘kept in from yard’ unless they have a physical injury.

RESPECTFUL ONLINE COMMUNICATION

We strongly advise parents to ensure that access to all online communication is suitable, supervised and closely monitored. Are you aware of the online message sent or received by your child?

Children in primary school neither need nor should have access to facebook (or similar) and instagram, snapchat etc. Please take the opportunity during the holidays to review the access you have given your child to social networking sites or apps. Both you and your child should be able to identify and know every person on their contact list. Talk about, model and insist on respectful online communication.

CHRISTMAS EVENTS

Christmas is coming and St. Kilian’s SNS is getting ready. We wish the pupils of the junior school

the best of luck in their show on Tuesday 20th December. Parents/guardians are welcome to collect their family members for the senior school if they would like to bring them to see their siblings/cousins perform.

Pupils in the senior school will be present in St. Kilian’s Church on Wednesday 21st of Dec ember at 11:30am for a carol

service. Parents are most welcome to join us.

Pupils from our 3rd & 4th classes will be performing their drama scripts for the whole school on Wednesday 14th December. Our drama teacher, Ms. Geraldine Pender, reports that our youngest pupils are extremely talented in improvisation and performance.

All pupils must wear the bottoms of their school tracksuit & runners on Thursday 22nd December as we will all be going to the park for a “jingle jog”. Children may wear a Christmas jumper or Christmas themed top.

Santa has been invited to visit the school this year. We understand how busy he is but hope he can fit us in.

GREEN SCHOOLS

'If You Want Everyone to Survive, Help the Habitats to Thrive!' , has become the new motto in St.Kilian's Senior School as we continue our work towards a fifth Green flag. This ' Green Code' was chosen by the green school committee from all the class entries and was created by Mr.Lalor's 5th class. Well done to them! As part of our work towards flag renewal, it is very important that we maintain the great efforts made by the whole school to stay green. So the committee have been reminding their classes to use the correct bins, bring home any lunch waste, conserve water and always close windows and doors and turn off the lights when leaving the classrooms. During Science week the 5th & 6th classes had the opportunity to explore the diverse world of Irish plant life. Thanks to Grace Garde for returning as part of the Heritage in Schools Scheme. The children were very impressed to find the library transformed into a laboratory with lots to explore. A big thanks to Kingswood Community College for allowing us to borrow 2 laboratory microscopes, which the children were very interested in. Finally, we would like to congratulate the Junior School on a very successful renewal visit. We are looking forward to welcoming Aisling from South Dublin Co.Co for our own renewal visit in the new year.

SPORT

Supertroopers: We hope you all enjoyed the supertroopers programme. Keep up the exercise, as we have learned it’s benefical to how we think and feel!

Camogie: Training will continue for the camogie team every Thursday at 2:30pm until 3:30pm, we would like to thank Dynmpna & Elaine and also Ms. Kavangagh, Ms. Duggan & Ms. Reilly for giving their time to train the girls.

Soccer: Jim Crawford from the FAI will be in to visit on the 8th of December for a day coaching.

New Year: We are looking forward to starting Athletics and soccer after Christmas.

158th CASTLEVIEW SCOUTS

The 158th Castleview Scout Group are looking for new members! If you are interested you can come up any night to put your name down. Weekly timetable: Monday/6:30pm-8:00pm/Beavers 6-9yrs Monday/8:00pm-10:00pm/Ventures 15-18yrs Tuesday/7:00pm – 8:30pm/Cubs 9-12yrs Wednesday/7:30pm-9:30pm/Scouts 12-15yrs Any night – Leaders 18+ Please contact Seán Keogh Group Leader on 085-8384986 or Liz Dolan Deputy Group Leader on 087-2255187, if you are interested or need more information.

************* O welcome, little Christmas Guest,

Dear Jesus, from above: Upon thy face, so pure and mild,

We see God’s smile of love. Amen

Nollaig faoi Sheán agus athbhliain faoi

mhaise daoibh go léir.

The staff of St. Kilian’s SNS wish all our pupils, their families and friends a

“Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year”

www.st-kilians.com For updates & news