Earth Hour (March 29) This is a world-wide campaign aimed at saving energy and to show what can be done through what is known as 'collective action', i.e. everyone acting about something together. In the classroom (or at home): Turn off some lights or find some other way to save energy for one hour between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.

Saint Luke’s National School

Punctuality and Attendance

21^st  March 2014

Dear Parents,

Research has established that Punctuality and Attendance are indicative of future performance in school and educational achievement. Pupils who go to school regularly and who are on time are most likely to perform well in school.

Anecdotal evidence indicated that there is an opportunity to improve the attendance and punctuality of children in our school. The school is in the process of preparing a policy on Punctuality and Attendance. If you have any thoughts on this policy please forward them to me in the school by Friday 28^th March 2014.

The school records non attendance, late arrivals at school and late departures from school.

Starting on Tuesday 25^th March a late note will be issued to all children arriving in school after 9.10a.m. or departing the school 15 minutes after dismissal.

It is our hope that, by making parents aware of the later arrival or late departure, that there will be an improvement in punctuality.

I will communicate with you again with regard to Punctuality and Attendance after the school has monitored and assessed the situation over a period of time

Is Mise Le Meas,

_____________________

Mairtín Ó Caomhánaigh

Príomhoide

Saint Luke’s National School

21^st March 2014

Reminder

Mass
Mass in St Luke’s School every Sunday during Lent @ 11.00a.m. All welcome

Liberty Clothes Recycling

Please return the Green Bags, filled with clothes, by Friday 28^th March

Board of Management

Please return written expression of interest for Fathers Panel on the Board of Management by Monday 24^th March to Principal

Trócaire Boxes

Please remember those in need by donating to your Trócaire Boxes – please return the Box by Friday 2^nd May 2014  

Please see link to pictures taken in the school 13/3/2014 !

https://picasaweb.google.com/114994391310503348320/SaintPatrickSDay13314?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNSGuY62t5aAWQ&feat=directlink

Please also see 

https://picasaweb.google.com/114994391310503348320/SaintPatrickSDay201402?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMjct6zBn-X_sgE&feat=directlink

Liam Neary

Congratulations to our girls GAA team for winning the Dublin 15 league final yesterday. St Luke's won the trophy for the second successive year after a dramatic extra-time victory over Tyrrelstown ET. We are very proud of our girls for all their hard work and team ethic showed this year. Hopefully we have a future GAA star in our mist.

Mant thanks to Ms. Brennan, Mr Lynch & Mr. O'Connor for their dedication to the cause outside of school hours as well as in school.

Please see link below to view photos!

 https://picasaweb.google.com/114994391310503348320/GAASLNSVsTETNS1932014?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCN-g-Mbow_mRcw&feat=directlink 

Mr. Neary

Allanah, Sarah and Lara in Ms Brennan’s 3^rd Class came up with an idea to raise money for Trócaire.  They researched ideas on the internet and decided to hold an Art Competition in our school.  They asked children in 1^st to 6^th class to participate in the competition. Each entry costed €1. Each child had to draw and colour an animal and return their entry to the girls by Tuesday 11^th March to be judged. Ms Collins helped the girls to judge the winners in each class. Each winner received a special goody bag of sweets which the girls prepared themselves. They also gave several runners up prizes of marshmallows and a lovely pencil or pen.  It was a very successful fundraiser. The girls raised a total of €91.11 for Trócaire.

There was one overall winner chosen in each class group and additional runner up prizes. The winners in each class were as follows:

1^st Class –        Ms Gaffney – Nathan B. (1^st Place) and Julia

                        Ms Cullinan – Isabella

                        Ms MacNally – Sarah

2^nd Class –       Ms McDonagh – Chinedum

                        Ms McTaggart – Natalia (1^st Place), Iramhay and Sacha

3^rd Class –        Ms Brennan – Filip and Ivana

                        Ms Burke – Natalia (1^st Place)

4^th Class –        Ms McGearty – Sophie

                        Ms Smith – Ragulan (1^st Place), Niall, Rommy

5^th Class –        Mr O’Connor – Niamh (1^st Place) and Erinn

                        Ms Kirwan – Wyanika and Daniella

6^th Class –        Mr Lynch – David (1^st Place), Nikola and Shivaun

Scoil Naomh N.S.

Seachtaine na Gaeilge

Thursday 13^th March

9.00a.m. Parade

By all classes in the yard

(weather permitting – announced on the morning)

1.15p.m. Ceilí

Junior, Senior Infants & First class

(Parents invited)

2.00p.m. Ceilí

Second Class – Sixth Class

( Parents Invited)

Beidh Paráid timpeall na scoile

Beidh Ceilí Mór Againn

Shrove Tuesday is also known as Pancake Tuesday and Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at Easter and is a major part of the Christian calendar.

You are invited to be strengthened by the Word of God & to receive Him in Holy Communion at Eucharist next Sunday ( March 9th). & all of the Sundays of Lent at 11 am in the Staffroom in Saint Luke's National School.

All pupils & parents involved in the Sacraments of First Holy Communion & Confirmation are more particularly invited to attend.

Thanking You,

Seamus Connell (Administrator)

seamusconnell@hotmail.com 

Scoil Naomh Lucáis

Lent 2014

“ Blessed are the poor in spirit- the kingdom of Heaven is theirs”

Matthew 5:3

The season of Lent commences on Ash Wednesday 5^th of March.

Fr Seamus Connell will visit the school on Ash Wednesday to mark the commencement of the Lenten season. He will distribute “Ashes” to the children from second to sixth class.

Trócaire boxes have been given to each child in the school.  Money raised will go towards the Trocaire project inMalawiwhich is attempting to combat disease –by providing water to people who survive on a $1 a day!

The following websites have useful resources:

1. www.trocaire.org contains the following:

• Schools Resources
• The Popes Lenten Message
• Lenten parish resources

2. www.education.dublindiocese.ie

A Lenten sacred space will be created in the front hall beside the secretary’s office-perhaps a similar area could be created in each home for the duration of the season.

Is Mise Le Meas

___________________

Mairtín Ó Caomhánaigh

Príomhoide

Scoil Naomh Lucáis

School Fundraiser

In conjunction with

Liberties Recycling & Training Development

Please fill the green bag with clean :

clothes, shoes, towels, curtains, linens etc

Please return Green Bag by Friday 28^th March  Return to class teacher @ school only

Liberty Recycling fund their education programme with the sale of the clothes.

Scoil Naomh Lucáis receive a cash donation from Liberty Recycling

Giving a little

Helps everyone a lot!

Dear Parents,

Please be aware of what your child is accessing on their mobile phone/tablet/pc etc.Social websites/apps/texts etc are all being used extensively by our children. Please see the link below for more information.

Liam Neary

Deputy Principal

http://www.barnardos.ie/cyberbullying

http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/kids.aspx

Scoil Naomh Lucáis

Trócaire Lenten Campaign

25th February 2014

Dear Parents,

In the academic year 2012-2013 St. Luke’s National School completed a very successful Trócaire Box Lenten Campaign.

Many thanks to everyone, who has returned their Trócaire Box, to the school last year. Your generous support for the Trocaire Lenten Campaign helps the very needy people in the world – in the 2012 – 2013 Trócaire Lenten Campaign you generously raised €684.61

This year Trócaire will be giving support to the needy people in Malawi. The money goes towards the installation of water pumps and irrigations systems in Malawi – fresh water is a basic necessity for life.

We hope to be as successful this year, 2013-2014, in our Trócaire Lenten Campaign. It would be great to top the €700 mark this year.

I would request that you keep the Trócaire Box visible in your house and talk to the children about the most worthy causes involved in the work of Trócaire.

Please return your Trócaire Lenten Campaign Box to school, as soon as possible after Easter, and at the latest by Friday 2nd May 2014.

Is Mise Le Meas,

_______________________
Mairtín Ó Caomhánaigh
Príomhoide

First Holy Communion Meeting

The Parent Information Meeting on First Holy Communion takes place today at 6.30p.m. in Ms Mc Donagh's Classroom.

The weather forecast is poor for tomorrow Wednesday 13/2/2014. Please make sure the children are well wrapped up! 

Scoil Naomh Lucáis

Dear Parent/Guardian

Every year your child is assessed on a standardised English Reading and a Maths test called a Micra T and a Sigma T. These tests are carried out on school children all aroundIrelandeach year and will give you an idea of how your child is achieving compared to other children of the same age and class across the country. It is important to remember that these are standardised on an English speaking population.

When assessing children we look at the whole child, this test is just one measure of one aspect of their learning.

What are standardised tests used for?

• They report to you, the parent on your child’s achievement in English Reading and Maths.
• They can be useful to help teachers plan for further learning.
• It can also help us to find out if your child needs extra support in English Reading and Maths.

Understanding the results:

The results are given as a sten score. Scores go from 1- 10. 10 is the maximum a child can achieve.

If your child has a score of 1, 2 or 3 the teacher may decide to gather further information about your child to put together a more detailed picture of your child’s strengths and needs. Extra support may be given to your child in school to help build on each child’s strengths and meet their needs. 

For more information:  http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Early_Childhood_and_Primary_Education/Primary_School_Curriculum/Assessment/Standardised_Testing/

Information Sheet for parents are available on this website in many different languages.                Polski,  Deutsch,  Lietuvi,  Latvietis, Francais and Chinese 

To facilitate Parent/Teacher Meetings, as advised, please remember that your child will finish school 15 minutes earlier than usual on Tuesday 12th, Wednesday 13th & Thursday 14th of February 2014.

1-25 pm instead of 1-40 pm.

2-25pm instead of 2-40 pm

Dear Parents,

Please provide any changes to your contact details at the Parent/Teacher meetings e.g. phone numbers , any medical issues, address etc. In order to care for your child, please provide this information to the class teacher if it changes at any stage.

Sincerely,

Liam Neary

ST. LUKE’S NATIONAL SCHOOL

We need your help!

Dear Parents,

We are doing one last collection for toy donations. So far, we have collected lots of toys for our infant classrooms and your generosity is greatly appreciated. If you have unwanted toys or any of the things listed below, we would be very grateful if you could donate them to the school. We are particularly looking for items such as:

• Lego/Building Blocks
• Dolls/Doll's clothes
• Doll's House
• Small people/furniture
• Small animals/farm toys
• Old laptops/Telephones/mobile phones
• Children's cash registers
• Old, clean baby clothes/scarves/handbags
• Airplanes/diggers/cars/trains

Your help in improving the learning environment for the children in St. Luke's is very much appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

________________________

Máirtín Ó Caomhánaigh

St Luke’s National School

Dates for your Diary

Sacrament of Reconciliation & The Eucharist

The Parent meeting on the 12^th February @ 6.30p.m. takes place in Ms Mc Donagh’s Classroom in St Luke’s National School.

All Preparatory Masses, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the First Holy Communion Mass take place in St Luke the Evangelist Church.