analysis on our Electricity bills.

The Green Flag was raised after

a ceremony on June 13th by

Mairead and Sabrina, the oldest

and youngest in the school.

More information on this occa-

sion can be found on the Green

Flag page of the website.

On May 19th we were delighted to

welcome Assistant Principal Mrs

Bergin, Una lavelle parent, and

Nonie Lavelle and Aoife Hynes

from the Green Schools committee

back to the school with our 2nd

Green Flag. This was just reward

and recognition for Mrs Bergin and

her Green Schools committee who

worked extremely hard over the 2

years to secure the flag encompassing

designing wind turbines, visiting a

wind turbine farm and doing some

extremely important

Scoil Mhichil Naofa Galmoy Summer Newsletter 2014,

Newsletter Date The Galmoy Gazette

Special points of

interest:

2nd Green Flag

Scoilnet Star-Site

School Tours

Martin Brennan

Handball News

Summer Works

Board News &

Farewells

Inside this issue:

Green Flag 1

School Tours 2

Scoilnet Award 2

Handball News 2

Summer Works

3

Martin Brennan 4

Board News &

Farewells

5

Thanks to our Board

of Management,

Parents and Parents

Association for their

help, assistance and

support throughout

the year. It is hugely

appreciated by all the

staff.

Check out Scoilnets review of our website here

https://www.scoilnet.ie/scoilnet/star-site/scoil-mhichil-naofa/

In May 2014 we received the great news that

our website was being recognised by the

NCTE through their Star Site initiative.

Scoilnet's much-coveted Star Site award

recognises schools that are embracing

the web as a communication tool. They

spoke very highly of our website and it

was very gratifying to get this recogni-

tion as the website continues to go from

strength to strength. It proves its value

as a communication hub for the whole

community. It provides some excellent

examples of the children’s outstanding

work in the school . We will develop

this comprehensively in the new school

year so if you haven't already please take

time to acquaint yourselves with our

website which we are so proud of.

Scoilnet Star Site Award

Some of our Chess league winners from early 2014

School Tours -reland Hurling final which made

for hard viewing for some!!! We

then went to the Viking experi-

ence in Dublinia which proved to

be very interesting learning all

about the Vikings way of life and

their traditions and customs. We

also got to wear some of the

costumes of the time. Wow that

chain mail was heavy. All boarded

the bus satisfied with their days

experience and some slept

soundly the whole way home.

The infants went to Lullymore

pet farm and play area in

Rathangan On June 6th. They

were blessed once again with

good weather and the school

VIPs as they like to call them-

selves travelled on a bus befitting

their status! Loads of fun was had

petting and feeding the animals as

well as getting to play in the play-

ground. And ball pools. We were

so good that the owners asked

us to stay for an extra hour and a

half to play for free! We were

tired but well satisfied with what

was the first school tour for

This year Galmoy made the

annual Kilkenny pilgrimage to

Croke Park—only this summer it

was in May as Mr Boyle and Mr

Collins classes went to Dublin.

There was great excitement on

departure as the weather ap-

peared to be on our side. We

went to Croke Park first where

we took in the museum, dressing

rooms and got a great view of

the pitch from the stands. We

also watched clips of the 2010 All

“Age is an issue of

mind over matter.

If you don't mind,

it doesn't matter.”

Mark Twain.

Page 2

Issue 6 The Galmoy Gazette

At the time of writing we are

delighted to be contesting yet

another county under 13 hurling

semi final. This time against our

near neighbours Johnstown. All

the best to all involved. It’s a

great tribute to all involved who

work so hard throughout the

year.

It has been another remarkable

handball season. This year Billy

Drennan stepped up to the un-

der 11 A grade and duly became

county and Leinster champion.

This was a fantastic achievement

and to top this Billy went to th

All Irelands in Cavan and finished

an incredible 2nd up against play-

ers with a couple years more

experience than him.

You wouldn't think achievements

like this could be matched but

matched it was by Kelly Ann

Ryan who only playing handball

for 6 months won the Leinster

one wall doubles competition

with her partner for Kilkenny.

We also had our own in-schools

doubles competition for the Ryan

Cup, kindly donated by parent

Peter Ryan and his family. This

competition ran for 3 months in

the pavilion during lunchtime.

We played out to 4 and in a very

entertaining final between Billy

Drennan / Amy Sherman and

Rachel Nicholson / David Sher-

man left the onlookers enthralled

and entertained. Finally Billy and

Amy won out and we now look

forward to running this competi-

tion next year.

Finally a word of thanks to

Galmoy GAA and Handball

clubs for their help, support

and use of their facilities

throughout the year. Our many

lunchtime hurling matches and

training session as well as hand-

ball games in the pavilion

would not take place if it were

not for the clubs kind provision

of access to their facilities..

Also at the time of writing the

county B under 11 handball

championships for boys and

girls have been postponed until

September and the under 13

championships will take place in

the next week or so. We look

forward to September—some

counties more than others !!!

school. This will free

up the spaces at the

front of the school

for parents and

make it generally

much safer for drop

-off and pick-up

times. I want to

thank all those in

advance who have

volunteered their

time and resources

to this work in par-

This summer promises to be an extremely busy

one in the school We have already received

confirmation of funding from the Department

for the provision of a whole new heating sys-

tem. This will also involve the laying of a new

floor in the kitchen. On top of this we also have

perimeter weld mesh fencing being erected

around our new playground from last year as

well as new playground markings on the yard.

These will all be completed in the coming

months. We are also building a new staff car

park for 11 cars which will be located on the

ground between the GAA pavilion and the

ticular. It would not be possible

without the local partnership and

kindness of all involved. Any help

during the summer for this work

would be greatly appreciated.

GAA and Handball News

Summer Works

Page 3

I ssue 6

Martin Brennan is a local author who has wrote a trilogy of books about a family with special powers who live in Lon-

don. Martin came to the school to do a reading and had the pupils enthralled as he explained how he got the idea for

his book, his planning of the story and characters. The children were amazed to hear that he had also illustrated the

story himself. The children showed their interest with the many intelligent questions they posed for Martin as he

regaled his experiences as an author to them. Martin is in the process of writing new books and we would love to see

him back with us in the future. If the speed at which the first batch of books he left with us sold out the next batch

could be sold before h leaves the school grounds! We would like to thank Martin for his time and particularly when

he came back to the school to sign copies of the book for the children.

Martin Brennan—author “The Havishams.

Galmoy ,

Via Thurles,

Co. Kilkenny

Phone: 0568831481

E-mail: galmoyns.ias@eircom.net

A curtain was brought down on another busy and fulfilling year for the Board of Manage-

ment at Scoil Mhichil Naofa. Tommy Culleton, Bernadette Bergin, Marie Phelan, Gerard Ma-

her chairman, Brian Boyle, Marie Phelan and parent reps Jarlath Duggan parent reps have

worked very hard on the schools behalf. Highlights this year included giving the go ahead to

further developments encompassing the new heating system, further playground upgrades

and a new staff car-park. The board reviewed and adopted new Anti Bullying, Maths and SEN

policies. New policies for the coming year will include Class Split and Class retention policies

as well as review of Child protection and enrolment policies. The school has engaged active-

ly with the School Self Evaluation Policy. Next year will also see the formation of a new 3

year improvement plan as the first 3 year plan has just reached its conclusion. I would like to

thank all board members for their commitment and hard work throughout the year.

Scoil Mhichil Naofa Galmoy

Summer Newsletter 2013,

Farewells

Board News

Organization

We’re on twitter :

@galmoyns

It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Ms Andrea Murphy and Mr David Col-

lins from our staff. Ms Murphy moves on to pastures new and leaves after 8 years on

the staff . Andrea will be sadly missed from the school where she spent 8 years of

dedicated and rewarding service in the school. She always aspired to bring enjoyment,

knowledge and thought inspiring lessons into her classroom, We wish her the best in

the future and hope our paths will cross again.

Mr David Collins has been in our school for the year and has been a huge asset to the

school during his time with us. He has worked very hard and engaged the children

inside and outside his class on a daily basis with his energy and enthusiasm. We wish

him all the best for the future knowing he will be a huge asset in whatever school is

lucky enough to secure his services.