NOLLAIG 2020 Bunscoil Bhothar na Naomh, Lios Mor, Co. Phort Lairge. Ph. / Fax No 058 – 54685. E – Mail [email protected] Page 1 By Jack Buckley 6th Class National Science Week Gymnastics Science Week was celebrated in Bunscoil Bhóthar na Naomh from Over the last eight weeks, children from Third to Sixth class have November 8th to 15th. Children received instruction from DKAM Sports in gymnastics. This is a were actively involved in science specialised area of the P.E. curriculum and we are very grateful to experiments in their classrooms as the Parents Council for subsidising the cost of these lessons. A fee of every teacher prioritised Science €5.70 makes it very affordable for all. There is great progression in the lessons from one year to the next as both Kenny and Mikey that week. know the pupils by name and can tailor the pace of the lesson to the ability of the children. By lesson eight, the children perform a sequence on the floor incorporating rolls, tumbles, hand stands and cartwheels. Sixth Class gave a display of all their gymnastic skills by creating their own floor sequences. Junior Infants to Second Class can look forward to their lessons after Christmas. Santa Sale Our Parents Council held their annual Santa sale on Friday 18th of December. The children eagerly await the arrival of this day with the expectation of purchasing the ideal present for their parents. We are very grateful to the members of the Parents’ Council for organising this event this year. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Parents’ Council had to devise new ways of hosting this important shopping experience for our pupils. Children went shopping in groups of fifteen, and all gifts were displayed outside the Drama room, where the children could make their choice before entering the building. Once inside, shopping was very brisk as the gifts were pre-wrapped. Our compliments to the Parents’ Council for organising this wonderful shopping experience and we really appreciate all the extra effort it entailed. Bunscoil Bhothar na Naomh, Lios Mor, Co. Phort Lairge. Ph. / Fax No 058 – 54685. E – Mail [email protected] Page 2 Blue and White Day Our school is looking resplendent in its sea of blue and white. There is a festive atmosphere in the air as we all prepared for Waterford’s participation in the All Ireland Senior Hurling Final. Flags and bunting decorate all available spaces in the yard. The Christmas Tree decorated in blue and white, festooned with baubles featuring the faces of our four past pupils Kieran Bennett, Stephen Bennett, Jack Prendergast and Iarlaith Daly is a lovely addition. Friday 11th was a wonderful day in school. All pupils dressed in blue and white and contributed €576 to Club Déise. Inside the school, the corridors and display boards were full of art and craft associated with Waterford. The senior classes did projects based on County Waterford and even on the 1959 All Ireland final! Our thanks to TQS who donated two signed jerseys. The jerseys were signed by most of the Waterford team. A raffle for the jerseys was held during small break and the winners were Joe Bolger (Senior Infants) and Freya Bracegirdle (Third Class). We were lucky to be one of the schools chosen to participate in the “Fans in the Stand” initiative by Centra. The children were delighted to make the cardboard cut outs Waterford fans. They were all unique and a lovely gesture to compensate for not being able to attend the match. Bunscoil Bhothar na Naomh, Lios Mor, Co. Phort Lairge. Ph. / Fax No 058 – 54685. E – Mail [email protected] Page 3 Communion and Christmas Class Mass and Sacrament of New Pupil Confirmation 2021 Reconciliation We welcome Mr Prendergast and Father Cullinan invited the children down to the church for ten o’clock mass. Each Jakub O’Byrne to Father Cullinan are Third Class in discussing dates for both class went down separately and were seated in a socially distanced manner. Bunscoil Bhóthar Holy Communion and During mass, Father Cullinan gave the na Naomh. Jakub Confirmation in 2021. children general absolution. We are very joined us two Parents will be notified grateful to him for his regular visits to the weeks ago and is of the dates early in the school and for the thoughtful manner in which he administers the sacraments already making New Year. within the current restrictions. lots of new friends. Mrs Kennefick Retires Farewell We are very sorry to announce the retirement of Mrs Déirdre Kennefick on November 26th. Mrs Kennefick began We wish Cara (Junior infants) & Ollie her teaching career in 1982 teaching First Class in Presentation Convent, Lismore. She gave thirty-eight years Simmons (Fourth of devoted service to the children of Lismore both as a Class) the best of teacher and a principal for many years. For the last two luck as their family decades, Mrs Kennefick was Special Education Needs Co- will emigrate after ordinator. She was very fulfilled in this role, helping Christmas. Best students with special needs and supporting both parents wishes to both Cara, and staff alike. We will miss her dearly but wish her well in Ollie and his older the next chapter of her life. brother Jack. Winter Solstice Darkness into Light Fundraiser The Amber Flag Committee held a novel fundraiser for Pieta House on December 21st. They chose the symbolic Winter Solstice to remember that there are brighter days ahead. Pieta House support people who are experiencing problems with mental health and they provide a safe haven of support. The Amber Flag Committee adopted the theme of “HOPE” for this day. Hope for a brighter future after such a challenging year for us all. The children from Third to Sixth Class gathered in the school grounds at 8am. They collected their candles and then formed a human heart shape around the illuminated letters “HOPE”. This was a magnificent sight and the mood music playing in the background added to the ambience. It was an important event to “shine a light” on the plight of people in need of help. Children wore Christmas jumpers and we raised over €700 for Pieta House. Bunscoil Bhothar na Naomh, Lios Mor, Co. Phort Lairge. Ph. / Fax No 058 – 54685. E – Mail [email protected] Page 4 By Joe Cliffe, Senior Infants Bunscoil Bhothar na Naomh, Lios Mor, Co. Phort Lairge. Ph. / Fax No 058 – 54685. E – Mail [email protected] y Daria FPagealcaru, 5 3rd Class Ella O’ Gorman, 2nd Class Merry Christmas Mr. Roberts, By Nora Kate Mercier “Ooh! A holly-jolly Christmas to you Mr. Roberts!” Called Angela cheerily as she was closing up the shop for the evening. “What a draining lady!” Mr. Roberts chuckled to himself, “C’mon Charlie, boy! I’ve had enough of this Christmas lark for today!” The german shepherd plodded along gamely behind his master, stopping occasionally to sniff at falling snowflakes or to scratch his side. They were getting on in years, and as they trudged down the snow-covered lanes, Mr. Roberts wrinkled and limping, his companion grey and scrawny, they both wondered if this would be their last Christmas together. When they arrived at their dwelling – if you could call it that; it was more of a hut or a ‘wee abode’ as Mr. Roberts’ late wife Sheila would have called it – Mr. Roberts jiggled the key in the lock, stepped inside and doffed his boots. Charlie shook himself off and lay down on the ground for a well earned sleep, mouth hanging open. “Silly ol’ boy!” Mr. Roberts said, with a grin on his face, which was replaced with a frown as a drop of water fell on his head and he gazed up to the ceiling to find a large hole in the thatch. “Blast it! Not another one!” He grumbled, before heaving a rusty metal bucket under the damaged roof. Mr. Roberts sighed and collapsed onto his bed as there was no longer a couch – he’d had to sell it last week to get food for Charlie. Still, I suppose, he thought, I’ve got it better than some folks, at least I got bread on the table and a roof over me ‘ead. A sharp rap on the door startled Mr. Roberts, and reluctantly he stood up and limped over to the door, which, he now noticed, was falling into disrepair. Just like the rest of this ruddy ‘ouse he mused, as he opened it. Infront of him lay a note, but no–one was in sight. Perplexed, Mr. Roberts leaned down a picked up the slip of paper. It read: I have empathy but you need no sympathy As you are poor, and my job is to lure. So, follow the trail I have sent in the mail, Then you will see, how to find me. “What in the name of creation?” Mr. Roberts muttered. He made his was over to the wooden postbox, cleared the cobwebs off and opened the lid. Inside lay a bright, glittery, red envelope which was simply addressed: to Jeremy Roberts, from anonymous. “It’s been awhile since someone’s called me that – Jeremy. Hasn’t it laddy…” He addressed towards Charlie, who had joined him in front of the house. Charlie barked enthusiastically and Mr. Roberts chortled. He turned the envelope over to find a green seal fastening it together, which he peeled off and shoved in his coat pocket, he then pulled a scrap of paper, also green, out of the glittery pouch. To his confusion, on it was some sort of a map.