Parents' Page / Leathanach na dTuismitheoirí

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Newsletter, School Calendar, 2010/2011 Booklists, Standardised Testing

NUACHTLITIR – Meitheamh 2010 NEWSLETTER – June 2010

It’s Urdu Week
As you know, our school has prioritised 7 languages from the 40 spoken in the homes of our various little scholars. Our school produces important documents in these 7 languages, so that our communication with our New-Irish parents can be as effective as possible. Urdu is the national language of Pakistan, and we are delighted to give some priority to it this week. So, come one, have a go at this....
Assa lamu Alaikum – hello
Wa alaikum assalam– hello (in replying)
Shukria – Thank You
Shabash – Very good
Ek, do, Tien, Chaar, Panch – 1 – 5
Khudada Hafiz – Good Bye

Communion and Confirmation
Congratulations to our Catholic children who made their first communion and confirmation recently.

End of year Information
Before your child finishes up at the end of June, you will receive her/his end of year written report. As well as all the usual important information contained in this report, you will notice your child’s score from recently carried out ‘standardised tests’. We have placed an information piece on these tests on our website (www.gveducate.org) under our Parents Page/Standardised test. You might find this useful... the same information is available in a variety of languages at http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum-and-Assessment/Parents/Primary/Standardised_Tests.
As well as your child’s end of year report, you will also receive a calendar for the year 2010 – 2011. Please place this in a prominent place in your home and refer to it regularly, as it will contain the dates of all openings/closings and early closures for the next school year. (The fridge door seems to be very popular!!!)

PTA and BOM
Members of the Parent-Teacher Association and the Board of Management can rightly celebrate another successful year in Griffeen Valley. Our sincere thanks to them for the volunteerism and generosity they have shown over the last school year. Míle buíochas, thank you, shukria(Urdu!)

Griffeen’s Got Talent
Excitement is building as we approach Tuesday next, 15th June, for the finale of Griffeen’s Got Talent. A panel of 3 judges, 2 adults and Iustas from 5th class, will do a polite “Simon Cowell” on proceedings. It should be fab. A big thank you to Joan and Lisa for all their work on this.

Some Important Dates
Friday, 11th ... International Food Fair
Wednesday, 16th .. Soccer Blitz
Thursday/Friday 17th & 18th ..School books on sale
Monday 21st...Winner of International Equality and Justice Award announced
Tuesday/Wednesday 22nd/23rd ...Sports Days
Thursday 24th ... Jungle Dave visiting
Thursday 24th... Graduation evening
Friday 25th ... 6th class finishing
Wednesday 30th ... Summer holidays
Wednesday 1st September – School re-opens

Our International Food Fair
On Friday next, 11th June, promises to be better and ‘bolder’ than ever. Tickets are €10 and are available from the school office. Numbers are limited to 100 so don’t be disappointed and get your tickets asap. Here’s to the wonderful culinary feast ahead, which this year, will have an additional bit of spice!!! This year’s food fair has been greatly helped by the involvement of members of our newly-formed Diversity Committee. As usual, Michelle and Keith, have been invaluable.

Text-A-Parent
In the new school year, we will add the “text-a-parent” scheme to our existing ways of communicating with parents. This scheme will allow the school to text parents about important forthcoming events e.g reminders of an early closure, for example, for a school planning meeting. We are delighted to introduce this scheme to you and hope that it will be a valuable addition to the newsletters, letters/notes and website, which already convey information to parents about events taking place in school.

Summer Camp
The end of August summer camp run by Tomás will take place from August 23rd to 27th in the school. Application forms for the camp are available inside the main doors of the school.

Thank You....
to the wonderful staff of Griffeen Valley School, for all of their commitment and hard work; to the PTA and BOM for their dedication and kindness; to the school’s parent body, for their support for the teaching and learning that takes place here; but, mostly, to the little scholars, whose love-of-life and good humour is a constant source of enthusiasm and joy.