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NEWSLETTER
Holy Family National School
Rathmore,   Co. Kerry.
                                                           Tel. 064/7758492
                               School Blog:  hfnsrathmorekerry  blog                                                                                                                               30th May, 2017
SPONSORED WALK
We are issuing sponsorship cards for our annual sponsored walk today.  The money raised will be used for the benefit of our children.  We would appreciate a big effort from every family as the sponsored walk is always the biggest source of income for the parents committee.  One card will be issued to each family.  Please do your best to get as much sponsorship as possible.  One rule applies – all cards issued must be returned to the school regardless of the amount collected before Friday June 9th.
At a recent meeting of the Parents Committee it was decided not to organise a family fun day this year as it is too weather dependent.  They are organising a school disco for the pupils at Holy Family N.S. on Thursday 29th June. This will be for Holy Family N.S. pupils ONLY. We will give you more details nearer the time.

CREDIT UNION
Credit Union NATIONAL YOUTH SAVINGS WEEK.  We extended this to Friday June 2nd. This is a worthwhile promotion and all the students who bought stamps since we announced it will be included in the draw on Friday morning for eight  €5 Prizes sponsored by Rathmore & District Credit Union.

DISCOVERING PRIMARY SCIENCE AND MATHS
Holy Family National School has achieved a Science Foundation Ireland Discover Science and Maths Plaque of STEM Excellence for the 2016/17 academic year.  This is our third year achieving this award having also received it in the previous two years. Pupils and teachers were extremely busy preparing and showcasing a variety of science and maths experiments during the year. Thanks to the work of all the staff in submitting the application led by Ms. Fitzgerald and Mr. O’Sullivan.

SCHOOL TOURS
School tour season is here again.  First and Second classes will be going to Crag Caves on this Wednesday May 31st.  School tour for Junior & Senior Infants classes will take place on Monday June 12th to Ivy Leaf Theatre in Castleisland to see ‘Pinnochio’ performed by the Talisman Theatre Group and afterwards to Crag Caves.  On Thurs June 15th 4th, 5th & 6th classes will take in a boat trip on the Lakes and a barbecue at Lord Brandons and a walk up the Gap of Dunloe.  Third class will be going to Muckross House and Farm on Friday 16th June and they will also be going on the Water Bus on the Lakes.   We hope that all pupils will enjoy their days.

SOUTH KERRY CUMANN NA mBUNSCOL HURLING FINALS
Holy Family N.S. play St. John’s Kenmare in the South Kerry final in the Spa GAA field at 5.30pm. on tomorrow Wednesday May 31st.  Your Support would be most welcome.  The panel are Michael Dennehy, Darragh Nagle, Sean Finnegan, Ciaran Collins, Cian Twomey, Cian Healy Mangan, Jack Buckley, Kyle McAuliffe, Liam O’Keeffe, Shane Daly, Daniel Dineen and Ross Moriarty.  Thanks to Eoin Casey for training the team and organising this event.

SUPER SEVEN’S JUNIOR BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Our boys team from third and fourth class will take part in this competition at the Presentation Gym Killarney on tomorrow Wednesday May 31st at 7.30pm. Entry is €2 for players and spectators.  The following is the panel – Padraig Moynihan (Captain), Michael Togher, Shane Daly, John Hughes, Liam O’Keeffe, David Darmody, Sean McAuliffe and Conor Moynihan.
GIRLS FOOTBALL SKILLS COMPETITION
Best of luck to Yasmin O’Brien, Megan O’Donoghue and Aoife Cronin as they represent HFNS  in the County Final of the skills competition in Tralee on Thursday next June 1st.
SUPER SEVENS BASKETBALL
On Thursday night  25th May Two boys teams from our school played in two Finals of the Killarney super sevens Basketball competition. It was a wonderful achievement to have two teams qualify for two finals in this competition. In the shield final our HFNS 1 team played  Firies N.S. but unfortunately we were narrowly defeated 27 points to 21.
Our team HFNS Juniors were defeated by Fossa 25 points to 15 Congratulations and well done to both teams on such a wonderful achievement and a big thank you to their trainer Jamieson Hughes for training both teams. Thanks also to the boys’ parents who supported the teams every night.
HFNS JUNIORS                                                                        HFNS 1
Michael Dennehy (Captain)                                         Ciaran Collins (Captain)
Fionn Murphy                                                              Cian Twomey
Seán Finnegan                                                             Jack Buckley
Cian Mangan                                                               Michael Togher
Darragh Nagle                                                             Pádraig Moynihan
John Hughes                                                                Shane Daly
Liam O’Keeffe                                                             Kyle McAuliffe
Kacper Rapacz                                                                        Conor Cronin

SUPER SEVENS 2017 ALL STAR TEAM
Congratulations to Fionn Murphy and Shane Daly who were selected on the 2017 Super Sevens All Star Team  Well done boys.
GIRLS SUPER SEVENS BASKETBALL
Our girls team also did very well in this year’s competition. They were narrowly defeated by Fossa N.S. eighteen points to nineteen in the Shield Semi Final so they were just one point away from reaching the final. The girl’s team were Muireann Hughes, Norma Leader, Megan O’Donoghue, Marian Nagle, Miriam Dineen, Laura Phelan, Eve Moynihan, and Chloe Breen.  A big thank you to Miriam Moynihan and Helen Dillane for training our girls team.
GIRLS CUMANN NA mBUNSCOL COMPETITION
In their first game our girls defeated Kilcummin N.S. but were defeated by Fossa N.S. so Fossa got through to County Competition.  The team were Marian Nagle, Aimee Cremin, Megan O’Donoghue, Miriam Dineen, Muireann Hughes, Norma Leader, Aoife Cronin, Emily Redic, Emily Reddington, Mairead Mahoney, Leah Kennedy, Anna Cashman, Yasmin O’Brien, Áine Leader, Fiona Nagle, Eve Moynihan, Laura Phelan, Abby Sheahan, and Chloe Breen. 

SEVEN A SIDE BOYS AND GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAMS
Our boys football team recorded some excellent results at the East Kerry Sevens competition played in Dr. Crokes pitch on Tuesday March 21st.  Victories over Loughguittane and Knockaderry ensured top spot in our group.  A quarter final win over the monastery was followed by another victory over Kilcummin N.S. in an entertaining semi-final.  This pitted Holy Family N.S. against Fossa N.S. in the final.  Fossa went on to win the title  but great credit is due to all Holy Family players.  Squad: Michael Dennehy, Daniel Sheehan, Fionn Murphy, Ciarán Collins, Conor O’Donoghue, Sean Finnegan, Jakub Jan Michalak, Jack Buckley, Cian Twomey and Darragh Nagle.
On Wednesday 22nd March the girls football team took part in the East Kerry 7 a-side football blitz.  The team played very well and had victories over Loughguittane N.S. and Firies N.S. in the first round.  These wins ensured top spot in our group and a bye in the quarter final put Holy Family into the semi final.  Despite playing very well we were beaten by St. Olivers N.S.  Well done to all the girls involved for the tremendous effort they put in on the day.  Panel:  Norma Leader, Fiona Nagle, Laura Phelan, Eve Moynihan, Chloe Breen, Anna Cashman, Yasmin O’Brien, Áine Leader, Leah Daly and Sarah O’Donoghue.
SWIMMING LESSONS (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th Classes)
Swimming lessons for the boys and girls from second to sixth class will take place on this Thursday June 1st and the final lesson for this year will take place on Thursday June 8th.  The generous sponsorship from Parents Committee funds have helped to keep costs down.

FIRST COMMUNION
A sincere thank you to all the parents for their co-operation and willing participation in the First Communion ceremony on Saturday, 20st May.  We would also like to thank the First Communion class teacher Ms. Linda Collins. Thanks to Helen Dillane for conducting and organising the choir, Maura O’Leary for the music and all the pupils who took part in the choir. And of course not forgetting Fr. Pat for making it such a wonderful occasion for all

CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION
This year’s Corpus Christi Procession will take place in Knocknagree on  Saturday 17th June after 7.30pm Mass.    All the children from the parish who have received their First Holy Communion this year are invited to join the procession in their First Holy Communion outfits. 
We would like to encourage as many children and families as possible to take part in the procession.
SCHOOL UNIFORM
As we approach the end of the school year, it is important that children wear their proper school uniform, which includes black shoes.  As the weather gets warmer, children are in the habit of taking off their jumpers during breaks.  Please make sure that your child’s name is marked on the uniform jumper so that they can be easily identified.  Also if the weather is sunny please ensure that children wear sun screen coming to school.
WELCOME BACK AND CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Ms. Carmel Casey and Ms. Philomena O’Connell on the birth of their baby boys.  Ms. Casey  returned to school yesterday Mon. 29th May and Ms. Linda Collins finished on Friday May 26th.  Ms. O’Connell will return in September and Ms. Kathleen Houlihan is substituting for her.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Collins and Ms. Houlihan for their wonderful work and commitment during their time with us.  We wish them every success.
RETIREMENT
Mrs. Maureen Hickey has announced her intention to retire at the end of the school year.  We will have a special Mass to mark this important event on Thursday 29th June at 12 noon.  More details nearer the time.

GRADUATION MASS
Graduation Mass for our sixth class pupils will take place on Friday 23rd June at 1pm.

DATES TO REMEMBER
South Kerry Cumann na mBunscol Hurling Finals Spa GAA field at 5.30pm. on tomorrow Wednesday May 31st
Super Seven’s Junior Basketball League Presentation Gym Killarney on tomorrow Wednesday May 31st at 7.30pm
Girls Football Skills Competition Tralee on Thursday next June 1st
Closed Monday 5th (Public Holiday) and Tuesday 6th June
Sponsored Walk cards to be returned by Fri. June 9 th
Corpus Christi Procession in Knocknagree on Sat 17th June after 7.30pm Mass
Graduation Mass  Fri. 23rd June at 1pm
Retirement Mass  Thurs. June 29th at 12 noon.


Closing Friday 30th June, 2017