The KPMG children’s books Ireland Awards Junior juries programme is a unique activity for schools, libraries and book clubs, designed to encourage children and young people to read widely and to engage with reading in an innovative and exciting way.
The newly formed bookclub in Scoil Mhuire are taking part this year reading a selection of the shortlisted books and collectively scoring them and voting for their favourite to win the junior juries award to be announced at the end of May.
The books they are reading and discussing are
April’s Garden – Isla McGuckin, The hare shaped hole – John Dougherty, Three tasks for a dragon-Eoin Colfer, Global-Eoin Colfer, Wider than the sea – Serena Molloy, The girl who fell to earth – Patricia Forde.
Ready Set Go Maths is a hands-on approach to learning mathematical concepts in Junior and Senior Infants. It is designed to enable children to develop and consolidate their understanding of numbers through activities and interactive games.
In Scoil Mhuire we have implemented this programme in Junior Infants. The Key message behind the programme is that children are engaged in active learning and there is an emphasis on the use of language to explain our mathematical thinking, what we are doing and why we are doing it. Ready, Set, Go Maths focuses on 4 main areas:
Classroom teachers and special education teachers, work with the pupils in the class in smaller groups. Children work on three activity stations and one book work station each day spending 6 minutes at each station before rotating to the next station. Activities generally involve working with concrete materials and playing games.
The parents’ association has been recently reactivated and we are writing to introduce ourselves and extend a warm invitation to get involved. So far we have Elaine Newell (Chairperson), Anna Parkinson (Secretary), Aisling Gormally (Treasurer), Audrey Trigg, Angela O’Toole, Loretta Croke, Kim Ryan, Michelle O’Connor, Olivia Traynor, Sinéad Valla, Gillian Hunter and Petrina Mulligan.
Ideally we would have a parent from each class involved so that the views and opinions
of all are represented.
The good news is that all committee positions have been filled so you can come to the next parents’ association meeting without fear of getting a job! Our next meeting will be
on Wednesday, 6th March at 8pm at school (first prefab on the left). This meeting is open to everyone to attend.
We are currently compiling a list of ideas for how the Parents’ Association could best work to promote the interests of students (and also help parents) in Scoil Mhuire, e.g.
fundraising events, talks, social events, volunteering at school occasions, fundraising for extracurricular activities. We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions, please
email any ideas to pa.secretary@moycns.ie
Sincerely,
Scoil Mhuire Parents Association
Ms Elliffe’s 6th class started off the year strong by engineering some homes for the birds.
Ms Elliffe’s 6th class made some cards and friendship bracelets for their reading buddies in Junior Infants.
4th & 5th classes took part in french lessons with Jennifer. They had great fun making croissants while learning french.
We are delighted that we have secured planning permission for our new school. See the school design below.
Senior Infants had great fun working together in science this week. We created patterns with skittles and watched what happened when we added warm water.
Beidh Seachtain na Gaeilge ag tosnú ar 1ú lá de Márta. Beidh damhsa, ceoil, quizeanna, ealaín, spórt agus spraoi againn. Beidh gach páiste ag tógáil páirt.
Seachtain na Gaeilge starts next Friday March 1st with dance , music, art and lots more. It would be great if everyone could use whatever Irish they have ( it doesn’t matter if it’s 1 word or 1000). It’s our language to use.
