Christmas Schedule 2020
This is the Christmas Schedule we have planned for this year. We have looked at our traditional activities and have kept as many as we can safely do within the current context.
With no Christmas Plays this year classes will have time to focus on different Advent and Christmas activities in the classroom.
Our aim is to ensure that the warmth and cheer of the Christmas season is all around the children during their day in school.
Advent Service
Fr. Jim will stream an Advent Service for the school from the church next week.
Food Mountain-now becomes Christmas Hamper Appeal
We have decided to go ahead with the Hamper Appeal. Donations of non perishable food items will be taken over the next three weeks. December 1st to Dec. 16th. The St. Canice’s Parish Vincent de Paul society will be dropping in boxes and we will make up the hampers by Friday 18th. They will then be collected by VDP on Monday or Tuesday for distribution as required.
Ms O’Brien is organising this collection.
The Vincent de Paul Society have also asked me to remind parents that in times of need, they are there to lend a helping hand. From my dealings with local volunteers supporting families in the school, I have found the support to be confidential and non judgemental. They are very open to the varying needs people have and the difficult circumstances they are in.
Christmas Breakfast
A limited version of the Orchestra Christmas Breakfast will go ahead this year on Friday 18th. This is more for enjoyment than fundraising but we have organised a package that will cover the cost. For €5 your child will receive: 1. Hot Chocolate or Juice. 2. Small croissant or similar. 3 Piece of fruit and 4.a Christmas Annual.
Yvonne will send you the payment link next week.
Christmas Jumper for Crumlin.
This is one of our most popular Charity Collections so we will have our Jumper Day on the same day as the breakfast, Dec 18th. We will be asking the children to make their donation on that day and have a safe system for taking cash donations in class.
Photos of the classes will be taken to use in the Christmas greeting project below.
Christmas Greeting Project.
Ms Flynn has been working with a 6th Class Virtual Choir to record a Christmas Song. The plan is to link the photos above from each class level with this song and then to publish this on the website. This will allow you to look at each class photos with the 6th class pupils singing
.
Carol Service
One of my personal highlights of the year cannot go ahead as usual. Instead, we are planning to record each class group doing their part in the hall, within the restrictions, and to have a virtual Carol Service which we will put up on our website. We plan to watch it together in school on Monday December 21st and you are invited to join us on that date. It will be left up on the website so that families might share it with those they may not be able to meet over Christmas.
Christmas Tree Display
Normally classes visit the Christmas Tree Display in St. Canice’s Cathedral. This year, similar to the Maths Week Displays, each class is going to display a Christmas tree in their class window by Friday December 4th. All classes can then view these during their Movement Break/ Fresh Air walks over the next three weeks.
Our school Christmas tree will be an outdoor one this year. Thanks to McNally family who have sponsored a huge tree for us. It will be situated at Gairdín na Scoile in the playground. The Advent Wreath will be situated here too.
Rumour has it that our highly creative team of Alan, Yvonne and our SNAs are planning to add in some surprise extra Christmas items in this area also!
Front of School
Ms Sheehan and our SET Team have been working on the Christmas arrangements for the front area of the school.
Next week, the boys and girls in sixth class will hang a Christmas decoration on the fence at the front of the school. We invite all our other pupils to follow suit in their own time and to hang a weatherproof decoration on the front fence too. This could be an after-school or weekend activity for your family. Please do not hang something that is of value as we cannot guarantee that you will get it back in January!!
Alan has put up our new Christmas lights on the front of the building. These will be switched on from Dec 1st.
Christmas Crib
Our Christmas crib will be moved from the foyer to outside Yvonne’s office. Again, this will allow the children to stop and view it and say a prayer.
So that’s the plan for the next few weeks along with all the activities that will be going on in the individual classes.
Look out next week also for our new safety reminder posters designed by some very talented 6th class pupils. Thanks to our Parents’ Association and parent Nicola Dempsey for co-ordinating this project.