Swimming

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Swimming in Kilcornan

We started swimming in April. We all went in a bus to Kilcornan- 2nd up to 6th class went swimming.

The swimming teacher explained what to do in different situations. We did swimming from 12 to 1o’clock every Friday for 6 weeks.

There were different groups. The first group’s teacher was called Bernie, the middle groups’ teachers’ name was Bridie and the third group’s teachers’ name was Ciaran.

At the last week Ciaran’s group had to wear pyjamas and try to swim with them on. We had to tie a knot at the end of the legs and jump in and all the air gets trapped inside and you can float.

We all enjoyed swimming with the school and we look forward to next year already.

 

By Paul 5th class

Dangan Athletic

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Dangan Athletics

On the 23rd of May, runners all schools flocked into Dangan athletics track for the annual school athletics. Children were invited to drive into Dangan to run in their respective age groups- most after doing heats in school. Kids from Under 9’s to Under 12 participated in multiple events. There was a sprint and a long distance race in all age group. There were a boys and a girl’s relay team for each school. Stephen got a bronze in his 800m long race. The boys relay came second in their relay heat and third in their final winning a bronze medal. 5 Medals came home that day, One from Stephen and the other four from the Boys Relay Team. We really enjoyed our day out representing our school. Up Kiltiernan!

By Seán 5th Class

Green school blog June 2017

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Green schools blog 2017

In early May we picked the green school slogan on Biodiversity to represent our school. Our winner was Erin (3rd class) with the slogan ‘Big and small we need them all’. The runners up were Clodagh and Aiden

Not so long ago we had a visit from Mary Dillon who came to do a biodiversity workshop with us and 5th & 6th

We made a bug hotel to increase the amount of wild life/insect activity in our school grounds.  Mary told us about all the different animals that are becoming extinct in our locality-the curlew and bees and various wild flowers. Next we listened to the different noises of the birds we really did enjoy the experience.

Our school got a composter bin so the committee had to go around to all the rooms and explain to them what goes in the brown bin. Also we got pictures and demonstrated to the other pupils and stated what the pictures represented. We reminded them of the different ways of saving energy both at home and at school.

 

by Melanie

 

Mairead McGuinness

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On the 9th of May Mairead McGuinness visited our school as part of our celebrations for Europe day. We have been working on the blue star programme for a couple of months now, completing PowerPoints on EU countries and artists, learning about the history and countries of the EU and even making a dish from an EU country. We showed her our work from the blue star programme
It started when we all wrote a letter of invitation to Mairead McGuinness. The teachers told us that they were going to pick the best one to send to her, Ross’s letter won. She accepted our invitation a few days later and told us that she was going to visit on the 9th of May.
When she visited our school, we welcomed her with some music and the junior room waved flags of the 28 countries of the EU. We then brought her to our classrooms to show some of the foods we made.
The Middle and Senior room gathered into the hall to play ‘Ode to joy’, which is the national anthem of the European Union. Mairead McGuinness said a few words. We then did the ‘Spread a handshake for Europe’ which is a national handshake to symbolise the unity of the 28 countries in the European Union.
After a long day of preparing, Mairead McGuinness said that the president of the EU Antonio Tajani said to tell us that we have no homework! We were delighted-needless to say!
By Emma 5th Class

Mairead McGuinness

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On the 9th of May our school were very lucky to get a visit from Mairead McGuinness MEP. Ross sent her a letter of invitation and she accepted. We showed her all of our Blue Star projects we worked on all year.
Outside some of my classmates were playing ‘Ode to Joy’ as she came in the door.’ Ode to Joy’ is the national anthem of Europe. It was chosen because there is so many languages in Europe they could not just chose one so they chose an instrumental piece by Beethoven.
She went around to every room and the students showed off all of their EU knowledge. In the senior room the French table recreated their food from the food day we had a few weeks before. I made crepes and they were gone in a flash!
After she went around to the rooms all the classes gathered in the halla to play some music and ask guest and ask questions. The junior room waved all the national flags of the EU. After that we did the ‘Spread a Handshake for Europe.’ The ‘Spread a Handshake for Europe’ is a handshake. You simply keep shaking hand in a circle to show that we are all united.
At the end Mairead McGuinness told us that Antonio Tajani said that we had no homework. We all had a great but exhausting day and were delighted to have no homework to do!
By Grace
5th Class

Cathedral Visit

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On the lead up to our confirmation, the sixth class pupils of Kiltiernan NS went to visit the cathedral in Galway with our friends from Labane NS and Ballyglass NS, courtesy of our parish priest, Father Roche. We got on the bus and arrived at the cathedral a while later. When we got there, Father Roche showed us around the outside. The carvings over the door and all around the outside of the building were so cool, and Father Roche did a great job explaining them all.
When we went in, Father Whelan, another priest, showed us around and explained all the chairs in the middle. Cathedra means chair, so that’s where they got the name Cathedral.
Next the organist showed us how the church organ works and played for us. He was really talented.
Later Father Whelan showed us the Stations of the Cross and the abstract stained glass windows.
Lastly, we saw the crypt where the previous bishops’ bodies are laid to rest. It was cold and a bit creepy, but very interesting too.
Before we went back to school, we made a quick stop at Supermacs. We had burgers and nuggets, and ice cream for afters.
I had a really great day thanks to Father Roche!

Seashore Safari

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Seashore Safari

On the 24th of May the pupils from second to sixth of Kiltiernan national school were lucky enough to be visited by Brendan Allard from the Marine Institute. Brendan is a marine biologist and works in the marine institute in Renvile. He studies creatures in the ocean.

He came to visit us around 9:30am in the morning. We all gathered into the hall and he explained to us what he does at his work. He also told us how important it was to protect the oceans from pollution.

We left for Traught beach shortly afterwards seeing as low tide was at 10:30 which was when we wanted to arrive. When we got off the bus we split into groups and he gave us all nets. We spent the next hour and a half scouring the rock pools for any signs of life!

By the time we were finished we had found hermit, porcelain, edible, shore and box crabs, though our star find of the day was a butterfish. We also found anemones and periwinkles.

After that we had a quick lunch break and then we finished off the day with a sandcastle building competition.

We all had a great day and at the same time we learned about the ocean and found lots of cool creatures. We can’t wait for another visit from the marine institute!

Alastair 6th class

Seashore Safari

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13/06/17 Seashore Safari

On the 24th of May 2017, classes 2nd to 6th embarked on an adventure to tracht beach to go on a Seashore Safari.

Before we left are school,  our guide, Brendan Allard gave us a Q and A session. We asked about his job of as  a marine biologist. We also talked about the species that inhabit tracht beach.

Soon after our  discussion with Brendan, we arrived at tracht beach. We met at the top of the beach and started to move out towards the rocks. We found all types of creatures  like crabs, hermit crabs, anemones and some groups even found species of fish! Afterwards we met together and showed each other our catchces. We then set them all free.

After are expedition we all had lunch on the benches at the top of the beach . Shortly afterwards we started a very competitive sand castle competition. When it started, we all sprinted down towards the water and started on our creations. The goal was to make the tallest sand castle. When we finished our castles, the teachers judged to see whos was the tallest. Unfortunately, my group did not win, but it was still great fun!

After our  splended trip we all gathered into the bus, wet, sandy and exhausted.When we all arrived back at the school, we were hoping that we could something like this again.

By Colman 6th class

Confirmation 2017

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Confirmation

We’d been practicing for months before the big day. We’d attended ‘You shall be my Witness’ meetings. We’d been allocated special jobs and practiced hymns. We even visited the Cathedral back in March. So we were very prepared when the day came. We made the sacrament with the 6th class pupils from Labane and Ballyglass.

After we had been all groomed and polished we headed to the church around 11 o’clock. We all looked very smart indeed! Father Roche and Canon McLoughlin conducted the mass.

We recited the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. There was the laying on of hands. Next we played a tune on our instruments. We then received Communion and finally we were confirmed with the oil of chrism. We were called up in groups of four and our sponsors and parents stood with us at the altar.

Later the parents came up to get photos… well at least tried to get a couple of good ones!

It was a great day and everyone really enjoyed themselves.

By Ross, 6th class

Trip to Cathedral

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On Thursday the 27th of April 6th class from Kiltiernan, Labane and Ballyglass went to the Galway Cathedral.

When we arrived at the Cathedral, we walked around the Cathedral and Father Roche told us facts about the outside of the Cathedral. When we all entered the cathedral we meet Father Whelan. Father Roche took one class with him to the pipe organ and Father Whelan took our class and another class around the inside of Cathedral. He explained that all the lime stone was donated to the Cathedral when it was being built. It was used for the floor and the altar.

After a while we went up to the pipe organ. There were a lot of pipes. The pipes where made out of metal and timber. Some pipes were small and some were huge. We met the man who played the pipe organ. He explained how the pipe organ worked. The keyboard looks very confusing because there were alot of keys, loads of knobs that you pull and loads of foot pedals. After that we went upstairs where Father Roche showed us portraits all the old bishops of Galway and explained about them.

Later we went down stairs to the crypt and Father Whelan explained it is where the bishops are buried. After that we left the Cathedral and went to Supermacs for lunch.

I would like to thank Father Roche and Father Whelan for explaining about the Cathedral and organising this event. I learned a lot about the Cathedral.

Seán 6th class