The student council raised €435 from their fundraiser before spring break. They were inspired by the school's 'Suggestion Boxes' to buy skipping ropes for a skipping zone in yard, 30 chess boards and Junior Scrabble board games for infant classes. There is still €62 left to spend and the council members will confer with their classes on how best the remaining monies.

The Student Council unpacking their purchases.

Happy with the results of their fundraising day!

We were delighted to see that the Department of Education recognised the need for primary level school places in this area, as well as for second-level school places, and that there will be a new 8-classroom school opening in the area in 2020. Our pre-enrolment and waiting lists reflect the growing need for such provision. Right now, we have 56 names on a waiting list for Junior Infants starting September 2018, 37 names on the waiting list for a place in our class for children with autism and 38 names on the waiting lists for places in other classes in our school. That is 131 more children than we can accommodate looking for a place in our school THIS year.

There has been some movement on the waiting list for Junior Infants recently and we have now filled all places again. We are very grateful to those whose circumstances change who let us know immediately so that we can offer the place to a family on the waiting list.

Those offered Junior Infant places in our school are as follows:

• All those who have siblings in the school, will turn 4 by the end of March and were pre-enrolled by 31st January 2018
• All those who were pre-enrolled by 6th October 2016
• All those who will turn 4 by the end of March and were pre-enrolled by 24th August 2017

We will continue to actively manage all waiting lists so as families have as much notice as possible of their school place.

April is Autism awareness month and we are celebrating this in our school. Our school will show our awareness and support for Autism on the week of April 9th. Our planned activities will be carried out Wed-Fri. This year we will be stressing the home-school link and there are some helpful links attached below.

https://www.dealwithautism.com/what-is-autism-in-simple-terms/​

https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-3-ingredient-slime-without-borax-245904

https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/2-ingredient-healthy-banana-bread-breakfast-cookies-with-delicious-add-ins/