29th April 2026
April Newsletter
Dear Parents/Guardians
I hope you are all keeping well. We are well into the third term & it’s great to see the weather finally improving. 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. Ms Flanagan & I will speak to the children in 5th & 6th class about the sensitive areas of the R.S.E curriculum.
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/
Cumann na mBunscol Camogie/Hurling Gaelic Football:
The school hurling team will be playing their Cumann na mBunscol Blitz on Thursday 30th of April in Ardrahan Gaa grounds. The school camogie team will be playing their Cumann na mBunscol camogie blitz on Thursday 14th May at 10am in St Thomas’ Gaa grounds Castledaly. Girls & Boys football blitzes are both on Wednesday 6th of May in Caltra & Gort Gaa grounds respectively.
Garda Hurling/Camogie Blitzes:
The girls played their 7-a-side camogie blitz on Thursday 16th of April in Ballindereen Gaa pitch. Thanks to Ms Hayes for looking after the team on the day. The boys hurling blitz takes place on Monday 11th of May in Gort Gaa grounds. Thanks to local Garda for organising the blitzes for the children.
First Communion:
Congratulations to our wonderful 2nd class children who celebrated their First Holy Communion on Saturday 25th of April. We are so proud of them all & we hope they all had a lovely day with their families. Special thanks to Ms. Cusack for preparing the children so well. We thank the boys & girls of our school choir for agreeing to sing & play on the day. We are also grateful to Ms Kelly & Ms Keely for preparing the choir & giving their time to make the occasion so special for the children. Thanks also to the 1st class parents for providing refreshments to the Communion children & their families. It is very much appreciated by everyone.
Schools Athletics:
The annual John Manning Inter-school’s athletics competition will take place on the evening of Wednesday 20th May. More details about this will follow closer to the time.
St Thomas’ GAA Coaching:
The club are going ahead with the schools coaching again this year. It will run on Friday’s for 4 weeks commencing Friday 29th of May. I will send a reminder closer to the time. Thanks to Robert Murray for organising & the coaches for giving their time.
Credit Union Savings Scheme:
Wednesday 29th of April will be the last day of the scheme for this year. There has been a great response & we thank the Local Credit Union for facilitating.
New Primary Curriculum Framework:
Teacher’s recently received in-service on the New Primary Curriculum Framework. I have provided a link below with an information booklet for parents to explain the key messages & changes to the curriculum.
Creative Schools:
We are delighted to have Trish Gallagher back with us for this term. Trish is teaching the children in 5th & 6th class how to weave. The Creative committee in turn have been teaching the Infants how to paper weave. We have a few other art activities organised for the coming weeks. I will provide more details once they have been finalised. Thanks again to Ms Flanagan for co-ordinating the Creative Schools activities.
Music classes:
Music Generation are back with us for this term. The classes will begin on Friday 8th of May for 4 weeks. This time they are for all classes & the focus is going to be on song singing & composing a school anthem. The price of the lessons per child is €5 for the 4 lessons. Please send in the money at your earliest convenience.
Parents Council:
GAA gear swap day. Thanks to the Parents Council for organising a GAA gear swap day for the children on Friday 15th of April.
School Tour:
This year’s school tour will take place on Monday 22nd of June. Infants-2nd classes are going to Glendeer Pet Farm in Athlone, Co Westmeath. 3rd-6th Classes are going to Bay Sports, Athlone, Co Westmeath. More details will follow closer to the time about the cost of the tour & itinerary for the day
6th Class Graduation Ceremony:
This year’s 6th class Graduation Ceremony is Tuesday 23rd of June at 1pm in the school hall. A reminder that the 5th class parents organise the tea’s/coffees & refreshments for the 6th class children & their parents.
Dates for the Calendar:
Standardised Tests:
- Tuesday 26th May Drumcondra English.
- Thursday 28th May Drumcondra Gaeilge.
- Thursday 4th June Drumcondra Maths.
Staff Meeting:
Wednesday 3rd June. Children will go home at 1:45pm. Buses will run as normal on the day.
School Closures:
- Bank Holiday Monday 4th May.
- Bank Holiday Monday 1st of June.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Is mise, le meas,
Francis O’Connor
Principal.