Information Sheet: Feb 14
Dates to Remember:
MidTerm Break: School Closed Thursday and Friday Feb 20th &21st
Credit Union Quiz
We were well represented at the Kilkenny City Credit Union Quiz last Monday. Four teams from the school took part: Junior A- Fionn McGarry, Lucy Harte, Eoghan O’Neill and Matthew O’Neill. Junior B-Rory O’Connor, Cian Farrell, Sean Cullen and Cillian Hackett. Senior A -Shay McEvoy, Ian O’Keeffe, Alexis Fitzgerald and David Conway. Senior B- Aoibhinn Smyth, Cliona Dunne, Aisling Newing and George Akaehomen. Caoimhe Carroll missed out on the Junior team due to illness. Our Senior A team put in a splendid performance, scoring 70 out of 72 to come in as winners on the night, bringing the trophy back to the school on Tuesday. They will now represent us in the regional final in March. Thank you to Ms Sheehan for organising our teams and the monthly News Quiz.
Soccer in the Playground
We have tried to solve the problem of bystanders being injured by soccer balls in the yard by banning heavy/hard balls. This has been of limited success so we are now providing balls for each class to use in the yard. Only the balls provided by the school may be used in the yard so there is no longer any need for pupils to bring in soccer balls from home.
Junior Entrepreneur Programme
Ms Delehanty’s 5th class have been working on business ideas for the J.E. programme. Last week in Phase One, they pitched their business ideas to three Dragons: Mrs Comerford, Mr Nolan and local business woman Nora O’Malley. Five business ideas were presented: All Star Smoothies, Lucky Lads, Heavenly Bakers, LESCCO- Car Valeting and Family Fitness. The presentations were of an excellent standard-well researched, clearly explained and questions answered comprehensively. After much deliberation and bearing in mind the various requirements for the next stage, the judges agreed that the “Lucky Lads” would be the business to progress.
For Phase Two, the whole class now will put their collective talents behind getting this business up and running for Showcase Week. They will meet with some local business people/entrepreneurs for advice and guidance. This has been a hugely beneficial project for the class. Many thanks to Ms Delehanty for taking it on board and look out for the “Lucky Lads” coming soon!
Electronic Toys/Equipment
In general, pupils should not be bringing toys to school. On occasions when they are invited to do so, we have decided to ban electronic games i.e. DS, Tablets, iPads, Ipods etc. These are mainly expensive, easily broken items and we cannot guarantee their safety from a breakage or theft point of view. There is also an added issue of inappropriate use of some of the equipment features e.g. camera, video etc which can be an invasion of privacy so all in all these personal items are best kept at home.
Scríobh Leabhar
Our three 5th classes have participated in the Scríobh Leabhar project run by Kilkenny Education Centre. Under the guidance of their class teachers Mr Hoyne, Ms Delehanty and Ms O’Connor and resource teacher Ms Hennessy, they wrote individual books as Gaeilge. These books were brought to the Education Centre last Thursday and books from a different school brought back here. The pupils will now read the other school’s books and review them Their own books will then be returned with a review attached.
As the swopping of books coincided with the visit of Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn to the Ed. centre to launch their Health and Safety Programme, our school was invited to send three 5th class pupils to the event and we were ably represented by Georgia Shine, Alice Murphy and Anthony O’Carroll as they were interviewed about their books in front of Mr Quinn.
Engineering |Week
To mark Engineering Week next week, 4th class will travel to WIT to participate in Motor and Structures workshops and 5th & 6th class will travel to a Dr Maths Show. 6th class will also visit Castlecomer Discovery Park for Mathematic Trails and the Coal Mining Trail.
The Ice Child
As part of the English/Drama curriculum, some of the 3rd, 4th and 5th classes will attend the Barnstorm “Ice Child” production in the Watergate at the end of February.
Lighthouse Project
As 4th class parents already know the three 4th classes have been busy making models of lighthouses. The results are amazing and are currently on display in the foyer. Feel free to call in and have a look.
Lost Property
Lost property items have been laid out in the foyer for collection. They will remain there until Tuesday evening after school. Feel free to call in if your child has lost anything and hasn’t yet found it. There are lots of new coats there! We will encourage the pupils to look themselves also.
Parents’ Association
Birthday Presents: Following a recent survey regarding Birthday Presents, the general consensus is that parents have agreed to limit the amount of a birthday present to the value of €5.00 or €5.00 in an envelope. Note can be included on Invitation stating; “Gift in accordance with School Policy”.
Birthday Invitations: Following discussion, it has been agreed that if invitations are being given to all children or all boys/girls in the class, these can be distributed in School/Class – however, if not all children or all boys/girls are to receive an invitation; they must be distributed outside of School. While Teachers cannot give out personal details/contact information to parents, information can be provided on how many boys and girls present in the Class.
Health & Safety
Another matter which has come up for discussion at the Parents’ Association meeting is the issue of children after music lessons playing soccer at the front of the school. The front grass area is not suitable for ball games because once children are engrossed in playing they totally forget the fact that there is a road beside them. Many near misses have occurred. Mostly the children are playing while their parents are waiting in cars. As this is an out of school issue we can only ask parents to be vigilant and aware of the dangers.
Community Games
Peter Lynch ,chairman of the Dicksboro Area Community Games Committee wishes to inform you that the community games swimming finals take place on the 8th of February. Details as follows:
8th February, 8am The Watershed, Under 8 - Under 16, Must live in St Canice's or St Mary's parishes, Anyone interested please contactdicksboroareacommunitygames@gmail.com or 086-208265241
School Website
A copy of this newsletter and photographs of the various activities mentioned can be found on the school website www.stcanices.net
Dates to Remember:
MidTerm Break: School Closed Thursday and Friday Feb 20th &21st
Credit Union Quiz
We were well represented at the Kilkenny City Credit Union Quiz last Monday. Four teams from the school took part: Junior A- Fionn McGarry, Lucy Harte, Eoghan O’Neill and Matthew O’Neill. Junior B-Rory O’Connor, Cian Farrell, Sean Cullen and Cillian Hackett. Senior A -Shay McEvoy, Ian O’Keeffe, Alexis Fitzgerald and David Conway. Senior B- Aoibhinn Smyth, Cliona Dunne, Aisling Newing and George Akaehomen. Caoimhe Carroll missed out on the Junior team due to illness. Our Senior A team put in a splendid performance, scoring 70 out of 72 to come in as winners on the night, bringing the trophy back to the school on Tuesday. They will now represent us in the regional final in March. Thank you to Ms Sheehan for organising our teams and the monthly News Quiz.
Soccer in the Playground
We have tried to solve the problem of bystanders being injured by soccer balls in the yard by banning heavy/hard balls. This has been of limited success so we are now providing balls for each class to use in the yard. Only the balls provided by the school may be used in the yard so there is no longer any need for pupils to bring in soccer balls from home.
Junior Entrepreneur Programme
Ms Delehanty’s 5th class have been working on business ideas for the J.E. programme. Last week in Phase One, they pitched their business ideas to three Dragons: Mrs Comerford, Mr Nolan and local business woman Nora O’Malley. Five business ideas were presented: All Star Smoothies, Lucky Lads, Heavenly Bakers, LESCCO- Car Valeting and Family Fitness. The presentations were of an excellent standard-well researched, clearly explained and questions answered comprehensively. After much deliberation and bearing in mind the various requirements for the next stage, the judges agreed that the “Lucky Lads” would be the business to progress.
For Phase Two, the whole class now will put their collective talents behind getting this business up and running for Showcase Week. They will meet with some local business people/entrepreneurs for advice and guidance. This has been a hugely beneficial project for the class. Many thanks to Ms Delehanty for taking it on board and look out for the “Lucky Lads” coming soon!
Electronic Toys/Equipment
In general, pupils should not be bringing toys to school. On occasions when they are invited to do so, we have decided to ban electronic games i.e. DS, Tablets, iPads, Ipods etc. These are mainly expensive, easily broken items and we cannot guarantee their safety from a breakage or theft point of view. There is also an added issue of inappropriate use of some of the equipment features e.g. camera, video etc which can be an invasion of privacy so all in all these personal items are best kept at home.
Scríobh Leabhar
Our three 5th classes have participated in the Scríobh Leabhar project run by Kilkenny Education Centre. Under the guidance of their class teachers Mr Hoyne, Ms Delehanty and Ms O’Connor and resource teacher Ms Hennessy, they wrote individual books as Gaeilge. These books were brought to the Education Centre last Thursday and books from a different school brought back here. The pupils will now read the other school’s books and review them Their own books will then be returned with a review attached.
As the swopping of books coincided with the visit of Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn to the Ed. centre to launch their Health and Safety Programme, our school was invited to send three 5th class pupils to the event and we were ably represented by Georgia Shine, Alice Murphy and Anthony O’Carroll as they were interviewed about their books in front of Mr Quinn.
Engineering |Week
To mark Engineering Week next week, 4th class will travel to WIT to participate in Motor and Structures workshops and 5th & 6th class will travel to a Dr Maths Show. 6th class will also visit Castlecomer Discovery Park for Mathematic Trails and the Coal Mining Trail.
The Ice Child
As part of the English/Drama curriculum, some of the 3rd, 4th and 5th classes will attend the Barnstorm “Ice Child” production in the Watergate at the end of February.
Lighthouse Project
As 4th class parents already know the three 4th classes have been busy making models of lighthouses. The results are amazing and are currently on display in the foyer. Feel free to call in and have a look.
Lost Property
Lost property items have been laid out in the foyer for collection. They will remain there until Tuesday evening after school. Feel free to call in if your child has lost anything and hasn’t yet found it. There are lots of new coats there! We will encourage the pupils to look themselves also.
Parents’ Association
Birthday Presents: Following a recent survey regarding Birthday Presents, the general consensus is that parents have agreed to limit the amount of a birthday present to the value of €5.00 or €5.00 in an envelope. Note can be included on Invitation stating; “Gift in accordance with School Policy”.
Birthday Invitations: Following discussion, it has been agreed that if invitations are being given to all children or all boys/girls in the class, these can be distributed in School/Class – however, if not all children or all boys/girls are to receive an invitation; they must be distributed outside of School. While Teachers cannot give out personal details/contact information to parents, information can be provided on how many boys and girls present in the Class.
Health & Safety
Another matter which has come up for discussion at the Parents’ Association meeting is the issue of children after music lessons playing soccer at the front of the school. The front grass area is not suitable for ball games because once children are engrossed in playing they totally forget the fact that there is a road beside them. Many near misses have occurred. Mostly the children are playing while their parents are waiting in cars. As this is an out of school issue we can only ask parents to be vigilant and aware of the dangers.
Community Games
Peter Lynch ,chairman of the Dicksboro Area Community Games Committee wishes to inform you that the community games swimming finals take place on the 8th of February. Details as follows:
8th February, 8am The Watershed, Under 8 - Under 16, Must live in St Canice's or St Mary's parishes, Anyone interested please contactdicksboroareacommunitygames@gmail.com or 086-208265241
School Website
A copy of this newsletter and photographs of the various activities mentioned can be found on the school website www.stcanices.net