Dear Parents,
Christmas 2020 is going to be very different for us all this year, but particularly for the children in our community. Many of the girls may not be able to visit relatives and friends as they usually would, and many of our families have lost loved ones over the last few months, so Christmas will be particularly tough this year. We as a community, also need to be aware that many households have had a very tough year because of the impact Covid19 has had on family income etc, so could I please ask that you have a chat with your daughters about being mindful of others when they are discussing their Christmas ‘wish list’ etc.
However, fear not! We are going to try our very best to make Christmas 2020 as amazing as possible for the wonderful children in OLV Girls’ School. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to have a Christmas Concert, and we won’t be having a Christmas raffle, however what we are going to have is lots of FUN (whilst also continuing with our usual teaching and learning)!!!!!
We have decided to have four different themes for the weeks of December and each week we have an exciting event planned and will support a different local charity. I am very conscious that Christmas is an extremely expensive time of year for all families, particularly those with many mouths to feed, however we would like to encourage the children to learn to count their blessings and pass on good will to others this Christmas season. The Board of Management will cover the costs of many aspects of our Christmas celebrations, and will not be asking for any contributions to the school this Christmas. We would encourage you to ask children to take on some extra jobs around the house over the next few weeks to earn some pocket money that they could use to get involved in all our fantastic plans.
We are asking families to get involved in the following ways:
All my best wishes to you and yours this Christmas season,
Lorna Greene
School Principal
Here is our schedule of events for December, some of the items may need to be reorganised depending on the weather!
Week 1: Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Tuesday 1st December: Classroom Door Decorating Competition Begins
Wednesday 2nd December: Walking in a Winter Wonderland- please wear school tracksuit!!! A walk around the neighbourhood in Christmas Hats, scarves, gloves, glasses, hair bands, zogabongs etc.
Hot Chocolate for all on our return to the school.
Thursday 3rd December: Christmas Jumper Day 1, in aid of the Butcher’s account for Ballymun Soup Kitchen. Donation per family: €1
Week 2: Christmas Lights
Monday 7th December: Classroom Christmas Door Judging by Special Guest
Tuesday 8th December: OLV Girls’ School Christmas Lights Ceremony
Thursday 10th December: Christmas Jumper Day 2, in aid of the two nursing homes we are linking in with- First Care Nursing Home, Beneavin Road and Northwood Nursing Home, Santry. Donation per family: €1
Friday 11th December: Christmas Door Winners Announced- prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.
Week 3: Santa’s Grotto
Monday 14th December: Last day for donations to our Shoe Box Appeal for our four charities.
Tuesday 15th December: Christmas Carols in the Yard
Wednesday 16th December: Visit to our very own Santa’s Grotto on the second floor, magically brought to life by Ms Rooney and Ms Harvey. Gift for every child.
Thursday 17th December: Christmas Jumper Day 3, in aid of Balseskin Reception Centre, St Margaret’s. Donation per family: €1
Friday 18th December: Final day for Kris Kindle presents to be brought to school.
Week 4: Panto!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday 21st December: Helix Panto Online: The Sword in the Stone approx 10am. Kris Kindle present exchange after big break.
Tuesday 22nd December: Last day of school. OLV Girls’ School closes at 11.30am. Christmas clothes and treats allowed, no share bags please, no school lunches provided.
Christmas 2020 is going to be very different for us all this year, but particularly for the children in our community. Many of the girls may not be able to visit relatives and friends as they usually would, and many of our families have lost loved ones over the last few months, so Christmas will be particularly tough this year. We as a community, also need to be aware that many households have had a very tough year because of the impact Covid19 has had on family income etc, so could I please ask that you have a chat with your daughters about being mindful of others when they are discussing their Christmas ‘wish list’ etc.
However, fear not! We are going to try our very best to make Christmas 2020 as amazing as possible for the wonderful children in OLV Girls’ School. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to have a Christmas Concert, and we won’t be having a Christmas raffle, however what we are going to have is lots of FUN (whilst also continuing with our usual teaching and learning)!!!!!
We have decided to have four different themes for the weeks of December and each week we have an exciting event planned and will support a different local charity. I am very conscious that Christmas is an extremely expensive time of year for all families, particularly those with many mouths to feed, however we would like to encourage the children to learn to count their blessings and pass on good will to others this Christmas season. The Board of Management will cover the costs of many aspects of our Christmas celebrations, and will not be asking for any contributions to the school this Christmas. We would encourage you to ask children to take on some extra jobs around the house over the next few weeks to earn some pocket money that they could use to get involved in all our fantastic plans.
We are asking families to get involved in the following ways:
- ShoeBox Appeal in aid of Ballymun Soup Run, First Care Nursing Home, Beneavin Road, Northwood Nursing Home, Santry and Balseskin Reception Centre. Please contribute ONE item per family to the school that we can pass on to those in need, costing no more than €2. E.g a tin of biscuits, a small toy, a selection box, some nice toiletries etc.
- Donate €1 per family for each of our Christmas Jumper Days. These donations will go into the butchers account for Ballymun Soup Kitchen and we will buy gifts and supplies for the Nursing Homes and Balseskin. Oldest member of the family to be in charge of the €1 each week.
- Class Kris Kindle, €5 per child: This is a tradition that has gone on for years in the school and the class teachers will be in touch about this in the next few days. There is no obligation for anyone to get involved if they do not wish to do so. We must insist that a maximum of €5 is spent on the gift.
All my best wishes to you and yours this Christmas season,
Lorna Greene
School Principal
Here is our schedule of events for December, some of the items may need to be reorganised depending on the weather!
Week 1: Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Tuesday 1st December: Classroom Door Decorating Competition Begins
Wednesday 2nd December: Walking in a Winter Wonderland- please wear school tracksuit!!! A walk around the neighbourhood in Christmas Hats, scarves, gloves, glasses, hair bands, zogabongs etc.
Hot Chocolate for all on our return to the school.
Thursday 3rd December: Christmas Jumper Day 1, in aid of the Butcher’s account for Ballymun Soup Kitchen. Donation per family: €1
Week 2: Christmas Lights
Monday 7th December: Classroom Christmas Door Judging by Special Guest
Tuesday 8th December: OLV Girls’ School Christmas Lights Ceremony
Thursday 10th December: Christmas Jumper Day 2, in aid of the two nursing homes we are linking in with- First Care Nursing Home, Beneavin Road and Northwood Nursing Home, Santry. Donation per family: €1
Friday 11th December: Christmas Door Winners Announced- prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.
Week 3: Santa’s Grotto
Monday 14th December: Last day for donations to our Shoe Box Appeal for our four charities.
Tuesday 15th December: Christmas Carols in the Yard
Wednesday 16th December: Visit to our very own Santa’s Grotto on the second floor, magically brought to life by Ms Rooney and Ms Harvey. Gift for every child.
Thursday 17th December: Christmas Jumper Day 3, in aid of Balseskin Reception Centre, St Margaret’s. Donation per family: €1
Friday 18th December: Final day for Kris Kindle presents to be brought to school.
Week 4: Panto!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday 21st December: Helix Panto Online: The Sword in the Stone approx 10am. Kris Kindle present exchange after big break.
Tuesday 22nd December: Last day of school. OLV Girls’ School closes at 11.30am. Christmas clothes and treats allowed, no share bags please, no school lunches provided.
