Infant School Tour 2024
On Tuesday 11th June the Junior and Senior Infants alongside their teacher, Ms. Handcock, Ms. Gow and Mrs.O’Brien headed to Castleview Open Farm, Cullohill. We had a great day exploring the farm animals, small animals, playing in the playground, examining the maize and playing mini-golf. An amazing day was had by all!!
Playground Leaders
As part of the Active Schools Flag and working towards our Active Flag we have implemented our Playground Leaders. Twice a week 5th and 6th class set up active stations on the yard during the junior end lunchtime. Pupils enjoy this as they get to interact with others and they can also learn from one another. Our stations are chosen by the Active Flag Committee, some of our stations have included: skipping, racing, over/under ball game, red light green light, duck duck goose, hoop throws and many more. Take a look at the huge smiles during Playground Leaders time…
Play Sessions in Action!!
In the infant classroom we cannot wait for Play Sessions everyday. Every month our theme changes and we enjoy learning about new things, exploring our relationships with others and the wider world. Each theme also brings a new challenge in the socio-dramatic play area which is by far the most favored area of the play sessions, pupils go into role and act out various scenarios through their theme. Pupils have the opportunity to act, construct, be creative and explore new ideas. So far this year we have been teachers, builders, shopkeepers, elves, waiters, waitresses, chefs, customers and gardeners. Take a look at some of the recent pictures of our play sessions!!
Healthy Lunchbox Competition!
The school has been looking at healthy eating and we were looking at what a healthy lunchbox might look like! Ms Buggie had a fantastic idea to run a competition to encourage all the children and staff to think about healthy lunches. The children had a few weeks to design and enter their idea of what a healthy lunch would look like. Last Wednesday on St. Valentine’s Day our winner was picked. Ms Buggie and her independent judges were torn over the entries, and 10 very lucky children were picked. Congratulations all and well done to everyone who entered.
Library Trip
Everyone in the infant classroom was delighted to be invited to the new library in Portlaoise to engage with a storytelling event of “Reindeer Down” by Natasha Mac a’BhĂ¡ird. We walked through the park to make our way down. After listening to the story and examining the book the illustrator Audrey Dowling helped us to make Christmas Cards for our families. The pupils really enjoyed this trip and they were a credit to their families and teachers.
Aistear Play Sessions
Aistear Play Sessions are well and truly underway in the infant classroom. In October we had two themes; Autumn and School. All pupils worked really well with each other and Ms Handcock, we had some shopkeepers, builders, artists, teachers and students. Play Sessions are a great way for pupils to learn through everyday activities and routines. The Aistear framework demonstrates how important it is for pupils’ learning and development while playing and interacting together.
Infant School Tour 2023
On Wednesday 14th June our infant classroom got up incredibly early. They met their teacher and headed to the bus at 8.30 am. Everyone was extremely excited and busy predicting what they would see at Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park. We spent an hour on the bus and arrived at our destination full of anticipation. We were met by our lovely tour guide who showed us where to leave our bags, we then headed to the Funky Forest Indoor Play area, which was the highlight for most including Mrs. O’Brien our SNA who was caught in the action. We then had a small snack and headed outside to the train; where we took in the views of the cutaway bog and the old Tougher Road which is thousands of years old, and we viewed the mythical Hill of Allen where Fionn MacCuhmaill once resided. Next, we went on a forest walk, we explored a hedge school, 200-year-old houses, and a fairy village. We even got to make a wish at the fairy tree. We then met some very friendly animals; we met pigs, ponies, rabbits, and alpacas. Our last stop was the outdoor play area it was a great treat and even the teachers got involved, some were even Queens of the Castle. We needed a break from the lovely sunshine, so we headed inside to have our lunch, there was great excitement as they all looked in their lunchboxes… It really was a fabulous day for both pupils and teachers; thank you to Ms. Gow, Mrs. O’Brien, and Ms. Handcock for a wonderful day.
Sports Day 2023
A very enjoyable sports day took place on the campus this week. Each class participated in three races; sprints, potato and spoon race and sack race. There was lots of laughing and falling down. We then had a parents race and a spontaneous teachers race which was very enjoyable for all… A huge thank you to Ms Gow for organising the events on the day. Also, a thank you to Ms Buggie and her wellbeing committee who organised a bouncy castle and an ice-cream van. Take a look at some of the shots taken on the day.