Dear Parents ,
We are nearing the end of another busy term as we look forward to the brighter mornings and evenings.
Féilire na Scoile: School Calendar
The school will close at 12.30p.m. on Friday 12th April for the Easter holidays.The usual arrangements will apply.Junior and seniors along with brothers and sisters will leave at 12p.m. The school re-opens on Monday 29th April at 8.50a.m.
Cosaint Páistí; Child Protection
The Board of management wishes to inform parents that the annual review of the School’s Child Safeguarding statement was completed at a recent meeting. We remind parents that our Child safeguarding Statement and risk assessment are published on our website and may be accessed by clicking here.
Céad Faoistin agus Cóineartú ; First Confession and Confirmation
Confirmation Day is one of the highlights of the school calendar. Fr. Dooley and Fr. Hughes confirmed 25 pupils from the school on Thursday 21st March. Confirmation Day is the culmination of a lot of hard work and reflection by our pupils. Sixth class have impressed us all with their approach and contributions in the lead up to and during the ceremony. Our thanks to Mr. Costelloe for preparing the children so well for the day and to Ms. Greene for her work with the school choir. The Parish programme for confirmation was completed over a number of week nights here in the school and great credit is due to the following volunteers ; Grace Balfe , Caroline Treacy, Brian Scully, Ciara McMahon, Ann-Marie Woods and Jeanette Murray.
First Confession was held in the church on Thursday 14th.
Cúrsai Spóirt; Sports News
Cumann na mBunscol hurling and camogie is ongoing at the moment. Rounders’ training has also started. Second and third class have completed a block of hurling coaching and football leagues will start after the Easter holidays .
Swimming
The children have completed their swimming lessons in Portarlington and I would like to thank the many parents who helped out.We would also like to thank the Parents Association who have kindly subsidised the lessons .
Curaclam na Scoile ; School Curriculum
Mathletics
The vast majority of children from first to sixth class engage with Mathletics online at home.We know that Mathletics helps children to develop a positive attitude towards maths in general and to develop self-confidence in their maths skills. Dr. Tony Stokes, from Australian Catholic University in Sydney, recently published an independent study looking into external standardised test results from over 8000 schools over a five year period,
The study found that by spending as little as 30 minutes per week on Mathletics curriculum activities, students can gain a potential advantage of more than 9% in standardised test results .
Art and Craft
I am delighted to let you know that 4th Class have been selected to take part in the CRAFTed programme organised by The Design and Craft Council of Ireland and Laois Education Centre.
Gosia, a candle maker and perfumer from Kildare has been working with the class on a Japanese themed project . She has some fantastic activities planned which includes giving the children an opportunity to make their own candle. At the end of May, Ms. Maher’s class will present the project in Laois Education Centre and our project will be posted on the Design Council website. You can see previous projects here :https://www.learncraftdesign.ie/crafted.
Literacy
We are continuing to focus on our School Literacy Strategy. Our juniors and senior infants are buddy reading with fifth and sixth classes. Fifth class have commenced TSI . First and second are concentrating on reading fluency .Our supplementary reading scheme is continuing for each child in the school. Your child receives a book each night and we thank you for your support in setting aside time to read with or listen to your child reading.
People often ask us how they can help us to improve their child’s language and comprehension. The following advice comes directly from our school improvement plan:
As a parent you can help us by:
- Setting up a specific family reading area in the home. This sends children a dual message that reading is an important value in this family and that everyone in this family,no matter their age, reads.
- Increase the reading for pleasure time.
- Read aloud and thinking aloud. While you are reading to your child, think out loud about the images you see or the questions that may arise. That means explaining the ideas, pictures, questions, and connections that go through your mind as you read a passage.
- Keep the reading material interesting, varied and relevant.
Cuairteoirí : School visits
- We welcomed 26 new junior infants and their parents to the school on Friday 29th March. We were delighted to meet 12 new families on the day .
- Mary Dillon completed a programme with 4th, 5th and 6th classes which supports the Relationships and Sexuality Education in the school. The programme is called In My Own Shoes.
- We hosted Zeeko ,an internet safety /cyberbullying workshop for the boys and girls in 2nd to 6th classes last week. Once again míle buíochas to our parents association for funding this important talk.
Bluiríní;Snippets
- The attendance for the school is 96.44% and 32 children have full attendance. Well done to them.
- We celebrated World Book Day recently and our thanks to Ms. Maher who organised a very enjoyable World Book Day quiz.
- Congrats to six past pupils, Niamh Crowley, Isabella O’Toole, Zoe Keegan , Emma Lawlor, Gráinne O’Reilly and Ciara Crowley who claimed the Senior A football All-Ireland title at the weekend.
Siniú ,
Cyril Duggan, Príomhoide