Junior Room Blog

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Since the start of 2017, we in the Junior Room have been as busy as little bees. In January, we had birthday spins on the chair for Sophia, Emma, and Sarah. We recovered well from Christmas and really enjoyed performing our Nativity in the church. If you have not seen it yet, it is available thanks to Pat Heffernan on the following link:
http://tinyurl.com/j72e22p
We had visits from Maura from the Order of Malta and a lady from Trocaire who filled us in on the important jobs they do for the community.
Our Fab February birthdays are Eoghan and Daniel. Our Write a Books were sent off to another school and we read some books written by Junior and Senior Infants from different schools. We had lots of fun writing our books and are delighted to be able to call ourselves published authors once again. We are very proud of our books and we learned a lot in the process.
Already in March, we have been as busy as ever. We had a taste of Europe in our classroom with food from Italy, Spain and more. We nibbled on breadsticks and crackers from Italy, had mango and pomegranate and of course, some Madeira cake which sounds like it should come from ahem, Madeira! Yummy!
Thanks to Rory Divilly, Gerry Fahy and Matthew Cunningham for coming in to talk about their work for Engineering Week.
We have a visit from Mary Dillon who is doing a Heritage Workshop with us in March and we will be continuing to learn about Biodiversity in our school habitat.
Book Week is from the 13th until the 16th of March. We will see local author Pauline Scully and her daughter Meghann who writes blogs and DJs on Spin South West so we will be full of questions and new information.
We also are looking forward to our drumming workshop which is a planned activity in Book Week. Our favourite part of Book Week is the Buddy Reading which we do every day. It is a great way for us to get to know the older boys and girls in Kiltiernan and the buddy reader is always a buddy to us.
Senior Infants will have their Early Intervention Testing (formally known as MIST) in Maths and English at the end of March. First Class will be tested in May.
Happy birthday to our mad March Hares Matthew, Sheila, Grace, Keelyn, Cian and Síofra.
Happy Easter everyone!

First Class Booklist 2016-2017

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First Class Booklist 2016-2017

 

Irish: Abair Liom B

Foclóir Nua (An Gúm)

An Don Léamh 1st Class

Maths: Planet Maths First Class:

English: My Spelling Workbook B (Prim-Ed)

Just Handwriting Pre cursive Handwriting Programme First Class

Exercise Your English 1

Oxford Children’s Dictionary (CJ Fallon)

Religion: Grow in Love First Class Primary 3 Workbook

 

SESE: Unlocking SESE First Class

 

Music: 1 Scrapbook

 

Visual Art: €10

 

Rental Scheme: My Read at Home Book 1: €5 (Supplied by school, price included in €35 mentioned below)

 

Miscellaneous Expenses: €20 (Self Assessment and Learning Folder, Testing- MIST,NRIT, Drumcondra testing, personalised homework journal, worksheets, etc)

 

€7 Personal Accident Insurance

 

Total monies payable in September €42 + €2 weekly family raffle (Parents’ Council)

 

 

1 Hardback Copy lined at side- (Last year’s book if possible)

1 A3 Art folder

1 10mm square Sums Copy

1 Project Book 15 Copy

1 Plastic A4 folder

Well stocked pencil case with contents labelled (no biros necessary)

Crayons /Twistables

 

 

If you are unsure of any of the textbooks please do not cover or write on them as it may need to be exchanged in September. If there are any further tests/materials required during the school year you will be notified.

 

Uniforms can be purchased in Pat Smyths ,Gort and the National, Schoolwear Centre,Tuam Rd., Galway. Trousers and polo shirts, without logos, can be bought on the High Street.

Books from this booklist may be obtained from Gort Educational World, Bridge St., Gort, First Chapter, Market Hall, Gort, Books ‘N More Bookshop upstairs in the Oran Town Centre, Oranmore or ABC Bookshop Tuam Rd, Galway.

 

The Parents’ Council will hold a raffle every Thursday as a fundraiser. Cost of tickets will be €2, which can be paid weekly or at the start of each term in full. Each family will be given a raffle number in September which will be their number for the year.

 

Junior Room Term 3

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Junior Room Term 3

Summer has arrived and we’ve had a very busy term so far.

In Gaeilge, we learned all about Eadaí and An Aimsir. We learned all about Weight, Capacity and Length in Maths. Mr. Kelly taught us for three weeks and he taught us loads of new songs and chants. Ask me to sing ‘Bungalow’ for you!

First Class has completed their swimming module this year and Infants learned about water safety on the farm, on the beach, at the pool, at home and on waterways.

This term brought lots of interesting visits and trips away.

Garda Aoife Curley, Daniel’s mum came in to talk to our class about the job of being a Guard. She told us all about the different ways the Guards patrol the roads, waters and skies around Ireland. She showed us her truncheon and belt Seán got to handcuff Ms. O Doherty and everyone laughed!

She asked us to be Seatbelt Sheriffs in the car over the summer months so we can all stay safe while travelling.

Daniel’s dad Paul is a paramedic and he is coming in to show us what is involved in his job and maybe we might even see the inside of an ambulance too.

We all took part in a Walk a Mile for Mark in Ballinderreen pitch on the 22nd of May. We had lots of fun and met up with our friends. We especially remembered our friend Mark that day and every day and always smile when we talk about him in school.

Later in May, we went on the bus to Galway Education Centre where we were presented with a certificate and medal for participating in the Write a Book competition. We are all published authors and are very proud of our books.  Bernard and the staff even gave us a goodie bag as we were leaving, it was great fun.

As if that wasn’t exciting enough, we then went along to Galway Barracks where Soldier Seamus talked to us about the peace keeping missions that they go on. The soldiers showed us the different types of weapons used and even let us hold them and take some cool pictures with them. We saw where the army men and women lived, trained and ate. Seamus then showed us a truck and jeep used by the army in Ireland. We’ll never forget that trip.

Sports Day will be on Friday the 10th of June. The Middle and Senior Rooms have been weighing us on their backs and booking us up for the piggy back races!! We can’t wait!

New infants will come in for their first taste of ‘big school’ on the 20th of June from 9.30-11.30. We’ll feel really grown up that day I think!

Ice Cream Day in aid of Downs Syndrome Ireland will be on the 23rd of June.

The Junior Room will be going to Loughwell Farm on the 28th of June for our school tour. Activities there will include seeing animals, riding the go-karts and barrel train, building some massive creations in the sand pit and of course, going down the massive slide and bouncy castle!

Our Magnificent May birthday boys are Marlon and Matthew Heffernan. Our only June Jewel is Emily and she is 7.

Ella and Sophia are July Jelly babies and Awesome August birthday boys are Aidan and Nathan. Happy birthday to you all!

It has been a very eventful year. I would like to thank the parents for all the hard work and support this year. We appreciate everything you’ve done for the children, school and staff and wish you a very sunny and happy summer. See you all in September!

Ms. O Doherty

Scaly the Lizard

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Great excitement when first class saw Scaly the lizard/ newt?? Trying to sneak past our classroom at 2 pm today- just as we were talking about creatures who would live in a swamp!!

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Book Week by Eoan

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                             Book Week

 

On book week my buddy reader was Jake. We read some very interesting books like Volcanos,  Animals at War and Timmy and the Dragon. At the book fair I bought Dennis the Menace , Extreme Survival and Tom Gates. My favourite is Tom Gates. The best bit about book week is that we went to the library. Me and Iarla found a WWE book. The library was my favourite bit about book week.

By Eoan, 2nd Class

Christmas Comes Early in Kiltiernan NS!

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Christmas Comes Early in Kiltiernan NS!

 

On Thursday, 3rd December, the children, parents and staff of Kiltiernan NS

extended their deep appreciation to John Costelloe, local farmer and past

pupil of Kiltiernan School. He was invited to receive a handmade card,

signed by every pupil and member of staff and the gift of a crib for his

generosity in donating a portion of land to facilitate upgrading the water

treatment system of the school.

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The principal thanked him for his gesture, on behalf of the staff, Board of

Management, parents and pupils explaining that it would deepen the bond he

already had with the school as a past pupil, parent of four past pupils and

as a great neighbour of the school. Many families relationship with the

school end with the graduation of their youngest child but she added “Once

you’ve been a pupil of this school, you are always welcome back as many

Transition Year and Student Teachers have attested over the years”. However,

John strengthened and made permanent his link with the school through this

gift of land. She explained that for the children the most significant

outcome for them was that their playground could remain intact and they

could still “keep our lovely trees” because of his kindness. The words “You

are so kind!” and “You are awesome!” were repeated by many children who

signed the card.

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John expressed his delight at the gratitude shown to him describing himself

as being “bowled over” by the kind words, by the sentiments expressed in the

card made by the pupils and by the gifts. He explained that he was simply

following his father’s example, because 46 years ago he had donated the site

on which the school now stands. He quoted his father saying “Land is only

land.you can’t take it with you” so make some good of it and it will be put

to good use by the school. He advised the children to work hard, to

appreciate their time in school because the memories and friendships made

here will last a lifetime. He also spoke of the importance of volunteerism

and civic spirit in a community and how important it was to thank those who

gave of their energy and time to coaching and on committees and voluntary

work. He expressed his delight at the response of the school and said his

father would have approved of his gift to the school.

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Fr. Roche, as Chairperson of the B.O.M. also spoke outlining the needs of

the school and how John had so generously answered them. He gave John a gift

from the parish to express his gratitude.

 

The children sang some Christmas carols and John, who is also a member of

the Ballinderreen choir joined in.

 

The true spirit of Christmas was clearly evident to all those who attended

the event.

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Winter in the Junior Room

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Winter in the Junior Room

Welcome back after a Spooktastic Halloween. It was great to see everyone dressed up on the Friday of the holidays and we think there may have been a few strange looks in the car park from the cars passing by. Hope we didn’t scare them too much!

November brings big seasonal change and we have learned all about hibernation and change in trees for SESE this month. It is Anti-Bullying month in school on the 14th-18th of November and we will be practicing to be as good a friend as we can be.

In Maths, we are learning about 2D and 3D shapes so we can point some of these out in the supermarket the next time we shop.

We are working on Construction in Art, and made a Loon Duck as a collage next week. We will be using lots of different textures and materials to construct in Art for the month. In Gaeilge, we are learning about weather so ask whether the la is te, fuar, fliuch or tirim and we’ll let you know!

December will be busy with the Christmas Fare on Sunday the 13th, Carol service in Labane Church on the 16th at 7pm so we will be ready for the holidays by then.

We are of course aware of the fact that Christmas is around the corner and are trying our best to be as good as gold both at home and at school, because we know Santa’s robins are always outside the window ready to report back!

Happy birthday this season to December Dynamos Alex, Gabriel and Corey, and January Jewels Liam, Sarah and Emma.

Auction List for Christmas Fair

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On December 13th we will have our Christmas Fair and Auction in Labane Hall. We hope to raise lots of funds for our school. We are working very hard preparing for the big day. This is a list of items we will be auctioning at the fair! Our star buy on Sunday will be a Panasonic 32” HD Ready LED TV (value 300 Euro), very kindly donated by Lagan Construction.

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Autumn in the Junior Room

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Autumn in the Junior Room

It was hard to beat this year’s opening week, where we had News2Day filming our big match build up for the All Ireland Final. The children dressed up in all their Galway colours and created chants and slogans to send the team on their way to Dublin with wind in their sails. Junior Infants will never forget their second day in school!

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October brought a fantastic Grandparents’ Day, which everyone enjoyed emmencely. It was great to show the Grandparents how much they mean to us in our lives and hear the interesting stories they passed along that day. Thanks to all who came and we will see you in 2017 for another great day.

We also worked very hard of course, with lots of Jolly Phonics, list words and Maths. Don’t forget to ask what we’re learning about in school these days!

Happy birthday to the summer birthday boys and girls Ella and Sophia in July, Nathan and Aidan in August who will get their spin on the chair by hook or by crook!!

Happy birthday to Ultan and Jack who celebrated in September, and to Conor whose birthday was in October.

Hospice Fundraiser

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The children of Kiltiernan were very proud to present a cheque for €960 to John Meehan from Galway Hospice. We raised this money at our recent Coffee morning and we are very grateful to our teachers, parents, neighbours and Lagan Construction for their support. We were delighted to hear how the money raised will help the Hospice. Sincere thank you to John Meehan for travelling to our school to accept the cheque and talk to us about the great work of Galway Hospice.

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