March Newsletter

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Dates for your Diary:

• Friday 27th March – School closed at 12 noon for the Easter break

• Friday 27th March, 5pm – Confirmation

• Monday 30th March – Friday 10th April (inclusive) – Easter Holidays, school closed

• Monday 4th May – Public Holiday, school closed

• Saturday 16th May, 12 noon – First Holy Communion

• Tuesday 19th May – Staff Training, school closed

• Monday 1st June – Public Holiday, school closed

Welcome:

We are delighted to welcome two new families to our school community. A warm welcome to Ellyn (2nd Class) and Liam (Junior Infants), as well as Mika (4th Class), who have recently joined us. We hope you all feel very welcome and happy here in Glounaguillagh, and we look forward to getting to know you over the coming months.

Easter Holidays:

The school will close for the Easter Holidays on Friday 27th March at 12 noon. The school will reopen on Monday 13th April.

Sacraments:

Best wishes to our 6th Class pupils who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday next, March 27th. We wish you well on your special day. Have a wonderful time with your families. Our thanks to the children who are partaking in the choir on Friday evening. We are very grateful to you all for giving your time to be with us on the evening.

After-School Service:

We are excited and delighted to announce that the Glounaguillagh After-School Club will begin operating in the school from Monday, 23rd March. If you would like more information, please contact glounaguillaghafterschool@gmail.com. The service will run during the Easter holidays. To access this, please contact Jade (after-school supervisor) directly on 087-4580875.

World Down Syndrome Day:

This Saturday, 21st March, is World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. To celebrate, we’re inviting everyone to "Rock their Socks" by wearing brightly coloured or odd socks to school on Monday 23rd March. They might be mismatched socks or your boldest and most colourful socks, whatever takes your fancy!

Book Fair:

The school Book Fair arrived to school on Wednesday. It will be open to parents/ guardians/ grandparents on Monday 23rd & Tuesday 24th March, from 1:30pm – 2:30pm each day. (Cash sales only)

Lá Glas:

Well done to everyone who participated in our Lá Glas recently, which concluded our Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations. Bhí lá iontach againn ag céiliúradh Seachtain na Gaeilge agus Lá Fhéile Pádraig. A huge thank you to the student council along with Ms. McCarthy and Ms. O’Shea for the effort they went to.

FAI Primary 5s:

Well done to our two soccer teams for representing the school very well at the FAI Boys Primary 5s soccer tournament held in Killarney Celtic at the end of February. Thanks to Ms. McCarthy and Mr. Fenton Toms for accompanying the teams on the day. The girls’ soccer teams will travel to Killarney on Thursday next for their competition. Best of luck to all involved. Thanks to Wayne for his help with the girls' teams.

Football:

Well done to the girls on their performance on Tuesday at the Mid Kerry Mini 7s competition in Beaufort. They can be very proud of themselves and their efforts. The girls topped their group with two great wins over Scoil Réalt na Mara, Cromane and Nagle Rice, Milltown. This set up a quarter-final meeting with Castledrum N.S., where again the girls did very well. We then advanced to the semi-final against Cullina N.S. In a very even first half, both teams were tied at half-time, but it was Cullina who added a crucial goal in the second half to secure the win. A huge well done to all the girls. They played some great football throughout! Wednesday was the turn of the boys team, again in a beautiful, sunny Beaufort. They can be very proud of themselves and the way they represented the school! It wasn’t to be our day in terms of results, losing our opening game to Scoil Réalt na Mara, Cromane by a single point in a very tight contest. The boys showed great determination and improved in their second game against Nagle Rice Milltown, putting in a much stronger performance. While we didn’t progress out of the group, there was plenty to be proud of throughout the day. Well done to all the boys for taking part and giving it their all. Thanks Kevin and Mary Jo for organising two great days. Thanks also to the parents who called by for their support.

Cross Country Running:

Well done to Zoë Russell, Mikayla Moriarty, Aoife Dwyer, Donnacha O’Malley, Olivia Bruton, Naidín Quigg, Alannah Moriarty, James Walsh and Jayden Sheehan who competed in the Cumann na mBunscol Chiarraí Cross Country running competition in Caherslee recently. In cold and windy conditions, everyone tried really hard. Well done everyone!

Swimming:

Swimming lessons are underway for 3rd and 4th Classes with 5th & 6th Classes having finished their six sessions earlier in the year. The lessons are very worthwhile. It’s great to see the progress as the weeks continue. Thank you to the Parents' Association for contributing to the cost of the swimming lessons and to the parents of the classes involved for supporting us to offer these lessons to the children.

Cycle Right Programme:

The Cycle Right programme concluded in 5th & 6th Class recently, under the watchful eye of Pat & Conor. This programme has been such a valuable experience for the children. The children thoroughly enjoyed putting their practice over the last number of weeks to the test with a trip to Killorglin on the final day. Our thanks to Pat Clifford and Conor Gleeson for delivering a brilliant programme. Thanks to Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership for contributing towards the cost of the sessions as well as the other agencies involved. A final thank you to the parents for supporting this very worthwhile initiative.

Time to Count:

Time to Count is coming to a close in 3rd Class. We will finish the programme with our visit to Fexco and wrap-up party on Wednesday 15th April. We are delighted that Business in the Community Ireland and Fexco continue to undertake this programme with us.

Kind regards,

Sinéad Pigott

Principal