Newsletter
February 14th
6th class Credit Union Quiz team
Good afternoon parents and guardians,
I hope you are enjoying midterm.
We are playing catch up in school this week, getting lots of ‘household chores’ done. Thanks to Martin and Stephen for opening and locking up daily for our alarm company and window cleaners. Thanks, Pat, for the fabulous shelving. We only wish we could have them at home! Stephen has organised the purchase of a new stage. Delighted to say it will arrive next week!
Looking ahead to next week, I just wanted to remind you that we are having both our AGM and a presentation by Professor John Sharry on Wednesday evening. This is free of charge as we are using PGSA fundraising money. We would really appreciate a great attendance.
We are trying to gauge the numbers to prepare seating in the hall. Please let us know if you will / won’t attend.
Tea and coffee from 6.45-7pm
BOM AGM meeting at 7pm
John Sharry presentation to start promptly at 8pm
Helping children manage stress and anxiety
Professor John Sharry
Worry and anxiety are very common problems, and many children can get caught in worry cycles that can hinder them getting on with life. This talk will present a strengths-based model for understanding anxiety that shows how you can help your children employ their imagination and strengths against the anxiety that bothers them as well as a series of practical strategies to overcome anxiety in a step by step gradual way.
Prof John Sharry is a social worker and family psychotherapist with over 30 years experience as a child and adolescent mental health professional. He is founder and clinical director of the Parents Plus Charity (based in the Mater Hospital), adjunct Professor at the School of Psychology in UCD and an Irish Times Parenting Columnist. He is the author of over 25 positive psychology, parenting books and mental health programmes, including Positive Parenting, Parenting Teenagers, Coping with Depression in young people, and Parenting when Separated.
In Niamh Ní C’s Rang a Sé, we have been working hard on developing both our research and presentation skills.
After learning about a variety of changemakers from around the world, we decided to combine our skills from literacy, history and learn together to independently research some changemakers ourselves.
This week we presented our knowledge of these inspiring people by becoming them and bringing their stories to life.
We learned so much from one another and enjoyed seeing the results of the hard work that has been happening both in school and at home.
We are looking forward to presenting our projects for other classes after our midterm break.
Primary Schools Relay Event, Abbottstown.
There was great excitement on Thursday as 48 athletes headed off to the Indoor Arena in Abbotstown for the Primary Schools Relay event. This was the second opportunity this season, so we sent a brand-new batch of runners from D7 to experience the excitement.
The races ran like clockwork as they rattled through the heats. There was fierce competition as our local Dublin 7 rivals Boscos, Mary Help of Christians and Gaelscoil Barra turned up in force.
Our teams were roared on from the sidelines by a large vocal support and a good turnout of parents who cheered for each competitor. The finals were competitive affairs and in the end we managed to capture podium finishes in both the 4th and 6th Class boys, bringing home a silver in 4th Class, and gold from the 6th class boys in their last opportunity in primary school.
We will be moving outdoors, unfortunately, for our next athletics event when the Cross-Country season commences in the Bogeys in March. Those Daily Miles could come in useful.
Padraig & Bridget
Credit Union Quiz
Our 6th Class children were buzzing with excitement as they geared up for the big school table quiz on Monday night, hosted by the Credit Union. With minds sharper than a freshly sharpened pencil and team spirit stronger than a double-knot shoelace, they were ready to tackle everything from brain-teasing questions to tricky trivia. The competition was fierce, but so was their determination—after all, months of random fact-collecting and quickfire question drills had led to this moment! One of our two teams ended up in a tense tie breaker against seven other teams but were unlucky not to place in the top 4 this time. They had a blast showing off their knowledge and one thing’s for sure—this quiz will be a memory to treasure and we are already looking forward to the next one!
Niamh B and Enda
Gaeilge
We are looking into facilitating evening Irish language lessons for parents/guardians in the school. The idea would be to have a variety of class levels, so that whether you’re a complete beginner, need a bit of a refresher or have the knowledge but lack opportunities to use the language there will be something for you. Please let parent reps know if you are interested in taking part, I will talk with them after midterm and see if there are enough people interested to proceed.
In the meantime Gaelscoil Bharra have said that parents/guardians from our school are more than welcome to take part in the Irish language lessons which take place in their school each week on Wednesdays. They have beginners and intermediate classes from 7 to 8 o clock, costing 3 euro per week as well as a ciorcal comhrá (informal chatting) afterwards in Finbar’s GAA club. On 7/3/25 from 20:00 in Finbar’s GAA there will be a night of music and chats.
They also have a five-week complete beginners course starting on 30th of April from 7 to 9 o clock each week, which costs 50 euro.
Please share interest in evening Irish language lessons in D7 with parent reps, I will talk with them and with enthusiasm we can ensure that our beautiful language rings out through the halls of D7 day and night.
GRMA, Patrick
See you all bright and early on Monday,
Fionnuala