Weekly Note & Reminders 1st December by Castle Park School

Castle Park School

Weekly Note & Reminders 1st December 2023

From Mr McKernan (Principal, Whole School) Dear Parents, Poetry Recital Invitation I would like to invite you to an informal poetry recital taking place in the Assembly Hall next Wednesday morning, December 6th, after morning drop-off. The recital starts at 8:45 am and will last approximately 30 minutes. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the progress our pupils in Forms I – VI have made in our Mighty Oaks Public Speaking Programme (Form IV will not be taking part as they have been busy practising for their plays). Introduced in September, the Mighty Oaks initiative sets our school apart as one of the few in Ireland to use such a program. The power of public speaking as a crucial life skill cannot be overstated, and it will only become more critical as our pupils progress through their primary years. We look forward to showcasing how our pupils are growing into confident public speakers in this important aspect of their education.

The Week Ahead HSE Sight & Hearing Screening (Monday - Thursday) Assessment Week

Monday 4th December Junior Assembly.

Tuesday 5th December Leinster League Boys’ Hockey vs John Scottus (A); @ Pembroke Wanderers; Push-Back 2:15 pm; Collection from CP 4:15 pm approx

Wednesday 6th December Poetry Recital @ 8:45 am Dublin League Basketball vs St Lawerence’s College (H); 11 am 12:30 pm. Form VI Boys’ Basketball v Willow Park (H); Tip-Off 2:30 pm; Collection times as normal.

Woodwork Classes

This week marks the beginning of our adult woodworking classes, made possible by donor support for woodworking and craft plans. Your enthusiasm has paved the way for establishing a Pupil Woodworking & Craft Club, which is set to launch later in the academic year. Parents who have subscribed to the classes are helping to fund this specialist equipment, and we had one generous donation of €1500 to support the philosophy of teaching children traditional woodworking skills. A special thank you to Gary Kidson for his wholehearted support and enthusiasm in bringing this concept to life. Gary has been instrumental in getting this initiative off the ground, demonstrating a genuine commitment to establishing a creative space for parents, staff, and pupils alike.

Thursday 7th December

Form IV Trip to Dublin Zoo. Collection times as normal. Girls’ Leinster League Hockey vs St Gerard’s (A); Push-Back 2:30 pm; Return to CP 4:30 pm approx.

Friday 8th December FCP Christmas Event.

AIJS 5-A-Side Soccer Tournament at St. Gerard’s School; 10 am 1:30 pm

Best wishes to those taking part, and we look forward to seeing your progress over the next six weeks. We are also pleased to announce that another round of adult courses will be offered in the new year. If you are interested in joining the waiting list, please contact cosullivan@castleparkschool.ie with your name and email address. Here's to an inspiring journey of creativity and craftsmanship!

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

Week Beginning Monday 11th December No Morning Sports Sessions

Monday 11th December Junior Assembly

Image from our evening Woodwork Class

Form III - Trip to Croke Park, Stadium Tour and GAA Museum Our Form III classes visited Croke Park yesterday for a behind-the-scenes stadium tour. The pupils explored the rich history and culture of Irish sports in the iconic home of Gaelic Games. It was an educational and engaging day, and we will share some photos from the trip in next week's Newsletter.

Form IV Plays - ‘Greece!’ and ‘Romeo & Juliet’ The Form IV classes took to the stage last night with their class plays 'Greece!' and 'Romeo & Juliet'. The pupils and their Form teachers did a wonderful job of bringing these captivating stories to life. CLICK HERE to view more photos.

Kindergarten 1 & 2 Nativity Play @ 9:30 am - 10:00 am. Meeting of the Board of Directors

Tuesday 12th December Form V Trip to Jeanie Johnson / Epic; Collection times as normal. Junior Infants Nativity Play 9:30 am - 10:00 am. Junior Singing Competition Final (Pupil Event).

Wednesday 13th December

Senior Infants Nativity Play 9:30 am - 10:00 am. Form VI Boys’ Soccer v Ballyroan (H); Kick-Off 2:30 pm; Collection times as normal.

Thursday 14th December Kindergarten 2, Junior Infants & Senior Infants travelling to the Mill Theatre in Dundrum for the Christmas Pantomime. Senior Movie (IV, V & VI) - (Pupil Charity Event).

Friday 15th December

Thank you - FCP On behalf of the pupils and staff, I want to express our gratitude to the dedicated members of the FCP for spreading festive cheer by decorating our school for Christmas. We're eager to see the final results of their hard work and commitment, transforming our school into a magical winter wonderland for the holiday season.

Early Years Movie - (Pupil Charity Event) Junior Movie (I, II & III) - (Pupil Charity Event). Carol Service Rehearsal

Saturday 16th December Confirmation Faith Moments @ Church of the Assumption Dalkey; 10:00 am - 11:00 am.

From Ms McKiernan – Director of Music

Theme of the Week

New Singing Teachers I'm delighted to announce the newest members of the Castle Park Music School team. Laura-Joy Copeland and Rufina Tishina will be joining us as singing teachers, leading the voice lessons and also providing extra Piano lessons throughout the year. Laura-Joy Copeland (Singing Teacher with Piano) Hailing from Kilkenny, Laura-Joy is an honours graduate of the TU Dublin Conservatoire. She furthered her studies, completing her Masters at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2022. Laura-Joy's impressive musical journey includes performances with renowned institutions such as the Irish National Opera, Lyric Opera, and Northern Ireland Opera. Currently serving as a Lay Vicar in Christ Church Cathedral choir and a member of the new Chamber Choir, Cór, Laura-Joy brings a wealth of experience to Castle Park. With a particular interest in working with choirs and ensembles, she has a proven track record of teaching young children. Rufina Tishina (Singing Teacher with Piano) With over ten years of experience as a vocal performer, Rufina Tishina specialises in Jazz and Contemporary singing. She earned her Bachelor's in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance from DCU in 2022 and has been sharing her passion for Voice and Piano with pupils of all ages. Beyond teaching, Rufina is actively involved in composing and arranging her own music, contributing to the vibrant musical landscape in Ireland. Her expertise extends to collaborating with vocal groups and ensembles, adding a dynamic element to our music school.

Expressing Ourselves

Composer of the Week

Le gach dea-ghuí Stephen McKernan Principal

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Artist of the Week Addison Keville (III-P)

Inspired by the artwork of French illustrator Jean Mallard, the pupils in Form III have been creating imaginative paintings featuring hot air balloons and islands. You can see more photos of Form III’s hot air balloon artwork in the photo gallery below.

Kindness Award Congratulations to Gabrielle Cunningham (II-C) for receiving last week's Kindness Award. Ms Balak highlighted Gabrielle's consistent acts of kindness and her role in setting excellent examples of what it means to be kind.

Irish Phrase of the Week Tú féin a chur in iúl -To express yourself

Quote of the Week “Live life as though nobody is watching, and express yourself as though everyone is listening” -Nelson Mandela

News from the Sports Department

The Sports Department has been actively involving pupils in a diverse range of sports activities, including volleyball, soccer, and gymnastics, both in the classroom and through our before and afterschool programmes. Within the framework of the High Performance Learning (HPL) initiative, the children have faced challenging tasks and scenarios during these sports lessons. The focus on exploration, independence, and reflection has been integral to the learning process across all sporting activities. Pupils in Forms IV, V, and VI have also been actively participating in sports fixtures: Soccer, Leinster League hockey, and Dublin League Basketball. Their involvement in these events not only enhances their physical skills but also fosters a sense of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship. We are delighted to report that over 40 pupils are now participating in morning sports activities, including our newly introduced Gaelic Football sessions. Congratulations to everyone for demonstrating admirable commitment and resilience this term.

Form VI Soccer Game -v- St. Michael’s College

Kindergarten 2 - PE Class

Senior Infants - PE Class

Form V - Soccer

Christmas Art & Crafts with Ms Turley’s Class

Form I - REP’s - Decorating Stones

Group Reading with Form IV

Parent Lunch

Form VI - Art

Hot Air Balloon Art Work

Noticeboard