Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas break with friends and family. The girls really deserve some time off after a very busy and enjoyable Term 1.

After many weeks of researching, writing, re-drafting and editing, in English the girls have created very impressive reports on The Barn Swallow. We will publish these in the New Year and the girls will enjoy sharing them with everyone.

In maths we have been learning how to use money. We played money bingo and created a toyshop for buying and selling.

In geography we were learning about maps and we compared flat 2D posters, atlases and the 3D globe. Following this, we tracked Santa’s route on Christmas Eve. The girls realised that Santa must follow this route as the earth rotates and he must stay ahead of daylight. In history we learned about traditions from around the world and it was lovely to hear the girls share their traditions and hear from parents on Seesaw. In Science we looked at how we can care for the environment especially during the Christmas period. Remember to use the correct bins….the recycling fairies will be on alert over Christmas!

We created nice memories in art which will look great on the Christmas tree.

We work really well as a team in 2nd class and we look after our feelings. How do we deal with our feelings? What do we do? By talking about positive and negative feelings we learn to deal appropriately with them.

This week was a fun week filled with Christmas spirit. The whole school shared their Christmas Carol service with The Little Sisters and families. Well done everyone, it was a fantastic week.

I look forward to seeing the girls in the New Year.

Best wishes

Mrs. Power

The girls have had a great time this December. They have been engaging in procedural writing and enjoyed it no end, writing about making salt clay ornaments, paper baubles and reindeer hot chocolate bags.

The girls have been performing mad, performing their carols in the Little Sisters of the Poor and in the church. I think we can all agree the guys with the shades were fantastic. Their final performance is a Christmas Dance just for our class.

4th Class wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you all in 2024!

In science, we are learning about the properties of materials.We explored how durable and strong different materials are.

It was just fantastic to be back performing our Christmas Carol Service for the residents and staff of The Little Sisters Of the Poor. It is our first time back since 2019. Thanks to everyone for making us feel so welcome and for all the treats.

Dear Parents, Guardians, Pupils and Friends of the school,
I hope you are all well and looking forward to Christmas. This time of year is very busy for everyone and
it’s no different here in Good Counsel. The girls and staff here are busy preparing for the Christmas
Activities before we break for Christmas on December 22nd.

Christmas Activities
We have plenty planned for all of the classes for Christmas! We look forward to Christmas plays, Carol
Singing, the Carol Service, Christmas Jumper Day and we might even fit in a movie and a treat for the
girls too! Please see relevant dates below regarding some of the activities. Thank you also to the Parents
Association for their help in providing some treats for the girls.

Tuesday December 19th – Junior Infants Christmas play for junior infant parents @1pm.

Junior Infants may be collected at the usual time of 1.45p.m.

Wednesday December 20th – Carol Service @ 2pm for the school in the Sacred Heart Church Ferrybank. We hope to see you all there!

Please note that all of the classes will be going to the Carol Service including Junior and Senior Infants.
After the Carol Service, the classes will return to the school with their teacher. Parents can collect their daughters from the school at the following times:

Junior and Senior Infants: 2.50pm

1st and 2nd class: 2.55pm

3rd to 6th class: 3.00pm

Apologies for this later finish but it is a special occasion for the school.
Note that this is a school celebration for Christmas but if you would rather your daughter not
attend the church please let her teacher know so alternative arrangements can be made.

Friday December 22nd – Christmas Jumper Day.

There will be a half day also and classes will finish at:
Junior and Senior Infants – 12.10pm
1st and 2nd Class – 12.15pm
3rd to 6th Class – 12.20pm

Christmas Cards
As we are a Green School and in order to avoid waste, the girls are asked not to bring in Christmas
Cards for one another. Instead, girls in each class will make a special card here in school for one other
member of their class which they can exchange and bring home.

Cold Weather
The weather has gotten progressively colder over the last few weeks. Please ensure that your daughter
wears warm clothing coming to school including a coat, hat and gloves. The girls are welcome to wear
extra base layers if needed while ensuring that they are wearing the appropriate uniform.

Reusable Uniforms
We are always happy to receive uniforms that can be reused. If you have any clean uniforms – shirts,
polo shirts, ties, pinafores, skirts, tracksuits, jumpers that are no longer of use to you we are happy to
accept them here. These may be dropped into Tracey in the office. Many thanks.

Camogie
The girls enjoyed their last day of camogie today with John Doxer Burns. A big thanks to Doxer and the
SETU students who gave him a hand over the last 6 weeks. The girls thoroughly enjoyed it and hopefully
learned a few tricks along the way!

Irish Dancing in the New Year
We are delighted to welcome Irish dancing back to our school in January with Dawn McGrath. The girls
in Junior Infants to 2nd class will take part every Tuesday for 10 weeks. The school will subsidise the lessons and the cost will be €10 per child (€1 per lesson) which will be collected in January. A note will go
out in January to remind parents.

Traffic Restrictions in January
There will be some changes to the road layout outside of the school starting on January 8th. This has been included in our latest news – please see the update here https://goodcounselgns.ie/category/latest/

Upcoming dates
School will close (half day see above) on Friday, December 22nd and reopen at 9.00am on Monday, January 8th.

Christmas at Our Lady of Good Counsel GNS

Our Jesse Tree

Finally, just a short note to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Many thanks to everyone who helps make our
school a better place for all of the girls. Thank you to all our staff for their hard work, parents, Board of
Management, Parents Association, members of the wider community and to the girls themselves who are
pleasure to work with every day. Have a lovely Christmas and we will see everyone here in school again
in January!

Your sincerely,
J. Nagle
Principal