PAWS AND PICK IT UP
Paws and Pick It Up is the message from 3rd class pupil, Sam Healy, in the DLR poster campaign aimed at tackling dog litter. Sam’s entry was entered into a local competition and we wish him the best of luck. Thank you, Sam for spreading a great message.
SPORTS DAY AND SCHOOL TOURS
Sports days and school tours will go ahead this year, albeit a slightly different format to other years. Mr. Moloney will lead the sports day with every class participating within their class bubble. All events will take place on the Astro pitch. Unfortunately, we cannot invite parents this year but hopefully normal service will resume next year.
School tour preparations have begun and class teachers will be in touch with you when details are finalised. Most tours this year will be in house and the tour will be coming to visit us rather than us visiting the tour! Both events promise to be special!
6TH CLASS CEREMONY OF LIGHT
Our virtual Ceremony of Light will take place on Thursday 27th at 7pm. A Zoom link will be sent in the coming days.
DEANSGRANGE CEMETERY
The new path from Deansgrange Road through the Cemetery is a very welcome addition to our area. However, there have been reports that children are misusing the pathway and are speeding on scooters and bikes through an area where mourners are grieving their loved ones and where cemetery staff are using machinery to dig graves. Please, have respect when using this pathway. It is advised that children are supervised by an adult while in the cemetery.
CONTACT WITH TEACHER
For class related issues and absences, please use the contact section of our website www.hollyparkbns.ie. Click ‘contact’ in the top right-hand corner and a drop-down menu of teachers will appear. The teacher will endeavour to respond to your query in a timely manner.
FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT SKILLS
This week’s skill is jumping for height. Jumping for height, or the vertical jump, involves jumping as high as possible from a standing position. In order to achieve maximum height, it is important that the legs and arms work together to generate as much force as possible. Jumping for height can be applied in a range of contexts, such as gymnastics, dance, jumping for a ball in volleyball, basketball and gaelic football, or attempting to get something down from the top shelf in the kitchen.
To access a video showing the correct technique for skipping, please click here.
FLASHBACK!
Boys, do you remember our amazing fundamental movement skills were featured on RTE News 2Day? Click here to re-watch!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!
This week is a special week for these boys.
Dillon Walsh, Adam Byrne, Robbie Walsh, Luca O’ Sullivan, Senan Canny, Danny Rafferty, Daire Buckley, Joseph O’Shea, Sam O’ Donohue, Tomás Carron, William Poletti, Jake Daly, Conor Doyle, Aidan O’ Callaghan, Oscar Smith, Archie Wyse, Maxx Mc Evoy, Thomas Kane, Harry Kennan and Stephen Rourke.
We wish you a happy birthday boys!
GREEN SCHOOL, WORLD BEE DAY
Thursday, May 20th is World Bee Day. In Hollypark, we are helping to save the precious bee. The Green Schools Committee continue to lead us in preserving our wildflower areas in the front and rear of the building. I have attached some simple ideas for the boys to try at home to help the bee survive.
Every individual can contribute to the preservation of bees and other pollinators:
- Plant nectar-bearing flowers for decorative purposes on balconies, terraces, and gardens.
- Buy honey and other hive products from your nearest local beekeeper.
- Raise awareness among children and adolescents on the importance of bees and express your support for beekeepers.
- Set up a pollinator farm on your balcony, terrace, or garden; you can either make it yourself or buy at any home furnishings store.
- Preserve old meadows – which feature a more diverse array of flowers – and sow nectar-bearing plants.
- Cut grass on meadows only after the nectar-bearing plants have finished blooming.
- Use pesticides that do not harm bees, and spray them in windless weather, either early in the morning or late at night when bees withdraw from blossoms.
CREATIVE HOLLYPARK
Senior Infants are getting very creative this week as they turn used materials into scary monsters! We have many beautiful displays inside and outside classrooms which I will share with you over the next few weeks.
STANDARDISED TESTING
Last year’s standardised tests didn’t take place due to the Covid 19 pandemic and school closures. Following a recent Department of Education circular standardised tests in English Reading and Maths are currently being administered to all classes from 2nd-6th. These tests commenced last week and will finish at the end of next week. The pupils have been very calm and have responded very well to the test situation. Teachers have explained that with school closures we just want the boys to be relaxed and do their best on the day.
These tests are a snapshot on a particular day and are just one method we use to assess teaching and learning in the school. The school closures and pandemic will impact on the usual norms. This year all classes (2nd-6th) will do the New Drumcondra Reading Test so Sten scores from the old Drumcondra reading test are not comparable.
We are continuing with the Sigma T test in mathematics.
These tests will guide and support us in the future. We will be able to plan better for the year ahead and see if pupils may need some additional support after the past 12 months. We do not rely on these tests alone in assessing a pupil’s ability. Class teachers and SET teachers use a variety of other tests and observations to inform our teaching and a pupil’s learning.
For further information, go on to the NCCA website: standardised-testing.pdf (ncca.ie)
ADVERTISING ON THE NEWSLETTER
If any parent or member of the school community would be interested in advertising their business on the Wednesday letter, please send an email to the Parents’ Association at hollyparkboyspa@gmail.com with the subject header “Advertising”.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Wellbeing is feeling good about yourself, the world around you and functioning well in everyday life, most of the time. Being resilient and coping with the normal stresses of life is also an important attribute of wellbeing.
For more information visit www.mentalhealthireland.ie
This week’s Wellbeing theme focuses on Acts of Kindness. I have attached 70 acts that you can try out over the next two weeks. Keep a record of how many you complete!
Beir bua agus beannacht,
B. O’Donovan
19.05.2021