Covid-19 - School Closure
Letter to Parents - May 22nd 2020
May 22nd 2020
Dear Parent,
I hope that you are well and not blown away...what a change in the weather!! As you are aware, we have been in contact with the children on Zoom and it is proving to be a lovely way of communicating with them and also a way for them to see each other. There is however, an etiquette around these meetings and we ask that you ensure:
These are strange times and these are new tools...who would have ever thought that we would be communicating with the children in a virtual way! To ensure it is an enjoyable experience for everyone and to ensure all children get a chance to speak if they wish to do so, the Teacher mutes everyone at the start of the meeting. This is to reduce noise feedback and also to ensure the children can't all talk at the same time...just like school!! Teacher then unmutes them (or they unmute themselves) as they speak or are called on to speak.
Thank you for your cooperation as without it, we would be unable to communicate with the children in this way.
As of yet there is no information regarding the reopening of schools and I will update you when I have information. In the meantime, take care and have a lovely weekend.
Le dea mhéin,
Caroline Kennedy
Caroline Kennedy,
Principal.
Dear Parent,
I hope that you are well and not blown away...what a change in the weather!! As you are aware, we have been in contact with the children on Zoom and it is proving to be a lovely way of communicating with them and also a way for them to see each other. There is however, an etiquette around these meetings and we ask that you ensure:
- A Parent/Guardian is close by at all times.
- Children use one device only for the meeting... if using a laptop or tablet, they should not be using a phone.
- Children engage in the proper manner while the meeting is taking place...sit at a table, desk in the Kitchen, Sitting Room, Family Room etc and interact with their Classmates and Teacher, whether that is chatting or simply listening to others.
These are strange times and these are new tools...who would have ever thought that we would be communicating with the children in a virtual way! To ensure it is an enjoyable experience for everyone and to ensure all children get a chance to speak if they wish to do so, the Teacher mutes everyone at the start of the meeting. This is to reduce noise feedback and also to ensure the children can't all talk at the same time...just like school!! Teacher then unmutes them (or they unmute themselves) as they speak or are called on to speak.
Thank you for your cooperation as without it, we would be unable to communicate with the children in this way.
As of yet there is no information regarding the reopening of schools and I will update you when I have information. In the meantime, take care and have a lovely weekend.
Le dea mhéin,
Caroline Kennedy
Caroline Kennedy,
Principal.
News this week! June 2nd - 5th 2020
Rebecca Murray
Congratulations to Rebecca Murray! Rebecca's poem won 1st prize in the regional competition and her poem will now go forward to the National Something Fishy Poetry Competition! Well done Rebecca!
Sixth Class Transition to Secondary School Course
This website has ongoing courses for those needing some support on the Transition to Secondary School. Please note this is not a free course.
Competition Time!!
Last chance to get your entries in for some of these fantastic Competitions!
I just wanted to let you know about an art competition that I set up on April 8th. The aim is to encourage children to take a moment to reflect on, and be inspired by, the various actions being taken by people all around them. Let's celebrate Irelands budding young artists while recognising the heroes that have stepped up for our country in the recent weeks and months.
We would like submissions from children based on the hero in their lives helping them through this time. This hero should be a person known to them as we will have special prizes for the winning artists hero. Some examples to help the children are as follows:
Submissions are open until June 3rd and you can find full details on the website.
I just wanted to let you know about an art competition that I set up on April 8th. The aim is to encourage children to take a moment to reflect on, and be inspired by, the various actions being taken by people all around them. Let's celebrate Irelands budding young artists while recognising the heroes that have stepped up for our country in the recent weeks and months.
We would like submissions from children based on the hero in their lives helping them through this time. This hero should be a person known to them as we will have special prizes for the winning artists hero. Some examples to help the children are as follows:
Submissions are open until June 3rd and you can find full details on the website.
I just wanted to let you know about an art competition that I set up on April 8th. The aim is to encourage children to take a moment to reflect on, and be inspired by, the various actions being taken by people all around them. Let's celebrate Irelands budding young artists while recognising the heroes that have stepped up for our country in the recent weeks and months.
We would like submissions from children based on the hero in their lives helping them through this time. This hero should be a person known to them as we will have special prizes for the winning artists hero. Some examples to help the children are as follows:
- Maybe it’s your Mam or Dad who is a nurse or doctor on the frontline
- Perhaps it’s your Gran or Grandad who are sticking out cocooning like a trooper
- Maybe it’s your Aunt or Uncle who are out delivering hot meals to the homeless, checking in on elderly neighbours
- Could it be your brother or sister who helped to keep you entertained throughout the lockdown
- Perhaps it could be your neighbour who is working round the clock as a paramedic or your cousin who is delivering goods to our shops
- For more inspiration please check out our facebook and instagram pages where some of the excellent submissions to date have been featured!
Submissions are open until June 3rd and you can find full details on the website.
I just wanted to let you know about an art competition that I set up on April 8th. The aim is to encourage children to take a moment to reflect on, and be inspired by, the various actions being taken by people all around them. Let's celebrate Irelands budding young artists while recognising the heroes that have stepped up for our country in the recent weeks and months.
We would like submissions from children based on the hero in their lives helping them through this time. This hero should be a person known to them as we will have special prizes for the winning artists hero. Some examples to help the children are as follows:
- Maybe it’s your Mam or Dad who is a nurse or doctor on the frontline
- Perhaps it’s your Gran or Grandad who are sticking out cocooning like a trooper
- Maybe it’s your Aunt or Uncle who are out delivering hot meals to the homeless, checking in on elderly neighbours
- Could it be your brother or sister who helped to keep you entertained throughout the lockdown
- Perhaps it could be your neighbour who is working round the clock as a paramedic or your cousin who is delivering goods to our shops
- For more inspiration please check out our facebook and instagram pages where some of the excellent submissions to date have been featured!
Submissions are open until June 3rd and you can find full details on the website.
Here is a great opportunity for your child to win some fabulous prizes while reading a book they love or a book they've never read before.
Whether they like books on dinosaurs, music, adventure, fairy-tales, animals, fact, fiction or whatever it may be. This is also a great opportunity for you to support your child who may not be as keen on reading.
This competition is open to all primary school children and early years children. There`s loads of time to enter, the closing date is the 30th of June 2020.
Further details on how to enter, prizes etc in the link below.
https://sway.office.com/EIlXxldOBqN9bFaa?ref=email&loc=playGo to this Sway
Whether they like books on dinosaurs, music, adventure, fairy-tales, animals, fact, fiction or whatever it may be. This is also a great opportunity for you to support your child who may not be as keen on reading.
This competition is open to all primary school children and early years children. There`s loads of time to enter, the closing date is the 30th of June 2020.
Further details on how to enter, prizes etc in the link below.
https://sway.office.com/EIlXxldOBqN9bFaa?ref=email&loc=playGo to this Sway
Science, Biodiversity and Movement challenges.
Learn to play the Ukelele!
Bressie and his bandmate Justin from 'The Blizzards' are going to be running free Ukelele lessons on his facebook, twitter and instagram accounts from next Wednesday the 29th. They have organised fro hundreds of ukeleles for those cocooning so that they can join in the lessons. The plan is to end the six weeks of lessons with a #thelockdownukelelerockdown a massive performance of what you have learned altogether with thousands of others! How cool!!
So if you are interested and have a ukelele at home go to either his facebook, twitter or instagram page or follow the hashtags #thelockdownukelelerockdown or #whereismymindpodcast.
The first Lesson is here ! Follow this linkwww.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ32t0p5QjY&feature=youtu.be
So if you are interested and have a ukelele at home go to either his facebook, twitter or instagram page or follow the hashtags #thelockdownukelelerockdown or #whereismymindpodcast.
The first Lesson is here ! Follow this linkwww.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ32t0p5QjY&feature=youtu.be
New book published!
A book has been published this week and is available to download for younger children. It explains the Covid-19 to children and is beautifully illustrated by Axel Scheffler who illustrates all the Julia Donaldson books like the Gruffalo and Room on the Broom.
nosycrowcoronavirus.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coronavirus_ABookForChildren.pdf
Also available for free are these Julia Donaldson book resource packs. Comprehension and writing activities if you have some of her books at home.
https://resource-bank.scholastic.co.uk/content/40114
nosycrowcoronavirus.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Coronavirus_ABookForChildren.pdf
Also available for free are these Julia Donaldson book resource packs. Comprehension and writing activities if you have some of her books at home.
https://resource-bank.scholastic.co.uk/content/40114
Art Competition!
Further links for Art and for the book publishers pages.
See below some pictures of the links on instagram that you can follow for the William Sliney Challenge and also how to access Folens online, Edco online, Fallons, Prim-Ed and Grow in love.
See below some pictures of the links on instagram that you can follow for the William Sliney Challenge and also how to access Folens online, Edco online, Fallons, Prim-Ed and Grow in love.
Learn Sign Language!
Through home-school hub, aimed at 3rd and 4th class but I'm sure most children could attempt this skill.
https://www.rte.ie/learn/2020/0429/1135512-3rd-and-4th-class-irish-sign-language-isl/
https://www.rte.ie/learn/2020/0429/1135512-3rd-and-4th-class-irish-sign-language-isl/
Scoilnet, Folensonline, Edcolearning, CJ Fallon and Grown in Love have all opened their online resources to parents and students for now. Prim-ed has a parents pack that can be downloaded for free and a parents hub.
The Rteplayer has fantastic educational programmes under the kids section.
Some more for you:
www.learninggamesforkids.com
www.helpmykidlearn.ie
www.primarygames.co.uk
www.cjfallon.ie
www.growinlove.ie
www.prim-ed.ie
The Rteplayer has fantastic educational programmes under the kids section.
Some more for you:
www.learninggamesforkids.com
www.helpmykidlearn.ie
www.primarygames.co.uk
www.cjfallon.ie
www.growinlove.ie
www.prim-ed.ie
Literacy resources
Starfall and literactive are the two that are most suitable for Junior Class pupils. KS1 is Infants to 2nd and KS2 is 3rd to 6th approx.
www.pobble365.com for more Senior Classes offers story starters and picture inspiration to get children writing.
www.johnboyne.com Irish author has set up a short-story competition for children to enter from age 6 right up to 18. With a prize of 3,600Euro in National Book Tokens it would be a nice one to win! Closing date is soon...March 25th. For full details of entry see the his website which is linked above.
www.johnboyne.com Irish author has set up a short-story competition for children to enter from age 6 right up to 18. With a prize of 3,600Euro in National Book Tokens it would be a nice one to win! Closing date is soon...March 25th. For full details of entry see the his website which is linked above.
Online book libraries
Amazon have also temporarily lifted their subscription on audio books. www.audible.com
Award winning author David Walliams is releasing an audio book free each day. Tune in to this address at 11.00am each day and be captivated by the fantastic stories of Walliams. They really are brilliant. www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses
Award winning author David Walliams is releasing an audio book free each day. Tune in to this address at 11.00am each day and be captivated by the fantastic stories of Walliams. They really are brilliant. www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses
Maths
Gaeilge
Please note that www.irishhomework.ie has waived it's subscription fee for now.
SESE
Kahoot allows you to create your own quizzes online.
PE and Wellbeing
The 'Learning Station' channel on Youtube offers fun movement breaks and songs and dances for younger classes.
Also if you are looking for mindful moments - you can search for 3 minute body scan for children and also 5 minute meditation for kids on Youtube.
Also on Youtube through The Body Coach has lots of kids workouts to do at home and also if you tune in @9am Monday-Friday he does a live session for kids!
www.learning.gaa.ie offer lots of games and tutorials for all gaa sports. Scroll to the teacher section>>>primary school>>>> this will bring you to the Learning and Development Portal with lots of ideas to explore.
Northwest Fitness Academy
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Arts Education
Dabbledoo music is a really fantastic resource for online music lessons and it is now free at the moment!
Redtedart has created the 'stuck at home' resources list which is also available on her youtube channel in videos.
William Sliney is the Irish artist who is inspiring young people to draw a picture a day challenge. He is on instagram if you want to follow him and I think he is on twitter also with the #wewilldraw
www.pinterest.com is always a good reliable for inspiration for ART!
Redtedart has created the 'stuck at home' resources list which is also available on her youtube channel in videos.
William Sliney is the Irish artist who is inspiring young people to draw a picture a day challenge. He is on instagram if you want to follow him and I think he is on twitter also with the #wewilldraw
www.pinterest.com is always a good reliable for inspiration for ART!
Coding and STEM
When your children use the Internet to search for images for projects or anything related to school work, please encourage them to use kiddle instead of Google. Kiddle is a child-specific search engine supported by Google, which prevents the appearance of things that are not suitable for them.
Taking care of your child's Wellbeing during this Crisis
Explaining Covid-19 in a calm reassuring manner to children
| children_and_covid-19..pdf |
Weaving Wellbeing Programme - Tailored to Covid-19
The creators of the 'Weaving Wellbeing' Programme have put together this fantastic Journal, that aims to take care of the mental health and wellbeing of children during this difficult time. The document can be downloaded free of charge at this link. indd.adobe.com/view/5237deef-2311-469f-9e2d-b5ee89c2000f The Weaving Wellbeing Programme is an Irish developed Programme that can be delivered during the school year as part of the S.P.H.E curriculum. This new document is a fantastic resource and can offer reassurance and calm during this time of uncertainty.
Rte Learn hub and Home-school Episodes on Player
Rte homeschool hub www.rte.ie/learn/
Home-school hub episodes www.rte.ie/player/find?q=home%20school
1st and 2nd class Maths activities www.rte.ie/learn/2020/0429/1135511-1st-and-2nd-class-maths/
Home-school hub episodes www.rte.ie/player/find?q=home%20school
1st and 2nd class Maths activities www.rte.ie/learn/2020/0429/1135511-1st-and-2nd-class-maths/
