Year: 2018

-  Active School's Award

St.Attracta’s reach All Ireland Spikeball Final!

Our three teams Girls, Boys and Mixed teams set off this morning to participate in the Connacht Regional Spikeball Finals in Loughrea. This alone, was a fantastic achievement on their behalf, having progressed from Mayo County qualifiers. The standard of Spikeball from all of the other Connacht qualifiers was, as you would expect, very high indeed. Nevertheless, both of our teams did us very proud as always, showing great spirit and determination in all of their matches each playing four matches in the initial rounds.

What a morning we had with our three teams progressing from their group stages, despite facing some very challenging teams. Unfortunately, here our Mixed and Boys’s team both were defeated by the eventual winners in thrilling games. Despite this, they both can be so proud of their efforts, they each certainly represented our school with pride.

Our girls team also faced stiff competition, with tightly fought contests in all rounds. Their performance increased and improved as the day progressed and after some epic battles they reached the Connaught Final. As a result they qualified for the All Ireland Spikeball Finals in Limerick on Thursday next. What an achievement it is to have our school back again on the National Stage. As with all our teams we could not be more proud of them. All our students have made great progress and we were delighted their efforts.

As always to conclude a special thank you to Mr.Rushe who prepared our students so well and to Geraldine Finn who coached our teams and year on year puts so much into Spikeball in our school . We are very fortunate to have her expertise, enthusiasm and support always.

Onwards and upwards for our Girls as all roads lead to Limerick on Thursday next, a very exciting way to conclude our term!

-  General School Information

St. Attracta’s NS Feature on MWR FM

We were delighted to feature on Joe Byrne’s ‘Ceol agus Ealion’ programme on MWR FM last evening.

This feature told the story of our involvement in the Comortás Féile Scoldramaíochta and involved many of our students and staff members. It is a lovely keepsake for our school.

We are very grateful to Joe for taking the time to visit our school, we really enjoyed having him with us!

Should you wish to hear the programme you can do so from the Mid West Radio website or by through the link below, go to Tuesday, then Ceol agus Ealion programme.

http://www.midwestradio.ie/index.php/listen-back

-  General School Information

Students of the Week Friday March 9th

What a busy week we had after the disruption of Storm Emma and the Beast from the East, from the Connaught Féile Dramaíochta to our Whole School Science Day it really was all hands on deck! Despite missing the students from our First and Fifth Classes we had a very positive assembly this afternoon with our class teachers delighted with the progress of their students.

Our students of the week were praised for their attention to detail in their work along with getting tasks completed on time. We had students who shone out as an example of friendship and empathy. We heard of pupils who have put themselves forward for helpfulness and hard work. We were told of pupils who have tried hard to improve and these remarkable improvements are acknowledged.

All teachers alluded to the fact that we have pupils who could get this award every week for their dedication to school work and tasks. We are, as always, extremely proud of all our pupils and do our best to inspire and reward all their endeavours. Maith sibh!

A busy week again awaits next week with our Seachtain na Gaeilge celebrations. We are also looking forward to our rescheduled World Book Day Celebrations on Tuesday where all students are encouraged to come to school dressed as a character of their choice from their favourite book. They may also bring their favourite book to school for reading time.

Also on Friday next, we have three teams from Sixth Class representing our school in St. Ita’s Loughrea at the Connaught Spikeball Finals at 10.30 am. Lots to look forward to, bainigí taitneamh as an deireadh seachtaine!

-  General School Information

Science and Engineering Day

Our corridors we’re a hive of activity earlier as all our students participated in our Science and Engineering Day.

All students from Sonas/Spraoi to Sixth Class played a huge part in the success of our day, not alone in preparation of their individual experiments and engineering projects but also in the confident manner they presented their work today. All the children can be very proud of their efforts.

Our Junior Infants investigated floating/sinking/materials and gravity, Senior Infants developed these further before exploring slopes and temperatures. The students from First and Second Class experimented with light, water, air pressure and gravity and should be very proud of their rain experiment and making a mini tornado in a bottle! Third and Fourth Class had wonderful experiments experimenting with static electricity before engineering a propeller car. Fifth and Sixth Class investigated electric circuits, carbonated water and its properties, sound before concluding with the novel ‘potato gun and needle into a balloon experiments’. There really was something for everyone.

All this great work was complimented with wonderful engineering projects which we look forward to showcasing in school and on our website the coming days. We were so proud of each and every one of these students who actively and confidently learned from one another. Finally a very special word of thanks to Mr. Clarke who organised and co-ordinated today’s event and all our teachers for their hard work in preparing the children so well.

Maith sibh go léir!

-  General School Information

NPC Parents Survey

Dear Parent’s

The NPC have asked that we participate in a survey regarding the new Junior Cycle Survey. Please find further details below. As always we appreciate your support.

Following the recent development of a new Junior Cycle framework, discussions are starting to take place about revising the Senior Cycle framework. As with the Junior Cycle these revisions will only take place after much consultation, research and development.

With this in mind we would like to ensure that parents of children in primary school have a chance to have their say as it is most likely your children that will feel the first effects of any changes.

We have developed a brief survey which we hope you will take a few moments to complete, to take this survey please click this link

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/What_do_you_want_your_well_educated_child_to_look_like_at_18

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

-  General School Information

Dates for your Diaries

After the disruption of the Red Weather Alert and Storm Emma last week, it’s very much back to business here again in St. Attracta’s. What a busy week lies ahead!

Féile Dramaíochta Chonnachta Tuesday 6th / Friday 9th March

Tuesday March 6th
Rang a Sé are our first representatives tomorrow in the Connaught Féile Dramaíocht Finals at Sean Scoil Salerna, Inverin Galway, they will be on stage at 1.30pm. We wish Mr.Rushes’ class well

Friday March 9th
Our next representatives are Rang a hAon agus Rang a Cúig who will be on stage at 1.30 and 2pm respectively on Friday afternoon. We are very proud to have three plays representing our school at this stage.

Whole School Science and Engineering Day Thursday March 8th

We have our whole school science and engineering day on Thursday March 8th here in school! The children look forward to sharing their wonderful engineering projects and experiments.

World Book Day Celebrations Tuesday March 13th

We have rescheduled our World Book Day celebrations to Tuesday March 13th. All students are encouraged to come to school dressed as a character of their choice from their favourite book. They may also bring their favourite book to school for reading time.

Connaught Spikeball Finals: Friday March 16th

We have three teams from Sixth Class representing our school in St. Ita’s Loughrea at the Connaught Spikeball Finals at 10.30 am. This has now been changed from Friday March 9th to Friday March 16th. Again we wish our students well. We are very proud of their achievements.

-  General School Information

School Closure Thursday March 1st / Friday March 2nd

Due to the Status Red:Snow-Ice Warning issued for all counties in the last hour: Valid from Wed 11pm until Friday 3pm and on the instruction of the Minister for Education we will close today Thursday (March 1st) and tomorrow Friday (March 2nd) on Health and Safety Grounds.

We will re-open on Monday morning (March 5th) at the usual time. We apologise for any inconvenience these closures may cause. Take care everyone!

-  General School Information

Ombudsman Office for Children visit’s Ms.Henry’s Fifth Class

UNCRC Drama Workshop

On Wednesday of last week Séamus Quinn came to our Fifth Class classroom to speak to us about the Ombudsman and the Rights of the Child. Séamus told us he was from the Ombudsman Office for Children in Dublin and where he is a drama teacher and a therapist.

We learned that the Ombudsman works to protect all children in Ireland. He also makes sure all children’s rights are being protected or as much as they possibly can be.

The first thing we did with Séamus was play a few games to warm up which were great fun. After that he asked if we had any questions about the UNCRC and we had a great discussion. The UNCRC stands for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and this year they are celebrating their 25th anniversary. Séamus said there were only two countries in the world who have not yet signed the agreement, and they are Somalia and The United States of America.

After all of that Séamus went into role as Mr Wright (the president of the world in 2042). Before Christmas we had made posters on the UNCRC. We were divided into groups and were given four rights to illustrate. So we got them back and Séamus went into role as the character Mr Wright and he announced that he had narrowed the 42 rights down to only 6 and our task was to write a letter to him to tell him how we felt and to choose in our groups, six rights which we felt were the most important. We were all so outraged at the request and found the task very difficult.
Once we had ‘sent our letters’, Mr Wright made another announcement saying he cut the rights down to 5 which we couldn’t believe!! What we learned from that task was that we are entitled to all 42 rights and they should never be divided into more important or less important, all must be protected.

The next task Séamus did was he got a humongous poster and we got a marker and traced around a student’s body. We then wrote about the 42 rights and who helps us protect those rights and ensures we receive them. We drew small pictures to represent them too which was fun. Overall this day was so great and interesting and we learnt so much. Thank you Ms Henry and Séamus for opening up our eyes to the importance of the UNCRC!

Thank you to the students of 5th Class for this detailed report!

-  General School Information

Students of the Week Friday February 23rd

At our weekly assembly today we learned of children who are working very hard inside of and outside of their classrooms.

Teachers told us they have children who help often and remind them if they ever forget. We heard from teachers about children who take great responsibility for their work and behaviour and who have worked well with others completing projects. It is always such a difficult decision to come to because our children are very attentive and eager to please.

We heard of children who have made huge efforts in improving how they work as a team member in the classroom. At times our children can get overexcited when doing things and we heard from teachers about this and how they can bring themselves back from their excitement and return to their work. We heard about children who have had some difficulties with a subject but who have stuck at it and had brilliant results through sheer hard work and determination.

As always it was lovely to hear of random acts of kindness and students showing great maturity, looking after and caring for the younger students in our school. Finally, we learned of those who have made a fantastic effort preparing for their Féile Dramaíochta competition on Tuesday next.This is always great to hear and we appreciate the hard work of so many students over the past number of weeks.

Maith sibh go léir. Táimid fíor bhródúil asaibh.

Dates for your Diary

Next week as always promises to be a very busy week.

On Tuesday next 27th February Rang a hAon, Dó, Trí, Ceathair, Cúig agus a Sé take part in the Féile Dramaíochta Cill Mobhí. We wish the students well and again thank them for all their hard work in preparation.

World Book Day: This coming Thursday March 1st we will all celebrate World Book Day here in school. All students are encouraged to come to school dressed as a character of their choice from their favourite book. They may also bring their favourite book to school for reading time!

Finally on Friday next March 2nd our school will close at 12.30 pm in line with the Department of Education procedures for staff Child Protection Training.

Bianigí taitneamh as an deireadh seachtaine!