Newsletter
January 12th, 2024
Niamh’s 4th class were having lots of fun with fractions this week! They ran their own pizza parlours, taking orders and creating pizzas with different fractions of amounts and toppings. We had some very happy customers, wonderful waiters and waitresses and amazing chefs!
Good afternoon parents / guardians,
A very Happy New Year to everyone in our school community. We have had a great week here in D7.
We are very fortunate that some of our past pupils still keep in touch with us. A former student Daniel Culleton, director of First Fortnight Festival invited 1st and 2nd class to a show in Smock Alley on Tuesday. Befriending My Monster was the name of the show. It took the children on a journey down belly button lane to explore those big feelings that they may not know how to talk about yet. The show was part of the First Fortnight, 2024, a Mental Health, Arts and Culture Festival. The children said it was great! Staff said the children were so good walking to and from Smock Alley.
Later in the week another past pupil, Molly O Connor from RTE’s news2day ask me could she come in and speak to Wesley’s 5th class. Reliably, our children spoke so well and continue to make us feel incredibly proud!
https://www.rte.ie/kids/news2day/2024/0110/1425766-news2day-9-january-2024/
Fire Drill
Well done to all our children who managed to leave the building in 3.5 minutes today for our fire drill. That’s very impressive for 490 children over 4 floors! The children said they were relieved the alarm wasn’t too loud. Thanks Martin, for being on hand to help us!
Finally, Denis has asked me to thank you all for your good wishes and gifts that you gave him when he retired. He is in Lanzarote at the moment having a well-earned break.
Mobile phones and social media
Class teachers have noticed increased chat in the mornings about mobile phones, social media, particularly Snapchat. Snapchat can be difficult to monitor as the messages disappear after being opened. If your child has a mobile phone, can you please continue to monitor and speak to your child about using their device appropriately. Children might need reminders that values such as respect, kindness and inclusivity apply as much online as they do offline.
St Brendan’s GAA
Thank you to Danny Mc Manus who sent us a link to his video that he created for ST Brendan’s GAA club. It looks like we have lots of D7ETNS students in this club. We are lucky enough to have coaching here in school from St Brendan’s also.
Reminder RSE meeting
Parents and guardians of children in 5th class are invited to a RSE (Relationships and Sexuality Education) Information Evening, on Thursday 18 January at 19:00. The meeting will take place in the school.
We will be sharing an overview of the lessons that will be taught in 5th class later this term, in order that you may be able to supplement them at home as you see fit.
Hopefully the meeting will take no more than forty minutes.
This is a meeting for parents / guardians. We would ask that children not attend.
Please let us know whether you intend on coming via the following link, so that we can plan for numbers and decide on what room to use: https://forms.office.com/e/0HSYFfxGiN
If you think of any questions ahead of time, it would be helpful if you could email them to Ciara at ciara@d7educatetogether.com, or submit them via the link above.
Intercultural day
We celebrate Intercultural day every year in D7ETNS. Staff select a theme in advance. Other years we have researched food, story, music and dance.
This year as part of D7ET Intercultural Day 2024, we would like to celebrate the visual art of countries and cultures from around the world. This might include folk and traditional arts, as well as classical and modern forms of art. With this in mind, a contribution from parents/guardians would be welcome. If you have a connection to an art form from around the world, or are inspired by an artist from that country, perhaps you would like to share it with your child’s class. This could take the form of a talk, or an art activity with pupils. e.g. (a) a talk on Sidney Nolan’s Australian art, (b) how accurately Paul Henry pix reflected the west of Ireland scenery, or (c) Innuit basketweaving activity.
If interested, contact your relevant class teacher before next Wednesday Jan 17th.
Thanks, Peadar, Deirdre and Katrina.
Spelling Bee
5th and 6th class children are busy competing to be their class Spelling Bee Champion. The winners from 5th and 6th class will battle it out next Friday to be D7ET’s Spelling Bee Champion. The D7ETNS winner will go on to compete at the next round of the competition which will take place later in the month.
Community Notices
We got a flyer on Monday for this event – Come and Singalong with Cór na nÓg
I thought it sounded like a lovely morning
https://www.nch.ie/all-events-listing/singalong-with-cor-na-nog/
Dublin Parks Tennis in Mount Bernard Park, Phibsborough Spring 2024
Lots of children from our school participate in these classes
Children’s tennis classes start Sunday 11th February 7 weeks every Sunday from 11 th February to 24 th March inclusive
• For girls and boys from ages 5-17
• For beginners and improvers
• All equipment supplied
• Fee €30 for 7 weeks
• Hourly classes divided by age – class times are: ➔ 9:30am for ages 5-7 ➔ 10:45am for ages 8-10 ➔ 12:00pm for ages 11-17
For further details, registration & payment – : (01) 833 8711 or parkstennisireland@gmail.com
This programme is supported by Dublin City Council
Have a nice weekend.
Fionnuala