Welcome  to the Easter Newsletter from Scoil Realt na Mara, Brittas Bay.

The newsletter contains lots of information about all of the events and achievements of our school and its students over the last couple of months, and of course what’s to come over the next while too!

RUGBY

George Naupu from Wicklow Rugby Club coached all classes Junior Infants to Sixth class for six weeks. He introduced Rugby skills to the children through games and fun activities. These sessions were thoroughly enjoyed by all ages.

CREDIT UNION QUIZ

On Friday 26th January two teams from Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara represented the school in the Wicklow Credit Union Quiz for Primary Schools. Lily Beacom, Ricardo Whelan, Rosie Armstrong and Eric Peterson were on the U-12 team and Maria Moorehouse, Grace Donohoe and Kieran Armstrong made up the U-11 team.

The quiz took place in the Grand Hotel, Wicklow and a great crowd turned up. Both teams did very well against very stiff competition and the children really enjoyed the
experience. Well done all!

GAA BLITZ 5TH & 6TH CLASS

Fifth and sixth class participated in the Primary Schools Football Competition on the 26th January in Ballinakill. Great team work and determination helped them to victory in four matches against Barndarrig, Bearna Chlé, Shillelagh and Glenealy and they were given a walk over by Coolafancy N.S.

This qualified them for the Finals Day on the 23rd February in Ballinakill again but unfortunately they met Coolafancy N.S. in the finals and lost to them.

Well done to our team of Harry Balfe, Lee Brown, Noah Fennessy, Steven Gormley, Conn Keaney, Eilis Murray, Tara O’Reilly, Tadhg O’Shea, Eric Peterson, Tom Phelan, Nathan Reynolds, and Ricardo Whelan.

Sincere thanks to Mrs. Mandie Delahunt who accompanied us on both days.

HSE HEARING & VISION SCREENING

On 22nd February the HSE visited the school to carry out Vision and Hearing screening on Junior Infants and Hearing screening on Senior Infants.

BOOK VOUCHERS

To celebrate world book day Thursday 1 st March 2018 all children in the school were given €1.50 book
tokens.

FIGHTING WORDS WORKSHOPS

Third to sixth classes enjoyed “Fighting Words”; a story writing workshop founded by Roddy Doyle in Glencree over a number of weeks in March. The children worked with experienced authors and illustrators to write a class story and were then given the opportunity to complete their own story.

COMMUNITY GAMES

All the children in school took part in the Community Games Art Competition and submitted entries.

Congratulations and well done to all the winners in the Art Competition, some of these winners will go on to represent BBKR in the county finals in Dunlavin.

Some children in school also participated in the Handwriting Competition. Children in the area are participating in the Talent Show, Swimming, Make & Model Competition, Chess & Draughts, Table Quiz, Pitch & Putt, Debating, Skittles and Cross Country.

Good luck to all who go forward to County level and we hope to have some representing us in the summer in University Limerick. Thanks too to all the parents involved in Community Games.

STEP CHALLENGE

All classes from Junior Infants took part in the One Million Step Challenge. This was facilitated by

Wicklow Local Sports Partnership. Denise brought pedometers to the school on Monday 19th February and we had a week to build up to 1,000,000 steps. Each child wore a pedometer for a day and their individual totals were recorded. Each class total was recorded.

The competition between each class was fierce! The school total well exceeded our target – the final total was 3,947,821 steps. Senior classes used their Maths skills to great effect working out totals and averages for each class.

NATIONAL TREE WEEK

March 4th – 11th was National Tree Week. The Tree Council of Ireland gave us eight Beech trees this year. Mrs. Cooke’s class planted them in our school grounds on Thursday March 8th .

Mrs. Cooke’s class planted tulips in January amongst the daffodils that last year’s sixth class planted. They survived “the beast from the East” and are in bloom now.

SCHOOL GARDEN

Our work is just starting on our school garden with Wendy Nairn. We hope to get our small tunnel up soon and that we will have a good spring to get our vegetables growing well. Thank you to all the parents who have got or are getting Garda vetted so that they can help out with this.

If you think you can help Wendy from 9.00am to 10.00am on Wednesdays, we would love to have you. Simply pick up a form in the office from Ann to get Garda vetted for the school (if you are not already Garda vetted for the school).

We hope to have our Garden Open Day this year on Wednesday 13th June (weather permitting). Remember if you are doing a clear-out, keep items for the stalls; toys (in perfect working order), children’s books, plants and craft items to sell on the day.

PLAYGROUND

A big thank you to Dave Webb of Gormanstown Driving Range for donating matting. Thank you to Paul Delahunt and Robert McCoy for giving up their time to put our rope net in place to add to our playground facilities. The rope netting was bought with funds raised from Fiver Friday. Thanks to all our families for their donations.
VISIT BY ASHLEY WYNNE, WICKLOW TENNIS CLUB COACH

On Monday March 12th Ashley Wynne coach from Wicklow Tennis Club visited the school with helpers.

Children from Mrs. Cooke’s, Mrs. Burke’s, Ms. Dunne’s and Ms. Doyle’s rooms enjoyed a great tennis morning.

Thank you to Ashley and her helpers who gave their time free of charge and hopefully with summer approaching more children will have been encouraged to get outside with their rackets!

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Children from Ms. Dunne’s class made their Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday 15th March. Fr. Scully and Fr. Dónal Roche celebrated the ceremony with the children.

The children performed the story of Zacchaeus, did readings and sang beautifully with Mrs. O’Doherty and the school choir.

SCHOOL CÉILÍ

There was a Céilí in school on Friday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. All classes participated in the Céilí.

Well done to Ellie Brennan who played the flute and to Maria Moorehouse who danced a light jig for all the classes.

GRANDPARENTS DAY

On Thursday 22nd March from 9.00 am to 10.30 am is grandparent’s day. We look forward to seeing grandparents of the children in each class come and talk to the children about their schooldays, games they played and to chat informally to the children.  Refreshments will be available.

Ms. Walsh’s Room 1 & Ms. Doyle’s Room 2 (Junior Classes): 9.00 am to 9.30 am
Ms. Dunne’s Room 3 & Mrs. Burke’s Room 5 (Middle Classes): 9.30 am to 10.00 am
Mrs. O’Doherty’s Room 7 & Mrs. Cooke’s Room 8 (Senior Classes) 10.00 am to 10.30 am

ARKLOW MUSIC FESTIVAL

As you know, during the recent snow storms, the Arklow Music Festival was postponed. The new dates are Saturday 21st April to Sunday 29th April.
Programme times venues etc will remain the same, for Example Saturday the 3rd of March will now be Saturday the 21st of April and so on.

Should you require any further information please contact Arklow Music Festival Office on 0402-32732.

PAIRED READING

Ms. Dunne and Mrs. Cooke’s classes have paired up to do some reading together. They meet with their reading buddy for ten minutes every day. The children are really enjoying this opportunity to work on their reading skills together. It is wonderful to see the children working together and most importantly enjoying books!

REMINDER SCHOOL TOUR 2ND – 6TH CLASS

The balance for the school tour booked to Baltinglass Outdoor Education for 2nd to 6th class on Tuesday 29th May is due before Friday 27 th of April. The balance due per child is €32.00.

PHOTOGRAPH FUNDRAISER

Grainne Reynolds has offered to do the photography this year as a fundraiser for the school. This will take place on the 14th May 2018. Further details will go out after the Easter holidays so be photo ready!

ACCORD DUBLIN SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

Accord will visit the school on Tuesday 22nd May and give a follow-up talk on growing up to 6th class.

VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS

The request for payment for Voluntary Contributions for 2018-2019 will be going out in May. Please note the difference in the contributions for 2018-2019.

Yearly Contributions May 2018 October 2018

One Child €100.00 €50.00 €50.00
Two Children €130.00 €65.00 €65.00
Max Per Family €160.00 €80.00 €80.00

BARN DANCE – YEEHAW!

Following the success of last year’s event, the P. A. are holding a Barn Dance on the 20 th April in Rathmore Farm, Ashford (same venue as last year) as a fundraiser for the school. A great night of fun and dancing to be had, so get out your stetsons and dancing shoes!

Tickets are available from class reps, the school office, Dave’s Stores, The Bay Café, Earls Newsagents and Glenealy Shop.

TROCAIRE BOXES

Please return your Trocaire boxes to school before Friday, 13th April.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Grandparents Day – Thursday 22nd March
Barn Dance – Friday 20th April
School Closed – Tuesday 8th May
Photograph Fundraiser – Monday 14th May
Accord Follow up talk (6 th Class) – Tuesday 22nd May
First Holy Communion – Sunday 27th May at 10.30am
School Closed (In-Service day) – Monday 28th May
School Tour 2 nd – 6 th Class – Tuesday 29th May
Garden Open Day – Wednesday 13th June
School closes for Easter Holidays on Friday 23rd March at 11.30am and will
reopen on Monday 9th April.