Dear Parent / Guardian,

INTO, Irish Primary Principals Network, and the National Parents Council have organised a major protest against the possible threat to increase class size in Budget 2014

  At

Department of Education and Skills,

Marlborough Street, Dublin 1. (Beside Pro-Cathedral)

Wednesday, 2 October, 4.30pm

Protect Primary Education

Protect class size

• Children do not get a second chance at education. These years are crucial for our children. If we get it wrong for them now, it can NOT be fixed later.  
• All families are urged to come to this protest, to make your voices heard in support of your children.
• An increase of even ONE child to the pupil/teacher ratio, could see classes affected rise by up to thirteen or fourteen children.

Buses will be provided (Free) by the INTO for all families interested in travelling to the protest, leaving the car-park at 3.15pm and returning to same afterwards. The protest should last about one hour.

Please indicate below if you will come along, and write the number of bus seats your family will require in the space provided. Please return the form below to Ms. McNamara in the school

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - -  - -

I will accompany my child ___________________________________ to the protest

on the bus on October 2^nd 2013.

We will require __________ seats on the bus.

_____________________________________ (parent/guardian’s signature)

There is a possible massive threat to primary education in the upcoming budget, namely increasing class size. Ireland has the 2^nd largest class sizes in the EU. Dublin Fingal has the highest class sizes in the country. To increase this would be fundamentally wrong. Children only get one chance at education. If you want to protect primary education from further possible ,cuts join the protest.

All the partners in primary education are organising and supporting a protest against increasing class size and any cuts to education in Budget 2014.

Outside the Department of Education and Skills, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1

Wednesday, 2^nd October at 4.30pm.

Dear Parents,

We wish to advise you that one of the younger children brought a small fiework to school today ! Please tell your children that fireworks are NOT allowed in the school ! Please speak to your children about firework safety as Hallow'een is fast approaching!! We have invited the Community Gardai to speak to the children on the issue!

Liam Neary

Deputy Principal

A quick note of thanks to a parent,Sharon McLean, who donated "Dubs" bunting to the school. 

Scoil Naomh Lucáis

Telephone: 01 885 6015

11^th September 2013.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Allianz Personal Insurance Programme is available to school children for the school year 2013/2014.

Attached, on the reverse side, is the application form.

Please complete the form and return it to the school with the required fee at the latest by Monday 23^rd September 2013. Please provide the exact amount of money required.

Please complete as follows:

• The Application Form
• The exact amount of money
• All cheques made payable to the School
• Enclose money and application form in an envelope
• Write your child’s name on the envelope
• Write the class teacher’s name on the envelope

Please return your envelope to the class teacher only

Yours Sincerely,

___________________

Mairtín Ó Caomhánaigh

Príomhoide

Scoil Naomh Lucáis

Junior Infants

9^th  September 2013

Dear Parents,

To facilitate an improvement in the safe and orderly Assembly and Dismissal of Junior Infants the following will take place from Tuesday 10^th September 2013

Assembly for Junior Infants, on arrival in the school, in the morning before school starts at 9.00a.m., will take place in the tarmac circle in front of the school.

Dismissal for Junior Infants, on departure from the school, in the afternoon at 1.40p.m., will take place in the main school yard behind the building.

The children are to stand on the coloured dot that represents their class.

Is Mise Le Meas,

___________________

Mairtín Ó Caomhánaigh

Príomhoide

The correct booklist for 6th class has been put on the booklist section of the school website. Apologies for any confusion.

The booklists for 2013/2014 are now available on this website under the "Booklists" section.

Dear Parents,

The school will close at 12 pm tomorrow Friday28/6/2013. 

The Men’s Shed

The Men’s Shed,

Church Road,

Mulhuddart.

(Rear of Barnardos)

Opening Hours:

10 am – 4 pm

Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

-Invitation-

New members very welcome

Call Tony on 087 1710230

Welcome to visit for a cuppa and a chat.

We’re there for you.

Community Awareness Charity Shop

MulhuddartVillage

(Facing Paidí Óg)

Contact Manager Marie

Opening hours:

• 9.30 - 5.00 pm
• Monday-Saturday

Wanted:

• Second hand clean clothing
• Baby Wear
• Baby goods
• Shoes
• Bags
• Toys

Scoil Naomh Lucáis.

Tel: 01 8856015

27^th June 2013.

Dear Parent,

As we approach the end of the school year I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your support during the year with your child’s education. Successful education involves a partnership between all the parties in a child’s education.

TheNewSchoolBuildinghas been open for a year. The dream has become a reality and the school continues to grow exponentially this year.

I wish to take the opportunity to thank the Teachers, the Ancillary Staff, the Board of Management, our Parish Priest and the Parents’ Association for the wonderful commitment and dedication that they have made to your children.

Education is an ongoing and lifelong process. During the Summer I would encourage you to support your child’s interest in learning. Oracy and Literacy, a major facet of our School Improvement Plan, are especially important in the development of a child’s potential. I would encourage every parent, to support their children in developing oral language, and every child to read for leisure and pleasure during the summer.

The new school uniform is available. Pre-ordered uniforms will be delivered on Monday 26^th August – distribution commencing at 9.00a.m. Each child is expected to wear the uniform, either the old or new version, to school daily. All arrangements for the New School Uniform are to be made with the new supplier on the day. The School Secretary is not involved in the supply of the New School Uniform.

Fr Seamus Connell, Parish Priest at St Luke theEvangelistChurchin Mulhuddart, welcomes all the children and their families to Mass every Sunday in July and August at either 10.30a.m. or 12.00noon. It’s a great opportunity for the worshipping community to gather together.

School recommencement dates are available on reverse.

The school office will close on Friday 28^th June @ 12.00p.m. and will re-open, after the summer holiday, on Friday 23^rd of August. The office is open from 9.00a.m. –  2.00p.m. for any urgent question you may have on Friday 23^rd August. Further detail about the school can be accessed on the school website at www.stlukesns.ie

I would encourage each parent to subscribe to the Pupils Insurance Scheme - application forms will be issued in September 2013.

As part of a new initiative in the Parish the school are supporting the “Community Awareness Shop” and “The Men’s Shed”- please review the attached flyer.

I look forward to seeing your child in August and commencing a fruitful new year at St Luke’sNationalSchool.

Is Mise le Meas,

___________________

Mairtín Ó Caomhánaigh

Príomhoide

Joan Burton TD visited the school today and was suitably impressed by the children and by the new school building. Some photos of the visit may be seen on the gallery page. Minister Burton presented the senior children with medals for event winners on sports day. 

Dear Parents,

There will be a protest against the 25 per cent cut to special needs teaching hours
outside Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
on Wednesday 26th June 2013 at 6pm
The protest has been called by teachers and parents of special needs children. It is
hoped that parents, teachers and management groups will turn out for an hour to
show their opposition to the cuts.

On Wednesday 19th June a 25 per cent reduction in teaching time for special needs
children and reductions in the level of care provided by special needs assistants was
announced.

Given the increase in special needs children enrolling in all primary schools this is a
significant cutback in support for special needs children. Many primary schools will
not be able to meet children’s special needs without these resources.

Dear parent/Guardian

Every year your child is examined 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 around Ireland each 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 

Ideas for free Summer Activities!

Visit the Botanic Gardens, see the glasshouses and squirrels!

http://www.botanicgardens.ie/

Visit the Local Library and read some new books!

http://www.fingalcoco.ie/CommunityRecreationandAmenitiesDepartment/Library/LibraryBranches/BlanchardstownLibrary/

Visit a Museum and learn about Irish and World history:

NationalMuseumofIreland

http://www.museum.ie/en/list/families-children-decorative-arts-history.aspx

NaturalHistoryMuseum

http://www.museum.ie/en/list/families-children-natural-history.aspx

NationalArchaeologyMuseum

http://www.museum.ie/en/list/families-and-children-archaeology.aspx

ChesterBeatty Library

http://www.cbl.ie/Programme---Events/Events-Schedule.aspx

Visit a Gallery and be inspired!

TheMuseumofModernArt

http://www.imma.ie/en/subnav_8.htm#family

National Gallery ofIreland

http://www.nationalgallery.ie/en/Learning/Families_and_Young_People.aspx

Go on a day out to Glendalough and learn about nature!

(activities are free but need to be booked; parking will cost 4euro)

http://www.glendalough.ie/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1360678921&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&

Visit some parks with kids playgrounds!

http://www.fingaldublin.ie/interior-pages/activities-attractions-amp-conference/fingal-for-kids/playgrounds/

Go for a walk in the Phoenix Park and see the visitor centre.

http://www.visitdublin.com/Asset/see_and_do/kids_dublin/Phoenix_Park_Visitor_Centre

Go for a swim at the beach!

(The beaches on the following list are manned by lifeguards)

http://www.iws.ie/bathing-areas-page18815.html

Go visit a castle (with a toy collection!)

Rathfarnham Castle

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/rathfarnhamcastle/

School Jumper (CRESTED)

Size 4/5yr – 12/13yr                        €24.00                                                  

Tracksuit Top (CRESTED)                                         Tracksuit Bottom

Size 4/5yr – 12/13yr                        €15.00                                   Size 4/5yr – 12/13yr        €13.00

The following arrangements have been made for the sale and distribution of school uniform.

All arrangements have been made in consultation with the school management and parents association.

Junior Infants – 2013/14 – Friday 14^th of June 2013 @ 1pm – 4pm

Orders will be taken between 1pm & 4pm on Friday June 14^th 2013

All orders must be paid for in full

These orders will be available for collection in the school on Monday August 26^th between 9am & 12pm.

Senior Infants - 6^th Class 2013/14 – FRIDAY 21^st of June 2013@ 1pm – 4pm

Orders will be taken between 1pm & 4pm on Friday June 21^st 2013

All orders must be paid for in full

These orders will be available for collection in the school on Monday August 26^th between 9am & 12pm.

Monday August 26th^th 2013 between 9pm & 12pm*****  collection only

Uniform will also be available to purchase on the following dates

Monday September 9^th 2013 between 2pm & 4pm

Monday November 11^th 2013 between 2pm & 4pm

A dedicated page will be available on our website from September 2013 to facilitate those who wish to order online

Girls Basketball Tournament Report

By Keona and Henrietta, 4th Class

The girls first basktball tournament was on Tuesday May 21st in Oblate Hall, Inchicore at 10am. There were 12 girls on our team. We played 3 matches against very tall girls in 5th class. We tried very hard and managed to score lots of baskets.

Chike and Alexandra came along with us as the scorekeepers. At the end of each match, both teams lined up to high 5 each other.

At lunchtime we went outside to eat our lunch. When the tournament was over, we played in the grass until the bus came. We had a wonderful time and hope to do it again next year.

Boys Basketball Tournament Report

By Jake and Chike, 4th Class

The day before the basketball tournament, we had lots of fun at training. We played a match to test our skills. The next day, we were so excited on the bus to Coláiste Eanna, Rathfarnham  that we were singing out loud with excitement .

When we arrived we lined up to practice taking shots. We learned that there are four quarters in a match and the teams change every quarters. Henrietta and Alexandra came with us to help out with the scores.

It was very fun play against other teams. The last match was the best. It was a very close, exciting match and we ended up losing by just one basket. We're glad to come third place in our group and we hope to do it again in 5th class.