NUACHT NA CÁSCA – AIBREÁN 2015
EASTER NEWSLETTER
A thuismitheoirí/ a chaomhnóirí,
Beannachtaí na Cásca oraibh go léir.
Tóg sos, lig do scíth agus bí ag léamh!
Tá an t-am ag imeacht agus tá laethanta saoire na Cásca beagnach taghta! The time is flying by and already the Easter season is upon us! I would like you to take time out from your busy day with a cuppa, sit back, read and catch up on Belgrove Senior Girls’ News!
Céadaoin an Luathrigh/Ash Wednesday
Fr. Larry and his team of helpers distributed ashes to the girls for the first day of Lent on Wednesday 18th February. Míle buíochas dóibh
Trócaire
This year’s 2015 Trócaire Lenten campaign is focusing on helping communities to fight drought and hunger. “The poorest and most vunerable communities are struggling to survive in the face of drought, storms and floods”. If you are returning your Trócaire box through the school, please do not send it in until after the Easter Holidays.
Book Fair/Aonach na Leabhar
We would like to offer our sincere thanks to the parents who helped us to run our recent Book Fair. Thanks also to all who supported the Book Fair. We raised €5827.70 this year which will go towards providing books for class libraries and the school library.
I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to encourage your daughter to read. Read to her, read with her, encourage her to read on her own. Discuss the books and share opinions. This improves literacy significantly and will be of huge benefit to your daughter.
Bí ag léamh!
Leabharlann na Scoile/School library
Buíochas mór to Noreen O’Dea, Anne Quigley and Jill Pitcher who work very hard to keep the library functioning.
Book Clubs
4th, 5th & 6th classes each meet once a month in the library to talk about/discuss/share thoughts on the books they have read over the previous month. Míle buíochas to the parents who come in and help out on the designated days. We have great fun discussing books and sharing lots of different opinions!
Tráth na gCeist / Quiz
Well done to the girls who participated in the Parents’ Association Quiz on Sunday, 1st March. Míle buíochas to the Parents’ Association for organising and running the quiz.
Cispheil/ Basketball
Our 4th class basketball players will participate in a Basketball Blitz on Wed. 18th April in the IWA. Tá súil agam go mbeidh am iontach acu agus míle buíochas do na tuismitheoirí who volunteered their time for the day re supervision. 5th class basketball players will also participate in a Basketball Blitz – date to be confirmed .
Comhghairdeas to both our 6th class basketball teams who are through to the semi-finals Go Belgrove!
A sincere thank you to the parents who volunteer to organise and help with basketball.
World Book Day
We celebrated World Book Day on Friday 27th February and the girls made a fantastic effort in dressing up as a character from their favourite novel and the school was a very colourful place! The following girls won a €10 book token for their excellent book reviews. These reviews are on display in the corridor if you would like to see them
| Múinteoir | Rang | Cailín |
| Mrs de Burca/Ms. Costello | 2 | Eloise Silvester |
| Ms. Rowley | 2 | Ella Fitzgerald |
| Ms. Egan | 2 | Anna Mancini |
| Ms. Carroll | 3 | Alanna Power |
| Mrs. O’Dea | 3 | Rachel Andrews |
| Ms. Furness | 3 | Méabh Geary |
| Mrs. Daly | 4 | Rachel Scott |
| Mrs. MacNamee | 4 | Aoife Caulfield |
| Ms. Walshe | 4 | Isabel Mac Dermott |
| Ms. O’Connell | 5 | Ruth Lenihan |
| Mrs. Joy | 5 | Rebecca Delahunt |
| Ms. Brodie | 5 | Sarah Lynch |
| Ms. McCarthy | 6 | Fiona Baragry |
| Ms. Curtis | 6 | Stephanie Peat |
| Ms. O’Neill | 6 | Ellen Hayes |
Seachtain na Gaeilge
The classes were busy learning their rince gaelach for the ceilí sa chlós. The girls had great fun participating in the Irish dances on Wednesday 11th March, but unfortunately we had to reschedule the ceilí to the hall because of the weather. Ar aon nós, bhí am iontach acu! The girls wore green on Friday 13th March for Lá Fhéile Pádraig. We celebrated in the halla and bhí go leor craic againn! Caoimhe Duffy, Kate Burke & Eimear Gibson played for the school audience while the following girls danced for us – Sophie Armstrong, Laura Aylward, Tara Bell, Sarah Bredican, Orla Howard, Sophie Kilmartin, Ellen Leddy Doyle, Zoe Magner, Aoibh Maguire & Áine Mulligan. Maith sibh a chailíní!
Raidio Belgrove: 6th classes gave us nuacht an lae – a new experience for them using the intercom system!
6th classes took part in a comórtas scéíl while the other classes illustrated an Irish seanfhocal. They are on display in the corridor if you would like to see them.
The winners were:
| Múinteoir | Rang | Cailín | |
| Mrs de Burca/Ms. Costello | 2 | Ní hé lá na báistí lá na bpáistí! | Sarah Power |
| Ms. Rowley | 2 | Míle buíochas! | Síofra McCarthy |
| Ms. Egan | 2 | Ní hé lá na báistí lá na bpáistí! | Lily-May Conaty |
| Ms. Carroll | 3 | Go bhfóire Dia orainn! | Aisling Vickers |
| Mrs. O’Dea | 3 | Fág an droch scéal san áit a bhfuair tú é! | Aoife Connaughton |
| Ms. Furness | 3 | Go bhfóire Dia orainn! | Alison Garvey |
| Mrs. Daly | 4 | Is fear cairde ná ór! | Aisling O’Donovan |
| Mrs. MacNamee | 4 | Is fear cairde ná ór! | Eleanor Fitzsimons |
| Ms. Walshe | 4 | Is binn béal ina thost. | Robyn Kell |
| Ms. O’Connell | 5 | Is maith an scathán súil charad! | Áine Walsh |
| Mrs. Joy | 5 | Nuair a bhíonn an bolg lán is maith leis na cnámha síneadh! | Isobel Conlon |
| Ms. Brodie | 5 | Ní thagann ciall roimh aois. | Aoife de Sales |
| Ms. McCarthy | 6 | M’áit conaithe | Eva Lee |
| Ms. Curtis | 6 | Teach trí thine | Ciara O’Toole |
| Ms. O’Neill | 6 | Ag siopadóireacht | Caoimhe Finnegan |
Córfhéile na Scoileanna
Maith sibh to our 3rd & 4th classes who performed in Corfhéile na Scoileanna on Tuesday 3rd March. They were fantastic and performed for the school on Friday 13th March. Míle buíochas to the class teachers for all their preparation and hard work J
Garda Soccer Tournament
Rang V took part in “Show Racism the Red Card” which was organised by the local Gardaí in conjunction with the F.A.I. Go raibh maith agaibh to the Gardaí who spoke to the three fifth classes, and to those who organised the tournament which took place on February 26th.
We entered three teams “Australia”, “ Argentina” & “Sweden”. Sweden ended the day as runners up! Comhghairdeas to all of the girls who participated so well and a huge thank you to the parents who gave their time to help out on the day.
GAA Mini Leagues
Our Gaelic Football lunchtime league is up and running with the girls from fourth class. The girls have been divided into 7 a-side teams, representing various counties in Ireland. The 10 minute matches are run during lunch-time. Sixth class girls have taken on the roles of referees, match officials and team managers. There has been great excitement from the players and supporters! We hope that all group matches will be completed before the Easter Break.
We plan to extend the league to the 3rd and 5th classes over the coming weeks. A big ‘Míle buíochas’ to our sixth class girls, without whom it would not be possible to run the league.
Design your Nano Gear competition
Congratulations to Lauren Middleton in Mrs. Brodie’s 5th Class who recently won second place in Amber’s Science/Art competition. Amber is an SFI (Science Foundation Ireland) funded centre, located in Trinity College Dublin, and provides a partnership between leading researchers in material science and industry to develop new materials and medical devices. Lauren’s design of Graphene Kneepads is on show on the school corridor. Well done to all the girls who entered this competition, we had over 20 very innovative entries!
Green School Committee News
On February 26th, the Green School Committee took part in a walkability audit. The group was led by Ally from An Taisce and Ms. Laura Egan. They walked around the routes that most children would take when walking to school. The girls had to note and photograph any hazards that they found on each route. These included cracks in the pavement and concealed entrances. The girls did a great job with the audit and Ally will meet with the committee soon to discuss the results.
WOW has been a huge success so far this year. Each stream has been making a huge effort to walk, cycle, scoot or park and stride to school on Wednesdays. The golden boot was awarded to 5th class last week and the silver boot was awarded to 2nd class. Maith sibh! Keep up the good work girls.
Fundraising
Buíochas mór for the huge support received to date for all our fundraising. It is very much appreciated.
The fundraising efforts continue with a bag pack in Nolan’s Supermarket on Good Friday. The Fundraising Committee would really appreciate if senior class girls could give one hour of their time on that day to help out. Parental help with supervision is also needed. If you forgot to fill out the flier but feel you are able to help, please call or text Claire on 087 245 6404. All help will be much appreciated.
Gáirdín na Scoile/School Garden
Buíochas mór to all our hard working parents who, under the guidance of Martha Holmes and Claire Wilde have the garden looking fantastic! Míle buíochas to the many Moms, Dads and children who came in to help on Saturday 7th March to get the garden organised for planting. It looks fantastic! Is aoibhinn an radharc é! The rotten benches have been dismantled and a frog was found in the sunken area! Buíochas to Derek, our caretaker, who is currently varnishing the wooden fence, tubs, bench and shed. The garden is behind the portacabin in the yard should you wish to have a look.
Sacraments
Sacrament of First Reconciliation
Comhghairdeas to our 2nd class girls who received the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in their class groupings on 10th, 11th and 12th March. Many thanks to Fr. Pat McManus, Fr. Martin Hogan, Fr. Larry White, Fr. John Callanan and Fr. Dermot Mansfield who officiated at the ceremonies. Thanks also to the teachers for all their hard work in preparing the children for this special time in their lives. It was a memorable, intimate occasion held in St. John the Baptist Church.
Reconciliation
3rd – 5th classes will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation over the next few days while the 6th classes will receive the sacrament after the Easter holidays.
First Holy Communion
Our 2nd classes are currently participating in the “Do This in Memory” programme as part of their preparation for First Holy communion. Many thanks to Deirdre McDermott our pastoral worker and the parents who are assisting in running the programme.
First Holy Communion
- Saturday 9th May 2015 at 11a.m
- Mrs. de Burca / Ms. Costello: St. John the Baptist
- Ms. Egan & Ms. Rowley: St. Gabriel’s
- Photographs Monday 11th May 2015
Sacramental Choirs
- 4th class girls will sing in St. Anthony’s Church for First Holy Communion
- 5th class girls will sing in St. Anthony’s Church for Confirmation
Confirmation
Our 6th classes are currently participating in the “You Shall be my Witness” Programme as part of their preparation for Confirmation. Again many thanks to Deirdre McDermott our pastoral worker and the parents who are assisting in running the programme.
Retreat 2015 Manresa House 10a.m. – 12 noon Fr. Dermot Mansfield
(May be in a different building as work being undertaken)
- Monday 27th April: Ms. McCarthy
- Tuesday 28th April: Ms. Curtis
- Wednesday 29th April: Ms. O’Neill
Confirmation
- Thursday 21st May 2015 11a.m. 2015
- Ms. McCarthy and Ms. Curtis: St. Gabriel’s Church
- Ms. O’Neill: St. Anthony’s Church
- Photographs Friday 22nd May 2015
6th class Graduation
- Wednesday 24th June 2015 11.30 a.m.
TUSLA (Educational Welfare Services Child and Family Agency)
Established 01/01/2014
It is a requirement for schools to report absences of 20 days or more to TUSLA which now incorporates the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB). Under this arrangement, we must also categorise the reason for each absence, hence the importance of sending in a written note to the Class Teacher explaining why your daughter has been absent, on every occasion. The absence note should be on a separate page, and not in your daughter’s homework journal, because the Class Teacher will have to retain it for reference. There are four reporting periods in the year with reports for period 2 (end-Dec.) and Period 4 (end of school year) being mandatory. Please note that reports are cumulative from the start of the school year. As a matter of courtesy you will be notified in writing if your daughter is recorded on the Student Absence Report Form. Please see www.tusla.ie for further details.
- Holidays during term are not encouraged. Neither is it the policy of the school to set ‘holiday work’ for pupils. Attendance at school is very important and the work of the school continues right up to the end of June each year. If family holidays during term time are unavoidable, please inform your child’s Class Teacher in writing, in advance of the proposed absence from school.
Éadaí Caillte/Lost Property
We have a full basket of unclaimed lost property in the school corridor! Come and have a look if you know that your daughter is missing an article of clothing and hasn’t claimed it. Anything unclaimed will be given to a clothing charity after Easter.
Saoire na Cásca / Easter Holidays
Ná déan dearmad – beidh na páistí ag dul abhaile ag 12 noon ar an Aoine, 27ú Márta.
Is féidir leis na cailíní a n-éadaí féin a chaitheamh ar an Aoine.
We remind you that the school will close on Friday, 27th March at 12.00 noon and will reopen on Monday 13th April 2015.
The girls may wear their suitable, non-uniform clothes to school this Friday.
We wish all our parents and children a very Happy Easter!
Beannachtaí na Cásca oraibh!
Le gach dea – ghuí,
Anne McCarthy,
Príomhoide
