An Focal Deireanach – Vol 11, No 16 4th May 2025

May Bank Holiday

The school will be closed tomorrow, Monday 5^th May, for the May Bank Holiday.  We will reopen on Tuesday morning.

Early Dismissal – Friday, 9^th May

A reminder that the school will have an early dismissal on Friday, 9^th May.  This is to facilitate a professional development session with the staff regarding the new anti-bullying guidelines and procedures, Bí Cineálta.  Infants will finish at 11.50 that day and all other classes at 12.00.  Afterschool @ KETNS will open at these times.

Spring Fair

The Spring Fair is fast-approaching and will take place on Saturday, 17^th May from 12.00 to 16.00.  The Spring Fair is the only fundraiser we do as a school community, and its success is directly linked to helping support our learning community.  Anyone is welcome to join us on the day including friends, family and neighbours.  In the past year, the proceeds from the Spring Fair have been used to pay for buses for all excursions outside of annual school tours (ranging from trips to theatre performances, visits to the University for projects, trips to the city centre as well as sporting and competitive events).  The money raised has allowed us to pay visiting art, music and PE teachers, the ukulele lessons for 4^th and 5^th Class, participation fees for inter-school competitive events and the purchase of sports equipment and art materials. 

More importantly, the Spring Fair is the highlight of the year for the children in our school.  They enjoy the various activities, all of which are only possible due to the generous time and commitment of the parents who volunteer to make it happen.  This year we will have a craft market, a café, carnival games, an obstacle course, a silent disco, karaoke, face painting and more. 

Therefore, we make a plea to all parents to sign up to volunteer for an hour time slot and range of roles. If you have difficulty completing the sign-up, reply to the email or speak to Matt.

If you, your child or someone else in the wider community would like to have a stall in the arts and crafts market, please reply to this email.

Next week each family will be given some raffle tickets to sell.  We have many fantastic prizes which are listed on the back of each ticket.  The raffle is a major part of the fundraising.  You can return the ticket stubs (the part where the purchasers write their name and contact details) and money collected in the envelope provided to the office.  If you are unable to sell the tickets, we’d kindly ask you to return the unsold tickets to the school so we can pass them on to others. 

We have a book stall again this year, so please bring in good quality second-hand books for adults and children.  You can drop them off from Friday, 16^th May onwards.

Finally, everyone is asked to bring something for the café, so be thinking about what you might be able to bake.  This can be brought to the school from the afternoon of 16^th May onwards.  Thanks in advance for your support!

Afterschool Clubs for Term 3

Sign up for the final term of afterschool clubs will take place on Tuesday morning at the office.  Please have cash ready to hold a place for your child.  A reminder that all afterschool clubs take place from 14.30 to 15.30 except lego and soccer for the infant classes.

Mondays – Choir with Matt, Sarah and Lisa
1st – 6th Class
12th May until 26th May
Current members do not need to sign up again

Mondays – Dungeons and Dragons with Micheál and Kevin
3rd – 6th Class
12^th May until 16^th June (no session on 2^nd June)
5 sessions – €40 (first preference will be given to existing members)

Tuesdays – Dance with Siobhán
1st to 6th Class
6^th May until 17^th June (no session on 3^rd June)
6 sessions – €70

Tuesdays – Lego with Niall
Junior and Senior Infants – 13.30-14.30
6^th May until 27^th May
4 sessions – €20

Wednesdays – Soccer with Niall
Junior and Senior Infants – 13.30-14.30
7^th May until 28^th May
4 sessions – €20

Wednesdays – Lego with Padraic
1st to 6th Class
7^th May until 18^th June
7 sessions – €35

Thursdays – Dungeons and Dragons with Kevin and Micheál
3rd – 6th Class
8^th May until 19^th June
7 sessions – €55 (first preference will be given to existing members)

Thursdays – Creative Dance by Miss Laurie
Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st Class and 2nd Class
8^th May until 19^th June (no session on 15^th May)
6 sessions – €60

Fridays – Rugmaking with Claire
3rd – 6th Class
9^th and 23^rd May, 6^th and 20^th June
4 sessions – €40

Beach Day

We made the most of the fantastic weather by arranging to visits to Silverstrand this past week.  The junior side of the school went on Tuesday and enjoyed a beautifully sunny day and lots of time to play and explore.  The senior side of the school had a great time on Friday, particularly a very exciting sandcastle-building competition.

3^rd Class Art

For the past few weeks, 3^rd Class has been working with the artist Dee Deegan.  This past week they shared their creative work with the whole school community.  Their museum showcased a range of art forms including printmaking, drawing, collage and story writing.  It even inspired other classes to imitate their artwork.

Soccer League

Just before the Spring Break, we finished up our second yard soccer league.  Well done to all the teams who participated and congratulations to our 1^st and 2^nd place teams.

Music with Alyson

This year Junior and Senior Infants have enjoyed a series of music lessons with Alyson.  The two classes presented a fantastic concert at the beginning of April to the whole school.

Skip Around Europe

The Active School Committee have helped all the classes engage in the Skip Around Europe initiative.  Each class is counting their skips and trying to “visit” various countries in Europe.  It has been great to see enthusiasm as well as an improvement in coordination and fitness.