Clarecastle NewS

“ I have come so they may have life and live it to the full” June 2018

Important General Data Parent Portal Dates The Parent Portal has been up Protection th and running for a year now. Monday June 18 Regulation Junior classes have used it for Active Schools Week viewing the homework for the begins and continues All personal information which nd week. Parents can use it to keep until Friday June 22 schools hold is protected by the track of attendance and of Data Protection Acts 1988 and monies paid in to the school and 2003. On the 25th May 2018, . Wednesday June 20th for viewing end of year school the General Data Protection reports. RSE talk in School Hall Regulation (GDPR) and for 6th Class at 8:30pm corresponding legislation reinforces the existing position.

th E Payments Wednesday June 20 The school is currently setting School Reports will be up a new e-payment system issued whereby parents will be able to pay all monies to the school electronically (e.g. School Thursday June 21st In light of the new legislation, Maintenance Fund, school tours, Hurling Blitz organised swimming lessons etc). This by Clarecastle GAA new policies and procedures are rd th being developed to ensure that will be up and running in for 3 and 4 Class September and we would at 11:30am Clarecastle National School continues to be compliant with encourage all parents to use this facility. It will hopefully make Data Protection legislation. Friday June 22nd paying easier for parents and it Sports Day will make accounting more straightforward for the school. School Reports Tuesday June 26th School Reports will be e-mailed Graduation Mass for 6th to parents on Wednesday, 20th Class in School Hall at June and will be accessible via Parents 7:30pm. the Parent Portal. Association There is huge credit due to the

th fantastic work and fundraising Thursday June 28 done by the Parents Association School closes at 12noon this year. Children will gain from the massive investment of

th over €16,000 and will have the Thursday August 30 opportunity to engage in coding, Start of the 2018/2019 designing, problem solving and school year. The school An information leaflet, critical thinking activities with will re-open to pupils at the purchase of 18 i-pads, 18 9:00am Understanding Your Child’s School Report, is available in Lego WeDo 2.0 kits, 12 Sphero packs with mats, 12 Bee-bots the Parents section of the school website under ‘Tips for Parents’. and associated accessories. This

Page 1 will be launched in September School library Cumann na with the help of Wriggle The Parents Association has (authorised Apple reseller). The mbunscol kindly allocated a sizable sum of Wriggle Roadcaster will be sent Both boys and girls teams money towards the purchase of to our school on the 21st of competed in the annual Cumann new books which we hope to September where the children na mBunscol Hurling and have on the shelves in will be able to board the bus to Camogie Competitions. September 2018. The children see robotics in action. The boys’ team played against are reading so much and it will The Parents Association are also CBS Ennis, Ennis NS and Inagh be great to have new material for funding activities for Active NS and won each of these the new school year. Schools Week such as Yoga, matches. These matches led to If any family is doing a clear out Zumba and transport to and the semi-final against Cratloe of their bookshelves at home from the orienteering in where another great win was and have books in good Ballybeg Woods. recorded. condition which are no longer The final was held in Cusack needed, we would welcome any Park on Tuesday, June 12th. Our donations that you might have. boys played very well but were It would help greatly if you unlucky on the day against Quin could check beforehand if the NS. books are on the Accelerated

Reading system. This can be In addition, our fantastic library done on www.arbookfind.co.uk, facility would not be so click as parent and type the book wonderful but for the continued title into the box. support and funding provided by the Parents Association and the library volunteers who maintain The girls played against this fantastic resource in our Kilkishen NS, Quin NS, school. Sincere thanks to the Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg and parents who make all of this CBS Ennis. While the team possible. all school library played very well, they didn’t We know that we are very books must be returned progress to the next round. fortunate to have such an active to the school by The continued support and and supportive Parents th Tuesday 26 June assistance of Clarecastle GAA in Association who constantly please? this regard is very much work to enhance the provision of appreciated. education for all pupils in the school. In order for this to be Accelerated sustained, new volunteers are always needed. Reader HURLING SKILLS The Accelerated Reader Programme continues to prove COMPETITION itself as a powerful tool for motivating our students to read for pleasure and for monitoring and managing independent reading practice. To date this year, pupils from Congratulations to Rhian Drop your name in to the school First to Sixth Class have read in Sheridan, Fionn Morgan and office and a member of the the region of 10,500 books Michael Sweeney who Parents Association will be in which totals to approximately represented the school in a contact with you, or you might 120 million words! Hurling Skills Competition like to come along to the which was held in the GAA monthly meetings to see for grounds at Clareabbey. They yourself the wonderful work that competed against five other is done for the school. schools from Clare. Each child received a point for their team

Page 2 on completion of the following MARION KEANE Trad Music Group skills: Long Puck, Ground The Trad Group have had a busy Stroke, Sideline Cut, Soloing, Basketball year and have welcomed lots of Striking over the bar and budding new musicians! Soloing through poles as quickly TOURNAMENT December began with a visit to as possible. Michael, Fionn and Training began in January for Clarecastle Day Care Centre, Rhian won the Clare Division the Marion Keane Basketball providing a lively and lovely and travelled to Mallow on June Tournament. We were in a mixture of dance and music. 6th to represent Clare in the group with Gaelscoil Mhíchíl This was followed by the Munster Competition. Each Cíosóg, Barefield NS and CBS Christmas Nativity which was county was represented and the Ennis. The blitz took place in held in the Church. boys showed great skill Gurteen. throughout the day. Well Done boys! Lovely Hurling!!

QUIZ ENTRIES Children from Fourth and Sixth class took part in numerous table We beat CBS but unfortunately quizzes during the year. lost two close matches to Barefield and the Gaelscoil. Seinn na nÓg was the next big Gaelscoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg project for April and once again, emerged as winners from the the Trad Group did not group at the knock out stages. disappoint. Parents, family and Well Done to all who took part! friends came to hear and see a wonderful display of talent in They represented Clarecastle NS music, song and dance. in the annual Credit Union Quiz, Munster Schools Clarecastle NS was delighted to in Féile na hÍnse and in the participate in celebrating the Community Games Quiz. More Tennis Competition rich indigenous culture that our recently two Sixth Class teams After our Sixth Class girls’ team Traditional Irish Music brings to participated in the Garda won the inaugural Co. Clare Church life. Well done to all the Síochána Primary Schools Quiz Primary Schools Competition in musicians who attended on the and after a very tight contest, June 2017 at Ennis Tennis Club, night. came in 3rd and 4th place. Well it was decided to enter a girls done to all the children who took and boys team in the Munster part! Schools Tennis Competition this Engineers week year. The girls and boys played Engineers week was held from two very strong teams from February 24th to March 2nd. Cashel, Co. Tipperary, but SWIMMING GALA Children became engineers for unfortunately were beaten on the the week and imagined, planned day. It was a wonderful and designed a great variety of experience for the Sixth Class projects. We had fantastic visits pupils. from five very generous parents who work as engineers. A big Pupils from Third to Sixth Class thank you to Dennis Geers, represented the school at the Ruairi Breen, Fiona McGonnell, Annual Schools Swimming Gala Joe Doyle and David held in Ennis Leisure Centre on McParland. the 11th of June. Teams of four competed in a mixture of width We are training hard to retain the cup for the Clare School and length swimming. Well st done to all the boys and girls Blitz on June 21 at Ennis who participated on the day! Tennis Club.

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Council representatives invited came second in the individual children throughout the school singing competition. Well Done to put forward suggestions as to to all for taking part and for how this money should be spent. doing so well. All of these ideas were Tráth na gCeist sa Scoil: discussed by the Student A Table Quiz as Gaeilge was The children thoroughly enjoyed Council and it was decided to organised on Friday 16th March the wonderful presentations and spend the money on K-Nex kits for Fifth and Sixth Class and on the week started the exciting and, as a treat, an ice-cream van Friday 31st March for Third and journey with STEM (Science, will arrive at the school before Fourth Classes. All winners Technology, Engineering and the summer holidays....on a date were presented with prizes and Maths) and STEAM where the that is presently known to the each quiz was enjoyed by all. Arts are integrated with each of Student Council only! Comhghairdeas le gach éinne! the above subject areas. Thanks also to the parents who sent in all the wonderful recyclable materials. National Technology week

April saw the children engage STUDENT COUNCIL with National Technology The Student Council had their Week. first Skype session in March with the children in Ashley SEACHTAIN NA

River Elementary School, Gaeilge Junior classes learned coding Charleston, South Carolina, Bhí gníomhaíochtaí éagsúla ar with Beebots. The children also U.S.A. Our Student Council got siúl sa scoil i rith Seachtain na learned about coding, Scratch, together in the library and asked Gaeilge i mbliana. project management and the lots of questions and also wonderful world of technology. showed some of the wonderful Third, Fourth and Fifth classes work they did during Engineers had fantastic visits from the Week. following parents: Mary Nugent, Peter Gorman, Peter Duffy, Tomasz Kantecki and Paul Comórtas Seanfhocail: Ellingstad Children from Third to Sixth Sincere thanks to all of the Classes drew pictures of their parents who gave so kindly of favourite Seanfhocal and some their time to visit and share their of these are displayed Ashley River has engaged with expertise with us. The children throughout the school. STEM since 2011 and has since thoroughly enjoyed every visit! progressed to STEAM. They Féile na hÍnse: held a STEAMFEST in their Children took part in school in May and invited us to Amhránaíocht Aonair, Grúpa contact them via Skype on 31st Amhranaíocht, Tráth na gCeist, May. They demonstrated their Ealaín agus Aithriseoireacht. recent projects and shared their Children from Fifth and Sixth class won First Place in the experiences with us. The Student Council also Group Singing competition. Children were invited to bring in organised Crazy Hair Day as a their own technological devices fundraiser and raised nearly to show to their classmates. €600. There were some interesting drones, remote controlled cars Sixth Class children took part in and robots on display and a very the Tráth na gCeist and one team special visit from DASH the came in fourth place. Alannah Robot. Thanks to all the boys Hayes came first in the poetry and girls who brought in their competition and Róisín Halpin devices.

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discover how the Green Schools Pangea Maths work influences people and environments worldwide; while also revising litter and waste management. Congratulations to Alex Sullivan, Sixth Class, who qualified to represent our school in the National Pangea Maths During the months of May and Finals in Trinity College in May. June, pupils were encouraged to Well Done Alex! walk or to cycle to school or to park ‘n’ stride each Wednesday

The overall aim is to create a as part of the WOW initiative. Wellbeing week knowledge and understanding The National Walk to School Wellbeing Week was held from about the link between Week in May returned high May 14th to 18th to promote environmental degradation and student participation and we student health and wellbeing. human rights. It is a two year achieved a similar result during process which concludes in the National Cycle to School March 2019. Week from June 11th to 15th. The new committee, formed in Sixth Class children enjoyed a September 2017 consists of cycle to Ennis and participated students from 1st to 6th class. in a 4km cycle tour of Ennis on The students meet once a month National COW Day, Wednesday Children had the chance to enjoy to discuss and plan upcoming June 13th. They were cheered on yoga, Movement for Life, Crazy events, conduct surveys and and waved off by other classes Hair Day and Friendship Day monitor our waste management. as they left the school. where they participated in Compost waste and recyclable random acts of kindness. We paper/plastic is collected from also had ‘Food Dudes’ and the classrooms on a daily basis. ‘National Walk to School Week’ Litter picking occurs in the as part of the Green Schools school grounds weekly. Initiative. Physical activity only Students are encouraged to bring was assigned as homework. in old batteries and old phones Thank you to the Parents from home so that they can be Association for funding the recycled in a controlled manner. In early June, Third and Fourth yoga. Sincere thanks also to Bird tables and feeders were set Class children had the Rosie McMahon, to Kieran up during the winter months to opportunity to take part in a Ryan who introduced the school look after our vulnerable recycling workshop. They sorted to Movement for Life and to Ian feathered friends. A wild garden waste packaging into the correct Dinan and Gerard Backes for was set up in the school grounds bins and learned all about the planting peas and onions with in March to complement our new household recycling list. Senior Infants in the Community Bug Hotel and we are currently Children were informed about a Garden. Many thanks, as observing natural wild flowers competition to make a bin lorry always, to all parents for their growing there. from recycled materials and continued support. many boys and girls are now working on this project. There is still time left to enter for those who would like to do so! GREEN SCHOOLS We wish to take this opportunity Clarecastle NS is in the process A ‘Spring Clean’ of the local to thank all for their continued of applying for their sixth Green environs occurred in April and support and look forward to Schools’ Flag based on the all students participated. completing our application for theme Global Citizenship- Litter Junior Infants to Second Class the sixth Green Flag with more and Waste. This school engaged in scooter training and concentrated projects in the new maintenance theme affords the Fifth Class students engaged in school year. students the opportunity to bicycle training.

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FOOD DUDES Active schools hurling blitz week Active Schools Week is being held this year from June 18th to 22nd. Children in all classes have enjoyed Active Schools Week in Clarecastle GAA is organising a recent years, and will no doubt hurling blitz for Third and Fourth class pupils on Thursday do so again. st The Food Dudes Programme 21 June at 11:30 a.m. All revisited our school in May and parents are welcome to come was received with great along to support. excitement and enthusiasm. All classes sampled fruit and The initiative is about providing School vegetables such as carrots, fun and inclusive physical Photography grapes, apples, oranges, activity opportunities for all bananas, mangetout, cucumber members of the school and peppers. Incentives and community and allows schools rewards were earned as the to reinforce the message that programme progressed. This We would like to extend a physical activity is both massive thank you to John initiative, funded by An Bord enjoyable and good for you. Bia, aims to change the eating Power who takes the photos for Activities are planned as the school calendar and for the habits of children. There is no follows: doubt that there will be many First Holy Communion and Monday: exciting and healthy lunch boxes Confirmation booklets every Tennis - Junior and Senior in the future. year. John does this on a Infants voluntary basis and is always Yoga - Second to Sixth Class willing to help out. Thank You Tuesday: John! Tennis - First to Fifth Class Wednesday: Orienteering in Ballybeg Woods Our School - all classes Community Thursday: Our school is very fortunate to Zumba - all classes have the support of many School Choir Hurling Blitz - Third and Fourth volunteers from across the Class community whose contributions Tennis blitz in Ennis Tennis truly enrich the educational Club - Sixth Class experience of pupils in our Friday: school. Sports Day for all classes It wouldn’t be possible for the children to enjoy so many activities without the help and funding of the Parents The wonderful sound of singing The Board of Management, staff Association. Many thanks to voices has been heard on the and pupils would like to say a those parents who are school corridors at lunchtime on huge THANK YOU! to all the volunteering to help out during Thursdays. The choir have been volunteers who gave so Active Schools Week. practising some lovely songs generously of their time over the including ‘Fight Song’ and ‘This past year to benefit our pupils. is Me!’ in recent months. Thank you to the Clarecastle Everyone is looking forward to a GAA coaches and to Chris performance before the school Thomas, cricket coach. holidays! Thanks also to our local sponsors who generously sponsored us during the year.

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Unwanted First COMMUNION BEST OF LUCK! uniforms AND CONFIRMATION Best wishes and every success are being sent to our Sixth Class If anyone would like to donate Congratulations to the children pupils as they depart for unwanted uniforms that are in in Second Class who made their secondary school. good condition, they can do so First Holy Communion and to by handing them in to the school the boys and girls in Sixth Class office before the school closes who received the Sacrament of for the summer holidays. Confirmation. You are all a credit to your families and to your teachers.

Thank you to the parents who provided the very welcome refreshments in the School Hall after both ceremonies.

haPPY HOLIDAYS!

The school will close to pupils at

12 noon on Thursday 28th June

and will re-open on Thursday

30th August at 9:00am. We wish

everyone a safe and enjoyable

summer.

School Calendar 2018/2019

th Thursday 30 August 2018 School re-opens.

th nd 29 October to 2 November 2018 School closed - October Mid-term Break

st 21 December 2018 School closes at 12 noon for Christmas Break

th 7 January 2019 School re-opens after Christmas Break

th nd 18 – 22 February 2019 School closed for Mid-term Break

18th March 2019 School closed – Bank Holiday

th 12 April 2019 School closes at 12 noon for Easter Holidays

th 29 April 2019 School re-opens after Easter Break

th 6 May 2019 School closed for May Bank Holiday

rd th 3 -4 June 2019 School closed for June Bank Holiday

th 28 June 2019 School closes at 12 noon for Summer Break

Please Note: There will be one additional day closure for Primary Language In-service Training

for school staff during the first term. ThisPage date7 will be notified as soon as decided.