Christmas Newsletter 2015
Knocktemple NS
Knocktemple, Virginia, Co. Cavan.
Email: knocktempleschool@gmail.com
Website: www.knocktemplens.ie
Telephone: 049-8547081
Upcoming Events
Peace Prom 2016 in the
Convention Centre, Dublin on
1st January 2016
Spelling Bee Competition
starts in January 2016
Gymnastics starts in January
Photographer visit to the
Athletics in Killinkere
school is 3rd March 2016
Congratulations to all 37 pupils from
our school who took part in the Co.
Cavan Cross Country Championships
2015 in Killinkere. In the individual
category Ella O'Reilly, 6th class,
came in 2nd place. Caitlin Hetherton
came in 12th place and Siún Hetherton came in 9th place.
In the team event the Junior Girls team of Siún Hetherton,
Holly Watters, Ciara Enright, Shauna Barr, Aoife Carroll and
Rhianna Connell, were placed third and they all received Bronze
Medals. Our Intermediate girls’ team were awarded gold medals
in the overall team event and the members of the team were:
Ella O'Reilly, Caitlin Hetherton, Grainne Hetherton, Aoife Cahill,
Jade Wall, Emer Cremin and Martha Smith.
We are extremely proud of all our athletes and we are especially
proud of our first gold medal! Thank you to Geraldine, Mr. Kelly,
Ms. Rowan and Ms. Reilly for all the coaching and for
accompanying the athletes to Killinkere
Confirmation Mass in BJD
10th April 2016 @ 3pm
First Communion Mass in St.
Bartholomew’s Chruch
Munterconnaught on 30th April
2016 @ 11am
School reopens on Wednesday
6th January 2016.
Parents Association
Christmas Raffle:
Thank you to all who supported
our raffle. First Prize was an
overnight stay for two guests to
include full Irish breakfast in
Carton House Hotel (courtesy
of the McLaughlin family) and 2nd
prize was a beautiful hamper.
Thanks to Genevieve Hughes,
Caitlin Hetherton, Caoimhe
Hetherton and Karla Connell for
selling the tickets. Details of
winners will be posted to
Knocktemple PA Facebook page
and our Website.
Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi
Mhaise from all the Staff at
Knocktemple NS
Swimming Gala: The 20thAnnual National School Swimming Gala was a great success with 33
children representing our school. Individual Winners : Gold Medal were Ronan McLaughlin U8,
Lee Glennon U8, Elisha Kearns U14, Silver Medal Niamh Brodie U14, Bronze Medal Emma
Henry U8, Aoife Cahill U12 and Jane Hetherton U8. Relay Winners: U10 Girls 4th Place Aoife
Henry, Annie Hetherton, Kathleen Mc Dermott, Leia Blake. U 10 Boys 4th Place Killian
Hofmann, Eoin Hetherton, Nathnan de Kleer, Cory Reilly. U14 Bronze Medal Genevieve
Hughes, Leah O’Dowd, Elisha Kearns, Niamh Brodie, and finally U14 Boys Silver Medal Shane
Hetherton, Sean Booker, Oscar Erickson and Daragh Cremin. Other participants who
represented the school are Niamh McElroy, Erin McLaughlin, Madeleine Hughes, Suzie
McDermott, Natasha Faherty, Emily Towell, Caitlin Hetherton, Martha Smith, Fergal
McElroy, Sean Glennon, Paul Gilsenan and Harry Watters. Thanks, as always, to Sharon
Hetherton for coordinating this event.
Rugby Blitz in Virginia RFC
Our school took part in a very enjoyable tag rugby blitz in
Virginia RFC this term. We had two teams taking part and it
was a very enjoyable event.
Tennis Coaching:
Michael coached all classes during November. We are grateful
to the Parents Association for funding the tennis lessons.
Martial Arts: Thanks to Larry McQuade, in conjunction with
Cavan Sports Partnership, who
introduced Martial Arts to Ms.
Rowan’s and Ms. White Lynch’s classes.
Futsal League: Mr. Kelly travelled to Cavan for the annual futsal
league on the Astro pitches at Tullacmongan . In spite of the wet
weather the pupils had an enjoyable day and we thank Mr. Kelly and the parents who provided
transport on the day.
Swimming: Swimming has been completed this term for the year and we are grateful to the
Parents Association for their support. Each swimmer received a certificate from Kells Pool.
Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal was a great success
These boxes
will put a smile
on a child’s face
this Christmas.
Our school had
an amazing 74
boxes. Thank you to
Kitten Cottage who also
donated boxes to the Hope Christmas
collection.
Marathon Monday: Thank you to all families
and friends for their support of our
Marathon Monday fundraiser.
Donation: Stephen from Country Pine has very kindly donated
a Games Trolley for use in our school. Thank you Stephen!
Peace Proms 2016: Our
school choir will represent
Cavan at the Ireland 2016
Coin Collection: Now that the
smaller value 1c and 2c coins are
being discontinued we would
appreciate if you could donate
these to the school. Any monies
accepted. Funds raised will go
towards funding indoor games for
the classrooms on those “rainy
days”. Thank you to everyone
who has helped us to fill our coin
box outside the office. Our box
is getting heavy, thanks to the
generosity of the community and
parents of children.
Phones/Phones/Phones: Thank
you for the fantastic response to
our request for old mobile phones.
Please continue to help us build on
this to be able to get a free iPad
for our school.
Peace Proms at the
Convention Centre Dublin on January 1st 2016. Each school
choir will have 11 singers and 6th class pupils will be
representing our school.
Virginia Credit Union – Annual Art Competition:
Congratulations to Clara Skelly, Ciara Enright, Gráinne
Munterconnaught - winners of a
Nationwide Fibre Power your
Community Competition
Hetherton, Lauren Storey, Genevieve Hughes and Jade Wall
who received their prizes at the awards Ceremony in the
Riverfront Hotel last Thursday 17th December 2015.
Feast of the Epiphany: School will reopen on Wednesday 6th
January and as it is a Holy day of obligation all pupils will
attend mass in the local church at 10.15am.
Camógie: Bernie Watters hopes to introducing camógie to the girls from 1st to 6th classes in
the New Year. More details after Christmas.
New Board of Management:
Patron’s nominee: Seamus
O’Shea (Chairperson), Rev. Fr.
Carol Service
Frank Kelleher (Treasurer),
A special word of
Parent Nominees: Paraic
thanks to all pupils who
Hetherton and Lorraine O’Reilly,
took part in the Carol
Vincent Mulvey (Principal &
Service in the church
Secretary), Staff Nominee:
and especially to Ms.
Sara Clarke, Community
st
Brady and her 1 class
Representatives: Ann Brady and
for their beautiful
Bob Gilbert.
Nativity play.
Santa and Christmas Assembly
Santa Claus is taking time from his busy schedule to visit all the
boys and girls in our school. Thank you to the Parent’s Association
Parents Association
Frank Skelly Chairperson,
Deidre de Kleer Secretary and
Linda Henry Treasurer.
for arranging Santa’s visit. We also will have a Christmas
assembly and we hope parents, families and friends can join us to
be entertained by the children as they sing hymns and carols, play tin whistle, violin and guitar.
Green Schools:We have now started our quest for a fourth Green Schools Flag. The topic for
this flag is Travel. We welcome our new committee members from 3rd class Conor Barr and
Anna Towell and from second class Christopher Bough and Conor Enright. In November Susan
Doorley, Travel Officer for Green Schools visited the school and conducted a survey with all
the children from 1st -6th class asking them a variety of questions such as how they get to
school, how would they like to travel to school, do they car pool etc. The results of the survey
are on display on the Green School notice board. Also in November the Green School
committee conducted a travel survey at the school to determine the level of traffic around
the school in the mornings and after school. We also held a competition within the school to
pick a Green School logo and motto for the Travel topic. The individual class winners were
Rachel McQuade, Christopher Bough, Eoin Hetherton, Aoife Henry, Daniel Yore, Caoimhe
Hetherton, Niall Lynch and Emily Towell. The Overall Logo Winner was Rachel McQuade –1st
Class and the Overall Motto Winner was Daniel Yore – 4th Class with his motto Keep fit – Walk
a bit. All the winning entries are on display on the Green School notice board. Susan Doorley
returned to the school in December to do a mapping exercise with all the children. The
children in each class got to see where they lived in relation to the school. Susan will return in
January to complete a walkability survey around the school and to meet with parents and
school staff.