Organ Donor Awareness Week
Dear Mams, Dads, Pupils and Staff,
Next week is Organ Donor Awareness Week 2019. It was launched by the Minister for Health Simon Harris on March 26th. In his statement, the Minister said that ‘In 2018, there was a total of 274 transplants carried out, …….with donations occurring in 25 hospitals.’
This might seem like an unusual topic for a school newsletter, but we have our very own ambassador for organ donation here at Good Counsel GNS.
Before Christmas, Molly (1st Class) received the amazing gift of a new kidney, thanks to the generosity of a donor. If you were watching Ireland AM on Wednesday morning, you may have seen Molly and her Dad Brendan on the show, telling their stories and encouraging more of us to become organ donors. They were terrific!
If you are interested in becoming an organ donor, this is the advice given by the Irish Kidney Association:
- email: donor@ika.ie
- freetext DONOR to 50050
- lo call 1890 543639
- By post to: Freepost, Donor House, Irish Kidney Association,
- Park West, Dublin 12
- Collect a donor card at your local pharmacy
- Sign the back of your driving licence to indicate your wishes.
Most importantly, discuss your wishes with your next-of-kin.
We wish Molly and Brendan, and all organ recipients continued good health and we will remember all organ donors and their families in our prayers.
Yours sincerely,
__________________
C. O’Reilly – Principal
First Penance
Congratulations and well done to all the girls who made their First Penance on March 21st. Thank you to Mr. Dooley, Fr. O’Shea and their families for helping them to prepare so well. We know that the girls are looking forward to their First Holy Communion on May 11th.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Thank you to everyone who came along to support our school St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and to all the Mams and Dads who went to such great effort to make sure that the girls were as colourful as could be! We know that the Sacred Heart of Mary Sisters and the residents of St. Joseph’s Care Home very much appreciated the girls’ visit. Well done girls.
Safe Cycling
On Wednesday next, the girls in Fourth Class will begin a four week Safe Cycling course with Donal Jacob. Donal will come to the school and he will provide the bicycles and helmets for the girls. We are very fortunate that we get some sponsorship every year to help with the costs of the course, and our Parents’ Association is always generous in supporting us. As a result, the cost to the girls is only €5 each. Please forward the €5 to Mrs. Ryan or to the school office any time before the end of the course (8th May).
New Television Show
RTE Junior has contacted us about the hit RTÉjr show Donncha’s TWO TALENTED. Applications are now open and will close on the 10th of April.
Adare Productions are looking for the country’s most talented youngsters age 5-11 years of age to take part. Singer or dancer, solo or duet, all applications are welcome. There are no judges, no competition just a chance to showcase the best talent Ireland’s kids (and their chosen grown- ups!) have to offer. The show sees the child take charge and mentor a chosen adult member to join them on our stage. To apply interested parties can register online and submit their short audition clip at-https://submit.link/heBzR
Host, rugby legend Donncha O’ Callaghan, will be on hand to steady the grown-up’s nerves, as talented youngsters showcase their talent, before taking on the challenge of mentoring their chosen adult family member to join them on the big stage.
For more information contact 01 2843877 or visit the RTÉjr website for more information.
Parents’ Association News
The Parents’ Association will hold an Easter Raffle in the school on Friday April 12th, to raise funds for new maths equipment for each class. We will send the tickets home with the girls on Monday April 8th and they will cost €2 each or 3 for €5. There will be lots of Easter Eggs and prizes to be won!
As always we are very grateful for you support.
Knitting Circle/Green Schools
Ms Finucane and Ms Fenton’s knitting circle have been busy knitting Easter Chicks. The chicks will about to lay a chocolate egg at Easter! We are selling chicks for €3 each and all proceeds will go to the Opportunity Knox Charity run by Harry and Ursula Knox working with the families in Tiira Village, Uganda to relieve poverty and ensure the children of the poorest families can have access to primary and secondary education. In addition to this, each child who buys a chick will be entered to a draw for a fabulous Easter hamper, kindly donate by Janice Dowling.
Check your carbon footprint on www.footprint.wwf.org.uk
Fifth Class Poems
The Town
The town was usual enough; it had
A library, a football pitch, a road, a sky
over it and even rooms in the library I
never went into. My classmates and I
did what girls do…chatted in the classroom,
talked up a storm, dodged the mad drama
teacher, loud a a megaphone, shouting
across the room, free time, drew or read
…. doing nothing important.
By Keira—5th class
The Town
The town was usual enough; it had
a supermarket, houses, two delis, a library
and oh I almost forgot a lovely old school.
My friends and I did what girls do; used to
play and chat on the wall, sang, swam, always
made treasure hunts, got shouted at by the old lady next door, made way too much noise, played until we gave up
…..doing nothing important.
By Klea Zogu 5th class
