Dear Parents/Guardians,

As our term races to a close there are a few matters to bring to your attention: 1916 Commemorations  8 th March – Me Mollser As part of our 1916 Commemorations, we are hosting a visit from Dublin’s Abbey Theatre for a performance of ‘Me Mollser’ on Tuesday 8th March. This play retells ‘The Plough and the Stars’ by Seán O’Casey through the eyes of its youngest character, Mollser. Mollser will guide the children through her overcrowded Dublin tenement during the 1916 Easter Rising. The children from 3rd to 6th will attend at a cost of €4.  15 th March – ‘Proclamation Day’ March 15th has been designated ‘Proclamation Day’ for schools in Ireland. To mark the event our school will have a flag raising ceremony at noon on the day. This will take place in the Senior Building and all are welcome. The children will have a Céilí afterwards in the schoolyard (weather permitting).  13 th April – Glasnevin Cemetery The final part of our commemorations is a visit to Glasnevin Cemetery on April 15th. This trip will be for pupils from 3rd to 6th classes and will include a guided tour of the cemetery with an emphasis on the events of 1916. More details of this event will be issued after the Easter break.

Artist in Residence The pupils of 4th class have been enjoying the Butler Gallery’s Artist in Residence, Tunde Toth, for the last few weeks. Ms. Duggan’s classroom has been a hive of creativity with the children producing some amazing group pieces and, also, their own individual pieces. Earlier in the year, the class visited the Butler Gallery’s exhibition ‘My Mind’s i’ by Janet Mullarney and the boys’ and girls’ work was inspired by that exhibition. The pupils are now preparing an exhibition of their own works and the official opening of this exhibition will be on Friday 11th March at 2:00 p.m. and you’re welcome to come along. Tunde Toth, the Artist in Residence, Bairbre-Ann Harkin (Education Curator, Butler Gallery) and Janet Mullarney will be in attendance at what should be a special event.

Cycling 5th and 6th classes continue their ‘Cycling Safety’ classes with Donal Jacob. This is subsidised by Kilkenny Co. Council and our Parents’ Association.

Swimming Swimming lessons continue for 3rd and 4th classes with an extra date being added to allow for last Friday’s school closure. 1st and 2nd classes commence swimming immediately after Easter and a separate note will be issue later in the week with all the details.

First Confession Best wishes to Ms. Doody’s boys and girls who will celebrate their First Confession on this Thursday. We wish them well in the lead up to their First Holy Communion on Saturday 21st May.

B.O.M. Meeting Our next Board of Management meeting is on Tuesday 15th March at 7:30p.m.

Easter Holidays You are reminded that our Easter Holidays this year will include St. Patrick’s Day. The school will close at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday 16th March and will re-open on Monday 4th April.

Signed, ______M. Kavanagh, Principal, 1st March 2016