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
Peace Proms 2016
On Sunday, the 31st of January we went to the Kingfisher Hall in Galway to perform a lot of songs in front of our parents and a huge audience. We had been rehearsing them for months in our school. Now our big day had finally arrived!
In the morning, my mom drove me down to the school to get a bus to the Peace Proms. I sat beside my friend Edel on the bus. When we got to Kingfisher Hall we ate our lunch. After about 10-20 minutes the orchestra and conductor, Greg Beardsell were ready and we rehearsed our songs. Then we had another break.
Before the concert started we met some of the girls from the orchestra. They were musicians and played the clarinet and wearing green and gold dresses. They looked beautiful.
The first song that we sang was ‘Touch the Sky,’ second was ‘World in Union’ and the soloist was Sarah Richmond. Thirdly, we sang ‘Power of the Dream’ and the soloist for this song was Megan Ruby Walsh. We sang ‘Friends Medley’. Then there was a short interval.
In the second half the orchestra played the soundtrack of ‘Star Wars’. Afterwards we sang ‘Matilda Medley’. Then we sang ‘Imagine’, then ‘Pop Medley’. After we sang ‘You’re the Voice’. The finale was ‘Ireland’s Call’ with Emmet Cahill the soloist. Then the concert was over. Afterwards, we went for dinner in Raftery’s Rest in Kilcolgan, the perfect end to a perfect day!
by Tara Keane
Learning About 1916 in the Middle Room
In the Middle Room we have been learning about the events of Easter week in 1916. We have learned what life in Dublin was like for men, women and children. We have learned about the hopes and dreams of some determined people who decided to rebelas against the British forces in Ireland…beginning in that fateful week. We learned of how many Dubliners were taken by surprise by the actions of the rebels. We read about their bravery against the well organised and armed British army and of the locations where they fought, the GPO, Boland’s Mills, Jacob’s factory, Dublin Castle. We also learned about the Proclamation and our school has received a copy with our National flag like every primary school in Ireland. We learned about the seven signatories of the Proclamation and their surrender and execution.
One of the exercises Ms. Fenlon asked us to do was to design a biscuit to celebrate 1916, using all we had learned about the Rising, the seige in Jacob’s and using some of the ideas and famous names to create them…Katie baked a batch of cookies using ginger, pistacchio and oats…the GPO biscuit which everyone agreed was delicious. Her version for class didn’t contain pistacchios as our school is a Nut Free Zone. Diarmuid baked a cookie based on biscuits baked at the time but included a chocolate chip in each… a small act of rebellion so he named his cookies ‘Rebels’!
First Term in the Middle Room
We have had a very busy first term in Second, Third and Fourth Class. We were all busy getting used to keeping our Reading Logs, getting quiet and focused during DEAR, working happily in pairs and groups. Now we go on journeys of the imagination at the turn of a page…at no expense! Second Class has a big event to look forward to this year. Fr. Roche visited to tell them about the Do This in Memory of Me programme and to invite us to some special masses for everyone preparing for First Communion. In September, we invited our grandparents to visit our school on October 9that 1pm. Then we had a couple of weeks to get ready. We interviewed our grandparents…We collected photographs of them…We made portraits of them in oil and chalk pastels…We gathered mementoes to display which reminded us of their love for us… from toys, jewellery, rosary beads, cards, a loaf of Granny’s brown bread and a a bowl of strawberries! We wrote poems about them…composed prayers for them and decorated the corridors and the school hall with all our lovely work. We finally celebrated Grandparents’ Day on October 9th. Our school was so busy and full with grandparents who travelled from Dublin, Meath, Mayo, Kerry and other counties on the day, sharing memories, hugging us, seeing our classroom and meeting our teachers and friends. Our Parents’ Council made lovely tea and cakes for them and they all had a chat. We sang, played music and danced for them. Billy, one of the granddads played accordion with John, a Dad who played tin whistle. They played three songs and everyone clapped and tapped their feet! By four o’clock our visitors were gone and we all went home…
We had our Parent Teacher Meetings then Halloween which is always fun! Our fancy dress parade competition was better than ever this year with lots of homemade costumes and props.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Christmas Raffle
Christmas Fun Day 19th December
STEM AWARD FOR KILTIERNAN N.S.
