This week is S.T.E.M Week - S.T.E.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths - and it is an opportunity for us to really focus on these aspects of our learning. The STEM team have been busy planning a programme of events for us as well as some nice activities that we can try out in class.

Today we had great excitement as our brand new laptop trolley was rolled in to classes across the school, and children had an opportunity to explore the artistic possibilities of the Paint programme.
Thanks to Symantec Ireland, who generously donated 20 reconditioned laptops, as part of their charity partnership with Educate Together. We were able to buy 10 more laptops to make a full class set, as well as a laptop charging trolley to transport them around the school.
Following today's introduction, classes across the school will have regular access to the laptops to aid in their learning.

Later in the week, we will have Maths games, Bingo, and a Science demonstration, as well as lots of other fun activities in our classrooms.

Here are some photos of the fun last Friday night at our table quiz in St. Mary's GAA Club in Saggart. Well done to the Parents' Association for organising it so well, and to everybody who took part!

Attention Parents and other members of our School Community!
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We are in the process of exploring an exciting possible project for our school community. We are working with a corporate sponsor on establishing a CoderDojo here in our school. 

CoderDojo is a global movement of free, volunteer-led, community based programming clubs for young people. At a Dojo, young people, between 7 and 17, learn how to code, develop websites, apps, programs, games and explore technology in an informal and creative environment. In addition to learning to code attendees meet like minded people and are exposed to the possibilities of technology.

Within the CoderDojo Movement there is a focus on community, peer learning, youth mentoring and self led learning,  with an emphasis on showing how coding is a force for change in the world.

For more on CoderDojo, visit their website here.

We hope to establish one of these extra-curricular coding clubs here in our school. In order for this goal to be realised, our first challenge is to acquire a set of laptops, on which to teach the coding lessons. We are currently working on this.

But more important than the devices themselves are volunteers who can help at the club each week, to guide and teach the children as they learn to code. There will be experts on hand to lead the sessions, but we need more adults to ensure that each child gets maximum benefit from the class.

Are you familiar with coding (even very basic coding)? Would you be prepared to donate an hour of your time each week, towards helping young people in our school community to learn to code?

We have not yet allocated a day or time for this club. If you are interested in helping out, please complete the form below. Once we have secured the necessary laptops, we will be in touch with you to try to find a time that is suitable to all volunteers.

If you are not familiar with coding, but you have a friend or family member who is, and who might be prepared to help out, please let them know about this exciting initiative.

Huge thanks to the volunteers who manned the sale, the face painting and the balloon modelling, and of course to the committee who organised the whole event! You've set the bar very high for next year!

Two weeks ago, we took delivery of a large order of books. These books were the school's reward following the massive success of our Scholastic Book Fair back in November! You might remember that we told you that every book sold would help to get free books for our school.
Well we have reaped the rewards, and now each classroom has been able to add a new collection of books to their classroom libraries. And we've managed to get a school set of dictionaries too!
So THANK YOU CHILDREN, THANK YOU PARENTS, thanks to everybody who helped to make the Scholastic Book Fair such a roaring success!

Parents, Guardians, Grandparents, Family, Friends...

You’re having a laugh!

Fundraiser event in aid of Citywest Educate Together N.S.

Where: Laughter Lounge, Eden Quay, Dublin 1
When: 30th April 2015
Time: 7pm 'til late!
Price: €25

Your ticket includes:

• Free cocktail or beer on arrival before 7:30pm.
  
• FOUR amazing comedians over 2.5 hours.
  
• And if you fancy completely indulging yourself, access to late bar and DJ (also included in the ticket price)!
  

TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM SCHOOL RECEPTION OR CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!

Buy tickets for friends, family and work colleagues - the more tickets sold, the greater the monies raised for the school! For more details about the show, visit our fundraising page!

Dear Parents,

We urgently need changes of clothes for children, particularly those in Junior Infants.  We would be grateful if you would send in clean elasticated-waisted trousers and underpants.  Please note that we cannot hold clothes for a particular child only.  Thanks for your help.