Volume 2, Issue 4
February 14th 2012
16th
School Closures: Thursday,
and
th
Friday, 17 February – Mid-term
break
Principal: Ms C Ní Chianáin
Deputy Principal: Mr H Maune
Scoil Colm has a dedicated Child Protection
Policy in place. Ms Ní Chianáin is the
Designated Liaison Person.
Dear friends,
Our second term has been a busy one so far and the pupils and staff have been hard at work. There is a lot to look
forward to this term. Confirmation preparations are well under way for sixth class and our second class will have their
First Confession. Hurling and soccer training has started up again for the season too. On 24th February, the school is
hosting a Greyhound Night (adults only) in The Stoneboat, Sundrive Road. There are details of the event in this
newsletter.
As education has been in the news quite a lot recently, I would like to keep you updated on the developments which
will have an impact on our school.
Unfortunately, the Budget in December made quite severe cuts in education. Not only will there be a cut in the
capitation grant, which is the money given to schools for the day to day running costs (electricity, heating, cleaning,
teaching resources, etc.), but more significantly there will be changes to the way in which Special Education/Learning
Support is operated. Coupled with other changes, for us in Scoil Colm, this will mean the loss of teaching posts. I urge
you to make your voices heard to your local representatives on this matter as it is very unfair that the children of our
country, and particularly the children of our school, should have to suffer as a result of mistakes that were made by
others.
You may also have heard in the media about the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy. The aim of this is to
improve standards in literacy (reading and writing) and numeracy (maths) across the country. As we aim for
excellence in Scoil Colm we have introduced many different measures to support improvement for our pupils,
including an increase in teaching time in English and Maths and prioritising these subjects for our pupils. Our teachers
are taking part in training in these areas as part of Croke Park hours and also in their own time.
May I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of our school.
Kind regards.
Claire Ní Chianáin
As you are already aware we are holding a
Greyhound Race Night in the Stoneboat, Sundrive
on Friday Feb 24th. In advance of the night, our
pupils will be selling tickets priced at €5.oo each.
Results will be based on the exact placings of
greyhounds in the race shown live on TV at 9pm on
the night.
There will be one cash prise of €500.00 and the ticket seller will receive €50.00 for their efforts. There will be a raffle
and an auction on the night with some superb prises. Music and light refreshments will be provided. It promises to be
a fun night and we hope to see all parents and friends of the school there to support us.
First Confession for Second Class will take place at Confirmation Ceremony of Light will take place
1.15pm on Tuesday, 28th February in St Agnes’
at 1.30pm on Thursday, 1st March in Scoil Colm.
Church, Crumlin Village.
Page 2 of 4
Student’s Page
GAA . Jack, Room 3
Last week me and my class went back to Mark,
the GAA Coach. We had so much fun. We
played “Beans”. Mark kept saying kidney bean
and string bean over and over. The funniest was
French bean, we had to do ooh la la three times.
It was very funny.
Scoil Colm Newsletter
Back with Mark. Nathan, Room 3
Two weeks ago my class and I returned to
Gaelic training with Mark. We had a match and
the score was 2-0 to my team. It was a very
enjoyable first week back. The next week we
had another match and my team lost 1-0, but it
was still great fun!
Karate. Ryan, Room 3
On the 24th January I graded for my purple belt in karate,
and when was sparing I kicked my friend in the head 2
times. All of my family came to see me grade. I got my
purple belt and a certificate and on Friday I brought them
in. I am getting my licence for karate.
My Next Boxing Match. Cameron, Room 3
My next boxing match in on May 5th in the Hub. I am very excited
for my boxing match. It is going to be good. You get free dinner
and dessert. Then it is my birthday.
Microsoft Visit. Nobel, Room 3
I went to Microsoft for my Christmas concert. First we
went in and we saw a lady and we went into a room
where the lady explained what we will do in Microsoft.
She said we will do music playing, have a break and do other
activities. The best thing was we got to play Kinect and then we played
music, ate our lunch and went home.
My Favourite Book. Devin, Room 3
My favourite book is “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”, the first
and third one. I like the first one because Rowley had to
eat rotten wrinkly melted cheese. The main character is
Greg. The weirdest part is if you touch the cheese you
get the cheese touch.
The third one, “The Last Straw” his little brother Manny
has a blanket called thingy but his dad throws it out so
he gets the neighbours blanket. Greg has to get it off
him but Manny throws it up on a branch. Greg has to
climb up and get it but his pants fall down.
Books. Carl, Room 3
My favourite book is Diary of a
Wimpy Kid “The Last Straw”. I like it
because it is very long and funny.
The colour of it is green. The main
person in it is Greg Heffly. When I
read it I thought it was very good.
The illustrator and author is Jeff
Kinney.
Page 3 of 4
Student‘s Page
Scoil Colm Newsletter
Sports Day. Kevin, Room 4
Well I can’t wait for June because we’re
having sports day.
And it is my birthday!. Ms Ní Chianáin is
getting ready for the big day in June.
On my birthday I am getting a new game and
a new hurley. Ms Ní Chianáin is the best for
getting a good reputation for a good school
and in June Ms Ní Chianáin is setting up a
sports day and a fun run and I can’t wait for
my birthday on the 12th of June.
Funderland. Reece, Room 3
On the holidays I went to Funderland with my two cousins and my
cousin’s friend. The first thing was the 3D place, it was cool. Everything
was all swirly then I went on the bumper cars and I saw my friend there. I
went to get a candy floss on a stick, it was pink. When I was finished I
then went on the stuff outside then I went home, it was fun.
Funderland. Cian, Room 3
When I was going to funderland I saw big huge houses. When I got there we
went inside. We got into min bumper cars and a ghost train and I was
scared. I went onto a caterpillar train. On the way home I got a kebab
burger.
Football Trials. Robert, Room 4
When I was going to try out for the school soccer team I could not try out for
it because I was sick for the first trial but I was allowed for the second trial. It
was great. We got into a big match in Pearse Park, it was 11 a side. I was
playing mid field. The two managers of the team are
Ms Clarke and Alan Doyle, he is the manager for my
Christmas. Mark, Room 4
team Crumlin United. My mam was very happy
Do you remember the newsletter entry that I put
when I got into the team. I will be training for the
in before Christmas? I said I wanted a Nintendo
school team Wednesday 3rd February. I got new
3DS. Well, I got it! I’m so lucky that I got it. I hope
boots for Christmas, they are
that every single pupil in Scoil Colm got
Ronaldo’s Boots
everything for Christmas. I also wish for good
things to happen in the New Year 2012. I hope
that the school will have a good year too and the
Principal of Scoil Colm will get more money for
the school. Hopefully.
Dublin V Kerry. Jake, Room 3
This Saturday I am going to see Dublin beat Kerry in
Croke Park with my dad. Bernard Brogan is my
favourite player but he won’t be playing as he needs
a break. When I get home we will watch the royal
rumble in Sky box office, it’s going to be awesome.
Page 4 of 4
Parent’s Page
Scoil Colm Newsletter
Confirmation: Rent of School Jumper
 School Jumpers are available for rent from the school shop for the day.
 The cost of renting a jumper is €20.00 in total.
 €10.00 will be refunded when the jumper is returned to the office on Wednesday, 14th March (no later) in the same
condition in which you received it.
 For those who wish to hire a jumper, it can be collected from the shop by the boys on Monday, 12th March
 As we would like to ensure that we have enough stock of the correct size jumpers in time for the Confirmation,
please ensure that the order form has been returned to the office as requested.
Easter Fair
The Parents’ Association are holding an Easter Fair in Scoil Colm hall, on Saturday
24th March between 11am and 3pm. They are looking for donations of
unwanted toys, books, games, candles, gifts etc. in good condition. Ask
everybody you know and bring items to Ms Devaney in Scoil Colm. Save the date
and there will be more information soon.
Clothes and Mobile Phone Collection
We are continuing with our Clothes and Mobile
Phone Collection, to raise funds for our School.
Bags of clean clothes can be dropped into school,
Monday – Friday. Unused mobile phones can be
sent to the Parents’ Room each morning, between
9.00 and 9.45am.
Making Pizza. Eoghan, Room 3
Two weeks ago I made a pizza with my dad. We needed pizza base,
mozzarella, pizza sauce and Italian ham slices.
Step 1
Lay out the base
Step 2
Pour the sauce all over
Step 3
put 8 slices of mozzarella on
Step 4
put in oven, wait 20 minutes, put on
ham if you want.
My Big Surprise, Michael, Room 6
On the 25th of January 2012 Miss Fallon came into my class and
called out my name and then we had to go to Miss
O’Donovan’s class to collect my brother Joseph. At first I
thought I was in trouble then Miss Fallon told me I wasn’t .
Then we went to Ms Ní Chianáin office and my mam and dad
and Miss Devaney and Tony Walsh were there.
Ms Ní Chianáin was very happy and she told me and my
brother we had a bad attendance last year, but the good news
was that Joseph and I had a very good attendance this year. We
were both presented with a certificate by Tony Walsh from the
NEWB, Ms Ní Chianáin and Miss Devaney.
My mam, dad, Miss Devaney, Tony Walsh and Ms Ní Chianáin
were very happy. Miss Fallon gave me a big hug when she
heard.
The way Scoil Colm works. Aaron, Room 4
Scoil Colm works by kid , helping out,
doing Projects and doing work for Paddy.
Scoil Colm is AWESOME.
My News, Aaron D, Room 4
Two weeks ago I won player of the
year I was thrilled when my coach
called me. He did an amazing speech
about me. My friend Cian he was
hoping to win. After I won I was
playing football with Cian and Sean
and Daniel. It was fun.
Punctuality / Attendance Awards
Sean, Room 6
If you’re in assembly on time
everyday for a week, you get a
raffle ticket. At the end of the
week, Miss Ni Chianáin pulls a
raffle ticket out of a hat and that
boy wins a prize.
Soccer Trials, Shane, Room 6
On Monday, some boys from our
school went to trials. This was the
second set of trials. I was picked for
the second set and I made it. We
are going to train every Wednesday
with Alan and Ms Clarke and some
of the other teachers. I can’t wait
for our first match.