Happy St Patrick’s Day!
Happy St Patrick’s Day!
Welcome Back Busy Bees
Contributor: Miss Flynn Miss. Flynn has been thrilled to welcome back her busy little bees this week! After a big catch up we headed out into the sunshine in search of some special visitors. We were amazed to see real life frog spawn in our school garden pond. Only last week, we had been learning all about the life cycle of frogs… some of us even made frogs for art! What a wonderful co-incidence it was to find the real thing!! We spent the morning on a 2D and 3D shape hunt around the school grounds. We were surprised to find so many real-life shapes around us! We even discussed how the frog spawn was spherical – integrating our learning. We had a fantastic first day back to school and look forward to our senior pupils returning, when it is safe for them to do so!
World Book Day
Contributor: Sinéad Regan World Book Day finds us extra busy this year – some of us are getting settled back into school life and others looking forward to getting back into the classroom on the 15th. As a result, we are not focusing on this one official day to celebrate books and instead will engage in a variety of activities throughout the next few weeks. Currently 2nd and 6th Oak are busy working on their Write a Book projects where children are given the opportunity to become authors and see the process of planning, writing and editing a book. There are a wealth of activities, videos and other resources in the worldbookday.com site which is well worth a visit and the children will be receiving their World Book Day vouchers shortly too. However busy we are there is always time to read a book and even though our lovely school library is out of bounds to the children this year there are many other facilities including worldbookday.com and the online catalogue of Greystones library where digital and audiobooks can be availed of. Reading every day has many benefits here are some of them: Promotes mental health Reduces stress Improves general knowledge Develops empathy Expands vocabulary Improves writing skills Analytical thinking skills are strengthened Memory, focus and concentration are improved Boosts sleep Make sure you find some time to read today!
Engineering Week
STEPS Engineers Week will be celebrated from 27th February – 5th March. This is an opportunity for the children to explore the world of engineering through activities and challenges. This year a range of resources have been made available online. We would like to encourage all the children in St. Patrick’s to get involved in Engineers Week if they can. Here are website links with information and ideas to inspire our young future engineers!! https://www.engineersireland.ie/Schools/Engineers-Week/Primary-Schools https://www.folens.ie/books-and-programmes/primary/folens-explorers/digital-resources/all?gclid=CjwKCAiA1eKBBhBZEiwAX3gql3a3u2PvClP4KlyNpQ2wzWb0M2QBOyAGnpobtA-oGBzvHy-oes2_mhoCMXUQAvD_BwE
Book Face
Contributor: Angela Morrissey Senior Infants have been doing wonderful work at home and their teacher, Ms Morrissey has been so impressed with how attentive they have been on zoom and how creative they have been at home. It’s no wonder Ms Harper calls them ‘Sensible Senior Infants’! Here are some pictures from their recent book face challenge where they were given the task of choosing a book and dressing up to complete the character on the front cover. Some people’s dogs even got involved in this task!
Looking through the Keyhole
Contributor: Sinéad Regan 6th Oak were challenged to create an image of something they might see if they looked through a keyhole, it could be realistic or imaginary. As you can see they produced amazing artwork, some of which are pictured here. Some students experimented with apps that allowed them to create a digital image while others sketched out their creations.
All that Glitters
Contributor: Sam Donohoe The glitter jars are used when emotions become too big. The jar represents our thoughts, feelings, emotions and mind. When the glitter jar is swirling, we cannot see or think clearly, like in our head when our emotions get too big. To help us think, see and listen clearly, we watch and focus on the glitter in the jar and count to 5, taking in deep breaths on each count. As we do this the glitter falls and we can see the jar relaxing, like our thoughts and emotions. Once the glitter has fallen to the bottom, it is calm and relaxed, we can see through the jar again, we can think clearly again, and we can listen clearly again. If you would like to make a glitter jar yourself, here is the video instructions: GLITTER JAR
Fabulous in First
Contributor: Rachel Flynn First Class are still working away, hard as ever. Miss. Flynn has seen some huge improvements in handwriting, presentation, concentration and working more independently online. We’re enjoying our class novel James and The Giant Peach, writing and drawing about it every week! We’ve also been working away on our own readers, completing mini book reviews each Friday! We’ve also just finished working on The Arctic, below are some examples of the art work we created on The Northern Lights!
Festive Photographers
ontributor: Michelle O’Connor 6th class Ash have been engaging and working super hard on Zoom and independently at home. They have become creative and are enjoying lockdown with STEM activities and weekly challenges. They have learned about different festivals that take place around the world. As part of their history lesson, they researched a festival of their choice and presented their information to the rest of the class. They put so much thought and creativity into their projects. They have learned so much from each other, even Ms O’Connor and Anabel are learning new information every day. Some may even become photographers with their trick photo.
Bird Watching
Contributor: Sam Donohoe 2nd class Holly have been doing brilliant work this week. They have become top notch bird watchers! They have investigated 6 different types of garden birds and have been watching them in the garden. On Friday they made bird feeders to attract more birds into the garden for them to observe.
2nd Class Hazel
Contributor: Wendy Morgan Lá na gCrann / Tree Day. How to make a house a home? We moved some of our native tree saplings from the garden nursery to the inner courtyard to bring some nature to breaktimes for the day. They proved so popular that they remain there. Lá na gCrann proved so inspirational that new trees appeared at lunchtime! Fiabelle Kinch was SO excited about the Maths she did at home one weekend that I promised her I’d get it put up on the website. She held everyone’s attention with this! Hope Hayden. We harvested lavender from the school garden for our clay pots.
Spring walk in the school garden
Contributor: Gill Sheil I took a wander around the school garden this morning, being the first official day of Spring. I was looking for the usual signs of the life-giving season such as buds appearing on plants and shoots peeping above the soil. These things I did find. Best of all, I happened upon a visitor to our pond. Take a look and enjoy the wonder of nature.
Golden Book Awards
We are delighted to have so many students make it into the Golden Book this week – well done to everyone! 1st Class Aspen with their teacher Ms Petrassi. The reason they were in the Golden Book this week is everyone has been working really hard on being kind to each other. They’re using kind words and kind hands. Well done First Class Aspen! Students from classes throughout the school that were also in the Golden Book this week. From left to right back row:- Ritchie Warnock, Bogdan Mospan, Sarah Callan, Joshua Descanu, Makar Balashov. Front row:- Darcy Plunket, Sam Godsil Bent, Nicole Gusser, Sophia Keogh, Alice Costello.
3rd Class Bird Vlog
Contributor: Ms Mc Cormick
Mindful Holly
Contributor: Sam Donohoe 2nd class have been doing brilliant work online. They have been practising mindfulness each Monday. In the first week they listened to a relaxing video clip and they imagined that they were under the water in a pond and they drew pictures of what they could see while they were under water. The following Monday they use water, corn flour and food dye to create slime! When they squeezed the slime it became hard and firm. When they relaxed their grip the slime became a liquid again and ran through their fingers. The class practised their breathing techniques when squeezing and loosening grip on the slime. Other activities have include science experiments investigating push and pull, writing in our wellbeing journal, baking (we have some future bakers in the class!) and plenty of walks.
A special message for the children from Ms Harper
Dear children. The teachers have been keeping me updated on how well you are working and trying your best. I have to say you are super and you should all be very proud of all your hard work. I am very impressed. I have been hearing great, positive news from many of your parents with how you are all coping with online school. I have loved getting updates of what is happening at home and seeing your work displayed here on the website. The teachers have been emailing in with lots of good news stories for the Golden Book. It is important for you all to keep active and have a good nights sleep. Keep up the great work and I can’t wait to see you all. Best wishes, Ms Harper.
5th Class Renaissance
Contributor: Ms Emma Hickey Fifth class have been doing amazing work at home, both with zoom classes and independently! They have really shown how hard-working they are over the past couple of weeks. Last week we were studying the Renaissance and the class produced fantastic projects on it. The students have really enjoyed engaging with their friends on zoom and have adapted very well to online learning.
Wishing you all Very Merry Christmas
Contributor: Rachel Harper I would like to wish you all a safe, healthy and very happy Christmas. Thank you for all your support and kindness throughout the term. I hope you all enjoy a well-earned break and have the opportunity to rest and re-charge after a challenging, busy and enjoyable term. What a term it was but we definitely made the most of it and have had many memorable moments. I thank you again for all your support for the Lighthouse Christmas. We are really looking forward to our online Christmas Concert and yet again there might be a little surprise from the staff. Best Wishes for 2021. Rachel
Thank you from the Lighthouse
Contributor: Joe at The Lighthouse Dear Students and Staff at St. Patrick’s National School Greystones, A HUGE THANKS to all of you for your amazing work collecting, preparing and distributing a Christmas meal and gift backpacks to our homeless friends at The Light House. A delicious meal and all the backpacks brought many smiles to over 300 guests on that day. It was so encouraging to watch the video of the students loading the backpacks on that morning as the vans headed for Dublin. After their arrival, we spent several hours completely the final touches for opening. During most of the two hours that we were open, we had a queue for both the meal and the Christmas gifts. On behalf of all of us at The Light House, we are so thankful for your hearts and passion to help the homeless in Dublin. You truly brought Christmas cheer to many that are living under very difficult circumstances. The smiling faces, words of thanks and even tears all belong to you through your desire to help those in need and to “love your neighbour”! Well done, St. Patrick’s NS Greystones, Christmas 2020 Happy Christmas & Blessed New Year to you all! All your friends at The Light House!
Buzz in to First Class
“First Class have been busy bees learning all about the weather, maps and the 100 square. We’ve also been getting up to mischief learning about prepositions (on, under, beside etc..) We really enjoyed having past pupil Marlena in our classroom this week. Marlena helped us to make the gorgeous snowmen pictured below. Christmas has officially landed in our room!”
2nd Class Pen Pals
Here in 2nd class Holly we have been very busy writing letters to our pen pals in Kilcoole Lodge nursing home. We have been writing to some wonderful people. One of the gentlemen from the nursing home told his pen pal about living in London during world war 2, he was 8 at the time as well! Each of the children in 2nd class Holly asked their pen pal for one piece of advice, and some of the feedback included; enjoy your days in school, enjoy every moment of your life, work hard at your studies and read as many books as you can. We will be getting ready to send them their Christmas cards later in December.
Our November Gardening
Science week in St. Patrick’s
Last week we celebrated Science week in St. Patrick’s. We did lots of fun science experiments in lots of the classes. Here are some examples- Senior Infants made rainbows- 3rd class Willow made moving pictures- 6th class Ash were taught about PH, Acids and Bases by Professor Fitzsimmons- It was a really fun week and the children researched and brought their own experiments in from home to have mini science fairs in class. We learned lots of new science facts and really enjoyed the presentations!
Senior Infants November
This month Senior Infants have enjoyed our Aistear topic of Outer Space – we have had role in our space station, wonderful Lego rocket creations and we made our own playdough. To celebrate Science Week we explored rainbows by ‘growing a rainbow’ using kitchen towel, markers and water. We made a rainbow in a jar with liquids of different densities and food colouring and we saw wonderful colour patterns using skittles and water. These experiments were really fun to do. We also had a visit from a member of An Garda Síochána who told us about his job as a Garda and answered lots of interesting questions from the children.
Happy Thanksgiving All
Some First Class students presented a Reader’s Theatre of the first Thanksgiving. They performed it to their peers this week and blew us all away with their fabulous reading!
American History
6th Class have been learning about Native American history. In art we made teepees. Now that we are moving on to study the Gaelic Revival we can compare and contrast the experiences of the Native Americans to those of the Native Irish in their struggle against colonisers. We are also looking at the importance of maintaining cultural identity and the part that a native language plays in this. Contributor: Sinéad Regan
Art scavenger hunt
Contributor: Gill Sheil
A Robotics Round-up!
6th Ash have been building robotics in the lead up to Science week. They found the kits very challenging but very worthwhile and fun. The had lots of help from Anabel our SNA who has a strong science background and really helped. The kits were amazing for teaching team work and developing problem solving ability. The future is bright with this next generation of engineers and mechanics. The kits we used can be found here: https://www.digiwizkits.com/collections/all/ Contributor: Sorcha Ryan
Science Celebration!
We have received another plaque from the Science Foundation Ireland as part of the Discover Primary Science and Maths Awards. This celebrates the science work that goes on in the school throughout the year. This year’s portfolio contained submissions such as boats to investigate sinking and floating from Ms Bedells 4th class last year, Ms O Neill’s 5th class studied the lungs and stomach, acids and alkalines and collected mermaid purses on the beach as part of a conservation effort and Ms Morgan’s class raised the stick insects and grew potatoes in the garden. Last year’s 6th took part in the ESB Science Blast and made a big impact with their colourful investigation into how many helium balloons it would take to lift a house. Contributor: Sorcha Ryan
Native American History
We have been learning about the Native Americans in History in 6th Ash. Some very beautiful projects have been created and some gorgeous art pieces inspired by different tribes. Contributor: Sorcha Ryan