Dear Parents/ Guardians,
School Website We are currently updating our school website with new photos to be uploaded in the coming weeks. We have added a page with a list of useful websites for each subject in the curriculum to support your child’s learning. You may find this useful over the summer months. Please click here to access it https://www.StThomasJNS.com/page/Resources-Useful-Websites/1686750/Index.html
Registration for Communion 2025
Online registration for Communion of children attending the Catholic Schools in St Mary's Parish has opened. In order to register go to www.stpatrickslucan.ie The registration process may be entered into from the front page of the website. It is necessary that you have your child's Baptismal Certificate at hand in order to upload as an essential part of the registration process. Registration will close at the end of June so that the parish staff & volunteers may begin the process of planning meetings and resources for families in preparation for Communion 2025. If the deadline of the end of June is missed, it may be necessary for the child concerned to be registered in 2025 for 2026 instead.
School PE Tracksuit We are looking at upgrading the material of our School PE Tracksuit (Picture above). Both the top and trousers will be fleece lined and made of the same material as pupils attending Scoil Áine. A prototype is available in the school office for viewing. The tracksuit can still be bought from Bernard Owens. Over the next two years, it is envisioned that both the current PE tracksuit and new tracksuit can be worn by pupils as it will be a transition phase. We welcome your views on the new tracksuit. Please email info@stthomasjns.com before May 31st.
A reminder that girls can wear the school trousers as part of the school uniform if they wish.
PA Cake Sale tomorrow Friday 31st May If every child could bring in shop bought or home-made cakes to be sold on the day, i.e. fairy cakes, rice crispy buns, etc. that would be most appreciated. Please do not bring in cakes with nuts due to allergies. If children use Tupperware to bring cakes to school, please put child’s name on it so we can return the next day. Most cakes will be priced between 50c to €1.00. Parents are welcome to pop in before or after collection times from school if they wish to buy any cakes and children can bring money to spend on treats throughout the school day. The PA are looking for volunteers to assist with the cake sale on the day. Please let Lorna or Maria of the PA know if you are available to assist. Many thanks.
Uniform and PE tracksuit Drive The PA are organising a uniform drive which will take place during the last week in June (Date TBC). If you have any uniforms or school tracksuits that you no longer have use for and that are in good condition, please leave them at reception between now and the end of June. All uniforms are free and no exchange is necessary. Final date for drops is June 26th.
Sports Day
We will be holding our school sports day for junior and senior infants on Tuesday June 11th and for 1st and 2nd classes on Wednesday June 12th (Weather permitting). The children should wear runners and their school tracksuit or shorts on these days. Please also apply sun cream if necessary and send in a sunhat and a second drink with your child on that day. The children will be participating in a variety of fun activities on these days, from obstacle courses, to potato and spoon races, water races and parachute activities. Parents are invited to view their child’s last activity of the day, if they wish. For junior and senior infants, this will be 1.10-1.30 on the 11th and for 1st and 2nd classes it will be 2.00-2.30 on the 12th. Your child’s teacher will let you know in advance where your child will be for that activity. Please don’t bring hot drinks/coffee cups with you during this time and please do not smoke or vape on school grounds. Please also note, no dogs are to be taken onto school grounds and no scooters past the bike shed. Please be aware, photos may be taken, but they are for personal use only. Please don’t share images of other children on any social media platform.
All children will return to class before home time to get their school bags so please don’t ask to take your child home early.W e would appreciate some parental help on the days, so if you are available to help out at a station on either day, please inform your child’s teacher or send an email for Ms. Nolan to info@stthomasjns.com. Many thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to a fun sports day for all! Ms Nolan
Redeveloped Primary School Curriculum The primary curriculum is changing. This is the most significant change to primary education in 25 years. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is holding a consultation on curriculum in the following areas:
- Arts Education (Art, Drama and Music)
- Modern Foreign Languages, as part of the Primary Language Curriculum
- Science, Technology and Engineering Education
- Social and Environmental Education (History and Geography)
- Wellbeing (Physical Education and Social, Personal and Health Education).
You can have your say by completing the online questionnaire for parent/guardians, or by completing a written submission. The draft curriculum documents, and links to the questionnaire and written submissions can be found at the NCCA consultation webpage:
https://ncca.ie/en/primary/primary-developments/primary-curriculum-review-and-redevelopment/consultation-2024/
The consultation closes on Friday 7th June at 5pm.
As principal, this is a very important consultation for all members of the school community to be aware of and to engage where possible to ensure that as a country we put the best possible primary school curriculum in place for our children which will meet the needs that they will have in the future.
School Closures
We will be closed on the following dates:
Monday and Tuesday the 3rd and 4th June for the bank holiday.
Friday 7th June for European and local elections.
School Calendar 2024/2025 is available here.
Road Traffic There has been some near accidents involving children crossing the roads surrounding the school. Can I ask that parents/guardians speak to their children about road safety and the importance of being alert on busy roads.
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann The Lucan branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann are delighted to announce that we will be back in action this September. Traditional Irish music classes, sessions (for young and old) and Irish cultural activities and events will be available in our community once again. Building on the work of the previous committee, we are inviting community involvement. A public meeting for everyone interested being involved either as a learner, player, organiser or helper, will be held in Coláiste Cois Life, Castle Road, Lucan, (Eircode K78 Y330) on Tuesday 28th May at 7.30pm. Registration will be taken for those interested in classes (Tin Whistle, Flute, Fiddle, Accordion etc. Everyone is welcome, between young and old. Refreshments will be made available.
Sun Safety As the days become sunnier please apply sunscreen to your child in the mornings as needs be. Thanks.
Summer Camps
Ms O’Reilly and Ms Doherty and Mr Kelly will be running two summer camps over the summer if your child is interested in joining us.
The first camp will run from Monday 1st to Friday 5th July.
The second camp will run from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd August.
They will both start at 9.30am and finish at 2pm in St Thomas JNS.
The camps will include art and crafts, baking, sports and games, construction and STEM activities, yoga and a disco.
The cost of each camp is 100 euro for the week. There is a sibling discount of 95 euro per child. Please contact lucankidscamp@gmail.com for further information.
Best wishes,
Teresa Moynihan
Principal