Swimming Lessons at Askeaton Pool

The boys went to Askeaton Pool and Leisure Centre for a series of 8 swimming lessons. They thoroughly enjoyed the lessons and improved their swimming skills under the expert guidance of the instructors at the centre.

We also sent two teams to the Splash and Dash competition at Askeaton which the boys enjoyed very much.

Community Games Table Tennis

Congratulations to our two table tennis teams who took gold and bronze at the Limerick finals. The gold medal winners (pictured below) went on to represent the county in the Munster finals at Tralee and played very well.

Hurling and Football

We took part in both the Mini 7 Football and Hurling competions. Well done to our Mini 7 hurling teams that won the Cumann na mBunscoil West competition in April.

Our hurling team were very unlucky not to progress to the County finals of the Cumann na mBunscoil Competition. They were narrowly beaten in the West final after a replay. Well done to the boys and thanks to Mr. Lavin for training them. School Tours by Tim Murphy 5th Class

This year the boys from 1st to 6th Classes went on their school tour to Trabolgan in County Cork on Friday 21st June. We did a lot of activities such as swimming, go-karting, bungee jumping and much more. We arrived at 10 oclock and started off with the go-karting which I think was the best activity. After that we did soccer and swimming. After lunch break we took part in laser tag, zip wiring and bungee jumping. After another food break we headed for home. I would like to thank the teachers and SNAs for organising what was a very enjoyable day out

An Post Rás

The riders of the Rás the Race charity cycle called to the school on their way from Nenagh to Listowel. The cyclists were ex inter-county GAA players, among them past pupil Conor Fitzgerald. The Parents Council served much needed and appreciated refreshments in the Communion Marquee at the school. Thanks to local businesses Bill Chawkes Bar, Lenas Bar, Mary and Michael Collins and Sean Collins Bar for providing the food.

Juniors and Seniors Hurling Match and Ice Cream Funday

The Juniors and Seniors match turned out to be a closely fought affair. Their months of training under Tony Dunne, Patsy Hall and Sadie really made a great difference and the level of skill on display from both teams was very impressive. The boys and their families greatly enjoyed the day. After the match we held another Ice-Cream funday for Down Syndrome Ireland and overall between the two fundraising events we raised €491.

Sportsweek by David Howard, Barra Coffey and Mark Twomey

Last week we had a fantastic sports week organised by the teachers of Scoil Naomh Iosaf. It took place in our school field, the GAA field and the pitch and putt golf course.

We did various sports and one of everyone’s favourites was Tug-of War. 3rd and 4th class went cycling on Thursday in the GAA field as part of the Cycling Pursuits Challenge organised by the Limerick Schools Partnership. Well done to Michael Murphy and Kevin Daly who won medals for their spectactular cycling.

Then came the Infants Hurling match. This match was the most exciting part of the week. There was a bouncing castle in the shape of a racing car and we had an Ice Cream Funday and everyone had a lot of ice-cream. The sports week was a great success and everybody enjoyed it immensely. Fun Pub Quiz

The quiz was held in Pat Collins Bar in February and once again was a great success. The money raised on the night was used to offset some of the expenses of staging the school show. Thanks to everyone who came on the night, donated spot prizes or helped out in any other way.

Beetle Drive

This year’s Beetle Drive was very well supported and was great fun. Thanks to the Parents Council for their work in organising it.

First Holy Communion

The Communion took place on 18th May and once again the Parent’s Council hosted the communion breakfast for the three schools in the school hall and marquee. The hall was beautifully decorated for the day thanks to their Trojan work and the catering was first class.

Sixth Class Graduation

The graduation of our 15 sixth class boys took place on Tuesday 25th June. There was a mass in the school for the boys and their parents and after the graduation ceremony the Parents Council provided refreshments for everyone in the school. We would like to wish Tommy, Matthew, Ryan, Donagh, Emmet, Anthony, Martyn, Bryan, Conor, Finn, Domhnall, Jamie, Paddy, Darragh and Frank the best of luck in their new schools. They will be missed and will be always welcome to drop in and see us any time.

Sixth Class students helped to decorate the School Hall with self-portraits in the “Pop Art” style for their graduation. Well done artists one and all!

School Play

Our school play “The Lion King” took place in the Village Hall on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st March. Once again it was a very professional production and all of the boys were superb. Thanks to Gerdie McGlynn for producing the show, to Charlie Reynolds for the music and to our teachers and SNAs who put in a lot of hard work in order to get the show on the road. The Hall Committee were very helpful and accommodating to us and we would like to thank them for letting us stage the show at the hall. The costumes and the sets were amazing and we would like to thank the Parents’ Association for making them and for helping with the face painting. The Lion King –Photo Gallery Keeper Hill by Aaron Leahy and Conor Lynch

Fifth and Sixth Class went to climb Keeper Hill in Tipperary on Wednesday 19th June during Sports Week. We started climbing at 10.30am and finished at 4 oclock with a few stops on our way up to re-fuel and re-hydrate. When we got to the top the view was spectacular. However we were unable to light our barbecues due to the wind so we couldn’t have the hot dogs we had planned. Luckily we had all brought packed lunches as well. After the climb we are all tired but we had a very enjoyable day.

Rathkeale and District Credit Union Quiz

We had two teams representing the school in the quiz. Well done to the boys.

Catholic Schools Week

To mark Catholic Schools Week we had a family mass in the Holy Trinity Church on 2nd February. The boys sang hymns, did the Prayers of the Faithful and helped in the celebration of the mass. There was a big turnout of parents and family on the day.

Confirmation

This year the Fifth and Sixth Classes received the sacrament of Confirmation on Friday 21st February at the Holy Trinity Church, along with the other schools in the parish. The boys from Third and Fourth classes sang during the mass accompanied by Mr. Lavin.

Fifth Year Work Experience

We had two pupils from Coláiste na Trócaire, Rachel Neville and Caoimhe Costelloe, with us for a week at the end of the January for work experience. Thanks to the girls for their help during the week and we wish them well in their studies.

Junior and Seniors School Tour

Juniors and Seniors went on their tour to Rathkeale Fire Station. The boys got to see the amazing fire engines and to try on the firemen’s hats and gear. The highlight of the tour was when the firemen gave the boys a spin around the yard in one of the engines and several lucky boys got to sound the sirens of the engine. The staff at the fire station were wonderful and gave generously of their time and we would like to thank them for their hospitality. Scoil Naomh Iosaf Parents’ Association

Summer holiday time has arrived yet again and they boys have had a fantastic end to their year with Sports week and an activity filled trip to Trabolgan. From the Parents Association point of view we’ve also had an action packed year where we have thoroughly enjoyed organising, helping and assisting the school in various different events throughout the year.

October The Parents Association AGM was held in the school on Monday 8th October 2012 & the following were elected officers for the 2012/13 year: Carmel Normoyle, Chairperson; Vicky Corbett, Vice Chairperson; Rose Morrissey, Secretary & Helen Moore, Treasurer.

Our annual fancy dress Halloween Party for the boys took place on Friday 26 October in the school Hall. Thanks to all the parents who helped out in preparing the Hall and partook in games on the day. The boys were treated to a funpacked day with all sorts of spooky games, pumpkin races, face painting and trick or treat goodie bags. They and the many mothers who volunteered had a fantastic day. Many thanks to parents Michael & Mary Collins, Pat Collins Bar for their sponsorship contribution to the day.

December 11th December 2012 marked what will hopefully become a Scoil Naomh Iosaf annual Christmas event. - the unveiling of the school’s crib. The ceremony, held at the front of the old Monastery building, was marked with prayers & wonderful music and singing by all of our staff & boys. This was followed by refreshments in the school organised by the parents.

Ho… Ho….. Ho……… The man in the big red suit made his annual visit to Scoil Naomh Iosaf on Wednesday 19 th December. Santa promised the boys to try his best to bring all the toys on their list but only if they promised to go to bed early and be really good for their Moms & Dads!

February Our annual Fun Pub Quiz took place in Pat Collins bar in February. The quiz was once again a huge success in raising funds to help pay for the boys annual musical show held at Easter. A great night was had by all with plenty of laughs! Once again, thanks to all parents for your fantastic support.

March The Lion King – our school show for 2013 was a showcase in the absolutely fantastic acting, singing and dancing talent that we have in the school. It just goes to show the talent that our boys have in this field and how important it is that we keep this up year on year. The village hall looked spectacular over the two nights and it’s testament to all the hard work that tickets for the show were at a premium! Once again a big thank you to Joan O’Halloran who designed the sets for the show, and to the Mums who very ably assisted. Also thanks to all who contributed spot prizes for our Raffle over the two nights.

April Yet again the School Hall was packed to capacity for our annual Beetle Drive. It was a real fun night of organised chaos for all the pupils and their families and all went home happy filled with bags of jellies! May A wonderful party was hosted by our school to mark 1st Holy Communion in the parish on the 18th May. Children and their extended families from all schools in the parish were treated to the annual Communion Breakfast in our school hall. A huge thank you to all parents who contributed in any way – be it baking cakes, decorating the hall, serving on the day etc. Thanks to Mary Normoyle & her daughter Ava who treated this years’ communicants to beautiful cup cakes marked with the date of the ceremony – these were a huge hit with the boys & girls and their parents! This really is a wonderful event to be involved in and every year huge appreciation is shown by the families who attend the party.

June Junior Induction Day & School Book Sale/Rental Scheme We welcomed our Aug 2013 Junior Infants to the school for their Induction day on 13 June last. It was a lovely morning for the boys coming to big school at the end of August and a chance for the parents to meet other new families and purchase their books over a cup of coffee in the school. The schoolbook sale took place on the same day in the girls school and parents were able to get their booklists sorted for the start of the new school year. The School Book Rental scheme will continue for those in third to sixth class and it greatly alleviates the high costs associated with school books for all families involved. It is up to each and every family in these classes to make this a success and keep the costs associated with school books down.

School Activity Week & Handball Tournament Thanks again to all our wonderful teachers and staff , for putting together a fabulous, action packed fun Sports week. On the day of the Juniors & Seniors big hurling match all the boys in the school supported Ice Cream day for Downs Syndrome.

The girls’ school visited for a very successful Street Handball Tournament on a gloriously sunny day in early June. The boys and girls were treated to snacks and refreshments from the Parents Association and again thanks to all involved.

Uniform recycling Continuing what is now a very successful annual event we will hold our uniform recycling event on Wed 26th& Thurs 27th June in the school hall. This year we will run it in conjunction with the girls school Our Lady’s Abbey. No money changes hands at this event and there is no need to bring something to take something.

We’ve had a very busy, successful and fun year as parents – please come along to the Parents Association meetings whenever you can make it – we run around four meetings a year, or come along and help out in the many events that we help to run throughout the school year. The Association really does positively enhance your boy(s) and your experience in the school. Thanks to our School Principal, Barry O’Riordan who is hugely interested and supportive of our Parents Association. A big thanks to all our wonderful parents who helped in any way with the events over the last year - the boys and their teachers hugely appreciate it.

Hope you all have a happy, healthy and sunny summer! See you all next term!

Carmel Normoyle Parents Association Chairperson Solar Panels at Scoil Naomh Iosaf

Thanks to Dermot O’Connell of Adare Solar Panels we have piping hot water in the school heated up to 65 degrees. The panel has been a great asset to the school during the summer months and has helped to drastically reduce our water heating bill.

Pitch and Putt

Many thanks to Ronnie Baker for making the course available for two days of Pitch and Putt. Third, fourth, fifth and sixth classes really enjoyed their games and will continue to nurture their new found skill during the coming months – look out Tiger Woods!

The Gathering

The students of third, fourth, fifth and sixth classes have submitted paintings for the art competition on “The Gathering” at the Adare Heritage Centre. Judges Paul Quane and Roger McCarthy have judged the paintings and the winners will be announced in September

Our trainee fire-fighters at Rathkeale Fire Station Old Crescent R.F.C. Under 12 Trip to London by Daniel Twomey

I’m Daniel Twomey and I play rugby and I play rugby with Old Crescent R.F.C. On Saturday March 2nd 2013, Eoghan Collins, Cian Kirwan, Robert Moloney and I went on the U12 rugby tour to London. We departed from Shannon Airport at 7.30am and arrived at London Heathrow. On arrival we had a training session with the Harlequins Rugby Club. Our first game was against Reeds R.F.C. We stayed in the Holiday Inn which was very nice. On Sunday we took part in the U12 Tri-Nations competition – Ireland (Old Crescent), England (London Irish) and Wales (Caldicot). It was a fantastic experience.

I was awarded the U12 player of the tournament by London Irish Club. We were delighted with the trip and we will remember it for a long time.

Recycling of School Uniforms and Sports Gear

Recycling days were held on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th by the Parent’s Council and again it was a great success. We also collected bags of clothes for the National Council for the Blind at the end of May. Thanks to everyone who supported these events.

Street Handball with Our Ladys Abbey Cricket

Principal’s Note To the teachers, SNAs, Breda Liddy, Joe McDonnell and Ann Conway I would like to say thanks. I would also like to wish our sixth class the very best of luck in their new schools and to say that if at any stage in the future we can assist them, we would be delighted to do so. I would also like to welcome our new pupils to the school and I look forward to meeting them again when we return on Wednesday August 28th.

Thanks to our Board of Management for their help and advice during the year. Their input has been of great benefit to the school.

Thanks to the staff at Adare Library who make our visits there so enjoyable and to the staff of the Credit Union for coming to the school to get the boys into the habit of regular saving.

Thanks to the Parent’s Council who have given of their time during the year organising events and projects for the good of the school and the pupils. We are very appreciative of their hard work and efforts throughout the year.

There are many parents who like to help, bring new constructive ideas, making donations, putting us in the way of promotions in their work places, people who do not wish to see their name mentioned but have the good of the school at heart and wish to help the boys of Adare get as much as possible out of their education. Thanks to all of you.

Finally, we would like to wish all of our students and their families a very enjoyable and safe summer with school re-opening on Wednesday Aug 28 th.

Barry O’Riordan