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                                                       Newsletter
                                                           Holy Family  National  School,  Rathmore, Co. Kerry.
                                                         Tel. 064/7758492 
                                                          e-mail hfnsrathmore@eircom.net
                                                        School Blog:  hfnsrathmorekerry  blog

                                                                                                         25th January, 2017
Dear Parents,
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2017
The theme for Catholic Schools Week for 2017 is
“Catholic schools:  Learning with Pope Francis to Care for Our Common Home”
Sunday 29th January to Friday 3rd February 2017
To mark Catholic Schools Week we are having a prayer service in the school on Friday 3rd February at 10.30 am.  Parents and Grandparents are invited to the prayer service which will focus on Grandparents Day which is officially on Wednesday 1st February but we will mark it on Friday.  After the prayer service we will organise a cup of tea after which Grandparents will be welcome to visit the classrooms of their grandchild/grandchildren.  Some Grandparents might consider bringing in an object from their own schooldays and talk about it to the children when they visit the classroom. 
The publication on Catholic Schools Week can be accessed on http://www.catholicschools.ie

CREDIT UNION QUIZ
Two teams will represent the school in the Rathmore & District Credit Union Quiz which will be held in the Secondary School Gym on Sunday 29th January at 2.00 p.m.

ENROLMENT
Enrolment of new pupils will take place on Wednesday 22nd February.  If you know of anyone intending to enrol a child in our school please let them know. Enrolment will take place at 1.00 p.m.  Enrolment Forms will be available from School Office from Wed. 1st February and are to be returned to the office by Wed. 15th February.

CONFIRMATION
Confirmation Pledge: In the past, the Pledge of Abstinence from Alcoholic Drink and Drugs was part of the Confirmation ceremony.  Now the pledge is taken by confirmation candidates on a separate occasion.  It is separated from Confirmation itself in order to highlight its importance in these times.  This year it is planned to have the taking of the Pledge after the Penitential Service on Thurs. Feb. 16th. 
Penetential Service for Confirmation Candidates and their families: Thursday Feb. 16th at 8pm in Gneeveguilla Church.  Families will be given practical arrangements for the Confirmation ceremony i.e. seating arrangements, photography arrangements etc.  It is important to attend.
Confirmation Ceremony will be held in Rathmore church on Tuesday 21st February, 2017 at 3.30 p.m.  Children singing in the Choir for Confirmation will go to the Church from school and we ask parents to collect them immediately after Confirmation at approx.4.45 p.m.  We are very grateful to the children and their parents for their co-operation.

FIRST CONFESSION AND COMMUNION
First Confession will take place in the church on Wednesday 8th March at 8.00 pm
First Communion for Holy Family N.S. will be held on Saturday 20th May at 11.00 am

INTERNET SAFETY
Safer Internet Day is Tuesday 7th February.  There is lots of valuable information, accessible through our school blog. On the blog there are links to the following: “A Guide to Social Networking Websites”  “A Guide to Cyber Bullying”, “A Guide to Filtering Technologies”, and lots of Internet Safety Tips for Parents.  It is important that parents keep themselves informed on all aspects of Internet safety/Social Media as most children engage with social networking and access the internet at some stag
LEE STRAND
We are very grateful to Lee Strand who have provided free homework journals to our school for the past 4 years.  Last year we collected ten tokens for each homework journal.  It was a whole school effort and we were able to get a free homework journal for each pupil in the school.  In order to provide us with free homework journals again this year please collect Mighty Mike tokens from Lee Strand milk cartons and bottles and  the bar code from Dawn Dairies cartons and bottles.  Please do your best to collect as many tokens as possible and bring them to the school office. Thank you.
PARENTS’ COMMITTEE
Just to let you know the Christmas Raffle raised a total of €1,070 and this goes to the Parents Committee for their funds.  Upcoming event - table quiz will take place after mid-term break.  Date to be confirmed.
SWIMMING LESSONS
We hope to start swimming lessons immediately after Easter.  These lessons will be for pupils from 2nd to 6th classes and will run for 6 weeks.  We will issue more details nearer the time.

CHRISTMAS LEAGUE
Our Christmas League is now into its final phase and we hope Finals will be played before mid-term.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER
It is important to let us know if you have changed your contact details (address /telephone number) so that we can update your child’s/children’s contact details as soon as possible.  Thank You.

CREDIT UNION SAVING STAMPS
A number of children are availing of saving stamps in the school.  It is important to encourage children to save and buying saving stamps is a very good way of developing the habit of saving.  Stamps are €1 each.  Stamp cards are available from the school and when they have filled they can bring to the Credit Union and lodge €20 to their Savings account.

LOCAL ST. VINCENT dePAUL FOOD APPEAL
The local Conference of St. Vincent de Paul organisation wish to sincerely thank everyone who donated items to their food appeal in Holy Family N.S. before Christmas. All items donated were very sincerely appreciated and helped them to fill hampers which were distributed to needy families before Christmas. 


DATES TO REMEMBER
Rathmore & District Credit Union Quiz -  Sunday 29th January at 2pm in Secondary School Gym
Prayer Service and Grandparents Day – Friday 3rd February
Penetential Service for Confirmation Candidates and their families: Thursday Feb. 16th at 8pm in Gneeveguilla Church.
Confirmation - Tues 21st Feb at 3.30pm
Enrolment  - Wed 22nd February at 1pm in school
The school will be closed for mid-term break  on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th  February
First Confession – Wednesday 8th March at 8.00pm in the church
Closed Friday 17th March – St. Patrick’s Day
Easter Holidays:
Closing Friday 7th April
Closed from Monday 10th April  to Friday 21st April
Reopening Monday 24th April
Closed Monday 1st May- Public Holiday
First Communion - Sat. 20th May at 11am
Closed Monday 5th (Public Holiday) and Tuesday 6th June

Closing Friday 30th June, 2017