ADOPTION OF ZOO ANIMALS

Last Christmas, Hollypark BNS adopted 8 Zoo animals. Each class voted on which animal to adopt and the Parents’ Association generously donated to Dublin Zoo. We have received the following pictures from Dublin Zoo which we have now been added to our upper corridor. The 8 pictures add lovely colour to our corridor while also reminding the boys of their gift. As Dublin Zoo re-opens, the boys can look out for their adopted animals! Thanks to SNA Mary Mc Laughlin for leading this project.

MEDICAL SURVEY

Last Month, Mrs. Larkin sent a medical survey to all parents (not including 6th class). Most forms have been returned but we have a few outstanding. If you have not responded, we would appreciate if you could return before Friday 7th May.

ARE YOU A DISNEY STAR OF THE FUTURE?

There has been much hype and excitement around Enniskerry village as it was announced a new Disney movie, ‘Disenchanted’ will be filmed there. Clocktower Productions are looking for movie extras. If you are interested in applying, click here. Break a leg boys!

STANDARDISED TESTING MAY ’21

Standardised testing will resume in May for classes 2nd-6th as per the Department of Education’s recent circular to schools. 2nd -6th will have tests in spelling, reading and maths.

1st classes will only have the spelling test, as whole class standardised testing in 1st is not recommended.

These tests are just one method of assessing a pupil’s performance and we know that it is just a snapshot on a particular day that can be affected by numerous circumstances. The pandemic we are currently in will have a huge effect on the usual norms and we will take this into account when assessing our students.

However, these standardised tests will give us information to guide our teaching and learning for the next academic year. It will also help us to identify pupils who may benefit from additional support. For further information, please check out this link on the NCCA website.

Understanding Standard Scores PDF (ncca.ie)

Annette Lynch
(Deputy Principal & SEN Coordinator)

THE COMHAR LINN IRISH SCHOOLS ONLINE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021

It is not too late to enter the Online Chess competition run by Comhar Linn. If you would like to enter, please follow the steps below. Best of luck!

• For players of all standards, including beginners.
• Any size of team - from 1 player to many – can represent their school.
• Prizes for Schools and Individuals, National and Regional prizes. • When: The final is on Thursday the 13th of May @ 6.30pm.
• In advance of the grand final there will be a practice event on May 6th.
• Enter here.

FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT SKILLS

With the return of sports clubs, now is a good opportunity for the boys to refresh their Fundamental Movement Skills. Each week from now until the end of June, I will attach a new skill which to revise. This week’s skill is hopping. Hopping is a continuous sprint-like action that involves taking off and landing on the same foot. Dynamic balance is required to perform the skill-- the non-hopping side of the body provides counterbalance and force to allow for continuous forward and upward movement. Greater leg strength is required for hopping than jumping, as only one foot is used to lift the body and there is also a smaller base of support. It is an important skill to master for safe body management, e.g. if you are pushed off balance or lose your footing. The skill of hopping is used in many practical activities including jumping and landing when catching a ball, performing a layup in basketball, playing hopscotch or dancing. It is also a component of many other fundamental movement skills including skipping, jumping and striking with the foot.

To access a video showing the correct technique for hopping, please click here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!

This week is a special week for these boys.

Jack O’ Neill, Roan Smith, Felix Kelly, James Redmond, Conall Mc Hugh, Andrew O’ Sullivan, Evan Roberts, Aaron Aherne, Ethan O’ Brolchain, Benjamin Rogan, Riley Maher and Cillian Devlin.

We wish you a happy birthday boys!

RETURN TO SPORTS CLUBS

It was great to see clubs return to normal service last week. A big thank you must go to all the coaches and volunteers who planned, prepared, sent texts, organised pods, brought equipment, kept everyone safe and above all brought smiles back to our children’s faces. We appreciate all the work you do for our boys. Thank you.

SANDYFORD YOUTH BAND

Please see the message below from Martin Meegan, musical Director, Sandyford Youth Band.

Sandyford Youth Band is a community concert band based in the Sandyford area. We are currently looking for new members to join our recorder group class in September. This class is suitable for children aged 8 and upward. I would be grateful if you could share the form below with parents and feel free to pass on this email address if anyone would like to learn more. We can also be found on Facebook if you want to check out any of our recent performances.

Click here to view the form.

GREEN SCHOOL, POLLINATOR PLAN

Thank you to our wonderful committee who continue to lead us in our Pollinator Plan. Attached are some of the many benefits this will have on our school and our planet. Every little helps and our committee are leading by example. Thank you, boys.