St. Nicholas Montessori School - Extra Curricular
Parent Association
Extra Classes
Religion
Sports
Parent Association
The Parent Association was established in 2010 and is continuing to work on developing services to compliment the school and provide opportunities that will hopefully benefit both parents and children.
The details of extra curricular activities are still being finalised for September 2011, so the timetables and prices are still subject to final confirmation, but we hope this will give you an idea of how things are shaping up and enable you to plan for next term.
After School Club
The After School Club has been a great success, and we are pleased to confirm that the club will be continuing as before, from Monday-Thursday, 2.30-3.45pm, at the same rate of €5.00 per day. Many thanks to Ms Farrelly and Mr Eduardo for their hard work and the best of luck to Mr Eduardo in his new position. Ms Farrelly will continue to run the club with a new Assistant in September.
Kung Fu Classes
The Kung Fu classes were also a great success. Classes will resume in September on a Tuesday from 2.30-3.15 for 5-8 year olds and 3.15-4.15 for 9-12 year olds.
Bicycle Rack
There is a new bicycle rack outside the front door of the school, funded by the Parent Association. Hopefully this will encourage more cycling to school!
Cycling Course
A six week cycling course for children in Mrs Tierney’s class (4th-6th) will commence on 6th September to promote safe cycling. The cost for this course is €24.00 per child but Dun Laoghaire Rathdown have subsidised it by 50%, so the cost will be €12.00, and will be billed in September along with further details.
Drama Classes
Extra curricular drama classes will be starting in September, which will be designed to provide fun classes in drama, theatre, choral speaking, mime,improvisation, movement to music and musical theatre. Classes will be held by the Drama Academy every Thursday from 2.45-3.45 for 4-6 year olds, and from 3.45-4.45 for 7-12 year olds. The first class will be a free trial class, and following that the term will run for 10 weeks at a cost of €70.00 per child with a 10% reduction for siblings. There will be 2 teachers for each group.
Guitar Lessons
Guitar lessons will be available after school on Wednesdays for 7-12 year olds. Classes will be kept to a maximum of 4 children and will run for 6 weeks initially for complete beginners, from 2.30-3.15, and 3.15 –4pm at a fee of €80.00 per child. Lessons will be provided by a teacher from Crystal Music Guitar Training Centre in Dun Laoghaire.
Computer Classes
We are in the process of finalising details on computer classes as an extra curricular activity. If your child(ren) are interested in this activity, please tick the box on the attached form.
Graduation
Six children graduated from St Nicholas this year and the Parents Association presented them with T-shirts with a photo of the six children printed on it. They had a party to celebrate.
Article in Primary Times
Some of you may have seen the article and advertisement placed in the ‘Primary Times’ publication by the Parents Association, encouraging parents to consider Montessori as an option beyond pre-school. If you haven’t seen it, check out the summer edition of ‘Primary Times’ which you should have received before the end of term.
School Uniform Sale
The school uniform sale was held on 28th June. We plan to make this an annual event, so please hold onto any uniforms that your children grow out of.
Parenting Talk
Parentline, the charity who provide a confidential helpline for parents and guardians to offer support, guidance and information on all aspects of parenting, came in to give a talk on parenting to St Nicholas parents on 12th April. The talk was a great success and we plan to offer further talks for parents on a range of topics from Internet Safety to First Aid. Please let us know if there are any topics you would like covered, or if you have any expertise in an area that would be of interest to parents and would be prepared to give a short talk one evening.
Cake Sale in Aid of Parentline
The cake sale was a great success, with over €500 raised to support Parenline. Many thanks to all who baked, attended and purchased!!
Social
We are planning to organise a social event for parents in September and will send on details at the beginning of term.
Finally, we will have a few vacancies on the PA committee in September, and will be holding an AGM during the Autumn term. Our thanks for all the work done by Pamela Regan and Tom Brophy who will be leaving the committee, and we look forward to seeing some new faces joining soon.
Extra Classes
Music Classes
Music classes for all children take place once a week, the children in the 3-6 class study music appreciation along with games and singing. Also included in the 6-12 year old Music classes is the teaching of rhythm and basic notation. Our School Christmas Plays take place in December with two 3-6 class plays, a 6-9 class play and a 9-12 class play.
In June a Music Concert is performed for the parents to show all that has been learnt during the year.
French Classes
French classes traditional French songs, useful words and phrases, grammar and vocabulary take place once a week for all children. French classes are a fun-filled introduction to a second language provided by a qualified French teacher with over 15 years experience of teaching French in various others schools.
Religion
St. Nicholas Pre-School and Primary Montessori School is an inter denominational school where no formal religion classes are given other than the preparation for the Roman Catholic sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Confirmation is held in St. Michaels Church, Dunlaoghaire in February each year together with the other local schools. After the mass tea & cakes are served in the school for the children and their families.
First Holy Communion is held in St. Michael’s Church Dunlaoghaire in May each year. This is followed by a small party for the children and their families in the school.
Sports
All classes have a weekly PE class with a qualified P.E teacher. These classes includes a wide variety of activities; football, indoor tennis, gymnastics, rounders, parachute games and team exercise games. These sessions are designed to help children work as part of a team and also as individuals.
The children in the 6-12 classes have weekly Hockey and Soccer lessons.