Newsletter

February 2024

ESB Science Blast.  

We are very excited to be entering 3 projects to the ESB Science Blast in the RDS on Monday 4th March. Pupils from 4th, 5th & 6th classes are working with their teachers and Dr Amy Fahy of Maynooth University and her team. They have produced great work on wind turbines and wave energy and we are looking forward to presenting them and attending this wonderful event for the first time.

Projects

February is project month. Pupils from 3rd-6th Classes are working on their own individual projects. We look forward to seeing their great work which is due in school on 13th March. 1st and 2nd Classes will complete projects with their class teachers at a later date. WE look forward to exhibiting these projects to parents in The Hub at a later date.

Voluntary Contributions

Thanks to all who have paid their Voluntary Contribution. We have now received approximately 27% of donations. We really appreciate it as despite Department of Education funding, in the current climate we are finding it difficult to make ends meet and appreciate these contributions from those who can afford to make them.

Students

We are delighted to have had a number of TY students with us over the last few weeks. These are past pupils who have come back to give a hand and we are always happy to see them and hear how they are getting on. We also have a number of Student Teachers joining us on placement. They are working in classes under the supervision of their class teachers. We are happy to support them in their training and know that our pupils will enjoy their time with us.

French Lessons

We were delighted to once again to receive funding for a block of European Language lessons, this year in term 3. This year we will be offering French lessons to all pupils from 3rd – 6th class.

Junior Entrepreneur

6th Class have begun working on their JEP project. They are running a puppet show and a tuck shop on Friday, 1st March to raise funds with which to establish their ‘Business’. Please send in €2-3 for the tuck shop on Friday. Further details of how you can support this initiative to follow.

Active Schools

Well done to Ms Gray & our Active School’s Team – watch out for everyone getting fit as we walk/run laps of the school yard to accumulate kilometres to see how far we can ‘travel’, from capital to capital across Europe! We will be walking around the yard with our buddies on Wednesdays – weather permitting!

Building Works

The work on the site to the rear of the school continues and works have begun in the house adjacent to the school on the main road. There is a lot of construction traffic up and down along our boundary wall. Please be mindful as you walk to and from the school that there may be vehicles coming in and out of the road and we request that you do not park in the staff car park as there are children walking in that area.

Seachtain na Gaeilge

This takes place from 1st-17th March. We are looking forward to all sorts of fun activities – Ceili’s, Ceolchoirm (Concert), Stories, Games and Lá Glás (Green Day) etc. Photos will appear on our website. If you wish for your child to take part in the ceolchoirm as a solo act, please email Ms Marriott at NMarriott@castleknocknaationalschool.ie or the school office.

World Book Day

World book day takes place on 7th March. Vouchers will be going home and we encourage pupils to buy and/or read a book! May I take this opportunity to thank a

number of families who have recently made donations of pre-loved books to our school library – we are delighted to receive them!

Credit Union Quiz 

Congratulations to the team of 6th Class pupils who took part in the Credit Union Quiz in TU Blanchardstown on Thursday 22nd February. Thank you also to their parents who brought them along and stayed to support them that evening. They represented the school so well and we will receive €200 from the credit union for participating.

Fingal Athletics

Well done to all those who represented CNS in Porterstown at the Fingal Athletics on 27th February. Thank you to Ms Gray and to the parents who provided transport and encouragement on a rather wet day!

Chess

Good luck to our chess team who will travel to Perrystown with Ms Gray to participate in the Féile Fichille chess competition on 6th  March. This is another ‘first’ for CNS and we look forward to hearing how they get on.

Green Schools

Our Green Team have been working very hard on our behalf and had their inspection on 28th February. We are delighted to say that we are soon to be awarded our green flag for ‘Global Citizenship’. Well done to Ms Clarke, Ms Caldbeck and our wonderful green team.

Staffing

We are so sorry to say that Ms Furney will be leaving CNS at Easter to take up a position close to her family home in Co Wexford. We would like to thank her for all she has brought in her time here with us in Castleknock NS as we wish her well in her new position. Ms Leopold will step in to finish the year with 6th Class – she has a wealth of experience and has taught this cohort of pupils before – they know each other well! Ms Furney will be back to join us for 6thClass Graduation in June to catch up with her pupils before they move on.

Congratulations to Mrs McMurdock and her family on the arrival of baby ‘Noah’ on 1st February. We are delighted to report that although his arrival was ahead of schedule, all is well and he is at home and doing well.

Dates for your Diary.

Election Day -School will be closed on Friday 8th March for polling.

St Patrick’s Weekend – School will be closed on Monday 18th March.

Easter Holidays – Closing on Friday 22nd March11.30am and re-opening on Monday 8th April.

*We will be closing on Friday, 22nd March – this is the date of the Daffodil Day Coffee Morning in the Parish Centre if anyone would like to pop in and support this so very worthy cause.

Kind regards

Sandra Moloney

Principal