Scoil na hEaglaise
“Work together, do our best, repect each other”
…………………………………………………………………………….
“Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege,
than the raising of the next generation.”
-C. Everet Koop, M.D.
NEWSLETTER Christmas 2015
Dear Parents / Guardians
We have had a very busy, productive and fun First Term here in Eglish NS. Here is an update on what’s been happening in Eglish NS since September
Deepest condolensces: We’d like to express our sincere sympathy to our Caretaker Michael and his family on the death of his wife, Patricia in October and also to our SNA Bernie Pollock on the death of her brother Oliver in November. May they Rest in Peace.
Halloween Fundraiser: We held a ‘Breakfast in the scary classroom’ in aid of Cheerios Childline Appeal and a ‘Walk through the Spooky Forest’ for local charity, ‘Mark’s Wish to Walk’ at Halloween. We raised €120 for each charity.
Health School Promotiotion Update: ‘Super Trooper’ Exercise and Activity charts were sent home in September. Keep up the great exercise. At present, our Healthy Eating Policy is under review. We look forward to getting parents’ input in relation to this. Thank you to Ms. Devine and her committee.
Vegetable Soup: We made our traditional vegetable soup on November 20th. This year, the soup was made entirely with vegetables from our polytunnel, grown by the students. It was delicious!! Thank you to the Junior Room for making the Brown Bread.
Energy committee: We have formed an Energy committee within the school who will work under the guidance of Ms. Moore helping us to achieve our second Green Flag. We are working to reduce energy consumption by switching off the lights and closing the door when leaving the room
Parents’ Celebration Evening: On Wednesday, November 11th we held an Open Evening to celebrate our Parents’ contribution to our school. This was an opportunity for our parents to meet our present School Manager, Ms. Goretti Newell and also to receive important information regarding Parents’ Associations and the new Board of Management. Clíodhna Sheehy, a speaker from the NPC (National Parents’ Council) presented to our parents and was available to answer questions. We also had wonderful performances from our very talented students. Our choir performed and we had 4 moving oral presentations from our 6th Class students on ‘What Eglish NS means to me’.
School Website: We proudly launched our school website on November 11th at the Parents’ Evening. Members of In-school Management are working collaboratively on the ongoing development and maintenance of our website. Check it out regularly. Newsletters will also be available to view online. www.eglishns.com
Farewell and Good Luck: We were sorry to say ‘Farewell’ to our colleague Ms. Hussey who left us in November to take up a Principalship in Kilconnel NS. Thank you to Ms Hussey for all she did for our school and students in her short time with us. She is gone but not forgotten. We wish her luck in her new position. ‘Go n-eirí go geal leat Hilary’.
Welcome to Eglish: We were delighted to welcome Mr. O’ Leocháin to our School Team in November. He is the new Senior Room Teacher and has already been making a very positive impact throughout the school.
Go Games: Our Middle Room and Senior Room students have had outings to Fohenagh and Ahascragh where they have taken part in Go-Games with neighbouring schools.
Multi-Sensory Garden: Our students have been enjoying cultivating and maintaining our Sensory Garden since September under the guidance of our ‘Garden Managers’, SNAs Bernie Glynn and Bernie Pollack. Super work being done including construction of a Scare Crow for Halloween. One of our newest additions is a ‘Bug Hotel’.
Credit Union Art Competition: All of our students took part in the Credit Union Art Competition, ‘Happiness is…….’. Well Done to Prize Winners: Rachel, Leanne, Philip, Paddy and Katie and well done to all for taking part.
Visit from the Army: On December 8th, we proudly and respectfully welcomed 2 members of our National Army. Conor and Ozzy visited our school to present us with our National Flag and a copy of the 1916 Proclamation. Our students asked them some very smart questions and we sang our National Anthem together. We look forward to raising the flag on March 15th.
Christmas Decoration exchange: Through the Europe Direct Centre in Ballinasloe Library, our students took part in the European Christmas Decoration Exchange again this year.
Díolacháin:Website competition: Our ‘Díolacháin’ was a great success once again. The creativity of our students always amazes us. Well Done to Mr. O’ Leochain and the Senior Room Students for hosting a great and profitable event. €202 was made for the school in addition to individual profits made by the product creators. Congratulations to the winner of the Christmas Hamper , the Prize for our Website Competition: Nora Louise Corcoran. Many thanks to Ms. Mulry for putting the hamper together.
Erasmus: Our Project, ‘Invaders and how they shaped the Europe of today’ is ongoing. Our project focus at the moment is on contributing to a group Blog and creating News Reports within the classes. On Thursday 17th of December, we held a Flash Meeting with our partner countries during which our students sang Christmas carols for their counterparts in Spain, Italy, Poland, Finland, UK and Romania.
Confirmation and First Communion: This year 8 students will receive their First Holy Communion on May 7th and 7 6th Class children will receive their Confirmation on April 12th. It is extremely important that parents bring the children to Mass regularly in preparation for these important sacraments, especially the Masses that have been organised specifically for preparation purposes. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6)
Fundraising: Members of our Parents’ Association have been working tirelessly making and selling beautiful Christmas wreaths. Many, many thanks to all who have given of their time and expertise to help support our school. We really appreciate it.
Thank you also to Mr. O’ Leocháin who donated beautiful calendars he designed himself with his own photographs of our neighbouring town, Athlone’s fabulous scenery, to the school for sale for fundraising.
Carol Singing: This week, we raised €470 from our Carol Singing Service outside of Tescos. This and proceeds from the Díolacháin will be put towards Education Resources in the New Year. Thank you to all who attended. It was a lot of fun and you represented the school very well.
Please be reminded, your child’s happiness and all-round educational development is our priority here in Eglish School. If you have any concerns in relation to this, please do not hesitate to let us know. To ensure that these concerns can be dealt with efficiently and in a dignified manner, please follow the steps as outlined in the Complaints Procedure Policy, a copy of which was sent home in September.
Many thanks for your support and ongoing cooperation
Wishing you a very Happy Christmas
‘Le gach dea-ghuí’
Siobhán Fitzgerald, M.Ed. (Principal)