Frásaí na Seachtaine
"Táimid an-chruthaitheach!"
See below to listen to the girls from Ms. Duffy's 1st class
showing us how to pronounce our Frása na Seachtaine!
School Calendars 2023-24 & 2024-25
Please click here to view School Calendars for 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Significant Dates in Term 3
10th -14th June | Creative Schools Week | All classes |
Friday 21st June | PA Midsummer Cake Sale & Raffle | All classes |
Tuesday 25th June | 6th Class Graduation | 6th Class |
Friday 28th June | Final day of Term 3 | All classes |
Thursday 29th August | First day of new school year | All classes |
School Tours Term 3
Monday 27th May | 2nd Class | Tallaght Astro Park |
Wednesday 29th May | Junior Infants | Glenroe Farm |
Friday 7th June | 5th Class | Blessington (Russborough House) |
Monday 10th June | 1st Class | Festina Lente |
Tuesday 11th June | 3rd Class | Causey Farm |
Friday 14th June | 6th Class | Kilruddery |
Tuesday 18th June | Senior Infants | Festina Lente |
Thursday 27th June | 4th Class | Clara Lara |
Thank You!
Thank you to the 302 families (that is 72% of our families!) who have already given a Voluntary Contribution to the school during this school year. Voluntary Contributions can be made via Aladdin at any time throughout the year. Each and every contribution is very much appreciated and will be used to enhance your daughter's learning environment.
Hollypark PA
Not long to go now until the PA Midsummer Cake Sale & Raffle: Friday 21st June!
Raffle tickets will go on sale next week at 'drop off' from 8.20am to 8.40am at the school gate. Cash appreciated as card machine being a bit temperamental....
6th class girls will sell to the girls in the classes too!
€2 buys 1 strip of tickets
€5 buys 3 strips of tickets
€10 buys 7 strips of tickets
Fantastic Prizes include: airfryer, flat screen TV, coffee machine, Smyths voucher and vouchers for multiple different stores and local businesses.
With huge thanks to our PA and all parents and local businesses who have donated to the raffle!
Hollypark PA 2024 - 2025
Thank you to Andrew Rhatigan who is stepping down from his two-year role as PA Chairperson this year. We sincerely appreciate all that is done by our hard-working PA. We are very fortunate to have such supportive parental involvement in our school.
As we look to the new school year, have you thought about taking a more active role in our Hollypark PA? |
The Role of Hollypark PA
The Education Act, 1998 clearly outlines the role of the Parent Association in primary schools:
The Parent Association works in collaboration with the principal, staff and the board of management to build effective, positive partnership of home and school. Educational research on the involvement of parents in schools shows that children achieve higher levels when parents and teachers work together.
The Parent Association is not a forum for complaint against either an individual teacher or parent. The Parental Complaints Procedure is the mechanism for this. (ref: School Communications Policy Appendix A)
In Hollypark GNS our PA
Represents parents at school events
Invites speakers to address the parents on issues which are topical or relevant.
Organises school fundraising: cake sales, fairs, sponsored walks, Christmas cards, calendars etc
Hosts a Junior Infant Welcome Morning at the beginning of the school year
Organises the much-prized 6th Class hoodie
Hosts the Communion Reception in May
Organises pre-loved uniform sales throughout the year
Collates and produces the treasured 6th Class Graduation Year Book
Hollypark PA Communications System
PA Committee meets every month
PA Chair meets regularly with School Senior Management
PA communicates with general parent body via email, the school website and PA Class Whatsapp (ref: School Communications Policy Appendix B)
If you are interested in taking on a more active role in our PA, this year's PA AGM will take place on Monday 2nd September @ 7pm. At this meeting, parents can volunteer to become Class Reps and the PA Committee will be formed. The PA Committee will then meet to elect their officers - a Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary.
Booklists
Booklists for 2024/25 have been issued to all classes..
All current school books are to be returned to the Class Teacher by Wednesday 19th June or before this if pupils are leaving school before the end of term. Parents/Guardians are asked to ensure that books are returned in good condition for re-use in the following year. (Pencil markings rubbed out, etc.)
School Choir: Summer Concert Wednesday 29th May
Our School Choir pulled out all the stops at their recent Summer Concert in aid of LauraLynn.
Thanks to our very generous families and wider Foxrock community the girls raised €2400.00 for this very worthy cause.
Thank you to Hollypark BNS who kindly lent and transported their piano to the church for the concert. Thanks also to Paul Markey for his support and help in organising this fundraising event.
Our School Choir has one final event this term when they will sing at the 6th Class Graduation Mass on Tuesday 25th June.
The girls have done a fantastic year's work and have been an absolute pleasure to work with. We look forward to working with them again next year.
Auditions for our choir will take place in the coming days. Girls who will be in 4th, 5th & 6th Class in September and who are not already in the choir are eligible to audition. (Girls who are in the choir and returning, do not audition).
NB: From September, rehearsals will take place on Tuesdays after school - 2:20pm - 3:20pm.
'Aladdin Trouble' & 'A Hint of Snow White'
Two fantastic shows from our 5th & 6th Classes.
Several Stars Are Born!! Full reports next week!!
St Augustine's Bodhrán Band
Members of St. Augustine’s School Bodhrán Band alongside their director Sylvia Cunningham visited Hollypark GNS last Friday. They performed for the whole school in the hall and they were fantastic!
This super band have played in the National Concert Hall, with the RTÉ National Symphony orchestra, the National Children’s Choir, with Sharon Shannon and at many important events so we were very honoured that they came to play for us.
Afterwards the girls in Ms. Belton’s class hosted a little party for them.
We hope that they will come back to Hollypark again next year to perform for us once more!
PAWS: Primary Aquatics Water Safety
On June 6th, Hollypark GNS hosted a vital talk on water safety, presented by Rosie from PAWS (Primary Aquatics Water Safety). The session focused on educating students about the importance of being vigilant around water bodies, understanding the potential hazards, what to do in the event of an emergency and knowing essential safety measures.
Key topics included the significance of swimming in supervised areas, the dangers of running near pools and the importance of wearing life jackets.
Interactive demonstrations and engaging discussions helped reinforce these crucial lessons. The girls were very engaged during the talk and we hope it equips them with the necessary knowledge and skills to stay safe around water this summer.
Scooter Workshop
On Friday 31st May the girls in 2nd Class participated in Scooter Training. Representatives from An Taisce came to the school and set up a great training course in the yard. The focus was on safety and road-sense but the girls really had a lot of fun too.
Girls in Senior Infants & 1st Class will participate in the workshops this Thursday 13th June. Workshops such as these really benefit the girls. It is hoped that they will be safe and responsible Super Scooters this summer!
After School Activities 2024/25
The full timetable for next year's After School Activities will be published on our website next week. In addition to our regular activities, we will be introducing STEAM Academy and a new Art Class to our timetable.
Please note Irish Dancing classes will not be restarting until January 2025 as Orlagh is currently on Maternity Leave.
Great news!
This pupil in 3rd class took part in the Leinster Irish Dancing competition at the weekend and came home with 7 medals and 4 trophies!! We are so proud of her.
Swimming and Irish Dancing success for these two talented girls in Ms. Cunneen’s 3rd class. Well done!
Our Junior Infant girls had a wonderful time on their first school tour to Glenroe Farm!
Creative Schools Week Art Exhibitions
A fantastic start to our Creative Schools Week with our senior art exhibition on Monday. More photos to follow in next week's newsletter.
Health & Safety
A gentle reminder that for health and safety reasons all children (including pre-schoolers and other siblings) and adults must dismount bikes and scooters upon entry to the school. This applies at drop off and collection times and throughout the school day.
We also remind parents/guardians that for health and safety reasons, no dogs (with the exception of guide and assistance dogs) are allowed on the school premises.
Respect for Our Neighbours
Parents are reminded that for the health and safety of our girls, there is no vehicular access to the school for drop-off in the mornings.
As a Green School, with a very active Coiste Glas, we actively encourage our girls to walk, cycle and scoot to school. As 80% of our pupils live within 2km of the school, this is very doable for many.
Unfortunately, but quite justifiably, our neighbours frequently complain of inconsiderate parking on the roads close to our school.
Please use the Church car park if it’s on your route to school: parking at the Church is free to all families at drop off and collection times.
Birthdays this Week in Hollypark!
Martha Askins
Juliet Collins
Lucy Doyle
Milena Gallagher
Hayley Lyons
Rebecca Twomey
Audrey Kiernan