The schools annual soccer league begins on the 1st of March 2012. More than 100 pupils from second to sixth class will participate. Team names have been chosen from the list of nations participating in this summer’s European Championship tournament taking place in Poland and Ukraine. The boys and girls are excited and looking forward to the competition which will run until June and involve 132 fixtures. Details of the league can be accessed here.

The Parent’s Association have been contacted by a number of concerned parents representing other national schools from Co. Waterford to ask for our support with the nationwide Save Our National Schools (SONS) campaign. This campaign aims to voice their opposition to several educational cutbacks that will affect the future of 10 schools in our county.

In particular, the support of other concerned has been requested at a public meeting to be held at the Civic Offices in Dungarvan on Monday, 13th February 2012. The purpose of this meeting is explained in the following letter received from the Chairperson of the Parent’s Association of Villierstown NS.

Dear Teacher/Parent/Guardian,

As I am sure you are well aware, this country is in the grips of the worst recession in the history of the State. Cut after cut is being imposed upon us, taxes piled on and prices rising ever higher. All of this is taking its toll on us as a nation, but alas we are being told it is our own fault and we all have to swallow this bitter medicine, yet education and health are to bear the brunt of this.

However bad this country is economically, it is no excuse to lump the bill at the feet of our children. It is not fair that Minister Quinn is trying to cut €70 million from the education budget this year alone, but €140 million next year and €220 million the year after that! Not one child in the country is to blame for this farce, yet they are the ones that will suffer the most. Why doesn’t the Minister first look elsewhere within Leinster House to cut some budgets?

Having spoken to other primary schools and parents associations around Co. Waterford earlier today (31/01/12) it is clear that people are very angry and scared for their children’s future. We need to make our voices heard so as a result we are organising a protest about these cuts at the next meeting of Waterford County Council. Even if your school is not directly affected by these cuts we need to stand together, shoulder to shoulder, to help those who are affected and facing a bleak future.

CIVIC OFFICES, DUNGARVAN, CO.WATERFORD MONDAY 13TH FEBRUARY @ 2:00pm

This is the next scheduled date and time of the next sitting of Waterford County Council. Please show your support for those who badly need it.

Regards,
Damien Landers, Chairperson, Villierstown NS Parents Association

The latest school newsletter (January 2012) is now available on the Newsletters page. The previous newsletters from November-December 2011 are also now available.

A delegation from the Board of Management met with the Department of Education and Skills, Planning Section, Tullamore last Thursday, 19th of January 2012, to view the submissions received from building services providers in reply to the eTenders advertisement last month. The appointment process is progressing swiftly and it is hoped that a design team will be appointed within weeks.

Applications for enrollment of children in Junior Infants in September 2012 will be accepted by the school during the Month of February. Parents who have already pre-enrolled will be asked to submit a new application before the 29th February. These parents will receive an application form by post. The school’s enrollment policy is available here.

You can now order books online from Setanta Book Clubs. Click here for more details.

Muinteoir Caitriona

A number of representatives from Ghaelcoláiste Phort Láirge will present a talk in Gaelscoil Philib Barún at 7pm on Tuesday, 31 January 2012. The purpose of this informal Q&A session is to provide interested parents with information about potential options for Irish language education at Secondary Level.

On behalf of all parents from the school, the Parent’s Association would like to extend their profound gratitude and thanks to the teachers and staff of Gaelscoil Philib Barún for their efforts in preparing the School Concerts this year. Despite the lack of proper facilities for formal dress rehearsals they still managed to prepare the children and put on a terrific show.

Well done again and thank you!

The Parent’s Association would like to make a contribution towards subsidising some of the extra-curricular activities taking place in the school at present (e.g. Yoga, Speech & Drama) so that these are provided free of charge to all children, during school hours. However, to do so would require a significant increase in support for the fund-raising activities carried out by the association.

To this end, we would very much appreciate your support for the upcoming Food & Wine Tasting Evening next Wednesday, 14 December 2011. Tickets available in the school office (or at the door) for just €8.

We would also like to remind parents that the monthly Parent’s Association meetings are open to anyone to attend, and additional support in the form of volunteers for our various events is always very welcome. At present, there is only a small group of parents (less than 6) who regularly attend, but it would be far more preferable to have a larger pool of volunteers to call upon so that the same core group do not have to continually give their time to organise each and every event. So if you think you can help in an way at all, please feel free to contact us for additional information.

The annual Christmas Concerts will take place on Wednesday, 21 December 2011 and will be divided into two sessions (see below). Admission to all sessions is completely free this year but your continued support for the raffle in Session 2 would be most welcome.

Session 1 – Admission Free!

Junior & Senior Infants and Rang 1 shows will take place in Rang 4 (just inside main door) from 12pm – 2pm, as follows:

• Junior Infants: 12:00pm
• Senior Infants: 12:45pm
• First Class: 1:30pm

Session 2 – Admission Free!

Shows from Rang 2-6 will take place at Stella Maris Hall from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, as follows:

• Class 2: 6:30pm
• Class 3: 7:00pm
• Class 4: 7:20pm
• Class 5: 7:45pm
• Class 6: 8:00pm

Raffle

Tickets for the raffle will cost €3 per strip, or 2 strips for €5. The draw for the raffle will take place after the final show in Session 2.