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Newsletter
                                                Holy Family National  School 
                                                            Rathmore, Co. Kerry
                                                            Tel. 064/7758492
                                     e-mail hfnsrathmorekerry@gmail.com
                                                                        http://hfnsrathmorekerry.blogspot.ie/
13th October 2016
Dear Parents,
Parents Committee - Fundraiser
BINGO
RATHMORE COMMUNITY CENTRE
SAT. OCT. 15th 2016
at 7.30pm
Fabulous Prizes
All welcome
Children attending Bingo must be accompanied by an adult
Bingo Books €10 each, Double Books €12, Jackpot Sheet €2
We hope that everyone will have an enjoyable night
Bring a biro or marker to mark your numbers – Best of luck

(We hope to organise a bingo session tomorrow Friday for pupils from 1st to 6th classes)

PARENTS’ COMMITTEE REPORT 2015/2016
The following are the Members of the Parents’ Committee for the year 2016 – 2017:
Junior Infants               -          Arthur Moynihan
Senior Infants              -          Kay O’Keeffe 
First Class                    -          Antoinette O’Leary
Second Class               -          Evelyn Casey
Third Class                   -          Nora McAuliffe
Fourth Class                 -          Bernie Rea 
Fifth Class                    -          Joanne Breen
Sixth Class                   -          Lorraine Dineen
B.O.M.                        -           John Kennedy
B.O.M.                        -           Carmel Healy                         
We thank Kay O’Keeffe, Evelyn Casey, Bernie Rea and Lorraine Dineen for agreeing to serve for the coming year.  We welcome Arthur Moynihan, Antoinette O’Leary, Nora McAuliffe and Joanne Breen as new representatives for Junior Infants, First, Third and Fifth classes for this year.  We also take this opportunity to thank very sincerely Anna Gabryielska, Pat Cashman, Anne Marie Leader, Adrian Moriarty and Paul Swies for their dedicated service to Holy Family N.S.  Paul Swies served on the committee from 2009, a total of 7 years representing all the parents of children who attend EAL. We need to elect a new representative for EAL and ballot papers will be issued shortly to all parents of children attending EAL class.  
The function of the Parents Committee is to support the activities of the school and also to represent the views of parents and guardians on relevant matters.  The bulk of our activity is fundraising and, to date, the funds raised have provided weekly music lessons for every child from 1st through to 6th classes.  Also last year every class had drama classes.  We also subsidised swimming lessons last year.  The fundraising activities and funds raised for the year 2015-2016 are presented below. We have started with a balance this year of €3,921.44.  We would like to thank everybody for their ongoing support of these activities, and also the many sponsors that provide prizes and assistance.
Activity
Date
Amount Raised           (€)
Church Gate Collection
October 2015
690.43
Credit Union Dividend
December 2015
5.73
Christmas Raffle
December 2015
483.40
Bag Packing Tesco
February 2016
1128.88
Quiz
February 2016
517.80
Sponsored Walk
June 2016
2235.00
Sand Art
June 2016
227.10
Total

5288.34

 

GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE

Official opening of Garden of Remembrance Ard Mhuire, Rathmore will take place on Sunday next  Oct. 16th at 12.15pm. - Blessing by Fr. Pat. - Raising of National flag - Reading of 1916 proclamation and modern Proclamation -  Guest speaker – Rathmore man Aidan O’Connor producer of ‘Patrick’ and music by local musicians.  Everyone welcome

BOOK FAIR

We have the great pleasure of inviting you to attend our exciting Book Fair.  We feel that this is a wonderful opportunity to promote the love of reading. 

Date: Thurs. 20th, Fri. 21st & Mon. 24th  Oct.

Time:  9a.m. – 10 a.m. & 1.50 p.m. -2.50 p.m.

Place: G.P. Room,  Holy Family N.S.

In addition to the above times, each class will have the opportunity to attend the fair with their class teacher.  It will be possible for the children to purchase books during the aforementioned visits.  However, younger children should be accompanied by their Parents if possible at the above times.  Each family have received a book fair brochure which illustrates some of the books in stock.  However, parents should not feel under pressure to spend a lot of money at the Book Fair.  The commission from the fair allows us to buy books for the classroom and library so every book you buy helps us to get new books for the school.  Thank you for your support.

MATHS WEEK
Maths week is from 15th to 23rd October. Scoilnet will be hosting a Problem of the Day with 5 junior and 5 senior challenges throughout maths week. Lots of resources are available on ‘Maths Week 2016’ website which will be used in 1st to 6th classes with particular focus on Problem Solving and Target Boards.   We would encourage everyone to go onto the Maths site and to look at Maths section of our School blog.  Hope you enjoy engaging with Maths week.
FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION – DATES FOR DIARY
Enrolment Ceremony for First Communion and Confirmation will be held on next
Thurs. 20th October at 7.30pm in the church in Rathmore
Talk for parents of First Communion children will be on
Tues. 25th Oct. at 8pm in Teach Iosagain.  
First ‘Do This in Memory Mass’ will be on Sunday 30th October at 11.30am in the church. 
Talk for Parents of Confirmation children will be on
Wed. 9th  November in Holy Family N.S. at 8pm.
Sun. 11th December at the 11.30am Mass   (This is a ‘Do This in Memory Mass’ for Advent
and Confirmation children and their parents are asked to attend)
Confirmation – Tues Feb. 21st at 3.30pm in Rathmore
Penitential Service/Pledge:    Thurs. Feb 16th in Gneeveguilla at 8pm
First Confession -  Thurs. 8th March at 7.30pm  First Communion – Sat. 20th May at 11 am
CHURCH GATE COLLECTION
Please note that the Church Gate Collection will be held before the 6.00 p.m. and 11.30 a.m. Masses  next  weekend 22nd /23rd  October, 2016.   This is another fund raising event for our school organised by the Parents’ Committee.  Your support will be greatly appreciated. Thank You.
CREDIT UNION ART COMPETITION
Reminder  the  closing date for the Credit Union Art Competition is Wednesday
26th  October.  If your child has taken their art sheet home please ensure that they complete same and return to their class teacher by Wednesday 26th October with form signed by a Parent. Thank You.
ACTIVE SCHOOLS
We are ready for another active year in Holy Family N.S.   Our new committee has been formed and we are looking forward to another fun filled year.  Look out for updates on the school blog.

HEALTHY LUNCHES
We are encouraging a healthy lunch.   To that end we discourage chocolate or sweets and chewing gum, fizzy drinks, and crisps, are forbidden.  Also, as there is carpet in all the classrooms, we are banning yogurts and all yogurt products in Junior Classes.
Our aim is to increase and maintain children’s consumption of fruit and vegetables. We would  encourage parents to provide children with fruit and vegetables in their lunchboxes.
PARENT/TEACHER MEETINGS
Parent-teacher meetings (Senior Infants to Sixth Class) are planned for Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th November
If you will not be able to attend on either of these days, please contact the teacher as soon as possible and we will make an alternative arrangement otherwise you will receive details of times  during the week before the meetings.
Parent – teacher meetings for Junior Infants will take place in January 2017.
PRESENTATION DAY MASS
We will be attending Mass on Mon. 21st Nov. (time to be confirmed) to mark Presentation  Day. 

LEE STRAND
Again this year we received homework journals for all pupils in our school from Lee Strand.  We are very grateful to all students who brought in Mighty Mike tokens from Lee Strand Milk milk cartons and bottles and bar codes from Dawn Dairies and Ashgrove cartons and bottles during the year.  In order to provide free homework journals next year for all pupils we are asking for your help again this year to collect the tokens and you can send them to the school office.  Thank You

PUPIL PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Reminder: if you wish to avail of the personal accident insurance for your child/children please return the completed forms together with payment as specified on the form, as soon as possible as we need to process this before the Halloween break.   People are free to avail of it if they wish

CUMANN NA mBUNSCOL FOOTBALL
On Thursday 29th September, our school football team had a great win over Kilcummin N.S. but were defeated by Fossa N.S.  The following Thursday 6th October we played Beaufort and won.  This year Fossa N.S. won the 6/8 teacher competition and go forward to the County final.  We thank their trainer Paudie Dineen for his work with the team. 
SCHOOL BLOG REMINDER
This newsletter will be available to read on our blog.  In order to reduce the cost of printing we would be happy to email newsletters to your email address.  If you would be happy to receive future school newsletters via email please write a note to that effect and include your email address and return to school in next few days.  http://hfnsrathmorekerry.blogspot.ie/ or google holyfamilynsrathmorekerry blog
Please log on to blog where you will find very valuable links to tips and advice for parents on Internet Safety.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS, TEL. NO
If any of your child/childrens’ details have changed e.g. address, contact details, illness, etc. please contact the school as soon as possible.   Thank You.

MOBILE PHONE NUMBERS
We have a facility for texting parents.  If you have not received any text message from Holy Family N.S. please let us know.  The text automatically goes to the mother’s mobile phone unless we have been instructed otherwise.  Thank you

HALLOWEEN DRESS UP DAY FOR BRÚ COLUMBANUS
Friday 28th October will be our last day at school before Halloween and will be a No Uniform Day. We are inviting children to dress up in their Halloween costumes or their favourite jersey for the occasion.  Brú Columbanus provides “home from home” accommodation for the relatives of seriously ill patients in Cork Hospitals and Hospice, especially relatives of sick children.  Children can donate a voluntary contribution on the day.  No need to buy costumes for this event.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Parents Committee Bingo    -      Sat. Oct. 15th 2016 at 7.30pm

Book Fair - Thurs 20th, Fri. 21st Mon. 24th Oct. 9a.m. – 10 a.m. & 1.50 p.m. -2.50 p.m.

Maths week   -    15th to 23rd October
Enrolment Ceremony for First Communion and Confirmation  - 
Thurs. 20th  Oct.  at 7.30pm in the church
Church Gate Collection – Sat. 22nd & Sun. 23rd October, 2016
Talk for parents of First Communion children - Tues. 25th Oct. 8pm Teach Iosagain
Closing Date for Credit Union Art Competition – Wed. 26th October
Halloween Dress up Day – Fri. 28th October.
First ‘Do This in Memory Mass’ -  Sunday 30th October at 11.30am in the churc
Halloween Break:
Closed Monday 31st October to Friday 4th November                      
Reopening: Monday 7th November
Talk for Parents of Confirmation children -  Wed. 9th  Nov.  Holy Family N.S.  8pm
Presentation Day Mass -  Mon. 21st November
Parent Teacher meetings -  Wed. 16th and Thurs. 17th November
Closed Thursday 8th and Friday 9th December
  ‘Do This in Memory Mass’ for Advent Confirmation children and their parents to attend  -
                                                                        Sun. 11th December at the 11.30am Mass  
Christmas Holidays:
Closing for Christmas holidays on Thursday 22nd December
Closed Friday 23rd December to Friday 6th January 2017
Re-opening Monday January 9th 2017
School closed Wed. Jan. 11th 2017 – Inservice for new literacy programme