Athy Model School

We have lots happening here in school this term. For such a short term, it is absolutely jam packed with activity!

1^st, 2^nd, 5^th and 6^th classes are learning the tin whistle with Melanie Butler at the moment. Tag rugby is continuing every Monday until after Easter.

World Book Day We will be celebrating World Book Day on Friday 4^th March and we are, as usual, encouraging everyone to dress up as their favourite book character. There will be a prize for the best costume so start planning! Gillian Perdue, children’s author, will be paying us a visit to read from her books and bring them to life through dance and drama. This promises to be a lot of fun!

Proclamation Day We will be raising our Irish flag at school on the morning of Proclamation Day, Tuesday 15^th March at 11 am. Everyone is welcome to join us for a short celebration of this occasion.

Mindfulness Pupils in 3^rd to 6^th classes took part in mindfulness coaching on 23^rd Feb. This is part of the Local Education Committee’s initiative which is focused on mental health this year, and in which all local schools are involved. 5^th and 6^th class will be participating in a Self image workshop on Tues 1^st March, as part of the same initiative.

Go Green 3^rd and 4^th class took part in a recycling workshop on 24^th Feb, as part of our work towards achieving our second green flag for energy.

Table Quiz A reminder that the annual Athy Model School Parents Association Table Quiz takes place on Friday 4^th March in Athy Golf Club. This is always a great night out and we would strongly encourage everyone to support it as all funds are for the benefit of our pupils.

September Enrolment Applications are now being invited for September 2016 enrolment. Please call to the school office to fill in an application form on behalf of your child if you have not already done so. If you have already applied, we will be in touch with you in early March.

Guided Reading Guided reading will be starting in early April for six weeks. If you are interested in helping with this, please let us know. We really appreciate the support of parents and parishioners, and the children very much enjoy their help.

Darkness into Light We hope that many of our staff and parents will join the town community in this 5 km walk which takes place in Athy, starting at 4.15 am (!!) on Saturday 7th May in aid of Pieta House.  Anyone interested will need to register online. Registration opens on Mon 7^th March.

Credit Union Quiz Well done to all the pupils who took part in the Credit Union Quiz on 29^th Jan. Although we didn’t win on the night, it was wonderful to see so many of our pupils taking part.

Please note in your diaries that the West Glendalough Children’s Choral Festival and Sports Day will take place this year in Blessington on Friday 10th June. As is usual, there will be a church service in the morning, followed by refreshments. Races for pupils from the following schools: Blessington, Athy, Donoughmore and Dunlavin, will then be held after the refreshments. Further details for parents will follow closer to the time.

School Closure School will close on Wednesday 16^th March for Easter holidays and will reopen on Monday 4^th April.