Athy Model School

November 2017 Newsletter
It’s been a busy couple of months since we started back to school at the end of August and already the year is flying by. Swimming is now over for 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th classes. They all made very good progress during their six weeks. Infants, 3rd and 4th class will begin Wednesday 8th November for six weeks from 12pm-1pm. Infant children may be collected at the pool and 3rd and 4th will be returning to school on the bus.
Junior and Senior infants planted some daffodil and snowdrop bulbs in the new flower bed and it will be very exciting (and a long wait) to see the blooms that will emerge in the spring. Thank you to Barbara Cole for doing this with the children.
The Parents Association AGM took place on Tuesday 10th October. We welcome Travis Britnor to the committee and we also wish to thank the outgoing member Dolores Delaney (secretary) for all her hard work, commitment and support during her term on the P.A. Adrienne Kavanagh has taken on the role as secretary.
6th class attended the annual Diocesan Schools Service in Christchurch Cathedral on Thursday 19th October . They visited Dublinia the Viking exhibition, as well as a stopping at Mc Donald’s on the way home afterwards. Our pupils behaved exceptionally well on the day. Well done, all. We would like to thank the Board of Management who paid for the bus to Dublin.
We had a Dress Up Day on Friday 27th October in support of the Temple Street. Well done to everyone who dressed up and supported this.
Our Guided Reading sessions have finished until February. We sincerely thank the parishioners, parents and grandparents who gave up their time to listen to our pupils reading in small groups. We really appreciate your input.
Word Wasp sessions are continuing on Tuesday mornings. Again, thank you to the volunteers who work with the children on this. We need more volunteers for this and if you are interested in helping please let us know.
Parent teacher meetings will take place in the afternoons, after school, beginning the week of Monday 20th November
The Christmas Trips organised by the P.A. this year are as follows: The Junior Christmas trip will take place on Friday 8th December to the Watergate in Kilkenny while the Senior trip will be on Thursday 14th December to The Mill Theatre in Dundrum. Many thanks to Adrienne Kavanagh, P.A. secretary, for organising these trips which promise to be very enjoyable.
Tin whistle lessons will be starting with Melanie Butler on Wednesday 8th November.
The PA have organised a speaker to come to the school on Tuesday 21st November @ 7.00pm to speak to parents/ guardians on the topic of Mental Health and Wellbeing of their Children.
ROAD SAFETY
Gardaí have contacted all schools on the campus in relation to parking on the road. They have asked that cars not park on the footpath to the front of the campus because visibility is hugely impaired for traffic turning out onto the road. We ask that all parents park only in designated parking spaces around the campus and remain extremely vigilant when driving on school premises.

Please note that our School Carol Service will take place on Sunday 17th December in St. Michael’s Church at 11 am.
School is closed from Monday 30th October to Friday 3rd November for midterm break. The school will also be closed on Monday 13th November for staff training in the new language curriculum. We wish everyone a well-earned rest!