Newsletter October 2019

KNOCKANEAN N.S

Dear Parents/ Guardians,

Personal Belongings: Please make sure to put your children’s names on items such as coats, tops, lunch boxes etc. This makes it much easier for us to return the lost item and it greatly in-creases the chances of you getting them back!

Art and craft /photocopying etc. contribution: The cost is €40 per child, €65 for two children and €80 for three or more children. Pupil Personal Accident insurance: This costs €8 per child. This is 24 hour cover, 365 days per year and represents excellent value. If you have not returned either of the above, could you please do so at your earliest convenience.

Intel Mini Scientist: This competition is an initiative which allows students from 4th, 5th and 6th classes to develop science related projects which are then exhibited at school level. We are hav-ing this exhibition on Thursday Oct 24th between 11.30 a.m. and 1.30 pm, where members of the school community can drop in and view all of the projects. The pu-pils have put a huge amount of time and effort into these and are looking forward to showing them off! This display will take place in 4th 5th and 6th classrooms in the new building so feel free to have a browse!

Limerick Festival of Science 2019: On Monday, the 11th of November, pupils from fifth class will be attending a talk in U.L. on 'How to Build an Ironman Suit'. They are looking forward to it! Pen Pal Project: Fifth class in Knockanean N.S. are taking part in a penpal project with Adamstown Castle Educate Together National School in Dublin. They have sent their first letters and are eagerly awaiting a reply. Fifth class have also made a short film using IMovies showing their penpals around our school. Student Council: The following are the members of our Student Council for the coming school year: (6th ) Leon Talty , Aoibh Blake (5th) Oscar O Gara, Orla Mulli-gan (4th ) Meadhbh Mockler, Micheal Kelly, (3rd ) Chloe Cosgrove, Nathan Dixon, (2nd) Jeffrey Carolan, Layla Moloney, Adam Lehane, Siara Moore They will meet every month with Sinead and Edel to discuss their wonderful ideas on school life! Active Schools Committee: The following are the members of our Active Schools Committee for the coming year: Oisin Penston,Aoibheann Moore, Laura Warner, Leah Harte, Amy Butler, Chloe Cosgrove, Jonah Quinn, Kate Mc Mahon, Sophie Talty, George Leahy, Niamh Cullinan, Lily Hegarty, Ava Dowling. We are continuing with the Active School’s programme and this committee will assist and advise Colm Mullen in the implementation of the various activities!!! Junior Entrepreneurs Programme (JEP): Once again Sixth class will be taking part in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme, further details of their activities in this area to follow as the programme gains momentum. Accelerated Reading (A.R.): This initiative is now up and running since September in classes 2nd – 6th

Parent Teacher Meetings These will take place on Tue Nov 12th and Wed Nov 13th. Like last year, parents will be able to book times directly themselves through Aladdin Connect. More information closer to the time.

My Learner I.D.: 3rd ,4th and 5th classes are continuing with this programme start-ed last year. This is a programme for pupils to learn ‘how to learn’, to become and be learners. ‘My Learner ID’ gives every pupil a 'voice' and helps children understand and explore how they learn. Importantly, it also allows others to understand the learning ways of each learner. Music Generation: Music Generation Clare is a performance music education ser-vice for children and young people in Clare that provides opportunities for children and young people to access a range of high quality, subsidised vocal and instrumental tuition in their local area. This year classes 3rd – 6th are taking part in the Kids Ceol Programme, which is a 25 week Music Enrichment Programme. The aim of this pro-gramme is to complement, but not replace, the national school music curriculum through active music making in the classroom. Creative Cluster: This initiative aims to deliver on the creative youth pillar of the Government’s Creative Ireland programme, which seeks to enable the creative poten-tial of every child and young person. It involves schools collaborating on the design, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of an innovative arts and creative learning project which supports pupils to address a common issue or challenge. This year we have teamed up with CBS Ennis and St Anne’s Special School to work on our chosen theme of “Our journey together through the Arts”. This will involve theatre visits, art exhibitions and workshops in each of these areas.

Debating: Debating is a great way of airing different points of view. Six pupils from fifth class have formed a debating team and are looking forward to receiving their first motion from Primary Debating Ireland. It is a nationwide competition. Last year, over 400 primary schools were involved. See: https://www.concern.net/schools-and-youth/debates/primary-school for more information.

Cup Print: Cup Print is a local company that is celebrating ten years in business. Many pupils in fifth class have entered their 'Design a Recyclable Paper Cup Compe-tition'. We wish them the best of luck!

The Halloween Party: The annual Halloween party will take place in the West County Hotel on October 24th from 6.30-8.30 p.m. Admission is €10 per family. There will be a raffle on the night so if anyone wants to drop in a spot prize to the school or on the night, it would be greatly appreciated.

Halloween Food: Please be aware of the whole school ban on food containing nuts / traces of nuts particularly at this time of year coming up to Halloween

Sport: Girls and Boys Football: Neither of the two teams this year progressed beyond the group stages Futsal: 3rd & 4th classes took part in this inter school competition on Oct 10th Show Jumping: On Friday October 11th, nine of our pupils took part in this inter school event. In the team event we finished 6th out of 17 teams. Thanks to Anne O’ Neill for organising this and to Aileen Vaughan for helping her on the day Swimming: 5th class started lessons on October 16th – November 27th and 2nd class start on December 4th. The children will be brought to and from the pool and must be collected from the school. Swimming gala: 8 pupils from the school took part in the inter schools swimming gala in U.L on Sat Oct 12th

Dates to remember:

Halloween Break: School closes Fri October 25th and reopens Tue November 5th

School Closure: School closed on Nov 4th due to Primary Language Training for

teachers.

Sacraments: Talk for parents of Confirmation class 8p.m.on Wednesday 23rd in Au-

burn Lodge Hotel

Halloween Party: Thursday October 24th, 6.30-8.30 p.m. West County Hotel

Intel Mini-Scientist Exhibition: Thursday, October 24th 11.30 a.m.-1.30 p.m.

Parent teacher meetings: November 12th & 13th

Yours sincerely,

Jim Curran ,Principal