Newsletter
24 10 2025
Junior Infant pumpkins
Good afternoon, everyone,
I hope you have all had a lovely week. We’ve been very busy with our whole-school assembly, debating, and of course, our annual Halloween parade!
At our assembly, we commended our Junior Infants on how well and quickly they have settled into school life. We also took the opportunity to reflect on all the wonderful things that have happened in school this term.
A big thank-you to everyone from Ciara’s class who joined us for the coffee morning today — it was great to see so many of you there!
The parade was so much fun for us all. Thanks, Grainne, for coordinating the dalmatian theme, thanks Mary for measuring and designing a perfect costume for our beloved Faye. Wasn’t it great that we even had a Michael D oversee proceedings today! Thanks Martin. Finally, thanks to our neighbours in Grangegorman for your patience while we played our parade music!
I hope your child has had a fruitful and enjoyable first half-term. We are very pleased with how the term has gone. Today was a day of real celebration in school, with a very tangible feeling of contentment throughout. Everyone is well settled into the new year, and we’re looking forward to returning on Monday, November 3rd.
Wishing you all a restful and happy midterm break!
Student Council
Thank you and well done to our Student Council members for their introductions at assembly yesterday. They spoke so well and thanked everyone for their votes. Proper politicians!
Concern Primary Debates
Enda’s 6th class kicked off their participation in the Concern Primary Debates competition this week when they faced off against Ballyroan National School. The motion debated was: ‘Social Media should be banned for U-16s’. D7ET were the opposed to the motion. The debate took place live over Zoom, with retired teacher and adjudicator Daithí logging on from Africa (vague I know but he didn’t say what country), thus making it the pupils’ first experience of the plague of modern office life: the cross-border video call.
The pupils were astounding. The debating panel of India, Jeremy, Luka, Penny, Tom C and Tom M were well prepared. They pointed out the lack of knowledge amongst parents regarding parental controls, the onus being on social media companies to regulate their own spaces and, most of all, the educational and creative possibilities available on social media platforms. They had also researched the proposing viewpoint and rebutted the proposition side points in an articulate and persuasive fashion.
The panel was briefly on tenterhooks when the result was announced by the adjudicator, but it was only ever going one way. The motion was defeated. The next motion to be debated is: ‘Weekends should be 3 days long.’
Next motion is: Weekends should be 3 days long. Here’s hoping we’re on the proposition for that one!
Dead Zoo at Collins Barracks
Niamh’s 6th Class Visit the Dead Zoo at Collins Barracks
On Thursday, Niamh’s 6th Class took a trip to the Dead Zoo in Collins Barracks as part of our learning about animals and their habitats. We were given a fantastic tour by Andrea, who showed us many incredible exhibits — including real taxidermy animals and ancient animal skeletons some of which are hundreds of years old!
One of the highlights was seeing a giant whale skull up close, as well as an ammonite fossil that showed us what life looked like millions of years ago. We also got to examine muntjac skulls and learn how scientists use bones to understand how different animals lived.
Minutes from PGSA AGM Monday October 20th, 2025
Parent Guardian Staff Association (PGSA) AGM 20th October 2025
- Summary of PGSA
The PGSA includes all parents, guardians, and staff in the school community. It exists to primarily organise fund raising initiatives for the school, to support the development of after-school classes for both children and parents and overall to support a positive school environment.
PGSA Committee:
To help coordinate and streamline communication, we have a smaller PGSA Committee. This committee is made up of a smaller group of parents, guardians, and staff members. Our goal is to have one parent representative (not necessarily class rep) from each year group. The Committee comprises of chair, secretary, treasurer and teacher and parents reps.
Currently Chair: Louise Butler
Current secretary & Staff member: Fionnuala
Parent reps: Jen 5th class parent), Karen (5th Class parent), Ciara (JI and 1st class parent), Peter (JI and 1st class parent ) and Avril (5th Class parent)
Each class has two Class Representatives who act as communication links between the PGSA Committee and class parents. Class Reps are part of a dedicated WhatsApp group, where they receive updates and information from the school, afterschool organisers, PGSA Committee, etc.
Communication flow:
PGSA Committee → Class Rep WhatsApp Group → Class Groups
This structure ensures that all families receive consistent and timely information to support school events, initiatives, and fundraising efforts.
ACTION
- Seeking a treasurer to join us
- Seeking parent reps from each year group
- Last Years Fundraising activities
- Digital Detox
- Winter Bazaar
- Pub quiz
- Summer Fete
All of these raise much needed funds for the school
To build school communities, we have coffee mornings for each class group during the school year
New initiatives for 2025 :
- Child Designed D7 Christmas cards – big thanks to Vicki for this initiative
- Suggestion re bringing back the D7K run. Opportunity for anyone interested in supporting this initiative, please contact your class rep. Thanks to Sorcha who plans to contact Park Run for Schools for further information.
ACTION : Any and all Parent initiatives are very welcome. It is best to contact your class rep initially and they can put you in contact with the PGSA or send email to PGSA email
- Some the funds raised by our activities have been used to support the following activities amongst others:
Parent talks
School equipment
Literacy resources
PE equipment
Play Therapy
Subsidises school activities such as 5th class rowing, school x etc.
- Smartphone contract Dublin 7 and Dublin 15 Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free Code
In our commitment to fostering healthy child development and creating a supportive community for our students, all families in our school in 2024/2025 were invited to join our community-wide initiative to keep primary school years smartphone free.
This shared commitment included a number of objectives which included the following:
- Delay smartphone ownership until our children have, at least, completed primary school
- Support offline social activities and in-person playdates to strengthen real-world connections
- Maintain open dialogue about technology use, online safety, and digital citizenship
- Provide age-appropriate access to technology when needed for educational purposes
By signing this code, we have committed to supporting a smartphone free childhood for the duration of primary school. We understand that basic phones (call/text only) may be necessary for some families, but smartphones with internet access and apps will be delayed until, at least, secondary school.
ACTION :
- Within our school and other schools in D7 and D15, we are looking into next steps with this initiative. Fionnuala plans to link with the other participating schools.
- Create visuals for school promoting smart free school
- Looking for volunteers!
We are looking for one parent volunteer for each year group to join committee which would mean we have a committee of a minimum of 8 parents and staff.
Action :
- Each class rep to liaise with their class groups to encourage a parent rep for each year group.
- Dates for your Diary 2025 – 26 activities
- Winter bazaar – November 30th (no external traders – all child led stalls with proceeds to the school)
- Digital detox – Thursday February 5th (Prizegiving Friday February 6th)
- Summer Fete – May 24th 2026
- Parent Talk Suggestions – some suggestions included Cyber safe, Richard Hogan; ASIAM;
- Table quiz – tbc (between March 17th and Easter Holidays)
Discussion around Winter Bazaar and class tasks. Suggestion that each class could keep same job each year. However, others felt that this would depend on the task as some are more demanding than others. Suggestion that perhaps each class could do same task for 2 years.
Suggestion around music for Winter bazaar either child or parent musicians welcome. This is something that is sought each year prior to bazaar so please any parents who would like to support this, please let us know!
Suggestion re smaller committees for tasks such as cafés at Winter bazaar to coordinate what is needed.
Suggestion re payment into Winter bazaar which also raises money for school
Suggestion about possible quiet space for smaller children; increased face painting; shorter films in Cinema (max 10-15 mins) to encourage children to explore other aspects of winter bazaar
AOB
Gaeilge classes – Jen reminded parents and class reps to share with classes again if anyone would like to join the Parent Irish classes on Thursday evenings in the school.
Query re landscaping around the school. Fionnuala described current planting opportunities for children with raised beds etc., and development of playscape
Email address for anu queries – Parent Guardian Staff Association pgsa@d7educatetogether.com
Community News
The ALO (adult literacy organiser) for the City of Dublin FET College in Cabra has contacted us let you know that they are running a 4-week course in conjunction with Cabra library for parents/guardians who have children with reading or writing needs.
Please see the brochure attached.
The class is free and takes place in Cabra library.
