MAY 2004
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
The boys in 2nd Class received their First Holy Communion on Saturday 8th May. They were a credit to their parents and teachers, Ms. O'Gara & Mr. Coyle, who put in a huge amount of effort in preparing the boys to such a high standard. The ceremony was very much enhanced by the beautiful singing of the Boys' School Choir under the direction of Anne Purcell.
SPORTS
Sports Days - The Junior Sports Day (Junior Infants - 2nd Class) will be held in Bushy Park on Thursday 10th June and the Senior Sports Day (3rd - 6th Class) will be held in the V.E.C. Grounds, Terenure, on Wednesday 16th June.
Hurling - The Junior Team had a very good season and came very close to getting out of their group. The Senior Team have also done very well and if they win their match on Monday, have a good chance of progressing out of their group.
Olympic Handball - The Senior Team have had a great campaign and worked very hard to get to the Leinster Finals where they were narrowly defeated last Wednesday in Navan.
European Champions:- Congratulations to two of our students, Eoin Sheridan in Ms. Purcell’s 4th Class and David Jordan in Ms. O’Neill’s 6th Class, who came 1st in their section in the European Kempo Championships. They are the first European Champions in St. Pius X B.N.S. Well done Eoin and David.
ABSENTEEISM
Again we would remind parents that absences in excess of 20 days will be notified to the National Education Welfare Board.
SCHOOL TOURS
The boys will be enjoying their school tours this term. There is a great variety of location and activity in the tours this year and we hope everybody enjoys themselves immensely.
HEALTHY DIET
We reiterate our message to parents to inculcate a habit of healthy eating in their children.
STRANGER DANGER
There have been a number of reported incidents of strangers approaching children in the area. We would ask you to speak to your children about this.
SCHOOL CLOSURES
There is a Staff meeting on Friday 21st May from 1.45 p.m. - 3.45 p.m. All pupils will go home at 1.30 p.m. to facilitate this. School will also be closed on June 7th & June 8th for the June Bank Holiday. As our school has been requisitioned as a polling station for the Elections, which are being held on Friday 11th June, there will be no school on that date.
Summer Holidays - Wednesday June 30th School Closes 12.00 noon.
I would like to take this opportunity to compliment the boys on a fantastic year. They have worked diligently and effectively and I look forward to more of the same for the rest of the year.
ST. PIUS X BOYS & GIRLS NATIONAL SCHOOLS O’SULLIVAN SCHOOLWEAR UNIFORM SALE Please note that St. Pius X Boys & Girls schools uniforms will be available: SATURDAY 29th
THE ANTARCTIC
Damien Donnelly visited St. Pius on Tuesday 11th May and gave a wonderful account to the boys of life in the Antarctic.
The show was good because it had life sized models and bones of the animals that live in Antarctica. The man who talked to us about it was called Damien. He told us that the empire penguin is the biggest penguin ever. Penguins fear seals but not all seals eat penguins.
The fearsome leopard seal eats penguins. It can swim up to 30km a hour. 4 leopard seals ate 15,000 penguins in just 4 months.
Killer whales deserve their name. They are one of the most deadly predators of the deep. They eat penguins, seals, fish and even the largest known to man the huge blue whale. It can swim at an amazing 40 km an hour. It has a deadly reputation as a killer.
We got an opportunity to try out the Antarctica red apple where scientists live when they go out of their research centers. It was very small and extremely cramped.
There were bones of the animals that live in the harsh conditions of Antarctica. We had bones of the leopard seals. There were also question and answer boards. I looked at one and it had the reason why icebergs float. The reason is that ice is lighter then water.
All in all it was a very good presentation and you don't get much for 1.50 euro so it was excellent value and an excellent show.
By Niall O'Riordan
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VISITING AUTHOR
Marita Conlon-McKenna visited St. Pius on Tuesday, 27th April and spoke to the boys about her books and about the writing process. We look forward to reading super creative writing from the boys who were inspired listening to her.
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CROCODILE IN ST. PIUS
Finn's Grandad caught a crocodile in Africa! Finn brought the skin into school so we could have a look!
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We would ask that you would inform the class teacher in writing if your child is absent and we take this opportunity to remind you that absences of more than twenty days are automatically referred to the NEWB.