SCHOOL NEWS in Brief…..

4^th December 2014

From the Principal’s office:

As is usual at this time of year, we think of others less fortunate than ourselves and again this year we are supporting the Focus Ireland Charity and the Children in Hospital toy appeal – your children may already have mentioned this to you and further details from Assumpta Neylon are contained in this newsletter.

A reminder that the Christmas concert will take place on Thursday 18^th December here in the school as follows:

• 9.30am Junior Infants, Senior Infants, Rang 1 and Rang 2
• 11oc Rang 3, Rang 4, rang 5 and rang 6.

Thank you all for coming in for the recent parent/teacher meetings. We hope that you found them useful. I would welcome any comments/ suggestions that you might have for next year by return email. We really do value this opportunity to sit down with you and talk about your child’s experience here in RMDS, so your responses will be considered in making arrangements for future meetings.

Joan Whelan

From the Christmas Fair Committee:

Thanks again for your tremendous response to the Christmas Fair on Sunday. As well as enjoying a good day out, we hit our goal of raising €10,000 to spend on the school and help in development of Linear Park.

We have a limited number of tea towels left.  So if you missed the fair and the chance to pick some up we will be selling them at the school gate next Thursday as well as at the refreshment break during the Christmas concerts on the 18th.  A great stocking filler and present for grandparents!

A big thank you again and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

The raffle winners are listed below – please call to the office if you have yet to collect your prize.

 Dear Parents and Students,

For the 2014 RMDS Festive Charity this year, we have again decided to support two important charities, Focus Ireland ( www.focusireland.ie) and Children in Hospital Ireland. We feel that giving to charity is a valuable exercise for the children as it helps them to focus on those in need at this time of the year. There has always been a very generous response over the years and the school and charities really appreciate your generosity and thoughtfulness. Feel free to choose who you’d like to support.

The final date for receipt of goods in your child’s class is Wednesday, December 10th.

The list below gives an idea of some practical items that would be needed for Focus Ireland but "nice" seasonal fare and gifts would be very much appreciated as well.

Children in Hospital Ireland are running a Christmas campaign to donate toys and art and craft materials etc. to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin. Catherine Clifford (mum to Anna May, 3^rd class) is the administrator/volunteer co-ordinator with the charity. The organization is primarily engaged in organising (recruitment, training, obtaining vetting and references, providing ongoing support and training) volunteers for 20 children's hospitals and units around the country. The volunteers provide play for children in hospital, which helps to normalise the hospital environment for them.  This supports the work of the play specialists in the hospital. Given the funding issues in the health service that we are all aware of, volunteers and play specialists in the play rooms often face the problem of lack of supplies to carry out their role.  

The following are some suggestions drawn up by the play specialists in conjunction with the play volunteers.

NB!! All Games, Toys & Activity Materials need to be Brand New in order to guard against the spread of infection.

We suggest that each child brings one item. The teachers will talk to the children about this project as part of Core Curriculum in all classes. All hampers will be on display in the school next Friday, before they are collected by the two charities.

Thank you for your support

Best Regards

Assumpta Neylon Rang 4 (Core Curriculum Coordinator)