DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION INSPECTION
Last week, we welcomed our school cigire (inspector) for an incidental visit. We were delighted with the positive feedback we received on our teaching and learning, collaboration, teamwork, group and pair work among our pupils and staff alike. The inspector was very complimentary of our wonderful students, their manners, respect and their knowledge on a wide variety of subject areas (and languages). Well done boys, you did us proud!
HALLOWE'EN DRESS UP
Halloween is upon us once again and we are looking forward to seeing the boys dressed up for our annual Hallowe'en dress-up day! This year it will take place on Friday 28th October.
Some boys have already begun their costume planning and we are excited to see the variety they will be dressed as, from spooky to silly and everything in between. Please find below guidelines and requirements to follow for the smooth and safe running of the day:
- No accessories, e.g., nothing they need to hold in their hand or things that can be put down for others to potentially pick up and handle.
- No long capes, dangly material or anything that may be a tripping hazard.
- Costumes should be comfortable and practical for sitting in the classroom for the day, e.g., no inflatable costumes.
- Be mindful that the costume isn’t going to scare a younger student. If you think a Junior Infant will be frightened, then tone it down or reconsider.
Less is more when it comes to costumes and keeping it simple can often be the most effective. There will be prizes throughout the school for best dressed and creative costumes. It is a very exciting day for the boys and with your continued support and understanding we hope to make it another success.
Family Mass Group
The Family Mass Group is back! Choir practice takes place in Parish Centre 7-7:45pm on Thursdays, for 10am mass on Sundays. There is also an opportunity for the children to participate in Prayers of the Faithful and a Gospel story, if they wish to do so.
We are actively looking for children to join the existing group. It’s a great opportunity to gain confidence and even public speaking skills.
Come along to the Parish Centre any Thursday evening at 6.45pm to register and join in or contact Paula Davy davypaula@icloud.com for more information.
A reminder also to classes receiving the Sacraments this year, you must register with the parish office if you would like to participate in communion or confirmation.
6TH CLASS PROJECTS
'Someone Like Me'
Well done to Miss O' Neill's 6th class who are entering the Someone Like Me art competition, organised by the National Disability Authority. 6th class did an accompanying mini-project where each boy researched someone who made an impact on the world despite their disability. The boys really enjoyed working on this project together.
5TH CLASS PROJECTS
'Green City Challenge'
5th classes were given the task to build a sustainable city including plans to produce energy, provide food, handle waste, provide transport whilst ensuring that nature is welcomed and supported in their city. The boys came up with great ideas and hopefully cities will look like their projects in the future!
PARENTS' ASSOCIATION AGM
Parents’ Association - Notice of AGM
The AGM of the Parents’ Association will be held on Tuesday 22nd November at 8pm in the school hall. If you are interested in joining the PA, please get in touch with us at hollyparkboyspa@gmail.com
MATHS WEEK
Maths Week 2022 was celebrated in school last week. The response was thunderous from both the school and the Irish weather! There were boys engaging with maths in and outside the classroom in order to promote a positive attitude towards maths and to recognise the place it has in the world around us. Boys were undertaking maths trails across the school environment, discovering maths where they may not have seen it before. Senior boys had the chance to try an orienteering maths course and were given a map of the school grounds with control points to seek out. The whole school "guess the cubes" competition, had both staff and pupils putting their skills of estimation to the test. Maths and Art are two subjects that also lend themselves nicely to integration. Each class also solved word problems every day, encouraging some outside the box and critical thinking. We have lots of budding mathematicians in Hollypark and hope the boys enjoyed all the activities. We'll leave you with this Halloween/Maths joke... "Are all monsters good at maths? No... not unless you Count Dracula”.
Thank you to Ms. Hynes and Mr. Mc Evoy for organising Maths week in our school.
KILMACUD CROKES
Congratulations once again to Kilmacud Crokes. This week, they are the County Senior hurling champions! Well done to all our past pupils who represented the team this week. Attached is a photograph of Brian Hayes wearing the Hollypark colours in the 2014 Croke Park finals! Well done also to Mrs. Regan who continues to lead our sporting culture within the school.
FIONA FORMAN
Many thanks to Fiona Forman for her talk with our parents last week on the topic of building resilience. Thank you to the many parents in attendance, despite the brutal weather conditions. I have attached the PowerPoint slides below for those who were not able to attend on the night.
Many thanks to Mrs. Brennan for leading our Wellbeing programmes within the school and to the PA for serving refreshments.
STARS OF THE FUTURE
Boys in Hollypark have many, many talents. This week, I share four different future stars with you. Firstly, well done to Koda and Kyron Meegan who are currently starring on an advert for the Costume Shop. Click the link to watch the video.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jT_d65qZ1ao&feature=share
Congratulations to Eoghan Collins and David Murphy, pictured below. Eoghan and his team, Sandycove Waterpolo Club, were runners up in the National U13 Cup at the weekend and he is proudly showing off his silver medal. Congratulations to David Murphy who won three medals at a recent swimming gala. David swims for the Otter club.
This week is a very special week for these boys: Floren Junior Strimbu, Kevin Fraix, Jack Clarke, Jack Gallagher, Killian Bernin, Fionn Sheahan, Louis Heath, James Langford, Lauri Cryan, Ciarán Flanagan agus Pierre- Louis Schwerer.
Have a wonderful celebration boys!
HAPPY MIDTERM
Thank you to our pupils, staff, parents, Parents' Association and whole school community for an excellent start to the year. Have a happy and safe Hallowe'en. Enjoy the break!
Beir bua agus beannacht,
Principal
26.10.'22