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Mindful Monday
Mams and Dads,
Today, we are being mindful and you may like to join us. While you are having a cup of tea or coffee, sit very still, use your senses and notice one thing you can see, hear, taste, feel and smell. Remind yourself that you do a good job looking after your family.
Quote of the Day: Sometimes you forget you’re awesome so this is your reminder:)
Friendship and Wellbeing Week 2022
Next week, we will have our annual Friendship and Wellbeing Week in our school. It is a chance for us to focus on our wellbeing and the importance of friendship. Each day, we will focus on something different – Mindful Monday, Thankful Tuesday, Wellbeing Wednesday, Thoughtful Thursday, Friendship Friday (also known as Wear Your Bright Colours Day!)
We ask you to get involved by talking to the girls and by looking at our website www.goodcounselgns.ie Latest News tab each day for some tips and ideas. Friday 13th is ‘Wear your Bright Colours Day’ so the girls can leave their uniforms at home and wear their brightest coloured clothes coming to school. It was a great success last year and we are looking forward to another rainbow of colours to brighten up the day.
Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pray for Us
A Mhuire na Dea-Chomhairle, Guí Orainn
Today, April 26th, is a very special day for our school. It is the feast day of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Our Lady of Good Counsel watches over our school and she also watches over all of us. The word ‘counsel’ means ‘advice’. Our Lady of Good Counsel is ready to listen to our problems and to give us good advice.
The picture of Our Lady of Good Counsel shows Mary holding her son, the baby Jesus. The story of the original painting of Our Lady of Good Counsel goes back to the 15th Century.
At that time the people of Albania were devoted to Our Lady and they prayed to her for help when they were in trouble. In 1467, the Turks invaded Albania. Two men were running away from the Turkish army and they stopped at a church to pray. They knelt in front of a picture of Our Lady and asked for her help. To their surprise, the picture suddenly floated off the wall and out of the church.
It is said that the men followed the picture all the way to Rome, in Italy, where the picture suddenly disappeared. Around the same time, the people in a small town near Rome were building a new church. On April 25th, everyone gathered in the town square to celebrate the Feast of Saint Mark.
At about four o’clock in the afternoon, in the middle of all the celebrations, the crowd saw a cloud coming down over the unfinished church. The bells of the church began to ring by themselves and beautiful music was heard. The crowd fell silent and the cloud parted. There was the picture of Our Lady. The painting came to rest in the church and if you visit the town of Genazzano, you can still see it there today.
The painting was named after the church, and became known as Our Lady of Good Counsel. The words on the painting mean: “Most Holy Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us to Jesus your Son.” The Pope decided that the feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel should be celebrated on April 26th so that it would not clash with the feast of Saint Mark.
New Arrangements after Easter
It’s time to make some small changes to how we have been operating the school since September 2020. We are taking things slowly and will review again before the June Bank Holiday.
So, what will be different from April 25th onwards?
Morning Drop Off: School staff will be outside to greet the children from 9.10a.m. until 9.20a.m. on dry mornings, and from 9.10a.m. until 9.30a.m. on wet mornings. As we move into the summer term, we encourage the girls to walk/scoot/cycle safely to school.
Roll Call: The roll will be marked in all classes at 9.30a.m. and anyone coming to school after that time will be recorded as a late arrival. (Morning activities such as Meditation, Silent Reading, etc. may be underway by 9. 20a.m.in the senior end of the school and if this is the case, the girls will be expected to say a simple ‘Excuse Me’ or ‘Gabh mo leithscéal’ to the teacher if they arrive after that time.)
Pods: Classes will still be arranged in Pods but the girls will now be able to move between Pods for certain activities in and out of the classroom e.g. Guided Reading, Maths Groups
Hand hygiene, cough etiquette and ventilation will continue as usual, and we would ask any parent/guardian who needs to visit the school to wear a mask/face covering.
Staggered breaks will continue for now with each class having its own area in the yard for playtime.
Afternoon Pick Up: This will continue as usual. Junior Infants @ 1.45p.m. Senior Infants @ 1.50p.m First and Second Classes @ 2.45p.m. Third to Sixth Classes @ 2.50p.m.
Please be aware that supervision is not provided before 9.10a.m. or after 2.50p.m.
Thank you for your on-going support and co-operation as we work together to keep the girls and the staff safe.
Online Payments System
Our Lady of Good Counsel GNS has set up an on-line payment system via Databiz to facilitate payments for the Book Rental Scheme, art, craft and photocopying etc. This will make it easier for parents/guardians when making payments and we hope to begin using it in early May.
Your support in using this facility is very much appreciated. It is important to ensure we have the correct phone numbers and email addresses to allow the system to work well. Please contact the office if you wish to update your contact details on 051 832984 or email Tracey to secretary.ferrybankgns@gmail.com Thank you.
Well Done!
A huge ‘Well Done!’ to the Ferrybank u7 Team who took part in a hurling blitz last weekend. 7 out of the 9 girls on the team are Good Counsel Girls. We’ve been told that they were the talk of the tournament with their skills and competitiveness against mainly all-boys teams. Keep up the great work – Saoirse, Amber, Maelíosa, Zoey, Lauren, Evie, and Ella.
Coaching continues for the under 7’s at 10a.m. in the Ferrybank GAA grounds – all are welcome
Kindness
We have had some lovely acts of kindness from parents over the last couple of weeks, kindness towards pupils and towards the staff. You know who you are, and your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated.
Poetry Day Ireland
Girls, Poetry Day Ireland will take place on April 28th. Take some time over the Easter Break to come up with ideas for a poem. We will have our school Poetry Competition in the week after the Easter break. You can write a poem about anything or you can stick with the theme for this year, which is Written in the Stars https://www.poetryireland.ie/poetry-day/
Congratulations
We send our warmest congratulations to Mr. Dooley who has been appointed to the position of Principal of Ballyneale NS. Thankfully, Mr. Dooley will remain at Good Counsel GNS until the end of this school year and will take up his new role in September.
Friday 1st April
School will close early for all pupils on Friday 1st April. This is to allow staff to participate in training for the Primary Language Curriculum.
Junior and Senior Infants @ 12.15
First and Second Classes @ 12.20
Third to Sixth Classes @ 12.25
Happy Mother’s Day
Sending special wishes to all the wonderful Mams, Grans, Aunties, Godmothers and Carers who are part of our school community. Happy Mother’s Day.
A message from An Taoiseach
An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin has OFFICIALLY announced National Confidence Day, Thursday, March 24th as a NO HOMEWORK DAY for the entire country. (with a clause!)NO HOMEWORK CLIP, BY MICHEÁL MARTIN HERE: Click here to watch Micheál Martin No Homework Clip
