• Congratulations to Aoibhín Boyle who was a prize-winner in a Road Safety Art Competition organised by Mayo Education Centre and Mayo County Council. The aim of the competition was to reinforce in children the important aspects of road safety, with pupils being invited to draw a picture depicting the theme, ‘Getting Safely to School’. On her winning entry, Aoibhín also incorporated a road safety slogan ‘as Gaeilge’. The slogan she used was ‘Siúl, ná bí ag rith’.
There were twelve winners chosen from the county and each of the winners’ pictures, were featured on a specially designed calendar for 2020. Aoibhín also received a twenty euro book voucher, a cycling helmet and of course a copy of the calendar on which her picture is included.
• Preparations got underway at the school ahead of the Annual Féile Drámaíochta. Pupils in the middle and senior rooms began working on two plays, ‘Na Leipreacháin agus an Gréasaí’ and ‘Cúchulainn’, while children in the junior room began practising a number of poems and songs ‘as Gaeilge’. Everyone is working hard on this endeavour, while simultaneously having good fun throughout the process.
• Catholics Schools Week was celebrated and began on a high note, as all schools in the diocese of Achonry were invited to a Mass in St. Nathy’s Cathedral. The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Jude Okolo, was Principal Celebrant at the Mass, at which he officially launched Catholic Schools Week. In addition, he delivered a very special message for the assembled gathering, in which he announced the appointment of the next bishop of Achonry. The Papal Nuncio then introduced the future bishop, Fr Paul Dempsey who spoke to the rapt congregation. It was a wonderful event for the children and one which will live long in their memory.
• To conclude Catholic Schools Week, children from Second Class and upwards had the opportunity of being involved in the age- old tradition of making St Brigid’s crosses. Ms Lorraine Campbell and Ms Sheila Hunt from Kilmovee Community Centre, very kindly demonstrated how to weave the crosses, after which the pupils themselves got to work on them. Local photographer Mr James Hunt was on hand to capture some lovely pictures of the occasion.
• Two teams from the school took part in the Ballaghaderreen Credit Union Quiz. On the Under Eleven Team were, Conor Duffy, Emma Shiel, Alex Egan and Mia Manning-Aurich. While on the Under Thirteen Team were Oran Frain, Declan Duffy, Amy Hunt and Liam Boyle.
• The Aistear theme in Miss Fahey’s room was The Supermarket. Pupils role-played being customers and shopkeepers. Food was made from playdough and was sold in the supermarket. In construction, supermarkets were made from bricks and lego. Children wrote out their own lists to take shopping. Learners drew on their own experiences, their wonderful imaginations and what had been previously learned in the classroom to engage fully with this theme.