Weekly Note & Reminders 25th January 2024 by Castle Park School

Castle Park School

Weekly Note & Reminders 25th January 2024

From Mr McKernan (Principal, Whole School) Dear Parents,

UNICEF & First Light Charity Movie Fundraiser I am delighted to share the success of our Form VI pupils' 'Christmas Charity Movie Fundraiser', part of their 'Colling's Award'. In response to the unimaginable death and destruction children are currently facing in our world today due to war, Form VI-C supported 'UNICEF', a global charity dedicated to reaching disadvantaged children in countries affected by conflict, poverty, health crises and other emergencies. UNICEF's mission spans emergency relief, life-saving provisions, education, and immunisation across 190 countries. Form VI-P selected a charity closer to home, 'First Light', who provide crucial support to families in Ireland who have experienced the sudden, unexpected loss of a child. First Light is a trauma-informed organisation offering a national 24-hour helpline, crisis intervention, and psychotherapy services. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our school community, Form VI successfully raised €1,573 in their fundraising efforts, with a commendable €786.50 donated to each charity. In addition, the retiring collection for UNICEF at our Carol Service raised €315.75. Congratulations to both classes for their hard work, and thank you to our parents for generously supporting all the endeavours our children initiated. A Note From Form VI: A BIG THANK YOU from all of us in Form VI for your kindness and generosity. Go raibh mile maith agaibh!

The Week Ahead Monday 29th January Junior Commendation Assembly

Tuesday 30th January Dress Rehearsal; Form V Plays Junior Assembly

Wednesday 31st January Teaching Assembly AIJS Girls' Basketball Tournament 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm @ Castle Park

Thursday 1st February FCP Mentor Meeting @ 9am Form VI Motus Workshop Form V-C Play 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Form V-P Play 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Friday 2nd February Personal Development Day Form IV Prep Assembly

You can ﬁnd details of all ﬁxtures/events/activities on the Parent Portal Calendar

Boughey Trophy We are sending our best wishes to our Prep pupils for tomorrow's Boughey Trophy Inter-House Choral Competition. The Boughey Trophy holds a special place as a long-standing tradition at Castle Park and is eagerly anticipated as a significant Inter-House event. Many thanks to Ms McKiernan and the House Teachers for preparing the pupils. Good luck to all participants! Rose Garden Coffee We are delighted to share some exciting news with you – we have a new addition to our school grounds that you may have already noticed. Introducing 'Rose Garden Coffee' – conveniently located in the Rose Garden. From 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm daily, you can enjoy a freshly brewed cup of our own McCabe's Coffee. McCabe's Coffee is a local and sustainable alternative to large brands. To access the coffee van, please use the side entrance of the Rose Garden. Morning coffee time is coming soon! We hope this new addition enhances your experience at our school, fostering a sense of community and providing a welcoming space for parents to unwind and connect.

Week Beginning Monday 5th February ***No Hobbies this week *** ***Music Lessons as Normal***

Monday 5th February Bank Holiday - School Closed

Tuesday 6th February Valentine's Cake Sale (FCP Event) Senior Commendation Assembly Leinster League Hockey; Snr Boys and Girls Teams @ Rathdown; Push-Back 2:00 pm; Collection times as normal. Parent Teacher Meetings

Wednesday 7th February

Viewing of Swimming Lessons During Curriculum Time – Please Note SwimCamp has kindly requested that parents/carers refrain from viewing curriculum swimming lessons from the Swimming Gallery inside the Sports Academy. SwimCamp plans to have demonstration lessons shortly, during which parents will be invited to view their children’s progress. Your cooperation in respecting this request is greatly appreciated. AIJS Tournament @ Castle Park After months of hard work and practice, both of our senior boys' basketball teams eagerly awaited the AIJS Tournament, which is hosted by Castle Park every year. The A team demonstrated a powerful start, clinching victories against St Mary's, CBC Monkstown, and Rathdown, solidifying their position in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, the B team pulled off a significant upset by

Teaching Assembly Dublin Basketball Cup; Snr Boys’ Team v Scoil Assaim Raheny (Away); Tip-Off 12:15 pm; Collection times as normal. Parent Teacher Meetings

Thursday 8th February Senior Singing Competition (Pupil Event) Dublin Basketball Cup; Snr Girls’ Team v St Teresian’s (Away); Tip-Off 2:00pm; Collection times as normal. Parent Teacher Meetings

Friday 9th February Prep Assembly

You can ﬁnd details of all ﬁxtures/events/activities on the Parent Portal Calendar

AIJS Tournament Continued defeating the impressive St. Conleth's, Willow Park, and former champions, St. Mary's, to secure their well-deserved spot in the semifinal.

Kindness Award

The A Team delivered an impressive performance in the semi-final, securing their place in the final. However, the spotlight shifted to our B team, who displayed incredible determination in overcoming St. Kilians, paving the way for an all-Castle Park final. Ultimately, the A Team secured the Trophy, marking Castle Park's first win since 2017. A big shout-out to all the boys who took part! We are incredibly proud. Many thanks to Mr Hilman & Mr Nolan for preparing the teams for this event.

Martina - Form I

Composer of the Week

Le gach dea-ghuí Stephen McKernan Principal

Clara Schumann

Irish Phrase of the Week

Artist of the Week Tejulayo (I-P) Inspired by the paintings of Spanish artist Joan Miró, whose work often featured vibrant colours, playful shapes and imaginative forms, the pupils in Form I created their very own abstract artwork using primary colours.

Intinn fhiosrach - an enquiring mind

Quote of the Week

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.” ~Stephen Hawking

News from the Art Room by Mr Crotty

It has been a pleasure to welcome the children back to the Art Room after the Christmas holidays. As a new term begins, I look forward to showcasing even more beautiful artwork created by our Prep pupils at Castle Park. We have had a busy start to the new term, with all the pupils putting in dedicated effort and actively engaging and exercising their creative abilities. The pupils in Form I have been responding to the artwork of Spanish artist Joan Miró. During the past two weeks, they have created imaginative paintings inspired by his work using primary colours with bold outlines. In Form II, various types of indigenous artwork from Australia have been the central theme. The pupils have been working on their dot paintings using different animal silhouettes, focusing on several elements found within aboriginal art. Once they have finished their paintings, the pupils will work in groups on a large, collaborative artwork. Gustav Klimt is one of the most recognisable figures in twentieth-century art. His famous painting entitled 'The Tree of Life' has served as the inspiration for the pupils in Form III. Inspired by his signature colour palette and love of patterns, the pupils designed their trees before painting them with gold and metallic hues. Contemporary artist Corey Mason has influenced the pupils in Form IV this term with their project on still-life images. The pupils were tasked with drawing a vase using oil and chalk pastels, incorporating symbols and logos of things they admire. The children were inspired by the artist's skilful use of colour and minimalist approach to drawing to create a contemporary interpretation of a still-life. The pupils in Form V have been learning about Fauvism and the paintings of Henri Matisse and André Derain, two artists who were very important in shaping modern art. They have been inspired by the Fauvist artists and their methods of using colour. The classes were tasked with painting either a seascape or cityscape using vibrant colours, with the city of Dublin as the focal point. Form VI has combined shells with famous world landmarks in the Art Room. We have discussed the art practice of Japanese artist Aki Inomata, who designs and creates three-dimensional shells for hermit crabs. In her designs, she incorporates various capital cities or recognisable buildings. The pupils in Form VI have also incorporated famous landmarks in their shell designs.

News from the Art Room with Mr Crotty

Forest Science with Form I

In the Library with Form II

AIJS Basketball Tournament