4th class are currently reading and enjoying the novel ‘Gangsta Granny’ by David Walliams. In Irish we have started the aimsir caite (past tense). In Maths we have been responding to and making up ‘likely’, ‘unlikely’ and ‘never’ sentences, using dice and flipping coins and exploring the topic of chance. Last week was Science week and 4th class carried out experiments in school and some girls tried out a few experiments at home such as the skittles and floating egg experiment. We had a zoom meeting on Friday where we learned facts about cows, milk and grass.
Wrap Up, Stay Warm
Dear Mams, Dads, Pupils and Staff,
Welcome back for the second half of Term 1. We have been blessed so far this week with lovely bright sunshine. However, it can get cold during the day. We are working hard to balance the need for lots of ventilation in the classrooms with heating the building, so please make sure that the girls wear warm layers, like thermal vests, under their uniforms and long socks or tights. We are also spending as much time as possible outdoors, so it is important that the girls bring their coats, hats and gloves to school. A huge ‘Well Done’ for wearing your high-vis jackets Girls! It is especially important at this time of year when the mornings and afternoons are darker.
As you all know, the number of Covid-19 cases in the community is rising. At school we are continuing with all the measures that were put in place last year – sanitising, handwashing, extra cleaning, social distancing, etc. I would appeal to everyone to please do your best to continue with mask wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene outside of school. As far as possible avoid sleepovers. Most importantly, if your child is unwell, she should stay at home. Like yourselves, we want to keep the school open so let’s continue to work together to do that. The Department of Education has asked us to share this link with you.
On Friday 19th November, the school will close early for all pupils.
Junior and Senior Infants @ 12.15p.m
First and Second Classes at 12.25p.m
All other classes at 12.30p.m.
This is to facilitate in-service training for the Staff in the Primary Language Curriculum.
Credit Union Art Competition
A big ‘Well Done’ to Rosie (5th Class) who won First Prize in her category of the St. Dominic Credit Union Art Competition. Rosie will receive her prize on Wednesday 10th November, and her artwork will now go forward to the next level of the competition.
STEM News from Mr. Dooley
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)
Before the Halloween break the girls had great fun being Mathematicians and taking part in Maths Week. Next week will be Science Week, where classes will be carrying out science experiments.
Some of our families are currently celebrating the festival of Diwali or Deepavali. Diwali is a five-day Festival of Lights in the Hindu faith, with each day having a different set of rituals and traditions.
Day 1 — Dhanteras: November 2, 2021
This is the first day of the festival when people clean their homes and prepare for the events ahead. This is also a busy shopping day
Day 2 — Choti Diwali: November 3, 2021
The second day is when people startdecorating their homes.Many families will put up string lights and start creating their rangoli, which are intricate designs placed on the floors of homes.
Day 3 — Diwali and Lakshmi Puja: November 4, 2021
The most important part of the celebration is the ritual that takes place on this day. Clay oil lamps or diyas are lit and rituals worshipping the goddess Lakshmi are performed. On the day of Diwali, families get together to exchange gifts and have a large meal. Many people wear their nicest clothes on this day and say ‘Happy Diwali’ to each other.
Day 4 — Padwa: November 5, 2021
The fourth day of celebrations is dedicated to the love between husband and wife, and men will often buy gifts for their wives.
Day 5 — Bhai Duj: November 6, 2021
Bhai Duj, the last day of celebrations is dedicated to brothers and sisters.
We wish a very ‘Happy Diwali’ to anyone who is celebrating at this time.
Amber Flag and Pieta House
Girls, well done on your fantastic Hallowe’en costumes on Friday 22nd. Your Mams and Dads did a great job getting you all dressed up. Our sincere thanks to all of you who sent in a donation for Pieta House.
Children First
National Children First Awareness Week will run from the 1st to 7th November. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of Children First and remind wider society, including organisations working with children and young people, of our collective responsibility to keep them safe in our communities.
Children First promotes the protection of children from abuse and neglect, by setting out what individuals and organisations need to do to keep children safe, and how to deal with concerns about a child’s safety or welfare.
If you would like more information, please check out this link: gov.ie/childrenfirst
Random Act of Kindness Day November 13th
“No act of kindness no matter how small, is ever wasted,” – Aesop
Is there something you can do to cheer someone up on Saturday 13th?
Special Assembly
Tomorrow, Mrs. Ryan’s Third Class will lead a Prayer Service at our weekly Zoom Assembly. The theme is ‘All Saints and All Souls’. November is the month when we pray for everyone we know who has died, and for all those who have no-one to pray for them. We have a Remembrance Box in our school’s Sacred Space where the girls can put the name of anyone they would like us to pray for. Sr. Maria, who is the Diocesan Advisor for schools, will join us by Zoom for our Special Assembly tomorrow.
On Tuesday, the feast of All Souls, some of our classes joined the 10.30a.m. Mass in the Parish Church via the webcam.
Poem for November
Based on the feedback provided by parents, teachers and the pupils in last year’s survey, we have decided to take some little steps towards a more regular Homework routine. Over the next number of weeks, teachers will assign a small amount of Homework for the girls to complete. Please just do your best girls. We will continue to use the Seesaw App to post Homework so that we can all remain familiar with how it works. If you have any problem accessing the work, please let your child’s teacher know, and he/she will get back to you as soon as possible. We will review again before Christmas and decide on how to proceed in the New Year. For November and December:
From Third Class to Sixth Class, Homework will include Reading, Spellings and Tables.
First and Second Class will focus on Reading based activities.
Junior and Senior Infants will work on literacy activities that are suitable to their age group.
Halloween Dress Up!Mummy Making – Pod 3!Mummy Making – Pod 4!Mummy Making – Pod 1!Mummy Making – Pod 2!Yummy Chocolate Apples! Halloween Dancing!
Our Lady of Good Counsel GNS is a Catholic Primary School for girls. Our school is committed to fostering the development of the whole person, in partnership with parents and guided by Christian values and principles, in an environment that is happy, caring and enriching.
A School Creed This is our school. Let peace dwell here, Let the rooms be full of contentment, Let love abide here, Love of one another, Love of mankind, Love of life itself, And love of God. Let us remember That, as many hands build a house, So many hearts make a school.
Traditional (Source: The Works 2 – B. Moses and P. Corbett – Macmillan)
Curriculum
Our School Plan for teaching and learning is derived from The Revised Primary School Curriculum (Curaclam na Bunscoile), which was implemented by the Department of Education and Skills in 1999.
It consists of the following subjects:
Languages
English, Gaeilge
Mathematics
Social, Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE)
History, Geography and Science
Arts Education
Visual Arts, Music, Drama
Physical Education
Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE)
Relationships and Sexuality Education, The Stay Safe Programme, Walk Tall
Religious Education
All of these subject areas are taught from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
Each teacher draws up a Yearly Plan for the children in her/his care. Every fortnight, teachers develop a Short Term plan from the Yearly Plan and at the end of every month, teachers report on progress to the Principal.
If you would like more information on the Revised Primary School Curriculum, please go to www.curriculumonline.ie
