SCOIL COLM NEWSLETTERVolume 2, Issue 6 May 9th 2013

Principal: Ms C Ní ChianáinDeputy Principal: Mr O’Donnell

Dear FriendsWe are now well into the final term of the school year. Our second class boys have been preparing for their First Communion on 11th May with their teacher, Ms Gilheaney. We wish them well on their big day. Our Whole School Evaluation took place on the 15th, 16th and 17th April. I would like to say a huge “thank you” to the staff of the school for their hard work and their continued commitment to the pupils of our school. Our Sponsored Walk will take place on Wednesday, 15th May, weather permitting. This year, we are planning to walk in the afternoon. This will mean that when we return to school from the walk, there will be minimal disruption before the pupils go home at 2.30pm. Please come and join us if you are free to do so on the day. There will be many other events taking place in May and June and information on these events will be uploaded to our website calendar regularly. Our website address is www.scoilcolm.scoilnet.ie. In particular, we would like to extend a warm welcome to our new boys who will be visiting the school for the first time on 21st May with their parents. Once again this year, pupil attendance has continued to improve overall and we want to keep it up right until the end of June. Please help us to give our pupils the best education we can provide by ensuring that they are in school on-time, every day. Thanking you for your continued support of our school.

Claire Ní Chianáin

School Closures: The school will close at 2.30pm on Friday, 31st May and re-open on Thursday, 6th June at 8.50am.

Sponsored Walk 2013 15th May 2013 (weather permitting)

It’s that time of year again when the whole school community at Scoil Colm takes part in our annual sponsored walk. The walk is lots of fun for everyone involved, but also raises much-needed funds for our school. Parents and family members are most welcome to join us on the walk. (Any children not attending the school should be accompanied by an adult.) This year, we have decided to walk in the afternoon and will leave the school at approximately 1.15pm.There will be refreshments provided to the boys on their return to school. Our thanks to Glanmore Foods for their sponsorship of the refreshments.

Road Safety: Please ensure your son crosses the road outside the school with the lollipop lady.

Fundraising: Thank you to all who organize and support our fundraising events.

Page 2 of 4 Students’ Page Scoil Colm NewsletterRough and tough, an aggressive game,Utterly amazing the pain we gain.Great players withstand it all,Because they're so good with a rugby ball.Young players dream that Leinster calls. by Craig D, Room 6

Rugby Blitz On the 29th April, Ms. Coady came into fifth and sixth class. She said that there would be a tag rugby blitz on near the Aviva Stadium soon. Only fourteen boys will be able to go from Scoil Colm; Ms. Coady is going to pick fourteen names out of a hat. There will be a training session twice a week for three weeks. I hope I get picked for the team. by Jordan N, Room 6

Planting Seeds by Kevin R, Room 5In Room 5, we planted carrot seeds. Two shoots have come up so far. We need to water them every day. Last month, I was in the poly-tunnel with Room 6. I transplanted small flowers into a big pot. I love gardening. I do it at home as well.

Saving Energy and Recycling:Scoil Colm is a Green School. We are good at recycling. This year we are concentrating on Saving Energy. Here are some tips: 1. Open the blinds and turn off the lights when possible. 2. Turn off the computer and Interactive Whiteboard when you are finished using them.3. Use energy saving light bulbs.4. Keep doors closed to keep the heat in.5. Switch the red light off on your television. By Joseph L, Room 5

Page 3 of 4 Students’ Page Scoil Colm Newsletter

Our School TripYesterday 4th class & 5th went to Kilmainham Jail and the Art Museum. We went on the bus at 9:20 AM. First we went to the Art Museum. It was great we saw a series of lovely paintings. We learned a bit about Mary Swanzy who is a great Irish painter. After we went to the basement and made our own painting. After that we ate our lunch on a pitch of grass.After lunch we walked to Kilmainham Jail. It was very interesting.First we went to a cinema and saw what it was like when it was made. Then we went to all the cells. Then we went to Robert Emmet’s room that he bought. Then we went out to the courtyard and that’s where James Connolly was shot and so were other people. Cian V, 4th Class

SCHOOL TRIP TO KILMAINHAM4th and 5th class went to Kilmainham for a trip,on 30-4-13.1st we went to the art gallery to look at all the paintings. We looked at pictures by Mary Swanzy, an Irish painter.Then we learned about French artist Andre LhoteAfter a series of paintings, we all went down to the basement to do our own art.When we left, we went to a patch of grass for lunch.After lunch we walked to Kilmainham Jail for a trip.First we went to a cinema to watch a small clip which also had still image pictures.Then we went to a hall full of cells.On the bottom floor Sean Huestons cell was there.Then we were brought to a room that was bought by Robert Emmet.Next we were brought to the execution yard and that was my favourite part . Carl J, 4th Class

SOCCER TEAM In our school Scoil Colm we have our own soccer team. We played a good few matches and we have a great team. Our last match was against Mourne Road in Drimnagh. We lost 3¬-2 but we played very well. Sean Murray scored the first goal. It was a fantastic goal. Then I ran the pitch and scored and that was a fantastic goal too. We are doing very well. We have a match on Thursday 02/05/13. We have to win this to stay in the cup and we have a great chance of winning. I hope we win. By Michael, Room 8

The Five Aside Me, Micheal Mc Guirk, Ryan Daly, Sean Murray, Morgan O’ Dwyer, Adam Plunkett, Devin Gallagher and Ian Farrelly went to the five-aside down in Ringsend to represent the school. Mr Duffy and Ms. Clarke gave us a lift down to the Astro-turf. The Astro-turf was split into four pitches. We played against three other teams. The first match ended 0-0. Then the second match ended 1-0 to us. .Afterwards we drew 0-0 again and in the last game we had to win. Unfortunately we got beaten 2-0 but we played very well and we were very very unlucky. It was a very fun day even though we did not make it to the semi-final or the final. We came 3rd in the group but only the first two got through BY JAKE ROOM 8

Page 4 of 4 Parents’ Page Scoil Colm Newsletter

Standardised Tests

On May 22nd, 28rd and 29th, standardised tests in English and Maths will be administered to the pupils in our school. All schools in the country must use the tests. The NCCA have a leaflet with information for parents called “Your Child and Standardised Testing” on their website – www.ncca.ie. Here is some information from that leaflet: What is a standardised test?We are all familiar with the idea of tests in school. Your child probably tells you how he did in a spelling or tables test prepared by the teacher. A standardised test is another kind of test. The standardised tests in English reading and Maths measure a child’s achievement compared to other children in all schools at the same class level or age level. Should I help my child prepare for standardised tests?No. Standardised tests are one source of information about your child’s achievement in English reading and Maths. The teacher gathers information about your child’s learning all the time. Your child will take the standardised tests on a regular school day as part of his daily work in the classroom. Indeed, your child may not even realise that he has taken the tests!How will I know how my child has done on the standardised tests? You child’s class teacher will share the test results with you, in a school report.

HOMEWORK: The benefits of homework.Homework will tend have a specific purpose and will be given consistently, in small quantities. It is extremely useful for a number of reasons:• It acts as a form of communication between school and home• It allows you to see how your child is progressing in different areas• It helps to develop the child’s self-discipline• It helps a child to become an independent learner• It is helpful to revise or reinforce work done in school• It may be used to finish work that was begun in schoolDon’t judge your child’s teacher by the amount of homework he or she gives! Valuable school time can be ineffectively used if too much homework needs to be corrected.• Agree on a set time for homework with your child. Give them some element of choice e.g., homework is done between

5.30 and 7.30 each evening, but the children start and finish at a time of their choosing, within that time frame.• When you’ve made decisions together, stick to them until they need to be reviewed. This applies to everything, not just

homework issues!• Make sure they’re sitting comfortably at a table• Be consistent. Discuss, monitor, check and sign homework every night if possible, but at least very regularly. Better to

spend 5 minutes every night than to leave it for three weeks and then spend 2 hours at it!• The child should be encouraged to complete the homework, working independently• It is best, though not always possible, for both parents to be involved in a child’s school life and homework, but not at

the same time. Children should see that both parents are interested and involved in their education. It may be more difficult for one parent than the other to be available every evening but effort should be made to find some participative role suitable to all parties

• Try to avoid confrontation with children over homework. If you’re getting impatient, it’s best to stop and try to come back to it a little later

• Allow children to make mistakes. Rather than correct them all the time, encourage them to find and correct their own mistakes. Children must be able to accept that making mistakes is part of the learning process and it’s important that they are willing to go back and try a different method or approach.

• If your child is having genuine difficulty, try to help them but don’t exceed the allotted time. Make contact with the teacher, explaining that your child honestly worked for the allotted time. If you can, point out the child’s specific difficulties.

• If you display undue anxiety about children’s schoolwork or homework, it creates tension within the child. Acknowledge and respect their effort, honesty and enthusiasm. This way, children will progress and develop at their own pace, in a safe and relaxed environment.