Dear Parents/Guardians

I hope you are all keeping well. As we are well into the third term all staff are delighted how well the children have
done to date. We have a number of activities & trips organised for the next few weeks. Where there is bus travel we
would ask the children to bring €2 to help cover the cost of the buses. The class teacher will remind the children
when this is the case. Please find below a list of recent and upcoming events.

Relationships & Sexuality Education (RSE): Relationships and Sexuality education is an integral part of the S.P.H.E
programme. The sensitive elements of the Relationships and Sexuality education programme are covered under the
Strand Units, ‘Growing and Changing’ and ‘Taking Care of my Body’. We will be completing these Strand Units with
all class levels in the forthcoming weeks. In the past the school has arranged for an outside facilitator to speak to the
children in 5th & 6th class about the sensitive areas of the R.S.E curriculum. On the last occasion I felt that the
programme could have been delivered better so I have decided that I will be teach the programme myself this time.

Please find attached the home/school links pages of the Relationships and Sexuality manual which outline the
material that will be covered in class and encourage further discussion on the topics at home. If you have any
concerns, please make an appointment to see the class teacher.

https://www.pdst.ie/sites/default/files/RSE%20in%20Primary%20School%20Parent%20Tips_0.pdf

https://www.pdst.ie/sites/default/files/parent_booklet_going_forward_together.pdf

https://www.kilchreestns.com/rse-content-overview/

Hurling & Camogie : In preparation for the upcoming schools hurling & camogie championships the hurling &
camogie teams are playing a primary schools blitz on Tuesday 30 th of April in St Thomas’ Gaa grounds. The Blitz is
being organised by Peterswell N.S. & we are grateful to Principal Michael Mulkerins for the invitation.
The school hurling team will be playing their Cuman na mBunscol Blitz on Friday 17 th of May in St Thomas’ Gaa
grounds. The school camogie team will be playing their Cuman na mBunscol camogie blitz on Friday 24 th May at
10am in Cappataggle.

Confirmation: Congratulations to the boys and girls in 5th & 6th class who received the sacrament of Confirmation on
Wednesday 17 th of April. The ceremony was lovely and the children did all their readings, singing, playing music and
other jobs so well. They are a credit to themselves and their parents.

Special Word of thanks to Ms. Kelly & Ms Keely for looking after the school choir & music for the ceremony. We are
so lucky to have such talented teachers on our staff. The choir were excellent on the day & really added to the
occasion for everyone

First Communion:
First Holy Communion for 2 nd class children will take place on Saturday 1 st June at 12pm in Castledaly church. The
school choir will be singing on the day so we hope to have as many children as possible available.

Local Group Water Scheme Visit: John Fahey & Colm Burke of the local group water scheme visited the school
recently to give each child in the school a water bottle. These were kindly donated so the children could use the new
drinking water fountain in St Thomas’ Gaa grounds. We have also arranged a visit for children from 3 rd -6 th class to
the local water treatment plant on Wednesday 15 th of May.

Schools Athletics: The annual John Manning Inter-school’s athletics competition will take place on the evenings of
either Wednesday 22 th or Thursday 23 rd May. This will depend on the category of school we are entered in. We will
confirm the date as soon as we know.

School Tour: Friday 14 th June. Juniors-2 nd Class will be going to the Burren Nature Sanctuary. 3 rd -6 th are going to the
Burren Outdoor Activity Centre. A separate letter will issue with prices and timetables closer to the time.

Graduation Ceremony: Monday 24th June at 1.00pm in the school hall.

School Fundraiser: Following a recent meeting with the Fundraising committee it has been decided to organise a
Family Table Quiz & Auction on Friday 21st of June at 7pm in St Thomas’ Gaa Hall. More details will follow in the
coming weeks.

Dates for the Calendar:

Standardised Test: Tuesday 28 th May – Drumcondra English
Thursday 30 th May – Drumcondra Gaeilge
Thursday 6 th June – Drumcondra Maths

School Closures:

Bank Holiday Monday 6 th May.
Staff Meeting: Wednesday 5 th June. Children will to home at 1:45pm. Buses will run as normal on the day.
Bank Holiday Monday 3 rd of June.
Local & European Elections Friday 7 th of June

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Is mise, le meas,

Francis O’Connor
Principal.