School Tours 2016
Last Friday, 17th June, excitement was rife as classes from 1st to 6th embarked on their school tours. 1st class visited Stonehall Pet Farm, followed by a picnic and games in Curragh Chase. 2nd and 3rd went to the Aquadome in Tralee, followed by an afternoon in Active Kingdom, while 4th, 5th and 6th took off to Kilkee for a day of canoeing, surfing, and orienteering, followed by a round of bowling. Then on Monday, 20th, the Juniors and Seniors went on a Teddy Bears' Picnic to the park. Take a look at some of our snaps from our adventures!
Teddy Bears' Picnic June 20th 2016
Kilkee June 20th
CraftEd
15/06: Design & Crafts Council of Ireland’s CRAFTed programme gives primary school children and teachers an exciting opportunity to explore their creativity and learn new skills by working with professional craftspeople. Ballingarry N.S. was one of four Limerick schools to be chosen to participate in the 2016 programme. Mr. Keogh was the school facilitator and attended planning meetings in the Education Centre in Limerick, where he met the chosen artist, Kate O'Kelly. Kate, an NCAD art graduate, multiple award winner, and accomplished and decorated ceramic artist, was eager to help us create something meaningful for our school. After much thought and consideration we decided to create something around the theme of nature, as our school is in pursuit of our fifth green flag , where biodiversity is the theme.
Over ten sessions in term three, the 6th class pupils created the most beautiful ceramic birdhouses , which will be spread across our school gardens, and will hopefully attract numerous birds for us to observe.
Thank You so much Kate for aiding in these creations. We really appreciate your hard work!
Over ten sessions in term three, the 6th class pupils created the most beautiful ceramic birdhouses , which will be spread across our school gardens, and will hopefully attract numerous birds for us to observe.
Thank You so much Kate for aiding in these creations. We really appreciate your hard work!
Important Dates in June
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More from the Fairy Garden
08/06: Here in Christ the Saviour N.S. we have been very busy setting up our beautiful and magical fairy garden. It is still a work in progress but we are very proud of our work. Check out our creations so far! This garden is just one element towards our Biodiversity Green Flag.
Book Fair News
08/06 Update on Book Fair: A massive €2640 was raised from the sale of books at our Book Fair in late April. 60% of this, €1584, was returned to the school in the form of a book token to be used to replenish our classroom libraries. A massive Thank You to everyone who supported the Book Fair. We hope the boys and girls will enjoy the many new titles coming to their libraries very soon. |
Fairy Garden
30/05: As many of you will have heard, we're creating a fairy village here in school. Each class is busy designing their flower pots, and here's the one Mr. Keogh has done with his boys and girls. We're all excited to see the finished village very soon.
Planting with Mr. Keogh
West Limerick School Boy League
The Next Katie Taylor...?
26/05: It isn't every day an All Ireland Champion visits the school. Congrats to past pupil Fiona O'Keeffe on winning the All Ireland Boxing Championship in the 39kg weight category. Fiona visited us in Christ the Saviour N.S. She is pictured with some of her cousins and also with Junior Infants. Watch the video to see Junior Infants congratulate Fiona!! Thanks for visiting us and showing all the boys and girls your All Ireland medal.
Credit Union Quiz 26/05
Active School Week
Last week (23rd-27th/May) we took part in Active School Week. As part of our active week, we took part in various different active activities. We began each day with a lively dance, even getting to see the teachers strut their stuff! We had a 'friendly' game of dodgeball where the pupils faced off against their teachers, we skipped to our heart's content in a Skippathon, walked to school from the church, went to play in the park, played hurling and camogie against each other and other schools, and much much more. Thank you to Ms. Fitzgerald for organising such a fun, fantastic week! Here are some pictures from the Junior Infant class.
Jersey Day
We had a lot of fun on Friday (13th May) as we got to wear our favourite jerseys. There was, of course, a sea of green Limerick jerseys, and even the Kerry jersey made an appearance! But the most impressive jersey was the elusive Tipperary one. Wearing it proudly were Mr. Keogh, Kieran and Ellie Long and Sophie Lee-Bourke. Ní Neart Go Cur Le Chéile- Strength Through Unity!
Clothes Drive 13/05
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We Can See Signs Of Summer!
Ms. Tangney's class have been very busy planting this term. Take a look at some of their hard, messy, fun work!
Aistear in Seniors and First
*****Check In to Hotel Insect *****
27/04/2016- 4th and 5th class pupils constructed our '5 star' Insect Hotel in the school garden, as part of the Green Schools Biodiversity programme. We will look forward to checking out all the bugs and insects that visit our hotel!! We used old wooden pallets, timber, carpet, pipes, straw, hay, cardboard and some plastic bottles in the construction and we think it looks great.
Book Fair
The School's Book Fair took place last Saturday, April 23rd from 11 am until 2pm. Teachers and staff were overwhelmed with the amount of support shown by the parents and community. The final figure raised will not be known for a couple of weeks, but with 60% returning to the school in the form of books, it is certain that our libraries will be replenished and well-stocked. Thanks again for your continued support! Below is a picture of the winners of the poster and colouring competitions. I hope all the boys and girls are enjoying reading their new books!
Exciting News about School Book Fair 14/4/16
School Jerseys and Zip-Tops 7/4/16
Granagh/Ballingarry Community Games 07/03/2016
Family Table Quiz on Sunday March 20th, 2016 at 3pm in Condron’s Bar, Ballingarry. Each team must have at least one child on the team. Team of 4 costs €20.
Great raffle prizes including vouchers, hampers etc….
Auction for 1 night B&B and dinner for 2 in the Savoy hotel, Limerick
Cross Country
Anyone interested in training or participating in Cross Country please contact Loraine at (086) 0592682. Closing date is March 11th.
Sports Day
The annual Sports day will be held at the GAA field on Sunday April 24th from 2pm.
Great raffle prizes including vouchers, hampers etc….
Auction for 1 night B&B and dinner for 2 in the Savoy hotel, Limerick
Cross Country
Anyone interested in training or participating in Cross Country please contact Loraine at (086) 0592682. Closing date is March 11th.
Sports Day
The annual Sports day will be held at the GAA field on Sunday April 24th from 2pm.
Easter 1916 Rising
Today (22/02/16), Alessio from Senior Infants brought in a newspaper supplement given to his family by his grandfather. The supplement was released with the Irish Independent on the Golden Jubilee of the Easter 1916 Rising. It was released in 1966, 50 years after the Insurrection. It contained some fantastic articles and pictures, which were passed on to the different classes for their perusal. It was a fantastic opportunity for the children to use this primary source for their history lessons. Thank you to Alessio and his family. Also, Alessio went on a road trip over mid-term, up to the GPO in Dublin. He informs us that bullet holes can still be seen and felt on the exterior walls of the post office. Take a look at some of the pictures from the supplement. Click on the picture to enlarge.
Robotics Challenge Final
Our school was well represented on Saturday 20th February at the Analog Devices Robotics Finals in Mungret College. The following pupils from 4th and 5th Class reached this final stage: Cian McGoey, Ellie Long, Nicole McNamara and Tomás Houlihan. Their robot was called 'C.E.N.T Bot 2016'. Our school was one of twenty teams taking part on the day.
The day began at 10 a.m. with a workshop and the challenge for the day was set. Each team had to build and programme a robot that would survive the challenge set. The robots had to go head to head for three rounds and try to push each other outside the edge of the circle. The robots therefore had to be strong and programmed well with special sensors. Some robots on the day even had movable weapons incorporated. The day was so well organised and run by Colmac Robotics on behalf of Analog Devices.
At 1.30 p.m. the competition began. Our school team with CENT Bot first faced off against Scoil Íde. 'CENT Bot' won this round easily and advanced into two further rounds, which they also won. The tension was building when we progressed into the quarter final. Luckily 'CENT Bot' survived this battle and we were through to the semi-finals. Sadly, 'CENT Bot' just couldn't give anymore in these rounds. The children had such fun and they worked so hard as a team. They received beautiful bronze medals and a t-shirt each.
As a school we are so proud of the children. They tried their best and enjoyed the day immensely. We will look forward to trying again in the future. Congratulations team 'CENT Bot'!!! Check out some photos and video clips of the action on the day.
The day began at 10 a.m. with a workshop and the challenge for the day was set. Each team had to build and programme a robot that would survive the challenge set. The robots had to go head to head for three rounds and try to push each other outside the edge of the circle. The robots therefore had to be strong and programmed well with special sensors. Some robots on the day even had movable weapons incorporated. The day was so well organised and run by Colmac Robotics on behalf of Analog Devices.
At 1.30 p.m. the competition began. Our school team with CENT Bot first faced off against Scoil Íde. 'CENT Bot' won this round easily and advanced into two further rounds, which they also won. The tension was building when we progressed into the quarter final. Luckily 'CENT Bot' survived this battle and we were through to the semi-finals. Sadly, 'CENT Bot' just couldn't give anymore in these rounds. The children had such fun and they worked so hard as a team. They received beautiful bronze medals and a t-shirt each.
As a school we are so proud of the children. They tried their best and enjoyed the day immensely. We will look forward to trying again in the future. Congratulations team 'CENT Bot'!!! Check out some photos and video clips of the action on the day.
Grandparents' Day 2016
As part of Catholic School Week 2016, we invited grandparents to our school to talk to their grandchild's class about what school was like for them growing up and other things. We were delighted with the response, with over forty grandparents showing up on the day! Take a look at some of the snaps and click on the image to enlarge.
Credit Union Success
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Friendship Week 2016 (8th-12th February)
We were very busy this week celebrating Friendship week. We did loads of activities, of which some can be seen below.....
A friendship quote was displayed on the monitor outside reception each day. The classes discussed each quote with their teacher.
Each child got a key template. They had to write what they thought was the key to a good friendship. The person who gave the best advice in each class won a prize!
We sold Friendship Bracelets for Amnesty International. So far we have raised more than €380. Thank you and well done, boys and girls!
Each class got a template of a Friendship Tree. Every child printed their fingerprint on a branch of this tree. We now have a Friendship Forest with everybody's fingerprint!
Two Friendship Sheriffs were on hand everyday; making sure everybody had someone to play with out in the yard!
On Thursday, each child picked a name out of a hat randomly. The had to perform a Random Act of Kindness for that person during the day. We have gotten fantastic accounts of children getting other children's coats for them, drawing pictures for them, playing them compliments to them! We're so lucky to have such kind boys and girls in our school.
We also had a whole-school assembly on Friday where we announced the winners of the competition and sang two songs about friendship - the third to sixth sang Lean on Me by Bill Withers, while the juniors to second sang Bruno Mars' Count on Me.
On Thursday, each child picked a name out of a hat randomly. The had to perform a Random Act of Kindness for that person during the day. We have gotten fantastic accounts of children getting other children's coats for them, drawing pictures for them, playing them compliments to them! We're so lucky to have such kind boys and girls in our school.
We also had a whole-school assembly on Friday where we announced the winners of the competition and sang two songs about friendship - the third to sixth sang Lean on Me by Bill Withers, while the juniors to second sang Bruno Mars' Count on Me.
Award for our school website!
Last week our school was delighted to hear that our website had been named as a Scoilnet Star Site!
Scoilnet’s much-coveted Star Site award recognises those schools that are embracing the web as a communication tool. Scoilnet said of our website: ''When reviewing the website we got quite distracted by the news items - all of which are crisp and to the point and are accompanied by images. It certainly gives a great feel for ongoing special activities that run in a busy school.'' Their full review can be seen here... |
Robotics Day
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Community Games Success
Feast of the Epiphany
Yesterday, January 6th, we held an assembly in the GP room to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. In Ireland it is also called Nollaig na mBan, also known as Women’s Christmas, and Little Christmas. The religious feast marks the day the three kings are said to have arrived at the stable in Bethlehem to visit the baby Jesus. Mrs. Murphy gave us information about this holy day, and the boys and girls in her class also did some readings.
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Christmas Carol Service
We had a very successful and enjoyable Carol Service on Monday 21st December. All pupils from Christ the Saviour National School, Ballingarry sang and also performed beautiful Carols on the tin-whistle. We had a lovely rendition of 'Oh Holy Night' from Nicole McNamara and Nessa Markham. Joe Kelly played his guitar and the senior pupils played three tunes on their tin-whistles. As usual the children did themselves and their teachers proud. Our Carol Service was very well supported by parents and the church was full. A total of €707.19 was raised at the bucket collection at the door. We are very grateful for this kind and generous support and these funds will be put to great use in the school for the children.
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Sixth Class Christmas Art
6th class have been busy creating 'Winter Wonderlands' with paint and glitter in their Art lessons. 6th class wish everyone a big 'Nollaig Shona Daoibh go Léir'!!! |
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The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
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The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey 6th class read the very special picture book called 'The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey' - a story which gives us the true meaning of Christmas. Jonathan was a lonely man and he found happiness with the widow McDowell and her little son Thomas. Look at the wonderful illustrations by P.J. Lynch. Miss Hanley is a big fan of this talented illustrator!! Padraig McKenna, Raonaid Ruddle and Daniel Anderson in 6th class wrote wonderful summaries of the picture book 'The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey'. |
Welcome back and Congratulations!
The staff would like to welcome back Miss Catríona Casey to the school. Miss Casey is covering Mrs. Cleary's maternity leave. Both teachers and pupils are delighted to see Miss Casey in the school again.
Congratulations to Mrs. Cleary and her husband on the birth of their new baby daughter. We hope big sister, Arwen and little sister, Doireann, and all the family, have a fantastic Christmas and New Year! |
Christmas Fever
Christmas Fever has well and truly hit Ballingarry NS (although if you were in Mr. Keogh's classroom, you know it hit hard just after Halloween). We're busy practising carols and doing beautiful festive art, and can't wait for Santy to pay us a visit on the 24th! Lucy was delighted to put the star on top of our tree this year. Well done, Lucy! Take a look at some of our decorations as you enter the school and some of the art work we've completed.
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Science Speaker
The Senior Infants and First Class were in for a treat this morning (3/12/15) when Ms. Tangney brought her husband to school with her! Ger is a scientist and works in a lab. He brought the uniform he has to wear when he is doing experiments and the boys and girls got to try on his cool coat and goggles. He even left them with the class and they are already looking forward to dressing up and using them again! He showed them some really fun experiments using static electricity and explained all about his job! They really had a super morning! Thank you Ger and Ms. Tangney!
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Parents' Council Cake Sale
A special thanks to all those who supported the Parents' Council Annual Cake Sale last Friday, 26th of November. A total of €936 was raised. Thanks to the Parents' Council for organising the event.
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MS Readathon- Thank you Mrs. Murphy!!
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This year 3rd class to 6th class took part in the MS Readathon from the 9th of October to the 9th of November. Children were asked and encouraged to read as many books as they could and donate €1 per book they read. Many of the children worked so hard for the month reading all sorts of books. We had many excellent readers who read over 15 books and other children improved immensely at their reading during this time. To celebrate this great reading the teachers from these classes chose their top two readers.
The prize winners included: Ms. Hanley chose Phoebe Sheehy and Brett Shanahan from 6th class, who read a total of 25 books between them. Mrs. Murphy chose Tomás Houlihan, for the most expressive and improved reader and Jack Mullane, from 4th Class, who read 17 books. Ms. Fitzgerald chose Abbie Clancy and Tim O’Donoghue, both improved and great readers for the month. These children received a prize of a book of puzzles and ‘anti-boredom’ tasks from the school. Well done to all who took part, we can now send a cheque to MS Ireland for a total of €276. Keep up the reading everyone!! |
A Visit from the Irish Army
We were really lucky this week to have been visited by two soldiers from the Irish Army! Yesterday, the 10th of November, Sergeant Derek Dinan and Private Ciara Quinn presented us with an Irish Flag and the 1916 Proclamation. Sergeant Dinan told us all about the flag and what it is like to be in the army. They asked us would we raise our new flag at 12 noon on Monday the 15th March. Every school in the country will join us! We enjoyed asking them questions about their uniforms and singing 'Amhrán na bhFiann’ for them! |
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Halloween in Ballingarry NS
The school turned into a spooky place this morning, with vampires and zoombies replacing children and teachers!! Take a look at some of the fun we had today! I'm not sure who had more fun- the children or their teachers! Have a wonderful mid-term everybody!
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Active Schools
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Hello from Junior Infants!
Our new Junior Infants have settled in very well to school life! We already have one month down and so many fun things have happened already. We love to paint, play with our toys, sing our songs and rhymes and colour!
A very warm welcome to...
We'd like to give a very warm welcome to Todor and Molly, two new students joining our school this year. We hope that you're enjoying your experiences in Ballingarry, and have made loads of new friends!
Renovation of the school's office
During the summer, work was undertaken to extend and renovate our school's office. Now, it is much easier and more comfortable for Sheila to do her work.
Station Teaching
Station Teaching for Literacy has already commenced for 3rd, 4th, and 5th classes. Myself and Ms. Cleary are working with Ms. Fitzgerald and Mrs. Murphy over this first term. The novels we are reading with the classes are: A Witch In A Fix, by Marian Broderick, Bill's New Frock and Diary of a Killer Cat, both by Anne Fine, Holes by Louis Sachar, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, and The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes. Both students and teachers are enjoying reading these novels immensely.
The five stations include: New Reading- here the children read a chapter or more of their new novel with their class teacher. Next (after twenty minutes) the children will move onto the Word Work/Comprehension station- here the children will dissect what they have just read, focusing on different aspects of the English language that have come up- such as similes, metaphors, alliteration, analyzing quotes, changing words into antonyms and synonyms, doing cloze activities based on reading etc.
The children will then move onto the Writing Station. Here they will focus on whatever writing genre that the school is doing at that present time. We are working on Recount Writing at the moment.
The fourth station is the IPAD station. The children will be working independently, using the IPADs to create an interactive book of activities based on their novel. Some of the things the children will be doing include: writing Character Profiles, summarizing chapters, creating alternative titles, book covers etc.
The last station is the Workbook station, where the children will be working independently on a task that has been prepared by their class teacher.
It's a busy hour, which takes a lot of preplanning and preparation. Also the school has invested a large amount of money in purchasing all these wonderful novels. We did so in the knowledge that the children will benefit immensely from smaller group instruction, and a greater (three) teacher presence.
The five stations include: New Reading- here the children read a chapter or more of their new novel with their class teacher. Next (after twenty minutes) the children will move onto the Word Work/Comprehension station- here the children will dissect what they have just read, focusing on different aspects of the English language that have come up- such as similes, metaphors, alliteration, analyzing quotes, changing words into antonyms and synonyms, doing cloze activities based on reading etc.
The children will then move onto the Writing Station. Here they will focus on whatever writing genre that the school is doing at that present time. We are working on Recount Writing at the moment.
The fourth station is the IPAD station. The children will be working independently, using the IPADs to create an interactive book of activities based on their novel. Some of the things the children will be doing include: writing Character Profiles, summarizing chapters, creating alternative titles, book covers etc.
The last station is the Workbook station, where the children will be working independently on a task that has been prepared by their class teacher.
It's a busy hour, which takes a lot of preplanning and preparation. Also the school has invested a large amount of money in purchasing all these wonderful novels. We did so in the knowledge that the children will benefit immensely from smaller group instruction, and a greater (three) teacher presence.