School Newsletter-November 2020

• Congratulations to Caitlin Llongo and Tara-Rose Lynchehaun who were both prize winners in the Art Competition organised by Ballaghaderreen Credit Union. The theme on which children were asked to reflect and depict in their entries was ‘Imagine More’. The girls received trophies, a cash prize and a certificate for their wonderfully creative pieces.

• The Green Committee comprising Gemma Rush, Alex Egan and Mia Manning-Aurich was busy this month feeding the birds, as the weather turned much colder. Peanuts and fat balls are placed in the feeders in order to fulfil the birds’ dietary requirements. The pupils also decided to take part in the Irish Garden Bird Survey which is BirdWatch Ireland’s most popular citizen initiative. Participants are asked to keep note of each visiting bird species. This is an important piece of research as it helps BirdWatch to monitor how various types of birds are faring in the environment. The results of the survey are published each year in the winter edition of ‘Wings’, BirdWatch Ireland’s magazine.

• As part of our Amber Flag Project, it was decided to place a buddy bench in the school yard. The bench is intended be a visual tool and safe space where children will be encouraged to relax and chat with friends. On a dreary wet day in November, we were delighted to take delivery of a beautiful, brightly coloured bench. Many thanks to Ballaghaderreen Men’s Shed who sourced suitable wood and designed and made the bench. It was then attractively painted and decorated by Tuesday Whitfield at WillowBrook Glamping Park, to whom we are also deeply indebted. We wish to acknowledge in particular, Pat Towey, Tom Colleran and Joe McCormack who liaised with both Mrs Warde and Ms Whitfield in this undertaking. Due to Covid restrictions, the unveiling of the bench is deferred until next year. The Amber Flag was also delivered to the school during the month, but as with the bench, we await brighter days when the School Community can safely come together to celebrate this wonderful achievement!

• Science Week was marked at the school with children involved in discussing, predicting, analysing, researching and carrying out experiments. These experiments ranged from bubble-making to the creation of lava lamps, bouncy eggs to investigating the properties of coke and vinegar. The concept of gravity was also explored, with the children in the Junior Room making their own parachutes!

• Writing is something that our pupils always enjoy and take pride in doing. This month children in the junior classes had fun rewriting the nursery rhyme, ‘Hey Diddle Diddle’. They worked as a whole class to write their own version which was entitled ‘Hey Sumsum Sumsum’. It goes like this;
Hey Sumsum Sumsum
The cockroach and the drum
The tiger jumped over the sun
The fat elephant blushed to see such sport
And the bowl ran away with the knife!
Meanwhile learners in the older classes continued work on the various writing genres. Third and Fourth Class pupils engaged with the persuasive genre. After reading about the Famine, children chose to write a persuasive piece on why families should have been allowed to stay together in the workhouses.
Pupils in the senior classes wrote reports on various YouTubers, footballers, actors and singers. They also read and worked on the renowned Michael Murpurgo novel, War Horse.

• Ewan Duffy and Patrick Regan were lotto winners in November.

• Frása na Míosa- Is binn béal ina thost!

• The Aistear theme in Mrs Shevlin’s room was Space.
Children learned which planets are in the Solar System and how astronauts live on the International Space Station. In art, pupils made space ships with a door that opens to reveal astronauts or aliens. The background was decorated with stars and planets. In Small World, puppets were used to act out scenarios which included aliens versus humans. For role play, learners were on a spacecraft and landed on the moon or planets. Great fun was had meeting aliens! In construction, lego was used to make the International Space Station and space rockets. To Infinity and beyond!!

This entry was posted in School News. Bookmark the permalink.