No 1 December 2002

Isn’t it hard to believe? 4 months [or 16 weeks] have passed since Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School first opened its doors. During that time all obstacles to our establishment have been overcome by a supportive parent grouping, a committed Acting Board of Management, but most importantly by the little scholars themselves. For them the simplicity of their surroundings matter not a whit. Instead, what is essential in their eyes is that the sense of fun and feeling of belonging they all create for each other rises above any hurdles their surroundings might generate.

On Friday next we again say farewell and thanks to Therese. Hopefully, this farewell will be as short-lived as was our last to her. The position of permanent teacher was advertised recently and Joan Ward was successful in her application for the post. Joan is a very experienced teacher and was President of the Irish National Teachers Organisation last year. The school is very fortunate, in my opinion, to be welcoming a teacher of Joan’s calibre onto its staff. Joan will start on our return after Christmas.

On my own behalf, may I wish you all a happy Christmas and a happy New Year. Thank you for your support during the first term of the life of Griffeen Valley School.

As most parents are aware this time last year we identified a site at Griffeen Avenue, which has been designated for a school. To that end we applied for and were awarded planning permission for a two stream (16 room) pre-fabricated school. All the necessary information has been sent to the Department of Education. We have been informed that the Office of Public Works is due to carry out an evaluation of the site – this should enable The Department to negotiate acquiring the site from the owners on our behalf.

We are very fortunate to have Kevin Porter on the Board of Management steering committee, as he has been the person who has been responsible for continually pushing the authorities to allow us to progress to this stage.

As the space issue is the currently the most pressing for our school it is vital the Department of Education and our local politicians are not allowed to impede our moving onto this site by early next year to be ready for September. This comes down to every parent and prospective parent reminding our elected representatives of this issue!

Parents point of view - Catherine Cullen

A word of thanks to all the parents who have taken books of "bricks" to sell, in particular, I would like to thank our top saleswoman Nantawan, Nanphun’s mum who already has sold five books of "bricks". We hope that this will be inspirational to all involved.

In September we all rolled up our sleeves to get the classrooms ship shape for opening day. The time has now arrived when some housekeeping needs to be done to restore the classes to their former glory. All volunteers are welcome on 20^th December after school finishes around noon. (Mince pies and tea supplied to keep it festive.)

A special thanks you to Irene, Martina and Laura who also spent a day in the school to help out in November. The lovely atmosphere in the school struck them all. The friendliness and co-operation of the children is remarkable and the courteousness to each other is really charming. (Are these really our kids?) Thanks to Thomas & Therese for a job very well done.

If you had told me this time last year that I would be writing an article for our school’s Newsletter I would not have believed you. But here we are! And even though we have achieved a huge amount, we still need to do more.

We are still not on the school site at Griffeen Avenue. In order for us to make the move to this site we need to keep applying pressure to those in a position to make the decisions necessary for it to happen. We need to continually remind the Department of Education and our Politicians that we need and want this school.

Letters, phone-calls and e-mails from the hundreds of parents that wish to have their children educated in Griffeen Valley Educate National School, may help to remind the Department and the politicians of their duty to provide us with a school.

The contact addresses for our politicians and Dept of Education are as follows:

info@maryharney.ie

Constituency Office:

2 Main St Clondalkin D 22

Ph 457 9913

john.curran@oireachtas.ie

01 6183022.

General: 8734700

Building Unit (Primary): 0506 24443

www.education.ie

"HELP BUILD YOUR CHILDS EDUCATION"

WE HAVE RAISED E2000 SINCE MID NOV 02.

HELP US TO CONTINUE THIS WORK.

CAN YOU HELP TO SELL A BRICK OR TWO?

CONTACT ME TO HEAR HOW YOU CAN.

>kenthornton@eircom.netT<

Ph 6213882 between 7pm and 9pm

OR any of the following:

Catherine Cullen-Elm Close-ph 6240159

Declan Byrne-Griffeen Glen-Ph 0868120833

Maurice Hearne-Haydens Park-Ph 6214929

Yvonne Costello-Liffey Valley-Ph 6105719

Stephan Lacey-Foxborough-ph 6213515

Arienne Hickey-Griffeen Glen-ph 6249775

Marion Mooney-Mount Andrew-Ph 6240160

Elaine Harris-Earlsford Close-Ph6211963