Newsletter
20 01 2025
Happy New Year – Artwork from Paul / Hanora’s 3rd class
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Happy New Year to you all.
I hope you had a nice break. The children seemed to be very happy to return to the school routine this week.
I forgot to send reminder out about the coffee morning this morning. It was meant to be for parents in Jack’s 3rd class. We will reschedule this coffee morning to February 28th. Next week we will host a coffee morning for the parents and guardians of children in Padraig’s 4th class.
Gentle reminder to label all of your child’s belongings. Our responsible children who manage the lost property always return labelled clothing from the box to the children.
Wellbeing Supports
The Department of Education (DE) believes that looking after the wellbeing of our children is very important in helping them to be happy in their lives and to reach their full potential. The Department is piloting the provision of additional wellbeing supports in a number of primary schools and D7 Educate Together National School is part of this pilot.
An Education Wellbeing Practitioner working under the direction and supervision of a psychologist from the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) will be running a number of programmes within the school over the next two terms. We will have a dedicated Well Being Practitioner (David Stokes) that will attend our school every Thursday until the end of the school year. David is an experienced primary school teacher as well as being an Education Well Being Practitioner.
All classes from 1st to 5th will be participating in ‘The Stress Factor – Getting the Balance Right’. This is a set of four, 30-minute psychoeducation lessons provided by the Education Wellbeing Practitioner. These lessons will help children develop their understanding of how their mind and body work together. Topics include understanding the stress response, how to manage big emotions, developing a growth mindset and practicing a range of regulation strategies.
6th class will participate in a set ofseven social skills learning lessons aimed at pupils in sixth class, developed by NEPS. It is called ‘Get Up, Stand Up’. It covers themes such as ‘Friendship’, ‘Dealing with Teasing and Intimidation’ and ‘Resilience and Coping’.
The student council representatives will complete a peer lead programme in which they are trained to be positive role models and promoters for wellbeing in their school. The Education Wellbeing Team co-facilitate the six Wellbeing Ambassador training lessons alongside a lead teacher. The role can be modified to suit each school’s needs and can include looking out for peers during yard time, organising wellbeing initiatives, giving talks at assemblies, and creating informative posters and leaflets.
These lessons will take place on Thursdays at school and depending on the class level, will be for a block or 4, 6 or 7 weeks. The focus at all times will be the whole class/group, and not individual children. You can speak to your child’s class teacher for updates about the content of the sessions so that you know what skill your child has been learning each week and can support this learning at home.
As always, if you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact the school.
Thanks, Carol Dempsey, for coordinating this programme.
Giggler Treatment
3rd Class went to the Ark in Temple Bar on Thursday to see ‘The Giggler Treatment’ – a play with music based on the book by Roddy Doyle.
Even though it was one of the coldest days of the year, we wrapped up warm and marched over frozen streets across the city.
All the 3rd class kids loved the show. It was a comedy with amazing singing and dancing. We all liked the book, but the play was even better, with funny new parts added. It certainly gave us all the Giggles!!
Conor and Olive, 3rd class
4th class swimming
We have been fortunate to get an extra slot in Aura de Paul to continue our Swimming lessons for the children in our 4th Classes. Patrick’s 4th Class will be commencing for 2025 on Thursday, Jan 16th running until February 27th.
The lessons are on Thursdays from 12.00 to 13.00 and the children will travel to and from the pool on the regular Dublin Bus service and will be back in D7 for the normal 2.10 collection time.
Thanks, Padraig, for coordinating.
Debating
Enda’s 6th held the first round of class debates this week. The teams tackled some of the big issues facing society today such as how should we use artificial intelligence. One thing is for sure, AI will never replace these natural orators.
Limited Places in After-School D7 Dungeons and Dragons Club
Enda, one of our 6th class teachers, is continuing to run the afterschool D7 Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Club. There are a limited number of places in the 5th and 6th class clubs in the new term.
The club runs once per week with 5th class meeting on Thursdays and 6th class meeting on Fridays.
If your child is interested, please complete the form at the link below and Enda will be in touch.
https://forms.gle/ibY7gMrnEgxto3Qy9
RSE 5th class
Reminder that 5th class parents and guardians are invited to a RSE (Relationships and Sexuality Education) Information Evening, on Wednesday 15 January at 19:00. The meeting will take place in the school. Tea and coffee will be available in the staffroom from 18:45.
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/wS3KuYhQWB
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.
Parent teacher meetings
Róisín and Kathleen will have their parent teacher meeting on January 28th and 29th. I will sendn out the slots in the week commencing January 20th
Community News
Upcoming Public Information Session for the Demolitions Works and to request that you share this information with your various network
SITE WORKS COMMENCING – Grangegorman Site East (beside Clocktower)
The Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) gives notice of works due to commence on site shortly to carry out demolition works on the east side of the Grangegorman site.
Where: East Quad Foyer
When: Monday 13 January 2025
Time: 3.30-7.30pm
If are interested in keeping up with news about the overall Grangegorman development, you can sign up to the GDA mailing list for regular updates. Email communications@ggda.ie <mailto:communications@ggda.ie> to subscribe.
Have a lovely weekend,
Fionnuala
