11 May 2017

Dear Parent/Guardian

Easter Egg Draw

The Easter Egg draw raised a total of £306 which has been donated to support Trocaire’s work in South Sudan and Somalia.

Allergies / Medical Needs

A number of children within the school are allergic to nuts and or eggs. As an anaphylactic reaction to these foods can be potentially life threatening we ask that all parents ensure that no nut products (e.g. Kinder eggs/ bars) or egg (such as egg sandwiches) be brought into the school.

To lessen the risk of choking please do not send hard lollies (e.g. Chupa Chups ) into school and ensure grapes are cut into halves.

Children's Adoration P4

Over the past few months Primary 4 pupils have visited the parochial house to spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This programme of children's adoration is now in many schools throughout Ireland. It was designed by the 'Children of the Eucharist' Apostolate to enhance the faith of our children by guiding them gently in quiet prayer in the presence of Jesus, in the most holy Eucharist. If you would like to find out more about the programme, their website is www.childrenoftheeucharist.ie

Bring and Buy Sale

Our annual Bring and Buy sale will be held at the beginning of June. We would be grateful for any donations including unwanted gifts, toiletries, costume jewellery, fancy dress costumes, toys, books, DVDs and games in good condition. Please bring donations to either site as soon as possible. All money raised from the sale will be donated to charity.

Times Tables Rockstars

We have recently purchased a computer program called Times Tables Rockstars. This is a carefully sequenced programme of daily times tables practice. All pupils from P4 to P7 have been issued with usernames and passwords. Please encourage your child/ children to log on regularly as they will enjoy seeing their times tables recall speed improve. 

Whole School Assembly

The Whole School Assembly on Friday 26 May will be led by P1 in the Glenullin site.  It will commence at 9.15 a.m. and everyone is welcome

Grammar for the Month        Use of Superlatives e.g. tallest, best, fastest

When two are involved we do not use the superlative e.g.

I met Peter and Cara and Cara is the taller.                              ü

I raced Sean’s bicycle against mine, Sean’s is the faster.                     ü

Glenullin played Lavey and Glenullin was the better team.     ü

When there are more than two we can then use the superlative e.g. tallest, fastest, best e.g.

Patrick is the best singer in our class.

Song for the Month                ‘Bring Flowers of the Fairest’

Bring flowers of the rarest,

Bring blossoms the fairest,

From garden and woodland and hillside and dale;

Our full hearts are swelling,

Our glad voices telling

The praise of the loveliest flower of the vale.

Chorus

O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,

Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May,

O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,

Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May.

Their lady they name thee,

Their mistress proclaim thee,

Oh, grant that thy children on earth be as true

As long as the bowers

Are radiant with flowers

As long as the azure shall keep its bright hue.

Chorus

Sing gaily in chorus,

The bright angels o’er us

Re-echo the strains we begin upon earth;

Their harps are repeating

The notes of our greeting,

For Mary herself is the cause of our mirth.

Chorus

Irish for the Month

Amharc amach an fhuinneog

Ark amack an in yog

Look out the window

lá galánta atá ann agus feicim

la gal aunt a ta ann agus feic im

it’s a great day and I can see

duilleoga glasa ar na crainn

Dill yuga glassa ar na cran

green leaves on trees

an ghrian ag soilsiú

an grain egg sol shoe

sun shining 

spéir ghalánta ghorm

spare galunta gor im

lovely blue sky

School Finance 

For the first time since the school’s formation the school ended the March 2017 financial year in debt.  This reflects the demographics of our area, the recent increases in National Insurance and Super Ann levies now charged to our budget and the refusal of the new Education Authority to pay our Dual Site Allowance.  When formed in 2001 the school was guaranteed this annual allocation of approximately £15,600 and despite it being still included in the Common Funding Formula and the school meeting the criteria to obtain it, the Education Authority have simply refused to pay it, stating that they can no longer afford it.  This poses a serious challenge to our school as it approximates to the salary of a teacher within two years.

Such challenging times make the work and support of functions organised by the Parents’ Association even more important than previously. It also means that trips or swimming lessons which the school has previously funded may in the future have to be charged for.

Dinner Money

Please be advised that dinners have to be paid by the school on a weekly basis to the Education Authority.  As any outstanding money has to be taken from school funds we would ask that all dinners are paid for either daily or weekly.

Maths’ Games

If anyone has any maths’ games which the school could use next month and would like to donate them please leave at either site.  Thank you.

Whole School Fun Day

The Whole School Fun Day is scheduled for Monday 12 June on the Glenullin site with the following equipment available;

Please complete and return to the school in an envelope marked ‘Whole School Fun Day’

The P6’s rap ‘Cos you’ll never get to Croker’ has been viewed over 6,000 times on Facebook.  It can be viewed at St Patrick’s and St Joseph’s Facebook page.  Please view and share as the P6’s feel that 10,000 views would be a much rounder figure!  The class minus Snowy the goat have been invited as a finalist for the Live to Play GAA ‘Oscars’ ceremony on Friday 19 May in the

Garvaghy Centre in Omagh where the overall winner will be announced 

 FINGERS CROSSED!!

Garvagh Primary Schools’ Orienteering Championship

Date:  Thursday 18^th May

Venue:  Garvagh Forest, Main Street Entrance

Start Times:  Between 6.30pm and 7.30pm

Score Event:  30 minutes

Entry Fee:                   Juniors:           £1.00

                                    Adults:                        £2.00

                                    Family:            £5.00

The best 3 junior and the best 3 adult scores will count towards the overall school score.  The winning school will be the one with the highest score.

A great evening for all the family

Dates for Term Three