As part of our ‘Active Schools’ initiative and in an attempt to highlight the importance of physical exercise for children, Scoil na Mainistreach has teamed up with the globally-renowned ‘parkrun’ running event.
 
Castletown parkrun takes place every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. and their Event Director, Sharon Ashmore has kindly invited the parents and boys of our school to join them for a ‘children-friendly’ parkrun on Saturday 27th May. We are very excited to have this opportunity and look forward to lots of our students participating in this free event alongside their parents/guardians.
 
We hope to have lots of our boys (accompanied by a guardian if under 11) at this event. If you wish to take part in this event, please follow these steps:

1. Log onto www.parkrun.ie.
2. Register EACH member of your family who wishes to run/volunteer.
3. Once registered, print out your unique barcodes.
4. Bring your barcode with you to Castletown parkrun (you need this barcode to get a time – the event director will explain how the barcode works during the pre-run talk).
5. Have a fun-filled, family morning walking, jogging or running around Castletown.
6. Visit ‘Castletown parkrun’ Facebook page for up-to-date event information.

 
If you or your child are unable/prefer not to run/walk this event, it would be great if you could volunteer instead. parkrun is a community-based initiative and its success depends on the support of volunteers. So all support would be greatly appreciated.  If you can volunteer, please make sure that you register with parkrun and email castletownhelpers@parkrun.com to express an interest in volunteering.
 
Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday 27th May (arrive early to warm-up). Please remember that all children under 11 must be within arms-reach of their parents during the event.
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Sharon from parkrun has been in touch and has confirmed that the parkrun will go ahead in the morning as planned. Looking forward to seeing as many as possible there. Dont forget your barcode!

There is still a huge jackpot to be won! There was no winner last week. The numbers drawn were 12,13,20 & 5. The winners of the €50 were S Condron and S O'Connor. The jackpot is now €8100.  If you wish to take part, choose 4 numbers between 1 and 28. The cost is €2 per line. Please do not put your child's name on the envelope, as you need to be over 18 to play. We would ask parents to please support the lotto.

The next draw will take place 26th May. 

You will have received the order forms for uniforms/tracksuits by now. If you would still like to order the date of return is 31st May. 

A DVD of the school concert is now available. If you wish to order please complete the order form (in the boys schoolbags 24th May). One night is €12 , two nights €20. Please return by Wednesday 31st May.

You are all invited to our coffee morning on Friday 2nd June at 10 am.

We also hold a uniform swap shop for anyone who wants to pick up or drop off uniform items. 

The weather forecast for Saturday mornings parkrun is not good. The organisers of parkrun are currently monitoring the situation and will make a decision as to whether it will proceed or not. For any parents thinking of participating with their sons we will post details here when we have them.

There was no winner of the lotto last week. The numbers drawn were 25,16,5, and 22. The winners of the €50 were H Kinsella and S Carey. The jackpot is now €7900! If you wish to take part, choose 4 numbers between 1 and 28. The cost is €2 per line. Please do not put your child's name on the envelope as you must be over 18 to play. We would ask parents to please support the lotto.

The lotto will take place this Friday 19th May.   

Non-uniform day for Diabetes Ireland was a great success. We raised €1027.00 from the pupils and staff. 

​Thanks to everyone for their generosity. 

Updates and hundreds of pictures of boys enjoying the many events taking place during Active Schools Week can be found on the Active Schools Page just click on the tab above.

Active School Week takes place next week in Scoil Na Mainistreach with an action packed week lined up for all classes. The week was launched today with our now annual Maynooth Cycle. A full report with pictures will follow over the next few days. 

Monday will see 4th classes receive athletics coaching in our local Celbridge Athletics Club. Excel Gymnastics Club will provide coaching for Infants to 2nd classes. 
One of the highlights of Active Week every year is the opportunity for boys to experience canoeing. On
Tuesday the 6th classes will ravel to Celbridge Paddlers Canoe club where they will be coached by club members. Every year pupils who experience canoeing for the first time during Active School Week have taken up the sport with many proving themselves very capable on the water.
Also on Tuesday, 5th classes will travel to Carton House where they will receive coaching from the Professionals at the GUI Golf Academy.
One of the busiest days of Active Schools Week will see Barnhall Coach Gareth Murray introduce classes to Tag Rugby. A very popular way to introduce pupils to the sport of Rugby, Tag Rugby has been coached to pupils over the years in Scoil Na Mainistreach, with many pupils going on to enjoy many enjoyable years playing the game in Barnhall.
Junior pupils will receive some coaching in the skills of soccer from Mr Mulreid. A highly qualified Soccer coach with many years experience, expect to see some very happy faces from the pupils being coached by Mr Mulreid.
Wednesday will see Ed from Celbridge Kenpo Karate will give an introduction to the sport to junior classes while Albert from the Performance Clinic will put the senior pupils through their paces with some Circuit Training.
Tennis coaching will take place on Thursday for the Junior classes while Shane from GNS Fitness in Leixlip will test the fitness of the senior pupils. 
Active Schools Week concludes on Friday with Snooker coaching by Fergal O Brien Ireland's leading Snooker Player who practices his sport in the local Celbridge Snooker Club. Fresh from playing World Champion Mark Selby at the recent World Championships in Sheffield, this will be O Briens 2nd year to coach boys during Active Schools Week and there are some very excited 6th class pupils looking forward to the experience. Dance will conclude Active Schools Week for the Junior Classes.

A number of our Active initiatives kick off this week which will continue after Active Week has concluded. All pupils will begin their running of the Lillywhite Lap (400M Lap of Scoil Na Mainistreach) this week. Distances travelled (running or walking) will be recorded and boys can monitor their own progress. On the 27th May all members of the school community are invited to take part in the Parkrun on the grounds of Castletown House. The boys will have 3 weeks training under their belt by then, so no pressure Mams and Dads!

Active Schools Week will see the launch of the annual Callaghan Cup Gaelic Football competition. The competition held in honour of our former Vice Principal Pat Callaghan, has proven to be very popular over the last 9 years. Played among 5th class pupils and teams managed by pupils from 6th class, the first round games will throw in during Active Schools Week with the finals being played in June. 
A novel penalty shootout competition will also be held during the week to find the penalty shoot out champion of Scoil Na Mainistreach 2017. More details will be provided over the next few days.
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Overall the week promises to be full of Activity for pupils from Infants to 6th class. The aim is to introduce pupils to the many activities available to them on their doorstep and maybe find a new sport or activity that they would like to pursue outside of school. The weather is promised good especially early next week so boys would be advised to have sun cream on coming to school. 
Keep an eye on the school website throughout the week for updates on all events, reports and pictures from all the weeks activities along with some Active Homework for all the family to enjoy!

The 2017 Celbridge Athletics Community Games Finals take place next Monday evening 8th May at 5pm in Celbridge Athletics Club. There are a wide range of events for boys and girls of all ages to take part in. Details of how to take part in what is the 50th year of Community Games can be found in the attachment below. Every year we have had boys from Scoil Na Mainistreach compete in the Games and represent Celbridge in the Kildare and All Ireland Finals. Best of Luck to all the boys who take part.