Digital Learning
Dear Dads, Mums, Pupils and Staff,

The girls in Sixth Class have been ‘road-testing’ our lovely new tablets. When I visited their classroom last Friday and they were working hard on researching projects on the theme of World War 11. There are some great photos on the Sixth Class Blog on the school website, so why not have a look. www.goodcounselgns.com
We have recently bought twelve tablets for use in our classrooms. They are a tool for learning and will be used in different ways in different class settings. For example, the younger girls may use some educational apps for Maths or Literacy, while the older girls may do some word processing or research. The tablets are stored on special trolleys, where they re-charge every night. Each trolley has a Wi-Fi capability, so we can create a little Wi-Fi bubble in a classroom whenever the girls need access to something on the internet.
We’re delighted with our new technology and a special word of thanks goes to our Digital Learning Team, led by our Deputy Principal Ms. Ryan. Ms. Ryan, Mrs. Ryan and Mrs. O’Neill, have worked hard on preparing an eLearning Plan for the school, and on sourcing and buying the hardware and we are all grateful to them.
Yours sincerely,

___________________________
C. O’Reilly – Principal

Printers/DVD Players

We have, three printers, two DVD players and two wireless keyboards that are no longer needed, if anyone would like them you are welcome to call to the school and pick them up.

Great Success
Active School Week was a great success. It was wonderful to hear that so many of the girls have joined the local soccer and Camogie clubs after learning about them during Active School week. Well done girls and remember to thank you Mams and Dads for bringing you along to training. With your help, we also managed to ‘walk’ all the way to Prague, which is a total of 1,882kms. We can achieve amazing things by working together.
There was some more good news this week for the girls in Rang IV. During Bike Week, Waterford City and County Council held a competition for a grant to organise a cycling event. Because the girls in Fourth Class took part so well in their Safe Cycling Course, we decided to make an application, and we were successful! We have received €250 which we hope to use to bring Fourth Class on a little cycling trip on the Waterford Greenway. So, keep practising your cycling at home girls.

Would You Like to Play Golf?
Waterford Golf Club is having a Junior Open Evening on Tuesday 15th May from 5-6.30p.m. It is open to everyone so why not go along and give it a try!

First Holy Communion
We send out very best wishes to the girls in Second Class who will receive their First Holy Communion on Saturday morning. They have been preparing well with their teacher, Ms. Finucane and they are excited and ready for the big day.
Visitor Tomorrow morning, we will welcome Sr. Maria Comerford to the school. Sr. Maria is the Diocesan advisor for schools and we are delighted that she is coming to see us again. Sr. Maria will visit some of the classrooms and talk to the teachers and the children about they are getting on with the Grow in Love programme.

Green Flag News
On May 22nd, Ms. Finucane will travel to Kilkenny with members of the Green Flag Committee, to collect our school’s 7th Green Flag. This is a wonderful achievement and we hope that Ms. Finucane, Ms. Fenton, Isabelle and Grace will enjoy their day out.

Be Active After School Programme
Once again, Miss Walsh has taken on the organisation of this programme for the girls if First and Second Classes. Anyone who is taking part, stays back after school on Tuesday afternoons, for fun games and activities. Even the rain doesn’t stop them! The dates for the rest of the programme are: May 15th, 22nd, 29th and June 12th. On those dates, the girls who are taking part should wear their tracksuits and runners to school. Thank you Miss Walsh, Mrs. O’Neill, Ms. Fenton, Mr. Dooley, Rose, Billy and Anna for giving your time to this fun programme.

Free Draw – Download Now!
We use the Text a Parent service as an easy way to keep in touch. Almost half of you have downloaded the free Text a Parent App. By downloading the App, you help the school to cut costs (it is half the price of a normal SMS message to send a message to the App). Using the App also gives you access to a School Calendar where you can receive reminders of upcoming events. As a small thank you everyone who has downloaded the App. we will have a draw for three prizes on Wednesday 30th May. The names of everyone who has downloaded the App by then will go in the draw so make sure you are included. The App is available from the App Store and from Google Play and can be used on both Apple and Android devices.
https://tinurl.com/y9474vam

May Altar
May is the month when we focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus. The practice dates back at least 700 years and is still observed around the world today. In our school during the month of May we have a lovely tradition of setting up a May Altar to honour Our Lady. The girls take turns to bring in flowers for the altar. Thank you to everyone who has brought flowers this week and we look forward to keeping Our Lady surrounded by flowers for the rest of the month. There is no need for the girls to buy flowers. One or two flowers from each garden will make a lovely display.
This week: Senior Infants, Sixth Class
May 14th First and Second Classes
May 21st Junior Infants and Fifth Class
May 28th Third and Fourth Classes

Ramadan Mubarak
The Holy Month of Ramadan will begin on May 16th. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic Lunar Calendar. It is a time of fasting for Muslims. During Ramadan, Muslim families fast during daylight hours. They also pray and think about those who are poor or less fortunate than themselves. At the end of Ramadan, there is a big festival called Eid-ul-Fitr. Friends and family gather together to celebrate by wearing their best clothes, giving presents and making donations to charity.
This is a special time for some of our school community. We wish you a blessed Ramadan – Ramadan Mubarak.

Dates In May
1st Bealtaine
7th Bank Holiday
8th Be Active
11th Rhythm and Shales 1st 5th 6th
12th First Holy Communion
14th Yoga Rang 3
15th Be Active
16th Ramadan begins
18th Rhythm and Shales 1st 5th 6th
20th Pentecost Sunday
21st Yoga Rang 3
22nd Be Active
25th School Closed
26th Independence Day Georgia