StarSite

Christmas Newsletter

Here is our Christmas Newsletter.

 

Christmas Newsletter 2009

 

 

Christmas Eve by Eoghan Murphy 6th Class Christmas by Ciara O Dowd 4th Class

It’s Christmas Eve, cold and clear. Christmas is near.

Santa’s about with his nine reindeer: All the tinsel is here.

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen. On the tree they go

Comet, Cupid, Dander and Blitzen. And Dad says ‘Ho! Ho!’

Rudolf with his red nose standing tall

Delivering presents to one and all.

When they come home, they go straight to sleep.

Children see presents stacked in a heap.

Board of Management:

  • Patron’s nominees: Fr David Fleming and Mairead Cullivan

  • Parents’ Representatives: Martina Comerford and Thomas Conway

  • Teachers’ Representatives: Pádraig Ó Corcoráin and Caitriona Hogan.

  • Community Representatives: Paula McGuigan and Aileen O Toole

Parents Association 2009 – 2010

Chairperson: Martina Comerford, Vice Chairperson: Orla Mullen, Secretary: Teresa Gadd

Vice Secretary: George Carroll Treasurer: Pamela Conway Vice Treasurer: Anne McClelland

Committee Members: Lorraine Coffey, Fiona Lacey, Susan Murphy, Martina Royal, Christine Masterson, Mary Brazil, Derek O Brien and Deirdre Harris. Their activities include fund raising for school equipment and activities, looking after the Confirmation breakfast, organising the sixth class disco, promoting members participation on the Board of Management and involvement in the work of other committees such as the Library and Lotto Committees.

The Library Committee

Members include: Pat O Brien, Jacinta Ingle, Alison Kiernan, Orla Murray, Martina Royal, Anita Duff and Rhona McCarton. These volunteers work weekly to provide a tremendous service to the pupils and staff of Scoil Maelruain.

Library Expenses

  • Computer Catalogue System: €1,700

  • 3 New sets of NOVELS and cost of replenishing existing sets: €1,000

  • Display Equipment: €1.000

  • Soft Furnishing: €50

Purchase of these books and equipment has been largely financed from fund raising by the Parents’ Association and the Lotto Committee.

The Catalogue System

Books are scanned into the computer. Teachers and pupils can see immediately details of the book, how popular it is amongst children and they can also see reviews written by other pupils.

Future Expenditure

  • Sets of NOVELS

  • A DVD Stand or Spinner

  • A new carpet

 

 

The Lotto Committee

The committee consists of Susan Thomas, Rhona McCarton, Catherine Clayton, Pamela Conway, Sandra Kelly, Claudia Winders and Alison Kiernan. They meet on Wednesday mornings.

  • Members of the Lotto Committee recently donated €1,500 to the school.

Enrolment and Staffing:

  • Current enrolment: 330 pupils. Staff: 17 teachers, 5 SNA’s.

The School Building

  • The PE hall floor will be replaced during the Easter holiday period at a cost of €20,000.

Computers and IT

  • A grant for IT equipment has been received by the BOM. Guidelines for expenditure of the equipment are quite restrictive. Money cannot be spent on maintenance.

 

Green Flag

  • The Green Flag Committee have been working towards a new flag, The Green Homes Flag. This involves children doing audits on water, waste and energy in their own homes. Their work will be assessed by An Taisce in late January.

School Completion Programme

  • Rita Kiernan is currently funding drama and football training.

  • She also monitors school attendance and pays for the occasional psychological report.

  • Budget cutbacks may mean that activities of this important service will have to be curtailed.

Credit Union Quiz Competition

  • Eight teams will represent the school in the annual Credit Union Quiz Competition, which will be held in The Maldron Hotel at 2 p.m. on January 31st. Quiz teams are organised by teacher, Joanne Walsh, with the assistance of Padraic Moore.

Christmas Carols and Drama

This year we have changed our emphasis from the art competition to a bigger Christmas show. Natalie Mowlds has been employed as an Irish Dancing teacher since September. The children have had dancing lessons each week as part of their PE programme. They have enjoyed the experience enormously and they performed their own version of Riverdance at the show. Ms Flood’s 4th class did a Nativity play. Ms M Murphy led the school choir and each class produced an item of their choice. Our Drama teacher, Sheana Friel, gave a helping hand to all. The concert was organized by Ms M Murphy and Ms M Roberts.

Recorder Lessons

Children in the three 4th classes have been receiving recorder lessons from Fiona Lacey over the past few weeks. Fiona is a member of the Tallaght Festival Band and an enthusiastic musician.

Sport

  • Our senior football team, managed by Padraic Moore, won the final of Corn na nGearaltach, which was held in Croke Park on Tuesday 16th December at 10.30 a.m. Vincent Ogbe, Jason Smith, Darragh Fulham and Ross Fulham were absolutely outstanding throughout the league, not to mention the boys from Fourth and Fifth class, Ryan Walsh, Josh and Eoin Lambert, Thomas Cummins, Calan Carey, Charles Etumnu, Liam Sinnott, Mark Nolan, Gavin Deering, Dillon Caffrey, Joel Viegas, Adam and Kyle Farrell. Scoil Maelruain has 160 boys and we were competing against all boys’ schools of 350 plus. It is a tribute to their trainer, Padraic Moore, and to the boys themselves that they succeeded. Last year’s Cumann na mBunscol Player of the Year, Vincent Ogbe, performed heroically throughout the competition.

  • Our Ladies’ football team, managed by Paula McGuigan and Caitriona Hogan, despite heroic performances from Michaela Everington, Nicola Malcolmson and xxx, were defeated in the semi final against St B. The winners went on to win the competition.

  • A former pupil, Siobhan McGrath, won an All Star and captained the Dublin ladies’ football team during 2009.

  • GAA Coaching: Every Monday morning for 5th Classes with Kevin Donovan (Thomas Davis). Every Tuesday afternoon with Nollag Ryan (Thomas Davis). 8 sessions per class.

  • Swimming Lessons: 4th and 3rd class swimming lessons will commence in January.

 

Other awards:

  • Darragh Fulham: Awarded Player of the Year 2009 in St Anne’s GAA Club.

  • Karla Plowman, Nicole Malcolmson and Danielle Connolly won camogie medals for Thomas Davis GAA Club.

  • Thomas Cummins Boland won medals in football and hurling for Trinity Gaels.

  • Jessica Viegas won a trophy for Irish dancing.

  • Claudia Saul was on the Templeogue United U12’s team that won the league 2009.

  • Lubo Kitov, Max Symonds Keogh, Jack Kennedy and Liam Sinnott played in an Us-10 final for Shamrock Rovers.

  • Adam Kenny: Most Improved Player – Jobstown Football Club U-9’s.

  • Chris Sheldon: Brazilian Soccer School November Player of the Month.

  • Megan Doyle: Two medals for Tallaght Athletics’ Club cross country.

  • Dylan Nevisn, Lee Byrne and Martin Clayton were involved in Gaelic Games.

  • Jessica Moore won 3 trophies and a medal in Irish dancing.

  • Chloe Clinton and Ailbhe Carey: Red and Purple Rosettes for horse riding.

  • Sophie Phelan, Gillian Gawzer, Niamh McEneonie, Alanna Keogh, Ailbhe Care, Tina Mehon, Isabella Nash, Orlagh McGuigan: Camogie medals for Thomas Davis.

  • Zita Teren and Alanna Keogh: Medals for swimming.

  • Adam Murphy: Represented Ireland in Tae Kwando.

  • Cristopher Kelly and Conor Kinsella: Trophy in football final for Tymon Bawn FC.

  • Jamie Lambe: Medal and trophy for Aylesbury FC.

  • Jack Larkin: Medal for Shamrock Rovers.

  • Ben Noctorand Dayle Lyong: Won league for Thomas Davis U 8’s.

  • Mark Daly: Medal for tennis.

  • Kerrie Donoghue and Tara Conuois: Medals for Irish Dancing.