Monthly Focus

This month we will be focusing on ‘kind words, kind actions’. It is very important our boys treat all people with respect and using kind words and kind actions on yard, in school and at home will help to reinforce this positive behavior.

Parents’ Association Sport Blitz Fundraiser

The annual sports blitz will take place on October 24th. The boys will receive their sponsorship cards today. This is the Parents’ Association’s main fundraiser and it is one of our favourite days of the year. Sports blitz activities for Infants – 2nd include yoga, dance, cricket, GAA, Jiujitsu, soccer, pilates, rounders, playball and many more activities. Classes 3rd - 6th will travel to sports venues away from the school.

Fitness Homework and Reading Logs

Fitness homework and reading logs continue to be an integral part of our homework policy. Fitness homework this week will be a challenge with the terrible weather we are experiencing at the moment. I did a quick visit to classrooms today and the boys’ ideas of over coming the adverse weather conditions were excellent. Running on the spot, jumping jacks, push ups and star jumps were all proving very popular indoor fitness activities.

Please continue to sign your son’s homework journal every night.

Library

Library for all boys from 2nd – 6th is up and running again this year. Thank you to our wonderful team of parents for facilitating this and giving of their time, the boys really enjoy their library days.

Health and Wellbeing

We were delighted to welcome World Boxing Champion Kellie Harrington into our 5 th classes yesterday. Kellie was an inspiration. She spoke to the boys about ‘daring to believe’ and building confidence in themselves. The 5th class boys have now commenced the Dare to Believe schools programme which will focus on the values of goal setting, joy of effort, social responsibility, healthy mind and body, courage, determination, respect, friendships and much more besides.

European Day of Sport

Despite the weather, our European Sports Day involvement was a huge success. Our healthy breakfast, served to 630 boys by our amazing Parents’ Association, gave the boys a wonderful start and an extra boost for the 2 hours of games that followed. A high level of concentration and a hum of happiness lingered throughout the day. We are exceptionally lucky to have had a wealth of staff who came in early to help set up, organise games and help with breakfast supervision and cleaning up.

Frása na Seachtaine

Tá sé ag stealladh báistí!

Aldi stickers

Thank you parents, the collection is going very well and we have nearly 500 stickers collected so far!

Cumann na mBunscol (Gaelic Football)

Some days you are just beaten by a better team and that was the case as our Senior team suffered defeat for the first-time last Thursday. The boys responded well in training this week as they are busy preparing for their quarter final against Ballyroan. I wish you well boys and I know you will do the school proud.

Junior Football

Unfortunately, all matches have been cancelled this week due to terrible weather conditions.

Con and Sam

Laurel and Hardy, Tom and Jerry, Batman and Robin. Some names are just synonymous with each other. Con and Sam are quickly becoming that way too! It is my pleasure to welcome the superbly talented and darling of the Hill Con O’Callaghan to the school on Thursday afternoon. Con will have the coveted Sam Maguire trophy in his possession. On leaving the school I will ask Con to take a DNA test in the hope of finding some Mayo blood relations!

All boys can wear their Dublin jerseys to school on Thursday.

Fundamental Movement Skills

It is very important that all boys leave primary school with basic fundamental movement skills of walking, running, hopping, skipping, jumping, dodging, side-stepping, balance throwing and catching, striking and kicking. During PE class boys are taught using the Move Well, Move Often programme. Parents can assist their children with these basic movements at home. Log onto https://pdst.ie/physlit and click the Move Well, Move Often tab for activities, games and videos.

Beir bua agus beannacht,

Barry O'Donovan
2.10.2019