OUR LADY OF MERCY PRIMARY SCHOOL, PEARSE ROAD, SLIGO

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NEWS AND INFORMATION : TUESDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 2011
Message from Principal
We are mid-way through our second term and as you can see it has been a very
busy time here in Our Lady of Mercy. The highlight so far was the amazing trip to
The Aviva Stadium for The Ireland / Wales game. We look forward to welcoming all
the parents of our new Junior Infants for Enrolment Days in March.
I hope you all have an enjoyable mid-term break.
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1. ENROLMENT: MONDAY, 14 th MARCH TO WEDNESDAY 16 TH MARCH
2011.
Our enrolment week for new junior infants takes place on Monday 14 th, Tuesday
15 th and Wednesday 16 th March. We look forward to welcoming you all to the
school. There will be teachers available on these days to show you around the
school and show you some of our wonderful resources.
2. TRANSITION PROGRAMME:
Our 6th classes are currently taking part in many activities in preparation for the big
move to secondary school in September. We look forward to supporting them in
these activities.
3. JUMBLE SALE THURSDAY 3RD MARCH 2011 IN AID OF MISSION:
We welcome all unwanted gifts, toys, books, games, bric-a-brac (in good condition
please). Kindly drop them into the school to Sr. Teresa from now on. Last year we
raised €1,700. All of which went directly to mission areas in Mutomo, Kenya and
Zambia. Thank you for all your good will and support.
4. I.C.T.:
Our school blog is updated regularly. The website is http://mercypssligo.scoilnet.ie
Computer club is an After School activity. The children have created a blog and
they upload their work every week to it. You can find this blog at http;//
www.ourladyofmercycomputerclub.blogspot.com
5. BOOK FAIR:
The Book Fair this year was a huge success. Sales totalled €2,431. Our
commission of €1,458 from the sales has been used to order books for our school
library. Many thanks to all who supported the book fair, the children who bought
books, the parents who volunteered their time to help out and to Ms. Fahy for
organising and running the fair.
6.. G.A.A.:
G.A.A. coaching will be starting again on Wednesday the 2 nd March for some of
the older classes in the school. It will go on for 12 weeks. There will also be a
“Jersey Day” on March 2 nd when children can wear a jersey of their choice and
bring in €1.00.
Ms. Keaveney’s and Ms. Flannery’s class participated in a GAA “Let’s All Play
Blitz” on the 15 th February in Sligo Sports complex. A great day was had by all
and the children represented the Mercy very well.
7. ENGINEER’S WEEK:
This week was “Engineer’s Week”. We were delighted to welcome Miriam
Mulligan from the Office of Public Works who gave a most interesting / exciting
presentation to 5 th class on her work as an engineer. We definitely have a few
budding engineers in the making.
8. ARTIST IN SCHOOL:
Lynsey Burke from the Craft Council of Ireland is running a 10 week art session
with Ms. Keaveney’s 4 th class. They are getting the chance to work on lots of
exciting themes.
9. MODEL NILAND – JACK B. YEATS EXHIBITION:
2 nd , 5 th and 6 th classes will have the chance to visit the Jack B. Yeats Exhibition
over the next few weeks. This is a wonderful opportunity for the children.
10. BASKETBALL
Some 3 rd and 4 th classes will be starting basketball coaching after mid-term break
under the direction of a Sligo Allstars coach.
11. GRANDPARENT’S DAY:
Some of our classes took part in this during Catholic School’s Week. We hope all
the grannys and granddads enjoyed their visit to the school as much as we did.
12. 4 th CLASS VISIT TO THE AVIVA STADIUM:
On the 8 th February last, Ms. Gilligan’s 4 th class travelled to the Aviva Stadium to
watch the Ireland v Wales Football International. The class was accompanied by
their teacher and Ms. McNulty. The class was delighted to cheer on the National
Team to an emphatic victory. The occasion was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Gratitude is extended to Mr. Dermot Brannigan for sourcing the tickets.
P.T.O.
13. DR. MOLONY:
Dr. Vincent Maloney will visit our school on the evening of Thursday 12 th May at
8.00 pm to talk to the Parents of 6 th class pupils on transition to secondary school
and aspects of the Relationship and Sexuality Programme. On Friday, 13 th May he
will be talking to the 6 th class pupils only whose parents attended the talk on the
previous evening. A special information letter will be sent out nearer the time.
14. FIRST CONFESSION:
First Confession will take place in St. Anne’s Church at 7.30 pm on Thursday 10 th
March. A special letter will go out to all parents who have children receiving the
Sacrament. We ask you to especially remember these children and their families in
your prayers at this very significant time in their lives.
15. SEACHTAIN NA GAILGE:
Seachtain na Gaeilge is running from 5 th – 17 th March, and our school is going to
promote Irish for the month of March. Activities will include a quiz for 1 st – 3 rd
Classes, a quiz for 4 th – 6 th classes, Art Competition with “An Paráid” (The Parade)
as a theme. Infants will have games through Irish and there will be a daily and
weekly certificate in each class for children who try hard to speak Irish. On
Wednesday, March 16th we will host our 2 nd Feis with categories including dance,
song, rhyme, choral speaking and music so get practising !!!
One overall winner will receive the Mary Finan Perpetual Cup which was won last
year by Caoimhe McGlone (current 6 th class). Go mbaínfimid to léir taitneamh
agus sult as.
16. PARENT’S ASSOCIATION:
The Parents Association Cake sale and raffle raised just over €1500. Well done to
everyone who sold tickets and thank you for supporting this fundraising event.
The money raised will be spent on the First Holy Communion, Confirmation and
Graduation parties.
17. H.S.C.L NEWS:
Twelve parents have successfully completed the Food, Nutrition & Cookery
modules and will receive certificates shortly. These parents are now attending Art
& Craft modules with Glenda Devlin.
Ms. McCarthy’s class are taking maths games home each week to play with their
parents.
The Incredible Year Parenting programme begins on the 1st March and is now full.
There are still places in the Irish classes each Friday morning at 9.00am.
Fitness walking classes each Monday at 9.00am are planned to continue however,
attendance at the class has been very poor to date. These classes will have to be
cancelled if eight people do not commit. Please call Sandra McNulty on 085
1583953 to confirm your place.
We, Our Lady of Mercy, intend to take part in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Forty
children will be selected to walk in the parade over the next few weeks. All
children are invited to create “A Spring Bonnet”. Eight winning hats will be picked
and these children will be offered an opportunity to wear their creations in the
parade. If any parents would like to help on the day, please contact Sandra
McNulty on 085 1583953.
St. Teresa is organising the yearly Jumble Sale on March 3 rd in aid of the missions
in Africa. This is a very busy day and any help would be greatly appreciated. Call
Sandra McNulty should you wish to help.
Calendars: Our school calendars raised €838 and we have purchased exciting
Maths equipment with this.
18. LIFESTART GATE:
Could everyone who uses the Lifestart gate when entering and leaving school,
please ensure that the gate is closed after them.

DATES TO REMEMBER:
ENROLMENT WEEK MARCH 14TH TO
MARCH 16TH 2011
FIRST PENANCE 10th MARCH 2011
 ST. PATRICK’S DAY SCHOOL CLOSED 17th MARCH 2010 &
18TH MARCH 2011
EASTER HOLIDAYS SCHOOL CLOSING FRIDAY, 15TH APRIL
2011
REOPENS TUESDAY
3RD MAY 2011
DOCTOR MOLONY MEETS PARENTS OF THURSDAY, 12TH
6TH CLASS MAY 2011
DOCTOR MOLONY FOLLOW UP WITH FRIDAY, 13TH MAY
6TH CLASS PUPILS 2011
CONFIRMATION ST. ANNE’S CHURCH FRIDAY 20TH MAY
2011
FIRST COMMUNION ST. ANNE’S CHURCH SATURDAY, 28TH
MAY 2011

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MARUERITE STENSON ROSEMARY
SHEAHAN
PRINCIPAL DEPUTY
PRINCIPAL