Dear Parents/ Guardians,
I hope you are all getting to enjoy the fabulous sunshine we are experiencing this week. The following is some information for your attention.
Little Library Bag
The Little Library Bag initiative for children starting school in September 2023 is aimed to help children navigate starting school. In doing so, libraries have put together a bag of books just for them that can be collected at Lucan Library.
The ‘My Little Library Book Bag’ initiative is a collaboration between Libraries, the Department of Rural and Community Development, and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth as part of the First 5 Strategy.
My Little Library Book Bag is available free for every child starting school in 2023 to help them to prepare for this big step. Parents or guardians along with the child can collect their bag from Lucan Library. This is the perfect opportunity to join the library and access all the wonderful free resources the library offers.
Each My Little Library Book Bag contains: three books on starting school, making friends and being comfortable to be yourself; a story card on going to the library; a postcard the child can write or draw on and send to their new teacher, or bring to give to the teacher on their first day at school.
The staff at Lucan Library are always happy to answer queries and join new members! Come along and meet us – we’re open Mon – Thurs 9.45am – 8pm and Fri/Sat 9.45am – 4.30pm. Many thanks, The Lucan Library Team
The Lunch Bag Company
The Lunch Bag Company delivers fresh lunches to children for families who wish to avail of this service. They have a wide variety of healthy options and ordering of the lunches is processed through an App on the parent's phone. More details can be found on www.lunchbag.ie.
Lucan Girl Guides (CGI) meet at St Thomas school every Monday evening from 6pm to 7.30pm. Our Brigin section are looking for new girl members between the ages of 6 to 10 to join our group. For further information contact Eileen on 087 9188874 or Pamela on 086 8417781.
TESCO
We’re included in the current round of the Tesco Ireland Community Fund in Hillcrest Lucan. If you’re shopping in this store over the next few weeks, we’d really appreciate if you’d vote for us using your blue token.
Green Schools
Summer weather may have returned, but now that holidays are over, we are looking forward to another great school year! Please click on the following link for sustainable back-to-school tips. Hope you find them useful! https://greenschoolsireland.org/back-to-green-schools/
Just a little reminder for you, regarding our Litter and Waste reduction we are aiming for Zero Waste in your child’s lunchbox. Your child should have a re-usable bottle and lunchbox. Bento style lunchboxes are super for segregating food items. Please use kitchen roll instead of tin foil or plastic as it is compostable and more sustainable. We will be monitoring waste in the classrooms as part of our ongoing work for Green Schools. Many thanks for assisting us to become a more environmentally friendly school.
After school clubs
Morning Club: A couple of teachers are considering starting a morning club again if numbers allow. If you are interested in having supervised care for your child from 8am to school starting each morning please email morningclubesker@gmail.com for more information. Flexible options will be available.
Speech and Drama club will begin Monday the 11th of September for 1st and 2nd classes at 2.45pm. Please email Ms O’Loughlin at eskerdramaclub@gmail.com for further information.
Smiling Soul Kids Yoga will start on Tuesday the 12th of September – 10th of October for 5 weeks in Room 19. Available for all classes.
Kids yoga gives children an opportunity to explore body and mind while gaining strength, flexibility and balance through fun positive and relaxing activities. They will benefit from learning life skills, which would help them to cope with stressful situations and build self-esteem and can enhance creativity. Children will also take part in:
- Mindfulness and relaxation
- Breathing techniques
- Art and journaling
For more details and to secure a place please contact Ms. Doherty
smilingsoulkidsyoga@gmail.com
Coding classes with Ms Foley and Mr Kelly will be running coding classes this year. Please contact coolcodingclub@gmail.com for more information.
Lego Club with Ms. Palmer will take place every Monday for 6 weeks. Benefits of Lego Club include; creative thinking, problem-solving and mathematics skills, fine-motor skills and hand-eye coordination, communication and language development, teamwork and social skills. This club is limited to 20 places, first emails received will be allocated places. Please contact Ms. Palmer at mspalmer.legoclub@gmail.com. Please include the following details in the email; child’s name, class and teacher’s name.
Art Classes: Junior/Senior Infant art classes will be held on Thursdays in Room 7 with Ms Barnes. Children will be given the opportunity to explore their artistic skills. Classes will be fun, instructive and encouraging. Children will learn and practice the basic skills, concepts and techniques of creating art. Please contact Ms Barnes at artmsbarnes@gmail.com for details.
Engineering club Young Engineers Lego technic classes. Classes start 11th September. €80 for 7 weeks 2.40pm-3.45pm. If interested please contact Sophie on 085 2867429 or at Klc@youngengineers.ie.
After School Art & Craft Classes: Ms. Brazil will be running after school Art & Craft classes again this term. Classes will run every Tuesday, beginning Tuesday 12th September, from 2.40 - 4pm. Please email msbrazilart@gmail.com for more information.
Sports Club: There are a few places left on Thursdays for 1st and 2nd class children. Please contact Ms O'Reilly on stthomassports@hotmail.com for more details.
Clothing Collection
We welcome all kinds of unneeded clothes (clean and wearable), shoes (in pairs), hats, scarves, bags, belts, bed linen, towels and curtains. Please note that pillows and duvets cannot be re-used. You can drop bags of clothing at any time during school hours to reception. If you are doing a spring clean of your wardrobes, we would be delighted to take any unwanted clothing off your hands. Please place the clothes you are donating into the blue clothing bin inside the gate on your left as you walk into yard. All money raised will go towards buying resources for the pupils of St. Thomas’ JNS. Many thanks for your support.
Emerald Soccer Club
Emerald Soccer Club at Roselawn, Ballydowd will run courses every Thursday for children aged 4 to 12 years. Group 1, Ages 4-5, 4pm-5pm. Group 2, Ages 7-8, 5pm -6pm, Group 3 Ages 9-12, 6pm -7pm. All abilities are catered for. For further information, please contact Ciaran Fadden at 085 1289566
Best wishes,
Teresa Moynihan
Principal