Newsletter
26 04 2024
Both 4th classes went to the Phoenix Park to tackle an orienteering trail in the surrounds of Ashtown Castle. The budding navigators were blessed with the weather and made short work of the trail.
Good afternoon everyone,
What an active week we have had.
I hope the parents and guardians from 2nd class enjoyed their coffee morning. I am sure they were well looked after by our amazing hosts Naithi, Leo and Alex.
It has been a very full and busy Active week. Thanks, Padraig, for coordinating a varied timetable for all classes. The 6th class showed incredible maturity as they lead many activities in school this week. They were treated to a day in the Sundrive Velodrome which was a great learning experience for all our 6th class cyclists.
Congratulations to the boys’ football team who made it three wins from three in the league. We finished the group stage with a well-earned win over Glasnevin Educate Together. This win leaves us top of the group and onto the semifinal stage. The lads started brightly and races into a 2-nil lead before Glasnevin pulled one back. The game flowed quite well with each team enjoying periods of dominance, exchanging goals and the game was in the balance before we pulled clear in the second half. The game finished 5-3 with Marco(x2), Matthew, Caleb and Liam C getting on the score sheet. Well done to everyone who played their part in this and all of the games so far this season.
Thanks, Jack, for this report.
Congratulations to our camogie team who won their game this week against St Columba’s NS, Iona Rd.
Congratulations to Eva in Donna’s Junior Infants has won a Special Merit Award in Category F – 6 years and under in the Texaco Children’s Art Competition with her entry ‘Trick or Treat’
With John Butler
By Niall, Senan F. and Aaron
On Monday the 22nd of April, Veronica’s 5th class and Niamh’s 6th class had a neuroscience talk with John Butler. He talked to us about the workings of the brain. He told us inside of your head you have 100 billion of neurons and a trillion connections that vote on whether they think something is one option or another, an example is when you see something that is moving left or right your neurons have to decide what way the thing is moving. There is a master neuron that decides which way the thing is moving.
John did an experiment with us and Veronica where half the class would put their hands up if the dots on the screen were moving left and the other half for right. This was a simulation of what the brain does every day but not just with directions, with everything. Your brain has neurons for everything that you know. It was a wonderful talk and we learned lots about the brain.
Community News
Message from Paul Rowe
Since stepping down as CEO of Educate Together in 2020, I have been keeping my head down and doing some academic work.
One of the areas I have been interested in is in the pathways available in music education in Ireland.
During my time as CEO, I was regularly impressed by the enthusiasm and quality of music in schools and the many teachers with particular musical talent and interest.
At the same time, it was clear that there were few resources for schools to enable children to try out and enjoy instruments or progress beyond the classroom.
The result is that many children were not enabled to realise their potential and more advanced music opportunities tended to depend on family background or finance.
One of the regrets of my time in Educate Together was that we were unable to convince the department to resource a full range of instruments for schools which would have helped this deficit.
However, there are many in the professional music scene who are interested in improving pathways for young people.
One is the work of the Technological University of Dublin Conservatoire at which I am part-time student. The Conservatoire is now housed in the brand new Grangegorman complex with quite exceptional facilities.
The Conservatoire offers a wide range of classes many of which are part-time and suitable for those from the age of 3 to 17 and adults.
In the 2024/25 academic year there will be opportunities for teachers, students and parents to come in to meet the staff of the Conservatoire at open days and concerts.
However, there are a couple of super events coming that may be of interest to teachers and students. They are both free entry and no tickets are required.
1. Wind Ensemble and Choir Concert at 19:30 on May 8th. Around 100 students performing in the TuD Concert Hall.
2. Junior Brass concert at 14:00 May 18th. A more junior event in the TuD Recital Hall.
Both halls are in the East Quad, Grangegorman Lower, Dublin 7 D07 XFF2.
There is limited parking on the road, but TUDublin has its own Luas stop on the Green Line and is well served by buses.
Finally, my local garage man sent me a picture of a bicycle that has mysteriously ended up in his premises. If you know of the person who owns this bicycle, let me know please.
Have a lovely weekend,
Fionnuala
Fabulous 5th class artwork by Edie and Clara.