​Portlaoise Action Towards Homelessness (P.A.T.H.) is a voluntary non-profit organisation that was set up over 3 years ago in response to the ever-increasing homeless crisis in our country. The group has gone from strength to strength which is down to the support they receive from the people of Portlaoise and beyond. Every Saturday night they travel to Dublin to provide the people on the streets with some small basic essentials for example food, drinks, toiletries, hats, scarves, gloves and sleeping bags. PATH also try to help in the local community. They work closely with many organisations involved in the welfare of vulnerable people in our society especially in the local parish.
Every Christmas for the past few years our school have taken part in the Shoebox appeal which was always very popular with the children and their families. However due to Covid, this year that appeal was cancelled. As a result the children in 5th class came up with the idea to help out the vulnerable in their own community and that is how the idea of helping out PATH was born.
For the next five weeks we are asking the children to bring in one item a week so that eventually they could all be put together to make care packages for the homeless or vulnerable which the PATH organisation will distribute on our behalf.
Hopefully this appeal will be a huge success and the children will be responsible for helping out many less fortunate people this Christmas.
As always a huge thanks to children and parents for their support.
 
Week 1: Roll on deodorant
Week 2: Baby Wipes
Week 3: Toothpaste
Week 4: Gloves/Socks
Week 5: Sweets/Chocolate
 
 

November is Reading Month, and we are holding our annual book fair this week. Thursday is our browsing day and the Book Fair is open for purchases from Friday 20th to Tuesday 24th. It is always an excellent fundraiser for our class libraries as a portion of the cost of each book is returned to the school which we use to refresh our libraries.
This year it will be slightly different to ensure that it is compliant with Covid 19 safety regulations.

• Each class will be invited to browse the book fair during school hours while remaining in their class bubble and pod where applicable. We regret that due to Covid restrictions parents will not be allowed to browse the book fair with their children.

Below is an attachment to the books available should you wish to browse the book catalogue at home with your child
Stationary will be available on Monday and Tuesday.

• Ordering system – Pupils wishing to make a purchase can pay in cash. Place then exact amount in an envelope, marked with your child’s name if possible.

 

• Where we receive multiple orders for the same book it may take a few days for the books to arrive.

 

6th Class will debate against St. Corbally in the Quarter Finals Midlands Debate. This will take place on Tuesday 17th at 10am via Zoom
Members of the debating team are : Myah Walker, Max Gibney and James Doyle.

November is Book Month and we have loads of activities planned
We will have Daily Reading Challenges which will be announced on a daily basis.
Each class takes part in a whole class race to read 100 books. Which class will win?
The Book Fair will take place from 18th-25th November in our school.
Reading Club will take place in 3rd-6th Class. Each Tuesday as per calendar on noticeboard.
Pupils will fill in reading recommendations slips and this will be read out on the intercom
We will also have a book quiz and a competition.