Dear Parents,

Welcome to our Christmas Newletter 2009,  kindly sponsored by our Parents’ Council and our Brown Envelope collection.  On behalf of our school community I would like to wish you one and all a very,  very Happy Christmas and let’s hope that 2010 will be a good year for us all.

This has been a very positive year in our school.  Prior to the summer holidays we held a very successful pantomime Cinderella.  Following that we had our Green Flag Ceremony and Sports Day.  Since September we have had very exciting times.  Firstly Cork’s journey to the All-Ireland was a “red letter day” in our school when all the children dressed up in the County colours.  Our Third and Fourth Class have enjoyed going to Fermoy Swimming pool to build on the skills they had developed over the past number of years.  In the next term Fifth and Sixth Class will go swimming and in the final term First and Second class will do likewise.  Football Training continues after school led by Ms. Mairéad O’Brien and Camogie has commenced after school led by Ms. O’Connell.  A number of other staff also generously share their talents to develop your child’s skills in these areas,  for which we are extremely grateful.  We hope to begin our choir and drama group after school early in 2010.  All of our after-school activities are provided for your children on a voluntary basis by our staff.

We wish the very best to our teachers who are going on leave at this time and hope the new year brings joy and good fortune to them.   Consequently we held our Parent/Teacher meeting earlier than usual,  in November.  This seems to have been well-received by both parents and staff and we will look at holding it at this time in future years.

Highlights of this term include our Sponsored Walk organised by the Parents’ Council and also the Presentation Day Mass which was extra special due to the inclusion of a pageant on the life of Nano Nagle.   During the past week we collected bags of clothes and shoes for our local St. Vincent de Paul which they will be able to sell or recycle.  They were very pleased with your response.

 I would like to bring the forthcoming items to your attention:

Ø  Once again I would like to reiterate that whereas we appreciate that many children have given little gifts to staff at Christmas over the years, we request that in these challenging times we would like to advise parents that we would prefer that this practice be discontinued as it puts pressure on families. I ask all parents to co-operate with this request and thank you in anticipation.   We also advise the practice of children exchanging cards be discontinued. 

  Ø  Infant Nativity Plays.            These will be on the following dates: 

o   Wednesday 16^th          11.45 a.m.       Ms. Kenneally’s Junior Infants 

o   Wednesday 16^th           1.00 p.m.        Ms. Murphy’s Senior Infants 

o   Thursday 17^th              11.45 a.m.       Mr. Heffernan’s Junior Infants 

o   Thursday 17^th              1.00 p.m.         Ms. Kirwan’s Junior and Senior Infants 

o   Friday 18^th                   12.00 noon      Ms. O’Connell’s Senior Infants 

Your child is free to go home with you directly after his/her performance,  if this suits you.

Ø  Santa will visit our school on Monday 21^st December.  We thank the Parents’ Council for their kindness in organising this directly with Santa by getting on to his direct line at the North Pole.  On that day Santa will be in the Halla from 11.00 onwards for half an hour or so.  Infants to Second Class will go to the Halla and sing some carols for Santa.  If you would like to come along and bring your other small children you are most welcome.  You can even organise to take a photo with Santa if you like.

Ø  I would like to thank our Parents’ Council for all their dedication to our school.  As you know all of the Council work very hard for every child in the school community,  not just their own children and we are a far richer school environment for their input. All their work is voluntary and they work very hard indeed.  Thank you very much.

Ø  Thanks to Eilís Watson who edited this publication. Eilís is our school PRO and you see her many items in the Avondhu during the year,  keeping one and all informed of our many activities here in Bunscoil na Toirbhirte. Thanks Eilís.

Ø  The Christmas Carol Service will take place on Tuesday 22^nd December at 11.00 a.m. in the parish church.  You are

 all invited to attend this annual event which puts us all in the mood for Christmas.  School will close for children at 12.30 p.m. on that day

All that remains is for me to wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.

   Kayren Hayes