Dangan NS Parent Newsletter

• Friday 9th February - Hacked Show coming to Dangan (see below for details) 2e per child from 3rd class upwards.
• Saturday 10th February - New Junior Infants Coffee Morning at 10am - Please spread the word.
• Pancake Tuesday 13th February - Parents Association Fundraiser (2e per child)
• Thursday and Friday 15th/16th February - February Mid Term (School closed)
• Thursday 22nd February - Ceremony of Light (6th Class) @ Coole Church 6pm
• Thursday February 29th - Staff Meeting (Primary Language Curriculum) 12pm closure (infants and siblings go home at 11:45am)
• Thursday 7th March - First Confession at 6pm in Dangan Church
• Friday 8th March - Referendum (School closed to be used for election)
• Wednesday 13th March - Confirmation at 3pm in Dangan Church
• Monday 18th March - St Patrick's Day Bank Holiday School Closed
• Friday 22nd March - School closes at 12pm for Easter Holidays (infants and siblings go home at 11:45am)

Safer Internet Day (SID) is a Europe-wide initiative aimed at promoting a safer internet experience for all users, with a particular focus on young people. Today at school, classes delved into the theme of internet safety. Teachers from 1st class and upwards conducted "Tech in Our World" presentations, facilitated by Webwise. These presentations offered pupils an opportunity to contemplate the role of technology in our world, along with its challenges and opportunities.

Additionally, Junior Infant and Senior Infants explored online safety through age-appropriate stories provided by Digiduck. Parents can access further resources from Webwise here and explore Digiduck's stories here for additional guidance on promoting online safety.

Hacked - Coming to Dangan this Friday!

This Friday, Rueben, a well-known Children's Entertainer for RTE Junior, is set to visit Dangan to showcase his latest show titled 'Hacked.' Having successfully performed this show in schools nationwide, Rueben describes it as an interactive comedy experience that goes beyond the conventional 'talk.' The performance delves into the critical issues of cyberbullying, social media, and device usage.

During the show, Rueben addresses topics such as TikTok manipulation, the addictive nature of phones, and how technology can inadvertently foster bullying. Geared towards 3rd to 6th-grade classes, 'Hacked' aims to engage and educate students on the challenges and implications of our increasingly digitalized world. We kindly request students from 3rd to 6th class to bring in a contribution of 2 euros each to support the costs associated with the show.

Well Done to the following pupils for their amazing performance at Dublin Peace Proms Concert which took place on Saturday...

Kate Gray, Dara Dixon, Ellen O' Reilly, Alice Barry, Sarah Lynch, Anna Hughes, Eilish Breheny, Stella O' Reilly, Millie Matthews, Aoife Boggan, Grace Farrell, Lauren Williams, George Tarau, Lochlann Nally, Hope McGrath, Matilde Magno, Ellie Cooney, Aoife Homes, Ellen Hughes, Etain Carpenter, Lilly Deegan, Lilianna Goulding, Ellie Horgan, Holly Mooney and Faye Nally.

Ms Ryan, Ms Mollison and Ms Byrne were so thrilled to be apart of such a magical event and couldn't be happier with our Dangan Pupil's Performance!! Well Done:) A big thank you to Ms Mollison and Ms Byrne for attending the show and helping prepare the choir.

The boys and girls were starstruck when none other than Alicia Weir from the movie Matilda took the stage to perform 'Naughty' – a very special moment for everyone! We were also delighted to bump into a past pupil, Lara Villing, who plays the harp with the Peace Proms Orchestra. More photos of this spectacular day can be found on the school website here.

A heartfelt thank you to all the grandparents who attended our special Grandparents Mass at Dangan Church two weeks ago. It was truly heartwarming to witness so many of you present, and I'm certain the boys and girls appreciated your presence as well.

The school was abuzz with excitement a fortnight ago on Friday when Junior and Senior Infants welcomed their grandparents for a prayer service. The event was followed by a delightful time of sharing a cup of tea and treats. Photos of this special day can be found on the school website here.

In January and February, our primary focus has been on the core value of "Feeling Safe." Each class has actively engaged in discussions during morning circle activities, encouraging children to reflect on how we contribute to a sense of safety in school and what behaviours might compromise that feeling for others. This emphasis on safety ties in with our SPHE Curriculum topic for the month, "Stay Safe." The Stay Safe programme is designed to empower children with self-protective skills, covering essential age appropriate topics like identifying safe and unsafe situations, addressing bullying, recognizing inappropriate touch, understanding the concept of secrets, promoting the importance of speaking out, and being aware of stranger danger.

Well done to the boys and girls from 5th and 6th class who represented Dangan in the Credit Union Schools Table Quiz Event which took place a couple of weeks ago. They all really enjoyed the experience and we're very proud of them for taking part!

Next Tuesday, the Parents Association will be hosting their annual Pancake Tuesday fundraiser. They will be at the school bright and early, with batter ready to make pancakes for all the boys and girls on this special day! We kindly ask that all pupils bring in €2 to support this lovely fundraiser. Donations of toppings and batter are also very welcome and can be sent in with the boys and girls that morning.

We will ensure that any children with specific dietary requirements are well taken care of.