St Pius X Boys National School<BR>
 
<H3>DECEMBER 2004</H3>

Dear Parents/Guardians<BR>

We have had a wonderfully successful first term and the boys and teachers deserve a well earned rest over the Christmas holidays.<BR>

Fund Raising:  The Building Committee has worked extremely hard and are well on their way to achieving the goal of ?100,000 set in November 2003.  The Race Night held in St. Mary's Rugby Club was very enthusiastically supported and raised in the region of ?13,000.  A word of thanks also to those who bought the Christmas Cards in aid of the Building Fund.<BR>

Christmas Activities:  Many thanks to the teachers for preparing the tremendous Christmas Plays and concerts.  The boys thoroughly enjoyed these occasions and gained enormously from them.  The two Carol Services under the direction of Ms. Purcell were very uplifting and again the boys benefited greatly from them.<BR>

St. Vincent de Paul:  Once again Mrs. O'Nualláin would like to thank everybody who contributed so generously to the St. Vincent de Paul collection.  With so many calls on your generosity you still manage to support this very worthy cause and the Society is extremely appreciative of the St. Pius X donation.<BR>

Sports:  The football season closed with the Senior Football Team being narrowly defeated in the Semi-Finals. We were also lucky this term to have a football coach from Templeogue/Synge St. who trained both 2nd classes.  Both activities give the Junior classes a great opportunity to participate in these sports at an early level.  Faughs are also providing training for the 4th classes and this programme will be extended next term to include 5th and 6th classes.<BR>

Ms. Dempsey continues training 1st class in Hurling in conjunction with Faughs.  Training for Junior and Senior School Hurling teams will commence next term under the direction of Ms. Dempsey and Mr. Hayes. <BR>

Ms. Kneafsey and Ms. de Brún have commenced training for Olympic Handball and Mrs. Kneafsey opened the season with the Cormac O'Brien Challenge of which the final will be held early next year. <BR>

Mr. Coyle and Ms. Elliott are coaching boys in Basketball and the Michael Quinn Cup will be played next term also.<BR>

 
New Entrants:  If you wish to enrol a child in the school next year please complete an application form as soon as possible if you have not already done so as there is a huge demand for places.<BR>

Many thanks also to you the parents for your support and co-operation throughout the term and to the Board of Management for their hard work on behalf of the school.  I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Frances Pigeon who was recently elected as the Parents representative to the Board.<BR>

In conclusion, I would like to thank the teachers for their dedication, commitment and hard work.  We are very fortunate to have such a professional and capable team teaching our children.<BR>

Listed below are the School Holiday dates for 2005.  You will be notified of any 
'in-service' days that occur during the year.<BR>
 
School Calender 2005<BR>

*  School re-opens Monday January 10th at 9.00am<BR>

*   Mid term - Thursday 17th February & Friday 18th February - School Closed<BR>

*   St. Patrick's Day - Thursday 17th March - School Closed<BR>

*   Saturday 19th March - Confirmation 11.00am<BR>

*   Easter Holidays - Wednesday 23rd March - School closes at 12 noon
     Re-opens Monday 4th April at 9.00am<BR>

*   May Bank Holiday - Friday 29th April and Monday 2nd May - School Closed<BR>

*   Saturday 7th May - First Holy Communion 11.30a.m.<BR>

*   June Bank Holiday -
	Friday 3rd June, Monday 6th June, Tuesday 7th June - School Closed<BR>

*   Summer Holidays - Thursday 30th June - School closes at 12 noon<BR>

I wish the whole school community Beannachtaí na Nollag agus Athbhliain faoi mhaise.<BR>

Le gach dea-ghuí<BR>


DERMOT LYNCH<BR>
Principal B.N.S.<BR>