CALLING ALL ENGINEERS!
Last year, Engineers Week was a huge success. One of the highlights of the week was the visitors who came in to talk to the boys about their lives as engineers.
To avoid a clash with Seachtain na Gaeilge in early March, we are going to celebrate Engineers Week at the end of February (26 Feb – 1 March). If you would like to speak to the boys about life as an engineer, we would love to hear from you. Please email Ms. Hynes at stemathollypark@gmail.com outlining the age group you would like to speak to and a little about the topic you would like to talk about. We look forward to welcoming you to enlighten our budding engineers!
THANK YOU, PwC
A huge thank you to parent and PwC employee Stephen Merriman. Through PwC's Community Funding, they were able to donate 1,500e to Hollypark BNS. This money will allow us to enhance our STEM equipment for the coming year. We are very grateful to the Merriman family and PwC for this funding.
Pictured below are Stephen Merriman, PWC, Ms. Hynes and Mr. Evoy, leaders of STEM in Hollypark and Luke Merriman 1st class.
BT YOUNG SCIENTIST
An enormous well done to Ms. Crowe and her 6th class who represented Hollypark in the BT Young Scientist exhibition. The project: Is there an impact on learning depending on the type of school you attend? received lots of praise from the judges. The 6th class boys spoke to the judges and guests so eloquently and with such ease and confidence. They really are a special group. Well done Ms Crowe and room 7, we really are proud of you. Hollypark BNS received a beautiful plaque which is on display in the corridor beside the trophy cabinet.
PARENT TEACHER MEETING
We are really looking forward to welcoming you to the school at the Parent Teacher Meetings. We respectfully ask that you do not bring any children to the school at the time of your meeting. Meetings will last 10 minutes. We hope you enjoy your visit to your child's classroom and the school.
SENSORY ROOM
Happy 1st birthday to our sensory room. This time last year, saw the installation of our new sensory room. A sensory room is a space that aims to provide students with the individualised sensory input they need to self-regulate, so they can be better prepared for learning and interacting with others. A sensory space addresses the primary senses; sight, hearing, smell, touch, vestibular and proprioceptive. Our students love their sensory room visits and we look forward to them enjoying this space for years to come. When you are in the school for your parent/teacher meeting, make sure to pop in and have a look!
SCHOOL CALENDAR
On January 31st and February 1st, school will close @ 2.15pm to facilitate parent teacher meetings. Collection time for 1st-6th class is 2.15pm.
As Hollypark BNS is used as a polling station, the school is closed on March 8th. Please inform minders, grandparents and creche facilities.
A copy of our school calendar for 23/24 can be found here.
https://hollyparkbns.ie/system/files/file-uploads/2023-07/holly-park-sc…
|
January 31st & February 1st
Monday 5th February |
2.15pm collection PTM
St Brigid's Day Public Holiday |
|
Thursday 15th & Friday 16th February |
Midterm Break |
|
Friday 8th March
Monday 18th March |
Polling Station for referendum
St Patrick's Day Public Holiday |
|
Friday 22nd March |
Last Day of Term 2 |
|
Monday 8th April |
School re-opens for Term 3 |
AISTEAR
Aistear is the curriculum framework for children from birth to six years in Ireland. In Hollypark, Aistear is part of the curriculum in Junior and Senior Infants.
There are many benefits of Aistear. Aistear has a focus on hands-on learning and play to help children develop skills and knowledge of the world around them.
Through play, children can discover their own interests, abilities and limitations; they imagine, investigate and explore. They develop memory skills, build vocabulary, learn new skills and knowledge and learn how to get on with adults and other children.
The principles of Aistear place children at the centre of their own learning and development and view them as citizens with rights and responsibilities, free from any form of discrimination. The Frameworks also view children as confident, competent, curious and creative learners.
Other key elements of the Aistear curriculum help children learn about and appreciate the world around them. With different people and cultures living around Ireland, it is important that children learn about equality and diversity. Celebrating children's uniqueness in the classroom is a great place to start, and is supported by the Aistear curriculum.
This week, Room 3, Ms. Doyle's (pictured below) are working on the theme of the Farm.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
We look forward to celebrating Catholic Schools Week from 21-27th of January. The theme for Catholic Schools Week 2024 will be “Communities of Service”. I have included a link to resources which are available in Irish and English:
https://catholiceducation.ie/catholic-schools-week-2024-communities-of-service/
Please also note that the Laudate Festival 2024 will take place in the following venues:
Our Lady of Victories Church, Ballymun Road on Tuesday, 30th January 2024 – 7.00pm-8.15pm And
St. Thérèse’s Church, Mount Merrion on Wednesday, 31st January 2024 – 7.00pm-8.15pm
Texaco Art Competition
Our Boys are invited to take part in the 70th Annual Texaco Art Competition. Completed entries can be posted to:
Texaco Children’s Art Competition,
PO BOX 100
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
(Please note that entries completed at home are to be submitted to the Texaco Art Competition by the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s) and are not to be returned to school.)
Entries to the competition can be about anything that interests you. Your entry should not be smaller than A4 (29.7cm x 21.0cm) or larger than A2 (59.4cm x 42.0cm) before it is mounted, which is optional.
Please submit your artwork in flat format only, it should not be rolled, folded or framed.
The closing date for the competition is 28th February 2024. All details about preparing your entry can be found on the Texaco Children’s Art website:https://www.texacochildrensart.com/how-to-enter/preparing-your-entry.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S STANDARDISED TEST SCORES
This is a very special week for these great boys,
Renzo Marino, Axel Mallon, David Finnegan, Luke Champion, Charlie Ashley, Joshua Perkins, Levi Kelly, Miguel Small, Adam Dunne, Hugo Collins, Zachary Lynch agus Adam Leahy.
Have a great celebration boys!
Beir bua agus beannacht,
17.01.2024