PUPIL ONLINE DATABASE ( POD)

The school is finalising the uploading of

relevant pupil data onto the Department of

Education and Skills database as is now

required. Recently the DES revised the

length of time that pupil data will be

retained - until child is 19 years.

See information note on www.education.ie

The DES has also confirmed that from

2015/16 onwards it will be mandatory for

every school to return all relevant pupil

data via POD so that each child can be

counted for school grants and teacher

allocation purposes.

The Cycle Safety Course for 5th Class has just been

completed. The course was subsidised by the BOM, Parents’ Association and Fingal CoCo.

Pupils learnt valuable cycle safety skills over the six weeks of the course.

©Scoil Thomáis, 22nd April 2015

School Tours have been organised by teachers for all classes. Tours will take place in June. Information notes

were sent home before Easter by teachers with cost details about the trips. The school seeks to keep the cost of trips to a minimum but the cost of bus transport must be factored into the tour cost. Thank you to

all those parents who have paid the tour money via the EASY PAYMENTS PLUS link on our school website.

All tour fees were due by 17th April so that numbers can be confirmed with tour venues

and transport finalised. Parents are reminded to pay the tour fee

immediately if you have not done so by the closing date to secure your child’s place on

the class tour.

Thank-you to Scoil Thomáis Parents

Association who organised the

fitting of Robes on 16th April last.

All robe rental money should be paid

by now to the Parents Association.

Confirmation takes place on Thursday 7th

May at 11am with Bishop Raymond Field.

The 5th Classes Choir prepared by their

teachers will sing during the ceremony.

The PA have also organised a reception for the

confirmation children and their families in the

Community Centre after Confirmation

ceremony at approx 12.45pm . The school photographer will be in Scoil

Thomáis on Friday 8th May to take individual

and class photos of the Confirmation pupils.

Details & prices will be sent home shortly.

Singing and Music Lessons: Secondary Teacher (& Scoil Thomais

mum) offering lessons in Laurel Lodge. Individual and group lessons available.

Discount for two or more per lesson. Phone 087 6876500/email

sineadsing@gmail.com

RSE Information Meetings

The school organised brief information

meetings for parents of Junior/Senior

Infants & 1st/2nd Class to further inform

parents of the upcoming RSE ‘sensitive’

lesson that will be taught this week in

these classes. At the meetings Ms M

O’Sullivan, teacher & SPHE co-ordinator,

outlined the methodology and resources for

teaching the lesson from junior infants to

2nd class. There was a good turnout of

parents at the meetings on 17th April last.

All parents received a pack with the

summary of the school policy and lesson

content before Easter.

The next Board of Management Meeting will be held on Tuesday 12th May at 7.45pm in the

School. Board members please note

SCHOOL WEBSITE, please visit www.scoilthomais.ie

for the latest school news & pictures

Nuacht Litir Nuacht Litir -- April 2015April 2015

PARENTS please note the following:

Confirmation takes place on Thursday 7th May at 11am in Laurel Lodge

Church with Bishop Raymond Field NOTE: Early Closing: Parents please note that all classes including 1st to 5th class pupils will go home at 1.40pm on Confirmation Day Thursday 7th May.

There will be no classes on this day for 6th class pupils as their teachers

will be involved in preparing for and attending the Confirmation ceremony.

Bank Holiday May: School closed on Monday 4th May (Bank Holiday) &

also on Tuesday 5th May—reopen on Wednesday 6th May,

NOTE: There will be no school for pupils on Friday 22nd May as the

school will be used as a polling station for the forthcoming referendum.

Reminder: Scoil Thomáis Annual School Fundraising Walk this Sunday 26th April in Phoenix Park at 11am. Meet at Furze Road—there is limited parking here.

We ask that all school families come along and support this annual fundraising event organised by the school and

the Parents’ Association. Pupils in all classes received sponsorship cards before Easter and we ask that

parents and family & friends sponsor your child. Please note that Scoil Thomáis children should not collect door to door for the walk. Each pupil must return

walk cards & monies next week . Full details with route and parking etc will be sent home this week . The walk route will take approx 30/40mins and once

again Scoil Thomáis Parents’ Association has organised ‘treats’ for walkers at the end of the walk route. Funds raised from the walk will be used to for the continuing upgrading of our ICT facilities for all classes. If your family cannot

participate in the walk on Sunday it would be appreciated if you would make a cash donation via your child’s sponsor card to the school.

FOR PARENTS: Social Media & Parental Responsibility It is widely acknowledged that nowadays children in senior classes in

primary schools have access to a wide range of social media and

internet sites outside of schooltime through their personal mobile

devices. The misuse of social media websites and apps by children in primary

school can be cause of concern. Children may use chatrooms and forums to post

comments about their peers and about others. Some of these messages can be

disturbing, hurtful and inappropriate. Photographs may also be posted without

the approval of parents. This can lead to great distress for pupils, their families

and for the school community. Parents are reminded to be extremely vigilant and

keep regular checks on your child’s interactions on social media and the internet.

Teachers regularly advise children on safe usage of the internet and how to

respond in the event that the child views inappropriate content and messaging. Parents are directed to the school website www.scoilthomais.ie for a link to a

parental guidance and information document from Gardaí Schools Programme to

support children to behave responsibly on social media and internet sites.

Junior Infants for September: An information meeting for parents of incoming junior infants takes place on Friday 15th May at 9.15am in the school hall - a reminder letter with school information on

policies etc will be posted shortly to parents who have accepted places for Sept.

Reminder to Parents that

Book Haven school book

suppliers will be in Scoil

Thomáis school hall from 1pm

on Thursday 18th June to

facilitate parents who wish to buy new

school books for their child/ren for

September. Parents are asked to support

the book sale at the school where all

books will be available for all classes.

BOOK RENTAL: The school will

continue to have many of our books

available for rent - a fee to cover the cost

of the books will be charged with the

book bill. This school year children in all

classes have school books on loan. Parents

are reminded that rented books must be

kept in good condition. All rental books

will be collected in June. The school will

charge a replacement fee for any books

not in good condition upon return.

Scoil Thomáis GAA News: Scoil Thomáis Boys’ Football team played

St Oliver Plunketts Malahide and St Colmcilles NS in March and despite

great team performances unfortunately we lost both matches. Our team plays St

Mary’s Ashbourne next Monday 27th April in Somerton. We wish them and teacher coaches Mr Freeman & Ms McLoughlin

the best of luck in this match. The Girls Football team are currently

taking part in the Fingal Football League. They had a narrow defeat to Garristown

NS last Monday. They showed great teamwork and put up a great battle. They have two more games left in the league and we wish them every success. Good

luck to the girls taking part in Féile this weekend.

Cumann na mBunscol Hurling Scoil Thomáis coached by Mr

Freeman & Ms McLoughlin had a great win against Scoil Talbot in late March in Somerton and

are playing against Divine Mercy School Lucan in Somerton this Monday 20th and St Benedict’s Ongar this Thursday 23rd April. Again we wish

the team well in their matches.

Scoil Thomáis School Journal 2015/16

is being updated and will go to print soon.

Parents/local shops and business interests

are invited to purchase advert space in

the journal. This is a valuable opportunity

for your business to advertise and bring

your business to the attention of local

families. For further information please contact Geraldine at the school office or

Caroline Behan, Scoil Thomáis Parents Association. School Journals will be

available for purchase by pupils from next

year’s first to sixth classes in late June

St Vincents Castleknock College wish to

remind parents that the closing date for receipt

of applications for September 2016 places is

1st May 2015. Forms can be downloaded from

www.castleknockcollege.ie and are also

available from the College Admissions Office.

Please Note: If your child is not returning to Scoil Thomáis

in September please send a note to

Ms Ryan, Deputy Principal immediately as preparations for classes for

September 2015 are already underway.

The Easter Bunny visited the school before the Easter Holidays and left a

basket of chocolate eggs in each Junior & Senior Infant class.

Thank you to Scoil Thomáis P.A. who sponsored the Easter Bunny visit again

this year.

Application forms for SUMMER CAMP 2015 have been distributed to classes this week. The camp will take place over the first 2 weeks of July

this year. For further information contact the school office at 8201022.

Sports News :

Scoil Thomais Cross Country Squad will travel

to Santry next Tuesday 28th April for the

Fingal Athletics Finals. We wish the pupils

involved the best of luck on the day.

A group of 6th Class pupils participated

in a Cricket Tournament on Tuesday 21st

March in conjunction with local schools which

was held in Porterstown Park.

First Holy Communion

First Communion pupils in 2nd

Class and their teachers are

busy preparing for this

sacrament. First Communion Mass is on

Saturday 16th May at 11am

in Laurel Lodge Church.

The School photographer will be in

school on Monday 18th May to take

individual and group photos for First

Communicants.

SUMMER PLANT SALE in Castleknock Community College on S aturday 9th & Sunday 10th May from 10am—5pm Do go along and buy lovely hanging baskets, window boxes and bedding

plants for your garden. Families may like to pre-order baskets, pots etc.

For further information contact 085/7540888

BAKE SALE - Easter 2015

We thank all the school parents and

pupils who baked lovely cakes, buns

etc for our bake sale on 27th March

last. A special mention must also go

to Martin Malone ( grandparent) who

once again brought in homemade brown bread,

tea bracks and banana bread for the sale— and his

lovely breads sold out especially fast!

Many parents helped out on the day at the cake

stalls and pupils in all classes ( and their teachers)

enjoyed selecting their bakes to bring home.

A total of €1610 was raised from the sale - as the

sale was held on Daffodil Day the PA and school

decided to donate €110 of the funds raised to the

Irish Cancer Society to support its great work.

The remaining €1,500 goes to the ICT upgrade in

the school for the benefit of all pupils.

EASTER PRAYER SERVICE

Teachers in First & Senior Infants

brought their classes to the Church on

Wednesday before Easter break for a

Prayer Service with Fr Brendan to

celebrate the Easter message. Each class was

represented with pupils reading the Easter story

and sharing prayers and lovely singing. Thank you

to the teachers who prepared the service with the

children and also to teachers Ms Bonner &

Ms Smith for co-ordinating the service. We

were delighted to see so many parents join us

in the Church for the service.

Upcoming Events for Pupils

Pupils in 5th Classes will participate in a writing

workshop with writer Alan Gibbons on Friday 8th May

to develop their creative writing skills.

A Road Safety Talk with a speaker from the RSA has

been organised for 1st Class pupils on Friday 8th

May to remind pupils about safety on the roads etc.

First Classes are taking part in the 'Incredible Edibles' initiative sponsored by

Agri Aware. They are planting carrot, potatoes, turnip and strawberries. Senior

Infants are painting and re- using old worn tyres to use as raised beds to plant

beetroot, multicoloured chard, spinach, radish and turnip. Classes are also setting

up a mini herb area with beautiful blue Borage and lovely orange Calendula.

The pupils and their teachers are looking forward to harvesting the fruit and

vegetables in June.