Here is our Christmas Newsletter.
Christmas Newsletter 2010
White
White is the colour of snow
White is the colour of ice-cream
White is the colour of cosy clouds
White is the colour of soft pillows
White is the colour of the stars at night
White is the colour of sunlight
White is the colour of my football
White is the colour of the page in my copy
White is the colour of the warm radiator
White is the colour of Antarctica
White is the colour of bones
White is the colour of milk.
by Timmy O Brien 6th Class
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: Catherine Clayton, Secretary: Teresa Gadd, Vice Secretary: Sandra Doyle, Treasurer: Pamela Conway Vice Treasurer: Fiona Lacey
Committee Members: Fiona McCormack, Orla Byrne, Orla Mullen, Anita Duff, Margaret Griffin, Alison Kiernan, 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 for participation on the Board of Management and involvement in the work of other committees such as the Library and Lotto Committees. Recently, they subsidised the visits of the Buzzworx Theatre Company.
The Lotto Committee
The committee consists of Susan Thomas, Rhona McCarton, Catherine Clayton, Pamela Conway, Sandra Kelly, Claudia Winders, Annette Condon and Alison Kiernan. They meet on Wednesday mornings.
- Members of the Lotto Committee recently donated €1,500 to the school.
The Library Committee
- Members include: Pat O’Brien, Alison Kiernan, Orla Murray, Martina Royal, Pamela Conway and Anita Duff. These volunteers work weekly to provide a tremendous service to the pupils and staff of Scoil Maelruain.
- Purchase of books and equipment has been largely financed from fund raising by the Parents’ Association and the Lotto Committee.
Enrolment and Staffing:
- Current enrolment: 360 pupils. Staff: 19 teachers, 5 SNA’s.
The School Building
- All windows, blinds and doors have been replaced at a cost of €178,235. A grant of €3,300 has been received to improve water conservation measures.
School Completion Programme
- Rita Kiernan is currently funding school activities including drama and football training.
- Rita will be retiring as Programme Co-ordinator of the SCP in February. She has done extraordinary work in her years of service to local schools and we all wish her well on her retirement.
Green Flag
- We are recycling clothes, stamps and batteries with great success this term.
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 on Sunday February 6th at 2 p.m. Quiz teams are organised by teacher, Joanne Walsh.
- All children will be given a chance to participate in the qualifying rounds and each class grouping will have its own internal school competition.
Halloween Fancy Dress
- Well done to everyone who participated in our Halloween Fancy Dress this year. It was a great success and children went to a huge amount of effort making fantastic costumes. We had everyone represented from witches, zombies, Michael Jacksons, babies and a wonderful Barbie doll still in the box!
Christmas Carols and Drama
- The school choir performed in the Hallelujah Christmas Concert, which was held in the Simmonscourt Pavillion of the RDS on Saturday December 11th. The choir was conducted by Margaret Murphy. Over 40 children from our school participated and some real stars of the future are emerging. A total of 3,000 children performed at the concert, which also featured traditional band, The High Kings. It was a great experience for all. Margaret Murphy was assisted by Sheila Murphy on the occasion.
- Dancing teacher, Natalie Mowlds, and drama teacher, Ciara Byrne, have been working with the children since September. All pupils will be performing in a Christmas Concert, which will be held in the school hall on Wednesday, December 22nd. Ms Callaly’s 4th class will perform a Nativity play. The show is being organised by Margaret Murphy and Maura Roberts.
- We had a wonderful visit from the Midlands Travelling Theatre. The theatre group put on a fantastic play in the school hall on Monday the 4th of October. The play was based on a tale from Arabia.
- Buzzworx Theatre Company visited the school and children in 4th, 5th and 6th classes watched a live drama and participated in a seminar on the negative effects of bullying. The team of five actors spent three days in the school.
Sport
- Our junior football team, managed by Padraic Moore and Ger Fitzgerald, won the final of Go Games South. Our senior boys reached the semi final of the premier division shield, Corn Kitterick. Our Ladies’ football team, managed by Paula McGuigan and Caitriona Hogan, despite heroic performances from Agnes Ogbe, Nicole Malcolmson and Kamile Petreikyte, were defeated in the semi final of the premier division, Corn Austin Finn, against St Brigid’s GNS, Foxrock. The winners went on to win the competition.
- A former pupil, Siobhan McGrath, won an All Ireland medal and an All Star award. She visited the school on Monday 27th of September and received a warm reception from the children.
- GAA Coaching: Every Friday morning for 5th with Nollag Ryan (Thomas Davis). Each class receives 8 sessions.
- Swimming Lessons: 5th and 6th class swimming lessons will commence in January.
Cake Sale
- Ms. Walsh and Ms. S. Murphy organised a very successful cake sale in aid of St. Vincent de Paul on Friday December 17th. Thanks to everyone who donated cakes and supported this very worthy cause.
Class Trips
- Ms. D. O’Reilly’s class went on a trip to the National Gallery, The Book of Kells and St. Stephens Green.
- Ms. Biesty’s and Ms. Scully’s classes went to a reading by Irish author Michael Carroll in Tallaght Library.
- Mr. Moore’s and Ms. S. Murphy’s classes went on trip to the Natural History Museum for a workshop on rockets.
- Mr. Moore’s class also went on a tour of Kilmainham Jail.
- Ms. Walsh’s class went to the Science Gallery for a bio-rhythm exhibition and to the National Art Gallery. They also went on a trip to a mobile Planetarium as part of science week.
- All the 6th classes went to Tallaght Library to participate in a workshop with author Ré O’ Laighléis.
- Ms. S.Murphy’s class also went on a tour of the Book of Kells, G.P.O., Leinster House and the National Art Gallery.
A Christmas Story by Niamh Daly Aged 8
One Christmas evening, a pink, purple and orange alien was looking at a book about Christmas. It said that Christmas is all about loving and caring. Then, he set off for Earth. When the alien landed, he went to The Square. He saw two ladies fighting over the last bottle of perfume on sale. People were also arguing over a fine piece of ham. Then he heard people complaining, ‘This queue is sooo…. long!’
Off went the alien to visit some houses. A little girl was looking out her window and she got such a fright, because he was pink, orange and purple. The alien looked in a window and saw a lady screaming at a chicken because it could not cook. Then, he saw two boys fighting over a toy and their Dad was screaming at the T.V. because Manchester United were playing a football match and they were about to score a goal.
Finally, the alien went to another family. They were having fun, caring and loving. They were so excited because they were going to the Civic Theatre to see ‘Scrooge.’
(The Newsletter was edited by Deirdre O Reilly and can be seen on www.scoilmaelruainsenior.ie )