World book day
Here at St. Patricks, we recognise the importance of reading and the joy that it can bring to children. Although we celebrate books each and every day in school, World Book Day gives us the opportunity to share our reading experiences. In previous years we have dressed up as our favourite characters, completed many quizzes including ‘Guess which bookshelf belongs to each staff member’ and ‘Guess your teacher’s favourite childhood book.’ All classes enjoy both reading and listening to stories daily. Most recently we introduced ‘Recommended Reads’ into our weekly assembly. Children submit their recommended books during the week, rating and discussing them in class. “You can find magic wherever you look, sit back and relax, all you need is a book.” – Dr. Suess. Although our school library room is currently out of action, teachers may freely update their classroom libraries from our wide selection of books. We are so lucky to have hundreds of pages waiting to be explored within our school libraries. Children are encouraged to read daily and independently in St. Patricks. We often participate in the ‘Write a Book’ programme. Ms Rachel Flynn
2nd Class Holly goes to Space!
2nd Class Holly have been busy rocketing through space into our Solar System! Contributors: Sam Donohoe & 2nd Class Holly
Welcome back!
We hope you enjoyed a wonderful summer. We also hope you are relaxed, recharged and ready to start a new school year. We are delighted that you are part of our amazing learning community and we welcome and value your positive energy and dedication to excellence in education! We hope you all had a wonderful summer and are coming back relaxed, recharged and ready to start a new school year. We are delighted that you are part of our amazing school community and we look forward to starting our school year together. Our hard working and conscientious team have spent time preparing classrooms and school for your return. Each year brings positive change. This includes a few additions to our staff. We are delighted to welcome Karen McCormick (3rd class Birch) & Sam Donohoe (2nd Class Holly) who are a great asset to the team and we know they will bring so much to the school community. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” Nelson Mandela Thank you so much for all your positivity and encouragement and helping the children understand that during these uncertain times we are able to work together to overcome the most unusual challenges. We understand that it can take a few weeks for your children to adjust to this new normal, a new class, pods and teacher and we appreciate your patience and understanding. It was really great to see the school full of children again and to see their happy smiling faces. It has been way too long. The atmosphere at the gate was incredible and it was a huge pleasure to open those gates. Together, I know we will make this school year one of growth and achievement for all children.
After School Activities Suspended
Unfortunately After School Activities will not be going ahead at St Patrick’s commencing September 2020, until further notice. The Department have given very strict guidelines that children must stay within their class groups only throughout the school day. As you can appreciate, this needs to follow through to After School Activities that are held on the school premises. “ It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” – Vince Lombardi We know that this is challenging and disappointing for us all but the main focus is enabling the children to return to school and keeping the virus at bay. We will keep you updated with any changes advised by the Department.
Planning to reopen is going full steam ahead!
We have been busy planning for our reopening over the Summer, working within the Departments official guidelines and consulting with other community schools and experts. Before school opens We will be sending out a map of the school with hand sanitiser stations, guidelines for children and parents and a video from myself, Rachel Harper giving you a tour around the school, starting at the gate and onto the classrooms. We hope this will give the children a glimpse into what they can expect and a chance for the parents, to discuss this with them. We are really looking forward to welcoming our children back to school and will be doing all that we can to ensure that the return to school is a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. We can assure you that we will work with the children at whatever level they are at, both on a personal and academic level, as we are acutely aware that many families have had different challenges during the time away from the school environment. Acknowledging the recent changes to lock down restrictions we are still planning for a safe school re-open on Tuesday 1st September 2020. We will all be called on to play our part in ensuring that re-opening of the school is done in a safe manner which prevents the spread of the virus and allows the vital work of teaching and learning to proceed with as little disruption as possible. Re-opening the school safely requires the co-operation of all members of our school community – the Board of Management (BoM), school leadership, staff, parents and pupils. DES Covid-19 Response Plan We have been working on our plan for the safe re-opening of the school for some weeks now and will forward the COVID-19 Response Plan for the safe and sustainable re-opening of the school in the near future with our information pack. The Response Plan will give details of: Physical preparation, signage, hand sanitiser stations; Advice, procedures and training for the safe return to working in the school for all school staff and pupils; General and specific advice on how all pupils, staff, parents and visitors will prevent the spread of the virus. Physical Distancing and Safe School Attendance We are currently working on upgrading our procedures and routines within the school to ensure that there is as much physical distancing as is possible in our building. We will apply physical distancing in a practical and sensible way, recognising that the learning environment cannot be dominated by a potentially counterproductive focus on this issue. Physical Distancing will be achieved in two ways: Increasing Separation. This will be achieved by re-configuring the classrooms to maximise physical distancing. Each class will be referred to as a bubble and we will ensure that there is as little contact as possible between children in different bubbles. Within the bubbles, children will be organised into pods. A pod is a group of children (normally 6) who will sit together and who will stay in their pod while in the bubble, or classroom. Decreasing Interaction. This will be achieved by decreasing the potential for children from different bubbles to interact. For example, children from each year group will be kept to their own class at all times throughout the day. This will include break-times. As I am sure you will understand, there will be no Assemblies, Church Services or swimming lessons at this present time. More information will follow detailing new school/classroom layout along with staggered times etc. Our aim remains to re-open the school in an orderly, safe, enjoyable manner, while reassuring the children and making them feel comfortable, safe and relaxed with their friends in the new school environment. Like all of us the children are looking forward to getting back into a new routine. This will be achieved by all of us working towards this common goal. While all children are more than welcome back to school, we would remind parents that, where children are displaying colds, coughs or flu like symptoms, they should not be sent to school. Children who display such symptoms in school will be isolated and parents asked to collect them from the school. Children who have travelled from countries not on the Green List should not attend school during the 14-day self-isolation period. Further information on COVID-19 symptoms in children is available here Our teachers will make children aware of the proper hygiene procedures regarding hand washing and etiquette related to sneezing, coughing or spitting. We would be grateful if you could also emphasise safe behaviour in this regard to your children at home as part of the preparation for returning to school. In the coming weeks we will be sending out more information via email and also updating out website so please do check back for any updates.
Welcome back
I trust that everyone is settling in well into their new classes. I have to say that the children have got back into the swing of things very quickly. I want to give a special mention to our new Junior Infants who have come in everyday from the gate by themselves also. They have blown us away with their bravery, independence and smiley faces. Please keep an eye on your Aladdin Connect Noticeboard for any news and information, such as the timetable for the Homework Meetings Timetable sent out today. During the Summer we had to remove some trees for health and safety reasons, but thanks to Billy Markham we now have a lovely seating area for 6th Class and a few mushrooms popping up, which the kids seem to love. The children are all out enjoying the sunshine here at breaktime, which is lovely to see. Kind regards Rachel Harper – Principal
Golden Book Awards
Contributor: Ms Harper Josh, Sophie, Kanav and Isabella, 4th Class – All of 4th class have been super but I have noticed a few pupils working exceptionally hard and giving their full effort to every task I set. They have also been very engaged during our zoom classes. Ms Murphy Jessica, Lauren, Fionnuala and Ava, 2nd Hazel – For their contribution to our ZOOM meetings. They attend every ZOOM session punctually and are always ready with whatever materials I have specified to have to hand. They listen carefully to others and mute and unmute themselves exactly as directed to offer their own contribution, speaking confidently and concisely. Their flawless behaviour extends to letting me know if I’m ‘glitching’ (our new word!) or I’ve forgotten to share the sound on a video screen. This they do assertively and politely. Ms Morgan Fionn, 2nd Hazel – In addition to his impeccable behaviour online, he has diligently uploaded everything asked of him to his SEESAW account and is making super progress in particular through his reading outload as Gaeilge gach lá. Ms Morgan Sofia-Lily, 2nd Hazel – For her insatiable enthusiasm for home learning. She seems unstoppable at present! In addition to her worklists, she is producing artwork to encourage anyone passing her door to ‘Save Our Planet’ and is undertaking the Write a Book project too. Her good humour is infectious online! Ms Morgan Clara, Senior Infants – for working so enthusiastically every day and being very creative in her activities at home. She followed a suggestion I gave the class to try out ‘tea and coffee painting’…she created a picture which then inspired her to write a little poem with her dad (which includes rhyming words and we were doing rhyming words a couple of weeks ago). Ms Morrissey Freya and Reuben, 6th Ash – Both have been very active and engaging on the online learning. They put so much thought and creativity into their work that it should be acknowledged. Not only that, they are always so kind and helpful to their classmates. They are a pleasure to teach. Ms O’Connor Matilda, 3rd Birch – We are so pleased with all of her hard work over the past week and a half. She has been engaging so well in her Zoom lessons and has been such a pleasure to teach. Ms McCormick & Ms Bedell Ellie and Bogdan, 1st Class – They have been fabulous so far and are really active participants on every zoom call. I think it would be really nice to acknowledge this. Bernie had also noticed how brilliant they are each morning on the call. Ms Flynn Cian, 6th Oak – a phenomenal project on the Finnish festival Ukon Juhla for History. He really did an exceptional job and I’m looking forward to him presenting it to the class when we are back in school. Ms Regan Due to current online schooling, we decided to celebrate the Golden Book achievements here on the blog. We are very proud of all the entrants. Keep up the great work!
Busy Bees are back with a bang!
Contributor: 1st Class First Class have returned to online school with a BANG! Miss. Flynn is beyond impressed with her students and how hard they have all been working from home. A huge well done to everyone and to all of the mums, dads and minders helping to keep us organised. We’ve been enjoying live Zoom calls every morning where we have our English and Math’s lessons. Our favourite thing about this is getting to see everyone’s faces! Miss. Flynn has been wearing some funny hats each day to keep us motivated. (Some of us think she’s lost the plot entirely!!) Below is just some of the amazing work submitted via SeeSaw on James and The Giant Peach (our new novel), Reports on Harp Seals (as we learn all about The Arctic in SESE) and some Pictograms from Maths! Well done First Class