Welcome back to all, we are now well into the swing of things again and the snow has arrived too! We hope everyone had a good rest and all the cold weather is helping to kill off the germs and illnesses we had before the holidays.

Our Scientists went to the Science Gallery Friday 14th December for the regional final of the Intel Mini-Scientist Competition. Conor Kelly, Cian McNamee & Omar Salem from Romey’s class are runners-up in the competition. It is a great achievement and we look forward to seeing them continue in this field for years to come. Congratulations also to Rameen and Omar who won academic scholarships to private secondary schools in Alexandra College and Sutton Park respectively.

Children from 1st-6th classes went to see Sleeping Beauty in the Victory Theatre on Wednesday 9th January. The children enjoyed the event immensely while learning all about the orchestra. We are all very proud of our teacher Romey who organised the event with the youth orchestra.

3rd classes treated us to a wonderful assembly last Friday all about Martin Luther King. It was also a real treat to hear all the children drumming in unison and it is a credit to the hard work put in by both their teachers. A big thank you also to Alben for making so many drumsticks. Junior Infants will host Friday’s assembly at 9:30am and parents are welcome to come and join us. Both classes are looking forward to telling you all about water conservation, they may even have some ideas about what to do with the snow!

Enrolment offers for Junior Infants 2013 have been taking place since November 2012 and at this point both classes are full. We continue to have children on the waiting list and we urge parents to ensure their children are placed on our list as soon as possible as CETNS does not operate a sibling policy and we do not have any discretionary places available. We have a policy of first-come, first-served.

There are lots of things happening in the school and many after school activities have started back, scroll down to see the list in the post below. There are also a few sign up sheets in the foyer for dance, art & drama classes. Dublin Parks Tennis are taking registrations from 26th January – 1st February. Please contact 01 8338711 or email parkstennis@eircom.net for more details.

Luttrellstown Community College have reminded us their Assessment Day for incoming 1st years will take place on Saturday 2nd February @ 9am in LCC and all students entering their school in September 2013 must complete the assessment. They will also host a Subject Options Information Evening on Thursday February 8th @ 8pm for these children.

Our car park continues to be a safety risk to children in the school and I have asked a group of parents to assist us in operating the car park safely over the next few weeks. If you are available to assist please contact the school office. It is hoped this system will make the school grounds a safer place for the children. The staff car park is on the left as you enter the school and it is not permitted to park in here at any time. The parents’ car park is on the right and it is not permitted to double park in here at any time. Should you arrive in the school car park to find it is full please proceed to the main gate and park outside the school grounds, there are many alternatives one of which includes parking at the 12th lock and walking across the footbridge. There is no room to park on the setdown area as we have school transport collecting large groups of children at arrival & dismissal times. Please assist us in keeping the school car park safe for all children.

The HSE have sent out the forms for the vision and hearing tests for Senior Infants & the vision test forms for 6th classes. Please make sure to return them as soon as possible.

Swimming started this term for Siobhán (5th), David (4th), Liz (5th) & Éadaoin’s (3rd) classes and this term will run from 16th January until 20th March. These details are on the calendar on this website as are details of all upcoming school events.

Obair Bhaile Gaeilge (homework) for parents This week’s frása for infants is, “Ceart go leor,a mhúinteoir.” which means (Okay, teacher) and is pronounced, “Cart guh lower”. This week’s frása for 2nd class to 6^th is,“ An féidir liom cabhrú leat,a mhúinteoir?” which means (May I help you, teacher?) and is pronounced, “On faydir lum cowroo lat,a voontore?”. Go n-éirí libh! (Good luck!)

The ethos subcommittee have been working very hard to prepare the survey for all parents, students, staff and board members of the school. The pupils will be completing  the survey in school next Tuesday 29th. Parents will receive the survey in schoolbags on Tuesday also and we hope parents will take the time to complete the survey online as this will help with collating the data and speed up the process. Paper copies of the survey must be returned by Friday February 1st. Survey night will take place on January 29th.

Educate Together are hosting a Second-Level National Forum in the Hilton Hotel Kilmainham on Saturday 26th January from 10-1:30pm. If you wish to attend please contact secondlevel@educatetogether.ie to reserve a place. As a parent of a child in an Educate Together school you automatically are a member of Educate Together’s national network and these Forum Meetings allow you to have a part in decision making for the organisation. In this forum Second-Level schooling is on the agenda and they will give an update for 3 new second-level schools opening in 2014, one of which will be in Dublin 15. Items on the agenda include values research, school designs, leadership/management structures, curriculum/teaching/learning & 21st learning in Irish classrooms. Registration starts at 9:45am and a light lunch will be served after 1:15pm. All are welcome.

You may be interested in the parent survey on School patronage that ‘went live’ on the Department of Education’s website last week. It may be of particular interest to parents in relation to special schools. For an easy link please log on to http://www.nabmse.org/2013/01/important-parent-survey-on-school-patronage-goes-live-on-des-website/