SEAI Workshops Thursday 2nd February & Friday 3rd February 2023
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland offered free junior and
senior primary workshops. These workshops were classroom based and
explored the topic of energy and sustainability in a fun and engaging
way. The junior classes met Guzzler the puppet and helped him learn
about saving energy at home and school. The senior workshops explored
renewable and non renewable energy and was very interactive with
classroom games, quizzes and experiments. All students also explored
and discussed where we get our energy from.
The Daily Mile
The Daily Mile is a social physical activity, with children running, jogging or wheeling- at their own pace- in the fresh air with friends. Children can occasionally walk to catch their breath, if necessary, but aim to run, jog or wheel for the full 15minutes. The aim of the Daily Mile is to improve the physical, social, emotional and mental health and well being of our children regardless of age, ability or personal circumstances. The Daily Mile begain in An Grianán NS in October 2022 with all children taking part in this initiative. Noel, our school caretaker marked out the football pitch to show the mile circuit. During the day, all classes go out to the pitch and try to complete the mile circuit together as a class.
Our aim in this school is that the Daily Mile will improve all children's fitness, build leg strength and improve body composition. This initiative will also help children achieve a third of WHO's recommended daily physical activity target. In our school, The Daily Mile is co-ordinated by Ms.Curran with all teachers and children taking part. Healhty Body, Healthy MInd.
Team Hope
Team Hope is an Irish, Christian and child-focused international development organisation. It was founded in 2010 and its aim is to help chidlren in Africa and Eastern Europe, who are affected by poverty or marginalisation. Each year, Team Hope organises a Christmas Shoebox Appeal. This is where children in Ireland make showboxes filled with various items to give to a child in a vulnerable country for Christmas. Items which can be included in the boxes are the 4W's- write, wash,wear and wow.
In An Grianán NS, we have been taking part in the Team Hope Christmas Shoeboxes since 2012. Over the years, we have donated hundreds of boxes. This initiative is co-ordinated by teachers, Ms. Aine Curran & Ms.Anna Cahalin. This year was very successful with 96 shoeboxes collected and delivered to the depot in Mullingar. We hope our Christmas Showboxes will bring happiness and fun to many children's lives. Thank you to all the parents and children who took part.
5th Class Museum
5th class brought in old artefacts they found at home and presented them to their class. They then put their pieces on display in a Museum in the hall.
All classes were given an opportunity to visit the museum on Friday 11th November. (see photos in Gallery)
Green School Energy Awards
The Green Schools Energy Art Competition awards were presented to the following winners:
Junior Infants- Isolde Matthews, Donie Buckley & Stella Cleary
Senior Infants- Liam Donnelly, Pippa Flanagan & Ciara Dolan
1st- Leni Tyrrell, Oisín Smith & Juanita Smith
2nd - Ellen Campbell, Zoe Conlon & Sophie Keating
The Green Schools Energy Poetry Competition awards were presented to the following winners:
3rd- Alison White, Ellie Mae Harney & Oisín Murphy
4th - Jonathan Jensen, Grace Hallissy & Katie Claffey
5th - Nemhain Doolin, Kate Corcoran & Gerard Norton
6th - Cathal Casey, Grace Berry & Bedhbh Doolin (see gallery for photos)
Mini Olympics
We honoured the twenty athletes who represented the school in the Mini Olympics in TUS earlier in the month. The winning athletes were presented with their medals
Bronze- 100m- 5th Class girls Kate Corcoran
Silver- 400m- 4th Class girls Aimee Greene
Gold- 100m- 4th class boys Daniel Casey
Gold-100m- 4th class girls Lexi Grady
Gold- 200m- 4th class girls Tara Ledwith (see gallery for photos)
Student Council
For our monthly Assembly we celebrated the election of our officers for our first ever Students Council. Our student council officers presented their speeches to the whole school.
Our Student Council members are
6th Brian Moran, Emma Allen O'Loughlin, Molly Keating & Grace Berry.
5th Kyle Mason & Kate Corocran
4th Abigail Kelly & Charlie Buckley
3rd Farah Fox, Ellie Mae Harney, Ryan Mc Cormack & Cian Buckley
2nd Zoe Buckley & Jude Kelly
1st Maedhbh Matthews, Rory Claffey & Keelan Fox (see gallery for photos)
Halloween
An Grianán NS has been a hive of Halloween Activity all week with Halloween baking , art, writing, tricks and treats, topped off this morning by our Sppoky Halloween Walk down the village and up through the Golf Course.
Well done to the children (and parents) who put so much effort into their costumes (see gallery for photos)
Sixth class organised Halloween Games in the hall with Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st & 2nd Classes (see gallery for photos)
Dates for Sacraments;
Communion: 6th May 12:00pm
Confirmation 27th May 2:00pm
Music: Commencing November 7th
Tin whistle lessons for all children from 1st - 6th with outside music teacher Karen Mc Cormack €1 per lesson per child.
Cumann na mBunscol
Our boys and girls have commenced training and matches and have a number of games scheduled for the coming weeks.
Maths Week this week - the pupils are busy doing Maths activities, workshops and webinars!! Check out mathsweek.ie for more resources and online workshops for parents!
As part of our Green Flag Initiative, all classes are taking part in a Art/Poetry competition based on the theme of Energy. The Committee are meeting fortnightly and share regular updates with their classes.
Heritage Ireland School Visit 19th and 20th October 2022
Annette Corkery https://www.heritageinschools.ie/heritage-expert/profile/annette-corkery
9:30-10:15 1st/2nd Minibeasts/exploring the outdoor environment
10:15 - 11:00 2nd/3rd Minibeasts/exploring the outdoor environment (The Mount)
11:20 - 12:20 4th Animal habitats around our school
1:00 - 2:00 5th Class & Green schools committee: Biodiversity/Green flag
2:00 - 3:00 6th Exploring the outdoor environment- The Mount
Thursday 13th October: Cash for Clobber Clothes Collection at the main school gate.
Athletics: Mini- Olympics on Tuesday 11th October
All children from 4th - 6th class competed in 100m, 200m, 400m & 6th class competed in 800m. The winning athletes went on to compete in the interschools Olympics in TUS. Thanks to all our local schools for taking part and to all who helped out on the day.
5th October 2022- Launch of our Amber Flag Project on Wellbeing with the Army Band playing in Corpus Christi Church, Mount Temple
Basketball:
Paddy Mullalley is training classes 2nd, 4th, 5th & 6th class girls and boys
GAA Coaching:
Damien Maher is training junior/senior infants, 1st/2nd, 2nd/3rd and 6th class boys and girls .
Student Council
Elections are taking place in each class from 1st -6th. Those elected will be giving their speech at the next Assembly.
22nd Sept: Monthly Assembly:
Drama presentation from 6th Class to raise awareness of Anti Bullying at Senior Assembly (3rd - 6th Classes).
We all play together routines reinforced at Junior Assembly (Jun infants - 2nd classes).
Tuesday 13th September 3-5p.m.
First Aid Training completed by all staff in conjunction with Athlone Education Centre.
SNA's completed online training in 'How to manage Asthma in schools'
Wellbeing Retreats:
7th September 2022 Full day bonding retreat for 2nd Class
27th September 2022 full day bonding retreat for 6th class
All Wellbeing retreats facilitated by Fr Joe Mc Grath & Throwfire in Mount Temple Community Hall.
Opening of School Year Mass was held on Friday 23rd September
Coffee morning for parents of the New Junior Infants on August 31st hosted by the Sp Ed Team
