Scoil Eoin Baiste
Buachaillí Sóisearach,
Bóthar Ghort na Mara,
Cluain Tarbh,
Átha Cliath 3.
St. John the Baptist School
Junior Boys,
Seafield Road,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Telephone: 01 8336539
20th January 2009.
Dear Parents,
New year’s greetings to you all and welcome back to school. I’m both sorry and annoyed that the first
item I need to bring to your attention is the on-going problem of Head Lice in school. You all know that this
can happen when little heads are close together for the day, and you have been asked on many occasions to be
vigilant and to check your child’s hair and scalp regularly. Unfortunately, it would appear that some children
are not being checked often enough, as we continue to get reports of infestations in every class from time to
time. Ms. Brehony’s class has been particularly unlucky in this regard, having had 5 to 6 separate outbreaks of
head lice since September ’08, the most recent being on our return after the Christmas holidays. And last week,
we had another incidence in Mrs. Duffy’s class and yesterday in Ms. O’Grady’s class. Please check heads
every night and perhaps seek advice on how best to eradicate/control the bugs, as not all remedies work for
everyone. Remember too, that the bugs can travel from coat to coat and as these are very close together on the
coat rack, they should be checked and cleaned also.
“Back to the Moon”: The Australian-based educational touring company “Educate Me” was in
Belgrove last week. We had an exciting and inter-active lesson on the Solar System which engaged all the
children and which culminated with man’s landing on the moon 40 years ago. The children saw some exhibits
of early space flight including food and clothing from the Russian Space programme.
It was very co-incidental that in the same week we had news of the possibility of life on Mars, and the “Eureka”
science supplement (in 2nd classes) had as its topic….‘Solar System’. One might easily assume that this was all
organised to happen!
Irish Dancing Lessons: Get out those dancing pumps for your boys! From Monday 26th next, Rhona
Lacey will be taking all the boys for Irish dancing lessons. Each class will have six lessons, one each week for
six weeks, and we hope that all the boys will have great fun getting to know the basic steps: one, two three,
four, five, six, seven, one two three, -, one, two three etc…. I’m sure there must be a budding Michael Flatley
somewhere in the 329 children! This initiative, sponsored by the Board, and organised by Mrs. Duffy and Ms.
Lacey is being undertaken as part of our P.E. programme. Outdoor P.E. sessions will continue on the astro
pitch. Any reluctant dancer should remember that having quick nippy feet and a good sense of rhythm adds
considerably to one’s skill in field games. My father-in-law used to tell me that some of the best hurlers he
knew were also great at the Irish dancing. (Maybe he was ‘pulling my leg’…..)
Quiz ‘’09: At the last meeting of the quiz committee we had three new members join us, and perhaps
this may encourage some more of you to get involved. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday next
21st January at 8 p.m. in the staff room.
Your support is also sought in raising Sponsorship money. Perhaps you are in a position to give sponsorship
yourself or to get it from your company or employer. Quiz rounds may be sponsored for €100 and your
business or company will have its name/logo displayed on the screen and printed on the quiz answer sheets.
Tables cost €60 should be booked now and teams may have up to six members each. Experience tells us that
tables gets snapped up quickly so don’t leave it too late if you intend to have a go at becoming the swots
champions of Clontarf. Tables must be paid for in advance. Those able to help with sponsorship should
contact Marguerite our Secretary or phone Seán O Neill at 086-8035739. Donations of gifts for the raffle are
also very welcome.
P.E. Equipment: On behalf of the Board, Mrs. Duffy has spent approx. €1,000 on replacing worn out
P.E. equipment and in purchasing new items for use.
D.V.D. Library: New additions to our DVD library are arriving in school at the moment. These are
programmes which have been broadcast on BBC TV and Channel 4 and are specially suited to young viewers.
We have a video library of similar material, but technology has moved on and its time to replace the old with
the new. Thanks to Ms. Woods and the Board for organising this update of resources on which €1,000 has been
spent to date.
Córfhéile na Scoileanna: Now in its 53rd year, this non-competitive music festival for children will be
held in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght from 2nd – 6th March. We will be represented by our First
and Second Classes. The Firsts are preparing a recorder band while the Seconds will present a Ceol Dráma
about ‘Spring’. More on this in due course.
Prefabs Replacement Project: The Board of Management has had no reply from the Department of
Education & Science re funding in spite of numerous e-mails sent since 19th December ’08. The project
planning committee will meet soon to decide upon the next step and you will be kept informed. All those who
donated money or who signed up for direct debits etc. will receive an acknowledgement of their gift as soon as
possible. There is a bit of administration to be done in preparation for this.
Frásaí na míosa: Ms. Brehony has given me these phrases for the Winter and I shall be using them as
passwords to get into the hall!
Tá an Geimhreadh linn.
Tá sé fuar.
Winter is here.
It is cold.
Cuir ort do chóta.
Bain díot do chóta.
Put on your coat.
Take off your coat.
Tá cóta orm.
Tá geansaí orm.
Tá hata agus scairf orm.
Tá bríste orm.
Tá bróga orm.
I’m wearing a coat.
I’m wearing a jumper
I’m wearing a hat and scarf.
I’m wearing trousers.
I’m wearing shoes.
Coats and Jackets: Now that the weather is colder the necessity for zipping up/buttoning up coats and
jackets is all the more obvious. Many children particularly those in Junior/Senior Infants are not able to zip up
their coats and while teachers do take time out to help, they cannot zip up all the boys every time they go
outdoors. Zipped coats are not designed for small hands and little fingers, so I am asking that parents consider
having some velcro sewn on so that children can keep the coat closed. You could try teaching junior how to
manage the zip i.e. getting the zip into the correct position before zipping up!
Another thing which needs your attention:- many coats do not have that little semi-circle of cloth at the neck,
the loop, which enables the child to hang it up. Without that loop coats often fall to the floor where they can be
walked on, or the children simply throw them up on top of the coat rack, which makes it very difficult for the
next child to find the hook. So please, check your child’s coat and see to it that a hanging-up loop is attached.
School Web Site: Our website is up and running and you can update yourself if you have missed any
newsletters or school details. The site can be visited at www.belgrovejbs.ie.
Singing in the Hall: Our community singing has recommenced and we are learning and practising
songs to do with winter, as we will be holding a “Winter Assembly” in mid-February. I know that Spring will
have begun officially, but we all know that February and March are often the worst months of the year! Mr.
McGuire will be expecting all the boys to be present by 8.45 a.m.
Ceoltóirí Cluain Tarbh: For anyone interested in learning traditional Irish music. Classes for children
and adults in Marino College on Saturday mornings 9.00 to 11.30 a.m. Phone Eileen 8390800 or 085-1148200,
Frank 8334887 or 085-1126122 or Diarmaid 087-9885000. Email enquiries cluaintarbh@gmail.com.
Board of Management: The treasurer of the Board of Management Mrs. Mary Tynan has had to
resign. We with to thank Mary for her many years of service to the School and for a very professional handling
of the Boards accounts. The new treasurer is Ms. Margaret McLoughlin, mother of Sam Owens in Mrs.
Duffy’s class. We welcome Margaret to the Board and wish her well in the task ahead.
The members of the board are:
Patron:
Dr. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin.
Patron’s Rep: Chairman:
Patron’s Rep: Treasurer:
Parents’ Rep:
Parents’ Rep:
Teachers’ Rep:
Community Rep:
Community Rep:
Secretary:
Mr. Kevin Hoy
Margaret McLoughlin
Ciarán Doran
Laura Broy
John Lally
Fr. Cormac McIlraith, P.P.
Brian Curtis
Vincent Conway
086 2050680
khoy@mhc.ie
086-3674748 mcloughlinmags@yahoo.com
087 2679155
cdoran@ireland.com
087 4136559
ljbroy@hotmail.com
085 7246299
lallyj@gofree.indigo.ie
086-8217682 cormac.mcilraith@googlemail.ie
086 2585330
brian_curtis@aon.ie
8336539/
086-3579583
belgrovejbs@eircom.net
Show and Tell: I had five brave volunteers who, before Christmas, indicated their willingness to come
into school and talk to the boys about some subject dear to their hearts!
Two of them, a Mum and Dad, came into school yesterday. Mrs. Duffy tells how they all got on:“Yesterday the boys in Room 1 were visited by Sam Julian-Grace’s parents, Feddie and Paula, who told them
all about life in El Salvador. Feddie is a native of El Salvador and Paula spent 2 years working there. The boys
really enjoyed the visit and they learned about the flora, fauna, people and climate – not to mention volcanoes!
Feddie and Paula were dressed in traditional clothes from El Salvador and they brought lots of samples of
fabrics, crafts, photos and tropical fruits (which the boys got to taste). It was a very welcome blast of sunshine
and colour on a freezing Monday in January.”
Also due for a call up are:
John Broy, who will talk about his job as an airline pilot,
Paul Hession, who will bring in his Harley-Davidson and a few fellow bikers!,
Tom Rooney who will expose the trade secrets of “Rancheros” when he tells us how they are made.
All these treats sound just great and I hope that I can be present at each session.
Any more volunteers out there??? Don’t be shy……
Dublin Parks Tennis League: Boys and girls between 6 and 17 can learn tennis in Spring. Registration
and coaching will take place at the tennis court in St. Anne’s Park on Saturday 31st January 2009. Classes take
place hourly between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and children are allocated a particular hour according to their age and
standard. Coaching will continue for 8 weeks and children can join in at any stage over that period. Coaching
is conducted by a trained instructor. The free use of balls and rackets are available where necessary. A once
off fee of €20 is payable. Enquiries 8338711.
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Reminders/Notices:
First Confession (for 2nd class) has been arranged for Saturday March 21st and will take place in St.
Anthony’s Church at 11.30 a.m.
The “Spiderman” bicycle (with stabilizers) left in the hall following one of the Christmas Shows has still
not been claimed.
Some DVD’s of Christmas Shows still available (€20).
Engineers Week
February 9th – 13th (Details overleaf)
Engineers Week incorporating Engineered! A Week of Wonder 2009 is getting closer! This fun-packed
programme, brimming with a variety of FREE interactive events and activities, will take place from 9th – 13th
February inclusive. By participating in the activities, students will gain an understanding of the wonderful,
life enhancing, exciting challenges and developments engineers are involved in and responsible for. All events
are free!.
There are approximately 70 hands-on engineering related activities, organised by industry and educational
bodies across the country will take place for both primary and secondary school students.
These cross circular activities include the following:
 Treasure Hunts
 Bridge Building Challenges
 Rocket Building & Launching Workshops
 Workshops on Energy and Climate Change
 Computer Game Design and Development
 Discover the Engineering behind Scuba Diving, Sailing and Rescue Boats
 K’NEX Challenge Marathon’s.
Each participant will receive a Certificate of Participation as well as the chance to win a fantastic trip for four
people to the Space Expo in the Netherlands. The overall winner of this once in a lifetime prize will discover
what is it like to live and work in space!
Log on to www.weekofwonder.ie to find out what exciting events are taking place near you and for relevant
booking details.
Yours sincerely,
Vincent Conway,
Principal
BELGROVE JUNIOR BOYS
TABLE QUIZ - Thursday 26th February
Please book _____ table(s)
Name_________________________________________________
Phone Number_______________________
Child's Name _______________________Room No.___________
Amount enclosed € _________ cheque/cash