HURRAY! WE ARE OPEN!
It was a very welcome sight to see our junior boys return to Hollypark yesterday. The boys were delighted to be back and parents were relieved! The reopening was very smooth and I must compliment all parents and guardians for their compliance. We hope to keep the school open for the rest of the term and we need your help in doing so. Please see the list below on how to keep the whole school community safe.
If your child is UNWELL (unwell in any way including a sick tummy) or has any of the following symptoms of Covid-19, do not send them to school and contact your GP:
- A temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more
- Any other common symptoms of Covid-19 – a new cough, loss or changed sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath or an existing breathing condition that has become worse.
- Been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.
- Been living with someone who is unwell and may have Covid-19.
- Other uncommon symptoms of Covid-19, such as sore throat, headaches or diarrhoea
- Returned from another country in the last 14 days.
- If your child requires Calpol or Nurofen, they are unfit for school and they are not to attend.
- After any absence, parents must fill out a return to school declaration on Aladdin Connect App.
- Parents and guardians must wear masks and follow public health advice during drop off and collection times.
Parents are not to congregate in or around the school campus. Please ‘DROP AND GO’ and ‘COLLECT AND GO’. School drop off and collection is not a social gathering and any parents lingering in or around the campus will be asked to leave by members of staff. We must work together to keep our community safe and our school open.
If your time of entry is 8.40am, please do not arrive before this time. At 8.40am boys will be permitted access to the school building. Do not arrive in advance of that time.
JUNIOR INFANTS
Junior Infant entry is FROM 8.50-9.15. Please do not arrive before this time. We really need your help and support with the 8.50am time. From March 15th, we will have 3rd class boys (78 of them) using this entrance at 8.40am. if you arrive too early this will cause a major disruption and a huge congregation.
Parents, while dropping and collecting, please remember to park responsibly and do not obstruct the residents’ driveways. In order for emergency vehicles to enter the estate, please do not park on both sides of the road. Parking in the church carpark and walking to school is greatly encouraged.
A MESSAGE TO 3RD-6TH CLASS
Boys, I am so impressed with you. Everyday you show up on SeeSaw and Zoom and put in huge effort. I am sure you were jealous of the junior boys getting to return to school last Monday. Do not worry, your day is coming soon and we cannot wait to welcome you back. Stay positive for the last few days and it will not be long until you are back in the building with us.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!
This week is a special week for these boys.
Charlie Pattison, Adam Hughes, Kemal Ozkaya, Conor Hanly, Nicholas Twomey, Luke Matthews, Niall Buckley, Conor Whelan and Conor Barker.
We wish you a Happy Birthday boys!
WEBINAR FOR PARENTS OF HOLLYPARK BNS
WEDNESDAY 14TH APRIL
Places for this webinar are limited. 100 people have signed up so far. There will be further bookings taken on March 15th. Mr. O’Donovan will email the link to you that day. Fiona is an expert in her field and has written many books including Weaving Wellbeing, that is used in Hollypark BNS.
Parent Webinar: Raising Resilient Children: Approaches from Positive Psychology
By Fiona Forman
Resilience is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. Now, with the extra challenges they face due to Covid 19, we need to equip them with the skills they need to flourish and thrive, despite these many difficulties and obstacles.
The field of Positive Psychology, which is the science of well-being, can offer us many approaches and ideas for nurturing our children’s resilience, through a combination of support and skills.
In this talk, author and former teacher, Fiona Forman, (M. Sc. Applied Positive Psychology) will share insights and research on resilience, as well as practical resilience skills.
‘I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.’ Louisa May Alcott
Fiona Forman - Bio
Fiona Forman is an author, speaker, facilitator and trainer in the area of well-being and Positive Psychology. Having spent many years as a primary school teacher, she is absolutely passionate about placing well-being at the heart of school life, and she has seen first-hand the great benefits of empowering children, teachers and parents to understand, value and enhance their own mental health. Fiona holds an M. Sc. in Applied Positive Psychology, the science of well-being, from the University of East London. Fiona is the co-author of Weaving Well-Being, an SPHE programme which is now widely used in primary schools. She is also the author of Wired for Well-Being, a new well-being programme for Second Level schools.
Fiona has designed and delivered numerous talks, training sessions and seminars to teachers and parents. She is a regular media contributor on the topics of well-being and Positive Psychology and loves sharing her practical experience, insights and expertise with others.
Fiona is also the mother of two young adults, which has deepened her awareness of the necessity to equip children with the support and skills that they need to develop resilience and to thrive and flourish in life.
CORMAC’S WEEKLY BLOG
The life of an 11-year-old during this latest lock down – week 7
Another week down! I find it hard to know what day it is from Monday to Friday as all the days are pretty much the same! My sister went back to school on Monday. It’s really weird not having her in the house as it is really quiet! My nanny got the 1st dose of her vaccine on Saturday. She said it didn’t hurt at all which is good. She should be getting the 2nd dose in 4 weeks time. It will be a relief when she is fully vaccinated.
I watched the Ireland match on Saturday. I thought Ireland played really well. I am pretty confident Ireland will beat Scotland and England if they put their mind to it. So, I think they will finish 3rd as Wales beat England.
The answer to last week’s riddle - If you have it you don’t share it. If you share it you don’t have it. What is it? Answer: A secret.
This week’s riddle – What is lighter than air but can’t be lifted by the world’s strongest person?
Cormac Kavanagh, 5th Class.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
WORLD BOOK DAY, MARCH 4TH
World book day changes lives through a love of books and shared reading. Our mission is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income. We want to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them. Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.
We look forward to hearing what books you are reading and what books you recommend to friends!
Click www.worldbookday.com for more information.
SEACHTAINE NA GAEILGE 1ú-17ú Márta
Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge ag teacht. Beimid ag ceiliúradh ár dteanga dúchais. Bígí ag glacadh páirt. There will be plenty of opportunities over the coming weeks to embrace our culture and heritage while practising some Gaeilge too. Beirigí bua and enjoy the amhráin Ghaeilge, damhsaí, dánta, cluichí agus craic!
WEDNESDAY WORKOUT WITH NIALL
Beir bua agus beannacht,
3.03.21