March Newsletter 2020

Dear Parents,

As you will be aware there are over fifty confirmed cases of Coronavirus COVID-19 on the island of Ireland. Our school is following all the advice given by the H.S.E. and Department of Education.

Please ensure that the school has all the correct contact details for you on our system. To check, please download the Aladdin App and log in to your child's profile. You can also do this by logging in to your Aladdin Connect account on a laptop or on a tablet.

Any updates will be communicated to you as soon possible via the school website and the Aladdin Connect App.

Le gach dea-ghuí,

Diarmaid

Important Dates

• School Closure - 16th and 17th March - St. Patrick's Day
• Confirmation - Wednesday, 25th March at 10:30 am (normal school day for Junior Infants-5th Class)
• Easter Closing Date - Friday, 3rd April at 12 Noon

Rise and Shine Morning Club

Rise and Shine morning club is now taking names for the 2020/2021 school year.

Spaces are still available for the Rise and Shine Morning Club for this school year. The purpose of this club is to facilitate parents who require morning care facilities for their children. Supervision begins in the Afterschool facility at 7:45am and children will be brought to their class lines at 8:45am. If you have any queries you can contact Ms. Emma Dolphin at emma.dolphin@milfordns.ie or Ms. Geraldine Mitchell at geraldine.mitchell@milfordns.ie.

Shakin' with Shakespeare

Ms. Murray's Shakin' with Shakespeare group will soon finish up their second play of this school year. The group, which meets on Tuesday afternoons, are currently enjoying reading and acting out the hilarious Shakespeare play, "The Comedy of Errors".

If pupils from 5th and 6th class would like to put their names down for the next play: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" please contact Ms. Murray for details.

This will run in April and May, with a rehearsed reading performance in mid-June.

Seachtain na Gaeilge (9^th – 13^th March)

Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language Week) is an International Irish Language festival, celebrating our Native Language and Culture. We are celebrating our Irish Culture through music, song, dance, art and most importantly, through the spoken word.

Lá Glas/Ceolchoirm (Friday, 13th March). Children are invited to dress for Green Day. Be as festive and inventive as you like.

‘Irish is for everyone, Seachtain na Gaeilge is for everyone – Croí na Teanga – It’s You!’

Swimming

Congratulations to the Milford N.S girls' swim relay team (Emily, Olivia, Rhea and Ellen) who recently won gold medals at the Community Games County Finals in Askeaton Swimming Pool. Also, Well done to Liam and Emily who came 2nd and won Silver medals in their individual backstroke events. All at Milford N.S. are very proud of their achievements.

The Milford Gazette

The Spring Edition of The Milford Gazette is now available online on our school website & Twitter page. Well done to our editors David, Marcus C, Sophie, Rian Marcus S. and Cathal. Many thanks to Ms. Elaine Rael for leading the ‘Gazette Team’ each week.

Engineers' Week

Many thanks to Olive Doody and the STEM team for organising the class visits to UL and for organising the STEM Days. The pupils had a wonderful time. Some of the Engineers' Week activities in Junior and Senior Infants included Spaghetti and marshmallow towers, Giant Polydron bridges, Lego road bridges and teddy bear foot bridges!

David Coleman Talk

David Coleman talk at 8pm tonight in the Castletroy Park Hotel. Please bring your printed ticket with you and come to the Milford School desk for check in. Please be aware that there is limited parking at the venue so please carpool where possible. Tea / Coffee reception from 7.15pm.

M.N.S. Down Syndrome Awareness Day

Milford NS Down Syndrome Awareness Day will take place on Friday, 20th March. Children may wear coloured odd socks if you wish on this day!

There are two main ideas behind the odd sock/lots of socks theme:

• The ‘odd socks’ represent the odd number of chromosomes that people with down syndrome have (47 chromosomes) as chromosomes are shaped like socks. The ‘odd socks’ also remind us that our differences are what make us great!
• Lots of Socks is a Down Syndrome International campaign to create conversation and bring awareness of Down syndrome on World Down Syndrome Day, each year. The idea behind the Lots of Socks initiative is that all types, shapes, sizes of the same thing can be unique in their own way, and yet do the same thing. Children understand what socks are, how they look and what they are for, and children understand that no two socks are the same. Lots of Socks is a campaign to create conversation about diversity, uniqueness, inclusion and acceptance.

Easter Camp

The deadline to sign up for Easter Camp this year has been extended to next Friday 20th March. Please contact Ms. O' Sullivan or Ms. Fitzpatrick for more information, or email eastercampinfo@gmail.com.

Homework Club

Homework Club is up and running in Room 13 on Monday to Thursdays from 2.45pm-4.15pm. It is available to children from 3rd to 6th class. Children have the opportunity to do their homework during this time and to engage in activities such as games and art once their homework is completed. Please contact Ms. Quinlan or Ms. Hill for details.

Choir

Congratulations to the boys and girls in Milford National School choir who performed in the Redemptorist Church in Limerick on Friday February 28^th, as part of the Limerick Choral Festival. The 70 members of the choir sang two songs for this event. We are very proud of their achievements. Many thanks to our choir teachers Ms. O'Meara, Ms. Hynes, Ms. O’Sullivan and Ms. Reidy who work with the choir every Thursday after school.

Band

Congratulations to our School Band who participated in the Band Spectacular 2020 which was held on Thursday, February 27^th at Shannon Airport. Many thanks to our band leaders Ms. Fenton, Ms. Hynes, Ms. O'Meara, Ms. O’Sullivan, Ms. Taylor, Ms. Ryan, Ms. O'Neill and Ms. Reidy who work with the School Band every Thursday during lunch break.