Nuacht 25/02/2019
Dates for your diary
25/26.02.2019 Fairtrade Focus at CETNS
05.03.2019 Green Flag Assessment
07.03.2019 6th Classes to Science Blast
09.03.2019 PTA Family Céilí Event in the hall 3pm-5pm
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Hopefully everyone enjoyed their week during midterm, it is great to see the children back looking rested and happy to tackle their work again!
Learn Together assembly
Both 4th classes hosted our Learn Together assembly before midterm all about mindfulness. I know everyone in attendance learnt a lot from them and enjoyed their mini sketches about us all rushing around in our busy lives. It really was nice to take a moment to be mindful during the assembly and a special thank you to Siobhán, Andreas, Anne & Aishling for helping to prepare the children. I know the mindful minute will be good for all of us to remember during each day.
Our next assembly will take place March 8th hosted by Senior Infants and we would love to see their parents in the hall with us at 9:30am.
Teacher Artist Partnership
As the children from both 2nd classes work with Sinéad Curran, their work with Eileen Casey has been put together over the past number of weeks alongside Pat & Sarah. You are welcome to view her work with the children here. EC LE Children P&W March 2019
Fairtrade Focus
Fairtrade focus days are underway at CETNS and the children are learning about different aspects of Fairtrade within the Learn Together programme under Equality & Justice strand. We would be very appreciative if parents try to include more Fairtrade items in the shopping trolley or just ensure any coffee/teas bought are Fairtrade. The children are working very hard collecting stickers and also the display for Fairtrade Focus is in the school foyer if you want to have a look at it.
Here is some information below:
Create Fairtrade is the theme for Fairtrade Fortnight this year. We are asking everyone to re-imagine what we can do to make Fairtrade a reality for more farmers and workers. And in doing so we will be helping to achieve many of the most important United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Globally, the extra money earned by farmers and workers in producing countries grew by 19% in 2017 to reach €178 million, Locally, the value of Fairtrade sales in Ireland in 2017 increased by 26% – the highest growth rate in the world! And Personally, that consumer spending in Ireland continued to grow to €382 million in 2018.
Thanks to millions of people, in Ireland and internationally, Fairtrade is making real differences for people, the environment and the planet.
This year our two guests are; Sara Montoya from the COOPCAFER coffee co-op in Colombia, and Blas Arismendis Marcelinos for the BANELINO banana co-op in the Dominican Republic.
They will be explaining how they and their communities Create Fairtrade for themselves.
Create Fairtrade – Sustainability In Practice
In these links you will find some practical ways to Create Fairtrade –
- With the Irish Government because they are one of the biggest spenders in Ireland and by asking them for a Fair and Green Procurement Policy
- In Schools – through engaging with our educational materials
- In Colleges – by making your campus a Fairtrade College
- With Irish retailers – because only 9% of bananas sold in Ireland are Fairtrade
- In our Workplaces – because it’s a great way to increase the volume of Fairtrade coffee, tea and other products that are sold
We also hope you find the time and energy to enjoy Creating Fairtrade in fun and enjoyable ways for yourself, family and friends; and thanks for your ongoing support which makes it possible to do everything we are all able to do!
Fencing
As you may have seen today our fence has been put up over the midterm to ensure we are in line with child protection & health and safety requirements. This fence ensures all children are safe while on school grounds. The gates will be closed during school hours from 9am until 2:40pm. Parents collecting children from Tigers/Kids Club from 1:40pm will have access also.
Red Day Cake Sale Fundraiser
We’d like to thank all for supporting our Red Day Fundraising Day for the school 14th February. It was a wonderful day and the final amount raised was €2022.16. You can read more on http://www.cetns.ie/News/Cake-Sale/828/Index.html
Green Team
Our Green Team have been steadily working towards our Green Flag Assessment with An Taisce and they are carefully putting the final touches to their preparations for Sinéad’s visit. We look forward to welcoming her and want to wish all the children the very best of luck!
Science/STEM
February STEM Challenge - Engineers Week 2019
Ireland and everything Irish is our STEM theme for February as preparation for our annual Seachtain na Gaeilge celebration. All our February STEM projects will form an exhibition for parents during Engineers’ Week which will place from 2nd to 8th March. As always, we encourage everyone to enter either in groups or individually.
If any parent engineer is interested in giving an engineering talk to our classes, please contact Siobhán, secretary in the school office or email secretary@cetns.ie
Seachtain na Gaeilge
Staff and children are preparing for Seachtain na Gaeilge which is coming up
at CETNS 11th-15th March.
Aldi IRFU Rugby Sticker Collection
We are still collecting rugby stickers from Aldi to earn a rugby equipment kit. You get 1 sticker for each €30 you spend. We hope to be one of two schools who will win €50,000 of sports equipment for the school. We have more than 200 stickers already, thank you. So please continue collecting!
Noah, Paula’s 3rd class
Reminder for Snr Infants, 1st and 2nd Class parents.
Can you please respond to letter regarding Violin Project that was emailed last week.
Thank you.
Attendance Strategy
As part of our attendance strategy for CETNS we routinely send a text to parents notifying them of children/s’ absences when 10/15/20 days absence has been reached. Some parents have expressed concerns over this practice. Please note this is in line with our Attendance strategy and is to assist parents in keeping a note of children/s’ attendance.
Parent-Teacher Association
The next PTA meeting will take place in the school hall on Wednesday 13th March at 7:30pm. The PTA Family Céilí will take place in the school hall Saturday 9th March from 3pm-5pm
Castleknock Community College Open Night
Some invitation letters were sent home with the children in 5th classes for an open day/evening in Castleknock Community College taking place Wednesday 13th March.
Beir bua,
Aedín