Newsletter

19 04 2024

     Junior Infants admiring the cherry blossom in TUDublin

Good afternoon everyone,

I hope you have had a nice week.

We are very much looking forward to our Active Week next week. Padraig has lots of activites lined up for us. In saying that, we were very active this week also – camogie, cross country, hurling, rugby and a tough soccer match for our girls’ team.

I met Mary Mc Kenna from Celtic DCH Athletics club today. Celtic organised the cross country event in the Bogies this week.  She said she was very impressed with the talent from our school and would love if D7ETNS children were interested in joining Celtic DCH.

Thanks to Eva, Sam and Ivy for hosting the 1st class coffee morning today. Also, to Aaron and Jake for hosting last week.

We welcome the parents / guardians from both Peadar and Aoife’s 2nd class next week to a coffee morning in our staffroom.

Well done to Aodhfin in 6th  who finished in the top 10 in Dublin County Spelling Bee final. A greast spelling performance.

Thanks to our Student Council for organising some card games for our 5th and 6th class yard. I have a shopping list after today’s Student Council meeting for Dobble and Uno!

Meet the Author – Dubray

The children from Niamh’s 4th Class were invited to a Meet the Author event at Dubray on Mary St on Wednesday. They got to meet Natasha Mac a Bhaird and listen to her talk about the new children’s book that she has written. The children took part in a short ‘Whodunnit?’ activity and we even got a signed copy of her new book The Tower Ghost for our class library. 

Cross Country 

Tuesday last saw the much-anticipated Bogeys Cross-Country event. Following weeks of inclement weather, we eventually caught a break and got the go-ahead. Departing D7 with almost 100 athletes, hopes were high in advance. When the races finally started D7 were very much to the fore taking the gold medal in three of the female categories and plenty of athletes coming home with trophies and medals in all of the races. 

The rain stayed away, and a very enjoyable day was had by all. Our runners were cheered on by their loyal supporters and every effort was rewarded as the children performed to the best of their ability. Congrats to everyone who played their part in making it a great day and a big thanks again to Celtic running club and Maz in the Dublin City Council who ran the day like clockwork. 

GAA – Camogie

Our girls started their campaign at home in TUDublin on Wednesday versus a strong Canice’s side from Finglas. Our opponents got off to a quick start and had D7 on the back foot from the start. The tight pitch caused some congestion leaving it difficult to get quick possession. As the games progressed, the bigger Finglas side began to assert their dominance on the scoreboard. 

Despite some valiant defending and countless counter attacks we ended up on the losing side. The girls will learn from the experience and will be back in action again at home on Weds when they welcome St Columbus of Glasnevin. 

The boys’ campaign started with a walkover as Joeys of Fairview were unable to field a team, or maybe our reputation preceded us! They will kick off their campaign on Thursday with a home match v Holy Spirit from Ballymun. 

We’re all back on the training pitch on Monday after school to prepare for our big matches next week. 

Arlene & Padraig 

IMMA workshop and visit 

The 6th Classes visited IMMA during the week for a guided tour of the Self Determination exhibit. Following our stroll and lunch stop in the beautiful courtyard, the classes were guided through exhibits looking at the influence of artists on different independence movements.  

There was a lot of interest in the paper mâché creations of Arthur Griffith and Roger Casement and on completion of our tours, the children were given the opportunity to explore their own creativity in a crafts workshop where they designed their own art creations. The surroundings were inspirational, and we saw many amazing interpretations from the children. The guides were very complimentary and considered our groups to be very mature and well mannered. 

2nd class visit to Dubray

Aoife’s 2nd class thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Dubray to meet and greet with the author Shane Hegarty. We looked at his new book ‘Dexter lost his bobo’ and his other novel such as ‘The Shop of Impossible Ice-Creams’. We gave the book a total of 5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟!! 

PGSA Meeting

Our PGSA met on Wednesday night

PGSA committee established

Here are the main topics / decisions made at this meeting

Role of PGSA committee

These roles will be rotated – 18 months – September 2025

Chair – Louise Butler

Secretary – Rónan Whelan

Parent volunteers – Avril Tierney, Jen Doherty, Ciara Norton, Karen Murphy

Communications – Peter Kinsella

Staff Member – Fionnuala McHugh

Committee will meet to organise successful roll out of school events and disseminate information from meeting to class reps.

Role of PGSA

Strengthen connections – building a community of support for both parents / guardians and children

Fundraise

Active role in your child’s education

Successful roll out of events

Organise parent talks / social events

Pathways for parents in wider school to link in with PGSA with ideas for fundraising/social events

pgsa@d7educatetogether.com

PGSA can be contacted through class rep.

Review PGSA events in 2023/2024

All events were very successful bringing appreciated funds into school.

Agreed that coffee mornings would begin earlier in 2024-25 school year.

Agreed that Louise would come and speak at the parent evening for incoming Junior Infants on May 21st .

Plan for events for 2024/2025

Sunday August 11th – TUDublin Campus – 24/25 Junior Infant picnic

Sunday August 25th – TUDublin Campus – 24/25 Junior Infant picnic

Wednesday October 23rd – Digital Detox

Sunday December 1st – Winter Bazaar 

February 12th – Table Quiz 

June 22nd – Summer Fete 

June 25th – 6th class graduation

Funds raised and allocation of funds

Subscriptions – Twinkl, Nessy Reading Spelling, touch typing TTRS, Textbooks, Library storage and books, aistear equipment, mural, subsidising school tours, laptops and IT equipment, IT Company – monthly instalment – maintenance, PE equipment

AOB

Summer fete this year – June 22nd

Committee members will meet in May to plan summer fete

5th class parents have scheduled coffee morning on Thursday May 23rd . Can they discuss catering for 6th class graduation at this meeting?

Community News

Together, We Can Make a Difference! TUDublin SU Fundraiser


Join TUDublin SU in supporting the Irish Cancer Society and help us reach their fundraising target.

Support for parents of children with reading difficulties.

CDETB are offering help and tips on how to help support parents of children with reading difficulties.

Register your Interest:

Text/Call/WhatsApp on 086 013 8147

Have a lovely weekend.

Fionnuala

Fionnuala McHugh, April 19, 2024