Newsletter
9 01 2026
Happy New Year from everyone in D7ETNS
Dear parents and guardians,
Happy New Year to you all.
I hope you have had a nice week.
We are all well settled back into school and routine again. The children seemed very happy to be back.
I am happy to report that our Cycling Training Course started today for 6th class. Apart from hoping that this will encourage our children to cycle in the course of their daily lives, we are also aiming to teach our children the necessary safety skills. Our experienced coaches will work with the 6th classes for the next six Friday mornings.
Next week, swimming will start again for 4th class, 3rd class will be visiting Collins Barracks, and we will be holding an RSE meeting for parents of children in 5th class on Thursday evening at 6.45pm.
We are also planning our Culture Day. Please see Carol Heffernan’s notice, which follows, for further details.
Culture Day:
We will be celebrating our Culture Day this year on Wednesday 28 January. This will give us a chance to appreciate the wide range of cultures that are represented in our school community. Our theme this year is dance. Classes will be exploring the cultural significance of dance around the world and will be breaking out a few moves!
We would love to invite parents and guardians into our classrooms to share knowledge of traditions from their own cultures (including Irish!) with the pupils. You might like to teach a dance, show a video of a dance or a traditional costume, or simply have a chat about a tradition (dance or not) from your family’s culture.
If you would like to visit on the day, please get in touch with your child’s class teacher next week.
If anyone you would be interested in hosting workshops for multiple classes, please email carol.h@d7educatetogether.com
Hola familias!
We are delighted to report that 5th and 6th class children have successfully completed their first Spanish course! The course included ten classes where students learned how to introduce themselves and hold a short conversation, say their age and nationality, and describe their physical appearance. They also learned numbers, colours, school supplies, parts of the body, and clothing.
Throughout the lessons, students showed great interest in learning the language and strong commitment to every activity. They also discovered that many Spanish words are similar to—or sound like—words in other languages they already know!
Funding was received from Languages at Primary School | Languages Connect for these classes. Profe Maia said it was a pleasure to teach our impeccably behaved enthusiastic learner!
Thanks 5th & 6th classes
After-School D7 Dungeons and Dragons Club
There are a small number of places available in the After-School DnD Club for 3rd, 5th, and 6th Class pupils. The club runs once a week with 3rd taking place on Wednesdays, 5th on Thursdays and 6th on Fridays. 4th is currently full.
If your child is interested you can fill out the below Google Form and Enda, one of our 6th class teachers, will be in touch.
Further information on the club is below.
What is D&D?
D&D is a collaborative tabletop role-playing game where players embark on epic quests in fantastical worlds. Guided by a Dungeon Master, participants create unique characters, navigate challenges, and tell a story together. It’s all about imagination, strategy, and camaraderie.
What are the benefits?
The game is a fun way for children to explore creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking. Additionally, players engage with math and logic as they use dice and stats for decision-making, enhancing numeracy in a fun and engaging way. For more information on the educational benefits of D&D in schools you can watch this link -> here.
Does my child need to buy anything?
No. Pupils who already have their own books, character sheets, counters, maps and more are encouraged to bring them to the club, but there is no requirement for pupils to purchase anything to take part in the club.
Community News
Arbour Hill Boxing
Arbour hill Boxing Club in Dublin 7, a local community-based boxing club, have asked me to share information about their youth boxing programme for boys and girls aged 10 years and above.
Their classes focus on fitness, confidence, discipline, and learning the fundamentals of boxing in a supportive and inclusive setting. No previous boxing experience is required at all.
The first week is free for children to try out the club. After that, the cost is €5 per week for under-16s, making it accessible for families.
Club Address:
Old School Lane,
Arbour Hill,
Dublin
The 2017 girls and 2018 girls’ teams have huge number of D7ET girls so would love to keep that up for the 2019 girls’ team (senior infants likely the class with most 2019 girls but possibly some in 1st too I think).
2nd class pastel drawings
2nd class ice sculptures
Have a nice weekend,
Fionnuala