A special welcome to the new junior infants who started on the 1st September. They are Cian Belton, Éabha Booth, Beau Brophy, Jake Byrne, Kyle Copeland, Tom Ferguson, Ellie Harron, Muireann Kavanagh, Rowan Peters Levis, Shylah Lynn, Jane McNamara and Samuel Rozanski. Welcome also Eric Vakal who joined 2nd class.
We know you will be very happy in Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara.
Transition to post primary school talks
It is that time of year again when our 6th class get to hear about the local secondary schools.
The children of sixth class were visited by the principal Ms. Loraine Mynes of Dominican
College, Wicklow on September 29th and she outlined their facilities. She told us that one of our past pupils is deputy head girl this year and that D.C.W. are currently getting a science extension. Deputy principal Ms. Caitriona Smith of Colaiste Chill Mhantáin visited on October 7th and also discussed their facilities, supports and opportunities. They provided the children with a virtual tour of the school which was most interesting. These were very informative sessions in which all of the children’s questions were answered. Educate Together Wicklow provided a 300m link which answered many questions and again outlined everything about their school. We welcome all local secondary schools to make presentations to our pupils at this time of the year. We wish to remind parents to keep an eye on the websites of secondary schools as applications close soon for many of the schools.
Dance Classes and GAA Coaching
Kate Redmond from Elevation Dance School started classes on September 7th. The music, stretches and many moves are great for fitness and wellbeing and also very beneficial for children’s balance and movement skills. In accordance with Department guidelines we all work within our bubbles and outdoors for these classes. As a result they are currently weather dependent.
GAA coaching started on October 1 st and Darren Hayden is coaching all classes on Fridays. Their GAA skills are developing through games and drills. We are lucky to have
Darren and Kate as they has many years’ experience and the children look forward to their classes.
Harvest Day
We got great weather for our harvest day on October 7th . This year we harvested a little later that usual. Liz McGauley (parent) and Wendy Nairn (gardening teacher) helped the children gather their bounty of carrots, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, swiss chard and beans. We potted up strawberry plants on runners from old plants. Thank you to Christina O’Connor who is leading efforts to cover our beds for the winter. This will help with the no dig programme in spring. Senior infants and first class tasted their lovely fresh potatoes with butter the next day.
We hope everyone enjoyed some tasty stews/soups with the onions and carrots which were sent home. Our sunflowers are still flowering and they will provide food for the birds over the winter. We will cut back our wildflower area soon to maximise next year’s growth. Thanks to all who help in anyway with the garden.
First Confession, First Communion and Confirmation
Our third-class children got to make their First Confession on October 7 th and First Communion on October 9th . We know they have been a long time waiting for their big day due to the current restrictions. However, they got a beautiful October day and Fr. Doran made it very special by telling the children stories of his own childhood. Thanks to Ms. Michele Duggan for preparing the children and to Mrs. Angie Nolan for all her help.
Tomorrow Saturday our current 6th class and last years’ 6th class will receive the sacrament of Confirmation. We hope they have a wonderful day with their families and that the autumn sun
shines.
Green Flag
Congratulations to us and to Mrs. O’Doherty! We received our 6th green flag on 5th October 2021. The ceremony was held online and presented by the Green Schools team at An Taisce.
Scoil Mhuire Réalt na Mara received their award during the ceremony. Our green school theme over the last two years has been Global Citizenship/Litter and Waste. The children from junior infants to 6th class carried out lunchbox surveys / Global Awareness surveys, litter-picking in school, on the beach, in Castletimon and in their own local areas. Every class reuses and recycles as much as possible, and posters were made to raise awareness of litter and waste issues. The senior classes learned about and discussed the 17 Sustainable Development Goals which aim to make our planet a better place for all.
Bike Week
Bike week was 12th – 18th September. We had great discussions on the history of the bike, caring for our bikes, bike safety and the many benefits of cycling. We had an actual bike in school for still art in the classrooms and produced some beautiful original pieces, which are displayed in the corridor. Well done to the staff who cycled to school that week. As a result of our participation and project work we were awarded €300 from
Maths Week
Maths week was October 18th – 22nd. We have many budding mathematicians in our midst. They have measured, weighed, added, subtracted, divided, multiplied and compared! We used games, apps and the interactive whiteboards to have lots
of fun. Room 2 linked science with maths and had an actual volcano experiment in the school yard. We even estimated the amount of rainwater in the rain puddles on yard during the week!
We realised that Maths is all around us in shape, time, distance and pattern to name a few. We all had great fun through our learning.
Bike Rack
We are delighted with the progress on our bike rack which is located at the top of the steps near the church entrance. It will hold 10 bikes and the surrounds will be planted for
biodiversity. A special thanks to Padraig O’Brien, Gary Jameson, Declan Kavanagh and Noel O’Dwyer for their voluntary work, staying with it and making it a reality.
Bulbs
We were given a wonderful gift to the school this Autumn. A substantial box of bulbs was delivered from Holland, which included many different varieties. It is the gift which will keep on giving for years. Thanks to the parent who gifted them to the school. Thanks also to those who have volunteered to plant them. We look forward to our floral spring display.
Competitions
Many of our classes have entered local and national art / design competitions this term. Our classrooms have some fantastic displays of our talents. We hope we get lucky!
Child Protection Policy
The annual review and updating of our Child Protection Policy has been completed and was ratified at the Board of Management meeting on September 23rd. An updated copy is available on the website and a hard copy is available from the office (0404)47488. We are currently collaborating on the annual update of our Antibullying Policy.
Special Education Room and Front Gate
All work is proceeding well on our special ed. room and change of front gates. The contractor is working effectively and is currently on schedule. He hopes to link the new room to the main corridor during the Halloween break. Hopefully when we return we will have a door linking our new room into the school. We think this is very fitting as October is Dyslexia Awareness Month!
Halloween Dress Up Day
We had our annual Halloween dress up day today October 22nd. The weird, the wonderful and exciting have joined us! We had some wonderful moves to the spooky music. Well done to all and their wonderful efforts. Thanks to the Parents Association for organising a Halloween treat and to all who donated to the Parents Association fundraiser.
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone for keeping us safe this term by following the guidance. We are very grateful to our cleaner Una Jackson, Paddy Walsh our caretaker, school staff, pupils, parents and to the Board of Management. Many thanks to Padraig and Helen O’Brien and Jim Howe for all their work during the summer in getting us ready for this term. Thank you also to Noel McCall for his help in September.
Many thanks to the Parents Association for your support this term and
for continually doing the cones and poles. Míle Buíochas.
Dates for your diary:
Confirmation, Saturday 23rd October 2021 at 10am and 12pm.
School closes Friday 22nd October at 2.30pm (Infants at 1.30pm) for Mid-Term
Break and reopens on Monday 1st November.
School closing on Friday 12th November 2021
Have an enjoyable and safe break everybody.
Brittas Bay National School 