Monthly Archives: March 2017

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Ambulance Visits St. John’s March 2017

A big thanks to our local Paramedic Vince for calling to see us on Wednesday 29th March.  Vince gave us some very good tips on how to stay safe and keep ourselves healthy.  We learned all about how to check our temperature and blood pressure and even got to see the ambulance!  Thanks so much Vince! 


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Sporting Fixtures March 2017

Best of luck to the boys and girls Soccer teams who will be taking part in the FAI Schools Competition in Tralee in the coming days and also to the boys Mini Sevens team who are competing in the next round of their competition in Tralee on Monday, April 3rd.  Go neirí libh!

Here are some pictures of the runners up in the qualifying round of the Mini Sevens in Kenmare.


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First Class Penpals!

Miss Browne’s First Class were busy today writing replies to their Pen Pals in Lucan, Co. Dublin. 

 

 


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March 2017 Newsletter

Upcoming School Closings:

Closing:               Friday, April 7th at 12 noon – Easter Holidays

Re-Opening:       Monday, April 24th at 9.20 a.m.

Closed:                Monday, May 2nd – Public Holiday

Closed:                Friday, June 2nd – School Holiday

                             Monday, June 5th – Public Holiday

Closing:              Tuesday, June 27th at 12 noon – Summer Holidays

Full calendar for the school year 2017/18 to be included with Summer Newsletter.

Parents Association Fundraising Events:

A Coffee Morning, Bake Sale and Monster Raffle will be held on Tuesday, 4th April from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. in the School Hall.  Money raised will fund Extra Curricular activities including workshops such as Lego Learnit, and Parental Talks.  We would appreciate if parents could bake items for sale and drop into the school on Tuesday morning. Pupils will also have an opportunity to buy baked items. Raffle tickets will be on sale through the school (see note sent home during the past week) as well as outside the school and in Supervalu on chosen dates.  Fabulous prizes to be won!  The Parents Association would like to take this opportunity to thank all the local prize sponsors for their generosity.  They also wish to thank Supervalu, in particular, for sponsoring the prizes for the children’s Art Competition.

“Please come along and support”

Sing Out Loud:

Congratulations to all our superstars in St. John’s N.S. – 3rd, 4th and 5th classes who took part in the “Sing Out Loud Concert” in the INEC Killarney on Friday, March 10th.  All our pupils performed magnificently and should be very proud.  A big thank you to all those who helped out with the organising and supervising especially to our schools Musical Director, Órnait Ní Loingsigh for all her hard work in preparing the children. Check out pictures from the event on our website and facebook page.

Traffic Management:

Many thanks once again to all those who co-operate with our set down and collection procedures, traffic warden signals and school bus clearways.

Unfortunately a number of parents are regularly using the staff car park as a set down and collection area. We are very concerned that parents using the staff car park may be the cause of a serious accident.

At this stage of the school year when pupils are well settled and are well acquainted with assembly procedures in the school yard in the morning, it is not necessary to remain with your child in the assembly area. Supervision is provided prior to collection by class teachers and therefore your co-operation in this regard will ensure a better free flow traffic system in our set down area.

Appointment System:

Please be reminded that an Appointment System is in place for parents who wish to meet with a teacher. This appointment must be made at the school office. All items to be delivered to pupils should also be done through the school office. Please keep delivery of items to pupils to a minimum so that classes are not interrupted on a regular basis.

Active Schools / School Activities:

As outlined on previous newsletters we are committed to providing as much physical activity as possible for pupils during the course of the school week.  So far this year we have provided tuition free of charge for the following activities: gymnastics, Irish dancing, Gaelic football, hurling, spike ball, skipping and cycle training.  Peggy Healy has recently commenced providing instrumental music tuition to all classes. 6th class pupils will be receiving tuition in French and a Transition to Secondary School programme during final term. We have plans to provide basketball tuition during the final term. We will also be holding an Active Schools Week in mid May with the highlight being a Sports Day. Further details to follow.

Website / Facebook Page:

Please keep in touch with our website, www.stjohnskenmare.ie  and new Facebook page for updated photographs of school events and activities.  Many thanks to teacher, Roisín O’Sullivan, for all her hard work in maintaining both website and Facebook material.

Sacrament of Confirmation:

Thirty six girls and boys in 6th class received the Sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday, March 15th in Holy Cross Church, Kenmare. The pupils took part in a four week parish programme called “You Shall Be My Witness” in conjunction with their classroom preparation.  Many thanks to the class teachers, Mr. James Devane and Mr. Ronan Hussey, for all their hard work in preparing the candidates. Huge thanks also to the School Choir made up of pupils from senior classes, Director, Ms. Órnait Ní Loingsigh and Organist, Ms. Peggy Healy for enhancing the ceremony with wonderful singing and music.

Sacrament of First Holy Communion:

Congratulations to the girls and boys in Second Class who received their First Confession on Tuesday, March 28th. These pupils are now preparing for the Sacrament of First Holy Communion which will take place on Saturday, May 6th at 10.30 a.m. in Holy Cross Church.

Sporting Fixtures:

Best of luck to the boys and girls Soccer teams who will be taking part in the FAI Schools Competition in Tralee in the coming days and also to the boys Mini Sevens team who are competing in the next round of their competition in Tralee on Monday, April 3rd.  “Go neirí libh!”

Used Clothes Collection:

Used Clothes Collection will take place on Thursday, May 11th.  Bags should be dropped in to school by Wednesday, May 10th.  Time to do that Easter clear out!  Funds from bag collection are used to contribute to payment for transport to school events and matches. We appreciate all your support.

Le gach dea ghuí,
Denis Courtney
Principal.

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Cycling 3rd Class March 2017

A big thanks to Mickey Ned O’Sullivan and the Ring of Beara Committee for funding Cycling Training for our 3rd Class this term.  The children learned vital skills for cycling and had a lot of fun in the process!


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Yoga with Darina O’Shea

We are very fortunate to have Darina O’Shea for Yoga and Mindfulness for the older classes as part of our Health Promoting Schools Initiative!  Darina is a certified MBSR teacher with the Institute of Mindfulness-Based Approaches. 

Yoga increases flexibility and strength, curing, relieving and preventing injuries, aches, pains and stiffness.  It is also a mental science – fitness for the mind.  Mindfulness is learning to direct our attention to our experience as it unfolds, with kindness and acceptance.  It trains us to explore and respond to whatever is happening at present.  It relieves stress and anxiety.  Yoga and Mindfulness lead to a greater understanding of the body and mind empowering us to connect to peace of mind and inner freedom. 


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Competiton Winners!

Just some of our winners from Bernie O’Sullivan’s Feis on Saturday and Sunday in Kenmare.  Well done all!


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Seachtain na Gaeilge 2017

Bhí ceolchoirm iontach againn ar 16 Márta 2017.  Bhí an scoil go léir i láthair agus bhain gach duine an taitneamh as an gceolchoirm.  Féach ar an dánlann anseo.


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Confirmation March 2017

Our 6th Class being confirmed in Holy Cross Church on Wednesday 15th March, 2017 by Bishop Ray Browne.  A great day was had by all. 


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Gallery of Art 2016/2017

From Picasso to Van Gogh, we have some very talented and creative artists in our school. 

Well done to all students. 

Check out these works of art!