Newsletter
16 06 2023
6th class on their 3-day Delphi adventure.
Good afternoon Parents & Guardians,
This week marked a few milestones.
We welcomed our Junior Infants 2023 into their new school for a visit on the same day our current Junior Infants went on their first school tour. We waved our 6th class off for their 3-day, Delphi trip. It is their last D7ETNS school tour. Thanks to Padraig, Ciara, Orla and Carmel for accompanying them. 4th class went to Tayto Park this week too.
We have our first full week in our new building, and I am relieved to say it feels like we have never been anywhere else. At our staff meeting on Tuesday, we were discussing logistics. One thing that came up was collection at 2.10pm. Teachers have asked can all adults stand on the ramp as you enter our school grounds at collection time so your child can see the adult collecting them more easily.
We had a great response to clearing out our old school on Thursday. A massive thank you to all parents who went down there in the sweltering heat and stacked tables and chairs in the GP room and got them ready for clearance.
Thank you so much Gráinne and Stephen for coordinating.
We are nearly ready to lock our doors in Lower Grangegorman.
Gráinne will be there again at 10am in the morning.
Summer Provision
Just to remind anyone who mailed in about Summer Provision, I will be in touch early next week to confirm details.
It will start at 9am on Monday July 3rd and run until Friday July 14th.
Delphi
What a quick 3 days we’ve just had. The journey down was relatively easy and the children were straight into their activities. The weather held fine for us with only one massive thunderstorm on the first night which delayed the start of the forest walk. Some sleep was managed and everyone was up and at it early Day 2. The kayaking proved very popular in the stunning setting of Killary Harbour.
Parents would have been very impressed with the process in the Grub Hub as everybody cleaned up after themselves. A forest walk completed day 2 activities before some supper and socialising around the hostel.
An early call for packing and breakfast was a shock to the system however the children rose to the challenge. Now we’re back on the bus, tired but happy, and that’s just the teachers. I’m sure you’ll hear all the tales before too long.
Padraig, Ciara, Carmel & Orla
Barretstown
Donna’s Junior Infants class had a visit from Barretstown. They introduced us to their puppet friends and spoke to us about how we can be even better friends, especially to children who are having medical treatment. We realised that our superhero power is kindness.
Here we see Shoni and Paula from Barretstown after our interactive puppet show and workshop.
Active Arts Week
Preparations on yard today for our Dance Groove Competition
Normally we have both an Active week and an Arts week here in D7ETNS. However, because we have been busy moving school, we decided to blend both weeks and have an Active Arts Week. This will take place next week.
As part of D7ET’s 2023 Active Arts Week, there will be a Dance Groove Competition, open to all pupils. All children can enter (or not), either alone, or as part of a group (maximum 5). They must tell their class teacher what their backing track is. Each year (e.g. 2nd, 3rd) will have a competition on Thursday, June 22nd. The year’s winners will perform for the school on Friday June 23rd. Performers are judged on agility, creativity, fluidity, synchronicity with music, synchronicity with each other.
Get practising!
We will have a Sports day on Wednesday, June 21st. It will start at 11.00am on GAA pitch TUDublin. Picnic from 12.45am finishing up 2pm. Adults are welcome to join us for Sports day or the picnic. Collection after Sports day will be from the GAA grounds on TUDublin campus. Pleas can you let your childminder / afterschool care provider to collect from there. Historically, we asked the children to wear a certain colour this day so adults can find their child more easily.
There are the arranged colours for this year.
Colours:
White: Donna, Katrina, Kathleen
Yellow: Arlene, Michelle, Patrick
Green: Carol H, Susan, Wesley
Blue: Michael, Peadar, Veronica
Black: Carol D, Anna, Ciara
Red: Deirdre, Paul, Padraig
ALC wear the colour of their inclusion class
Graduation
Thanks to our 5th class parent representatives for meeting today to discuss the logistics of the 6th class graduation.
6th class, there is a treat in store for you.
We look forward to celebrating our first graduation on our new school on Wednesday, June 28th. It will start with a dance display here in our GP Hall at 10am. We will then go to a lecture hall on the Central Quad in TUDublin for the ceremony and back to school for what promises to be a lovely afternoon. It will finish at the normal time of 2.10pm
Shane Hegarty – Dubray Book visit
On Wednesday Wesley’s class were lucky enough to attend a talk by the brilliantly funny author Shane Hegarty in Dubray books. Shane told us about his writing and what inspires him, he read from his latest book and told us some great stories. Never one’s to let an opportunity to hang out in the sun pass us by, we hit a playground off Capel Street on our way into town and extended our excursion with a short historical walk from the GPO to The Garden of Remembrance where we had our lunch before grabbing an ice-cream on the way back to school. Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday.
Homework club
Homework club will be starting back as usual in September, running from Monday to Thursday from 2:10 to 3:15 PM. Children will be supervised while completing their homework, with teachers on hand to assist as necessary.
Community news
This is usually very popular with children from our school.
Parks Tennis is a not-for-profit organisation running since 1977. Our aim is to bring affordable tennis lessons to children, who might not otherwise get to play the sport. We operate four coaching programmes throughout the year for children aged 5-17 (normally split into 3 separate age groups: 5-7, 8-10 and 11-17). Our lessons cost just €35 per week.
Parks Tennis children’s coaching returns to Mount Bernard Park (Shandon), Phibsborough, starting 10th July for 3 weeks (Mon-Fri). Children can do 1, 2 or 3 weeks. Classes divided by age. Open to girls & boys aged 5-17, irrespective of tennis experience. Staff are fully trained. All equipment (rackets, balls etc.) provided. Fee €35 per week. Further details and bookings: https://parkstennis.com/locations-3/dublin-wicklow-programme/
Have a lovely weekend,
Fionnuala