STEM Learning in Nun's Cross

We are delighted to share that our school has recently invested in a wide range of new STEM resources, giving our pupils even more opportunities to learn through hands-on, engaging activities.

What is STEM?

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Rather than learning these subjects in isolation, STEM education encourages children to use their knowledge together to solve problems, design solutions, and explore how things work in the real world.

Why is STEM important?

STEM learning helps children develop essential life skills such as:

• Problem-solving and critical thinking

• Creativity and innovation

• Teamwork and communication

• Resilience and perseverance (learning from mistakes!)

Through STEM activities, children learn that it’s okay if something doesn’t work the first time—they can test it, improve it, and try again.

STEM in our classrooms

Our 3rd class pupils have been busy putting their STEM skills into action by creating, designing, and testing structures using our new resources. These activities encourage children to think like engineers—planning carefully, working collaboratively, and experimenting with different ideas to see what works best.

The photos shared below capture our pupils fully engaged in learning: building, problem-solving, and most importantly, having fun while learning!

We look forward to continuing to develop STEM learning across the school and inspiring curiosity, confidence, and creativity in all our pupils. 🚀

🎅 Santa Dash Spreads Festive Cheer for a Great Cause! 🎄

On a fresh and crisp December morning, our school was filled with festive excitement as we laced up our runners, donned our Santa hats, and took part in our much-anticipated Santa Dash in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital.

With the wonderful support of the Gardaí from the village, pupils, staff, families and friends ran and walked together from the village all the way up to the school, spreading Christmas cheer every step of the way. The atmosphere was buzzing, and the festive fun was truly in full swing!

There was no shortage of creativity on display, with plenty of festive costumes, Santa hats, twinkling lights, and even some of our furry friends getting into the Christmas spirit too 🐾🎄. Smiles, laughter and goodwill filled the air, making it a morning to remember.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our school community, the event raised €775.42, which will be sent directly to Crumlin Children’s Hospital to support the amazing work they do for children and families.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part, donated, supported, and cheered us on. Your kindness and festive spirit truly made this event a great success. What a wonderful way to celebrate the season of giving!

Our Alien Creations – From Playdough to Clay! 👽🎨

The Junior Infant classroom has been buzzing with imagination, creativity, and plenty of messy fun as we launched into an exciting new Art, STEM and Fine Motor Skills Unit: Alien Creations!

We began our unit by making our own playdough from scratch. The children measured, mixed, kneaded, and coloured the dough, working together and having great fun (and getting a little messy too!). This hands-on experience supported problem-solving, teamwork, and fine motor development — all while sparking lots of excitement.

Once our playdough was ready, it was time to design and build our very own aliens!
There were aliens with googly eyes, twisty tentacles, sparkly antennas, extra arms, and even miniature playdough alien pets. Each child’s alien was completely unique, showing amazing originality and imagination. Through sculpting, rolling, pinching, and shaping, the children strengthened their fine motor skills and expressive abilities.

But our Alien Unit doesn’t end there…

🗓 Next step: Creating aliens with clay!
Using everything we learned from working with playdough, we will now move on to a new challenge: designing and sculpting aliens using clay.
This will help us:
🖐 Develop stronger fine motor control
🎨 Learn about form, shape, and texture
🔎 Explore simple 3D design techniques
💡 Plan and adapt our ideas from one material to another

We will sketch our designs, experiment with different clay techniques like coiling, smoothing, and joining, and then bring our final aliens to life — this time as lasting clay sculptures.

This unit has been a wonderful mix of creativity, sensory exploration, skill-building, and imaginative play — and we’re excited to see where our aliens travel next! 🚀🌍👽

Tag Rugby Blitz – A Day of Fun, Fitness, and Team Spirit! 🏉

What an action-packed day we had at our Tag Rugby Blitz! Every class in the school got involved, taking to the field with great enthusiasm, teamwork, and energy. From quick passes to speedy tries, there was no shortage of excitement as our students showed off their growing rugby skills and fantastic sportsmanship.

Throughout the day, we played a number of lively tag rugby games — from friendly class matches to mixed-team challenges that brought everyone together. It was wonderful to see pupils encouraging one another, cheering from the sidelines, and celebrating every great pass and try. The atmosphere was full of laughter, energy, and plenty of muddy knees!

A huge thank you goes to our incredible Active Committee, who worked so hard behind the scenes to organise and coordinate today’s event. Their planning and teamwork ensured everything ran smoothly and that everyone had a brilliant time.

Well done to all our players for their effort, teamwork, and positive attitude — you truly embodied the spirit of sport and fair play. We can’t wait for our next Active Schools event!

6th Class Hard at Work: Preparing Our School Garden for Bulb Planting

There was great activity in our school garden today as our 6th Class pupils took on the important job of preparing the beds for our upcoming bulb-planting project. Autumn is the perfect time for planting spring bulbs, and thanks to the hard work of our senior students, the garden is now well on its way to being ready for a burst of colour next term.

Armed with gloves, trowels, and plenty of enthusiasm, the children set about removing weeds, clearing away old plant material, and loosening the soil. They worked carefully and cooperatively, taking real pride in their efforts and showing excellent teamwork throughout the morning. It was lovely to see them sharing tools, helping one another, and chatting about the types of flowers they hope to see blooming in the spring.

Gardening days like this provide far more than a tidy garden—they offer opportunities for hands-on learning, responsibility, and connection with nature. The pupils enjoyed spotting insects, discussing how plants grow, and discovering just how much preparation goes into keeping a garden healthy.

With the beds now cleared and refreshed, we’re almost ready for the exciting part: planting our bulbs. Over the coming weeks, classes will take turns planting a variety of spring flowers. We can’t wait to watch them take root and eventually brighten the school grounds with colourful blooms.

A huge well done to 6th Class for their fantastic work today. Their effort makes a real difference, and we’re very proud of the leadership they continue to show in our school community.

Science Week Sparks Curiosity in 2nd Class!

Science Week was a whirlwind of excitement, discovery, and hands-on fun for our brilliant 2nd Class scientists! The classroom was transformed into a mini laboratory, buzzing with eager minds ready to explore the wonders of science.

We kicked off the week with a colourful experiment using Skittles and water to explore diffusion. The children watched in amazement as the colours spread across the plate like a rainbow, learning how particles move and mix, even when we can't see them.

Next, we dived into the strange and squishy world of oobleck! Is it a liquid? Is it a solid? The children discovered that it can be both—making it a non-Newtonian fluid. There were plenty of surprised faces as they squeezed it like dough but then watched it drip through their fingers like slime!

Things got explosive (in a safe way!) when we mixed vinegar and bicarbonate of soda to create our very own volcanic eruptions. The bubbling, fizzing reactions were a big hit, and there were lots of “wows” and “cool!” as our mini volcanoes came to life.

To finish off the week, we rolled up our sleeves and made our very own slime. The classroom was full of giggles, gooey mixtures, and lots of sensory fun.

It was a fantastic week of experimenting, exploring, and—most importantly—learning through fun! Our young scientists showed wonderful curiosity and teamwork, and we can’t wait to see what they discover next.

Well done, 2nd Class—Science Week was a huge success!

🎨 Junior Infants Explore the Magic of Colour! 🌈

This week, our Junior Infants have been busy discovering the wonderful world of colour! We’ve been learning all about the colour spectrum, and the children can now proudly name the primary colours — red, blue, and yellow. They were amazed to discover that these three colours are the building blocks for creating so many others!

Today, things got even more exciting as we rolled up our sleeves for some colour mixing fun. Using paint, the children experimented with combining two primary colours at a time — and their eyes lit up as they watched secondary colours magically appear!

🟥 + 🟨 = 🟧 “Wow, orange!”
🟨 + 🟦 = 🟩 “It’s turning green!”
🟦 + 🟥 = 🟪 “Look, we made purple!”

There were gasps, giggles, and lots of happy hands-on learning as the children became little colour scientists—predicting, testing, and discovering new colours!

Once the mixing was done, it was time to become artists. Using their newly mixed colours, the children created their very own painting masterpieces. From colourful rainbows and swirling patterns to imaginative creatures and abstract splashes, each piece was unique and bursting with creativity.

The classroom was filled with excitement, bright colours, and proud smiles as our budding artists showed off their work.

🎨 Learning + Creativity = Colourful Fun! 🌈

We are so proud of our Junior Infants for their enthusiasm, curiosity, and creativity. Stay tuned — there are plenty more colourful adventures to come!

🌲 6th Class Outdoor Adventure at Avondale Forest Park 🌲

Today, 6th Class swapped textbooks for trees and classrooms for crisp autumn air as we set off on an unforgettable outdoor learning adventure to Avondale Forest Park! From the moment we arrived, the excitement was buzzing through the group—nature was officially our teacher for the day.

The highlight of the day was our team-building challenges deep in the forest. In small groups, we used branches, leaves, and natural materials to build dens, testing our creativity, engineering skills, and teamwork. We discussed ideas, made plans, and worked together to design shelters strong enough to protect us from the elements—just like real forest survival experts!

Next, things got even more exciting with a strategic outdoor game called Protect the Flag. Teams had to think cleverly, plan carefully, and work together to defend their flags while trying to capture their opponents’. It was a brilliant blend of strategy, problem-solving, communication, and lots of running and laughing! Watching everyone encourage each other and collaborate was truly inspiring.

We also had a fun outdoor picnic (treats taste better outside!) and had time to relax, chat, and enjoy the peaceful beauty of nature around us.

Today wasn't just about learning—it was about exploring, experiencing, and connecting with nature. We left Avondale with muddy boots, big smiles, and lots of new knowledge about the forest and its amazing role in our world.

What an adventure! 🌿✨ Thanks so much to Ms Smith for all her organising for todays adventure, and for all the treats!
We can't wait for our next outdoor learning journey!

Trailblazers in Avondale!

Our Amazing Trail Run Adventure 🏃‍♂️🌲🏃‍♀️

What an incredible day we had at our Trail Run in Avondale! 19 pupils from 3rd to 6th Class proudly represented our school and took part in this much-loved event — a celebration of fitness, determination, and fun in the great outdoors.

The atmosphere was electric as children from many schools gathered together, cheering one another on in the spirit of inclusiveness and teamwork. The scenic forest trail, stretching approximately 2.5 to 3 kilometres, provided the perfect setting for an exciting challenge — full of muddy paths, crunchy leaves, and lots of smiling faces!

All our runners showed fantastic resilience and enthusiasm as they made their way through the trail. It was wonderful to see our pupils supporting each other, pacing themselves, and proudly crossing the finish line.

🏅 Every participant earned a Bronze “Trail Run” medal for completing the course.

And a huge congratulations to Louisa for achieving a gold medal for finishing in 1st place in her category in the event and also to Caleb and Hunter for being awarded a silver medal for finishing in the top 10 in their categories!

A brilliant celebration of effort, perseverance, and achievement!

Despite the chilly and unpredictable weather, our runners arrived well-prepared with warm gear and a change of shoes — and they embraced the adventure with great spirit. Sometimes a bit of mud and drizzle makes the memories even better!

We are so proud of all our trailblazing pupils who took part today. You represented the school beautifully with your energy, encouragement, and determination. Well done, everyone — you truly went the distance!

3rd Class Celebrate Science Week With Mind-Blowing Experiments!

Science Week in 3rd Class has been full of surprises, curiosity, and plenty of “Wow!” moments. The students rolled up their sleeves, put on their scientist hats, and got hands-on with experiments that challenged what they thought they knew about the world around them. From bending the rules of gravity and materials to discovering the power of air pressure, our young scientists investigated, questioned, predicted, and tested like true professionals.

Here’s a look at two of the amazing experiments that had everyone talking…

Experiment 1: Pencils Through a Bag of Water!

First, we filled a strong plastic bag with water. Then we tried something that sounded impossible…

We pushed sharp pencils straight through the bag, and guess what?

The water didn’t leak out!

What We Saw

• The pencils went in one side and out the other.

• No dripping!

• The bag stayed sealed the entire time.

Why Did This Happen?

Plastic bags are made of a material called polymer.
Polymers are long, stretchy chains that can move around slightly and stretch around the pencil.

When the pencil pushes through the bag:

1. The plastic stretches instead of tearing.

2. The polymer chains slide around the pencil, making a tight seal.

3. This seal stops the water from leaking.

What We Learned

• Materials behave in different ways.

• Some materials (like polymer plastic) can stretch and seal.

• Water stays inside because there is no hole left open for it to escape.

Experiment 2: Walking on Air (The Balloon Table Test!)

Next, we flipped a table upside-down and slid lots of balloons underneath it.
Then, carefully, the students stood on top of the table.

And something amazing happened…

The balloons didn’t pop!

What We Saw

The table was lifted and supported by the balloons.Some children were very brave and tried standing on the table themselves. Sometimes a balloon or two did pop, and sometimes they didn’t.We discovered that the experiment worked much better when all the balloons were about the same size and when the child spread their weight out evenly across the table.

Why Did This Happen?

It’s all about air pressure and spreading the force.

Here’s how it works:

1. Each balloon is filled with air.
   Air pushes outwards in all directions—this is air pressure.

2. When many balloons are placed under the table, the weight of the children is shared between all the balloons.

3. Because the weight is spread out, no single balloon gets too much pressure, so they don’t burst.

What We Learned

• Air takes up space and pushes back (air pressure).

• Forces can be balanced when spread out.

• Lots of balloons together can hold a surprising amount of weight!

First Class Explore the World of Dinosaurs Through STEAM!

What an action-packed week it has been in First Class! As part of our dinosaur topic, the children have been diving into hands-on STEAM activities that brought science, creativity and plenty of excitement into the classroom.

To kick off the week, the class became mini-palaeontologists and engineers as they used wooden puzzle pieces to design and construct their very own dinosaurs. From towering T-Rexes to long-necked sauropods, every creation showed wonderful imagination and problem-solving skills. The children were so proud of their prehistoric masterpieces—make sure to check them out!

Next, things got chilly as the class investigated frozen blocks with tiny dinosaurs trapped inside. The children explored what would help melt the ice fastest, testing everyday materials such as salt and warm water. There was great teamwork and lots of scientific discussion as they made predictions and observed the results. The excitement was real as each dinosaur finally emerged from the ice!

To finish off the week with a bang (literally!), First Class made paper mache volcanos and through experimenting with chemical reactions they turned them into their own erupting volcanoes. With vinegar, baking soda, and plenty of amazement, the children watched their volcanoes bubble, fizz and explode with dramatic effect. The classroom was filled with awe as the children discovered how science can bring learning to life.

It has truly been a fantastic week of curiosity, discovery and prehistoric fun in First Class. We can’t wait to see what adventures next week brings!

Science Week Fun - 6th Class make ice cream in a bag!

Science week got off to a tasty start in 6th class. It was cold, messy, and a lot of fun. We learned about freezing, states of matter, and how salt can lower the freezing point of ice — and the best part was, we got to eat our experiment at the end!

What We Needed:

• 1 small resealable bag

• 1 large resealable bag

• 1 cup of milk

• 1 cup of cream

• 1 tablespoon of sugar

• 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence

• Ice cubes

• 4 tablespoons of salt (rock salt or table salt) - we used both!

What We Did:

1. We poured the milk, sugar, and vanilla into the small bag and sealed it tightly.

2. Then we filled the big bag halfway with ice and added the salt.

3. We placed the small bag inside the big one and sealed it up.

4. After that, we shook it really hard for about 5 minutes — our hands got so cold!

5. When we opened the bags, the liquid had turned into delicious, creamy ice cream

What We LEARNED:

We discovered that when salt is added to ice, it makes the ice melt more slowly and lowers its freezing point. That means the ice can get even colder than 0°C, which helps the milk mixture freeze into ice cream!
It was a perfect way to see science in action — and to have a tasty treat afterwards.

Shining a Light on Science Week in Junior Infants! 💡🔭

Junior Infants have had a brilliant time celebrating Science Week by exploring the fascinating topic of light! As part of our ongoing theme on space, the children have been busy learning all about where light comes from and how it travels.

Together, we discovered different sources of light — from the sun and stars to torches and lamps — and talked about why light is so important in our world. The classroom was full of excitement as our young scientists got hands-on with their investigations, using torches to find out whether different objects were transparent or opaque.

We also explored the magical world of shadows. The children learned how shadows are formed when an object blocks light, why they appear on the opposite side of the light source, and how we can make them bigger or smaller just by moving the object closer or farther from the torch. There were lots of giggles and gasps as the children experimented with shadow animals on the wall! They even investigated what happens when light shines through coloured transparent objects, discovering that the light changes colour as it passes through — a real highlight of the week!

There were lots of curious questions, clever predictions, and plenty of “wow” moments as the children experimented and shared their discoveries. It was wonderful to see them working like real scientists — observing, testing, and talking about what they found.

The Junior Infants did a fantastic job showing their curiosity, teamwork, and enthusiasm for learning. Science Week truly shone bright in our classroom this year — well done, everyone! 🌟

Getting Our School Garden Spring-Ready! 🌱🌼

There’s a real buzz around our school as every class rolls up their sleeves to help get the school garden ready for spring! Over the coming weeks, pupils from all year groups will be taking responsibility for their own patch of the garden — digging, tidying, and planting bulbs that will soon bring a burst of colour to our outdoor space.

In preparation, the children have been busy learning all about bulbs — what they are, how they grow, and the best way to plant them. From discovering that bulbs store their own food to finding out how roots and shoots develop underground, the pupils have become real gardening experts!

We have a beautiful selection of bulbs ready to go into the soil, including daffodils, tulips, irises, muscari, and more. With everyone’s hard work, our garden will be bursting with vibrant colour from January right through to springtime.

Our Junior Infants have already been hard at work in their lawn area, carefully planting groups of snowdrops and muscari. These little flowers will gradually spread over the years — creating a magical blanket of snowdrops in January, followed by a sea of muscari from February through March. What a wonderful start to our garden transformation!

It’s fantastic to see such teamwork and enthusiasm from all the children as they learn about planting, growth, and caring for the environment. We can’t wait to watch our garden come to life — a true celebration of nature, colour, and community spirit!

First and Second Class Shine at Hurling and Camogie Blitz!

Our First and Second Class pupils had an amazing time taking part in a recent Hurling and Camogie Blitz at Bray Emmets GAA Club! The event was a fantastic opportunity for the children to develop new skills, work as part of a team, and experience the excitement of playing matches in a fun and supportive setting.

The teams were mixed in both ability and gender, which made for some brilliant teamwork, great encouragement, and plenty of laughs along the way. For many children, this was their very first introduction to hurling or camogie — and they took to it with great enthusiasm!

From learning how to hold a hurl to practicing their striking and teamwork, the pupils showed amazing effort and sportsmanship throughout the day. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow with every game, and their smiles said it all — they had a fantastic time!

A big thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success — from teachers and parents who supported the event, to those who loaned equipment and encouraged the children to give it a go. It was a great day of fun, learning, and school spirit!

We’re so proud of all our young players and can’t wait to see their hurling and camogie skills continue to develop in the months ahead.

Team Hope Shoe Box Appeal 2025

We are excited to share that our school is once again taking part in the annual Christmas Shoebox Appeal with Team Hope! This wonderful campaign delivers specially packed shoeboxes filled with gifts straight into the hands of children affected by poverty, and often these boxes are the only gift that some children receive at Christmas. Team Hope

This year, thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our whole school community, we have sent 64 shoeboxes! What a fantastic achievement.

Each of these boxes is packed with joy, hope and kindness — because it’s not just about the gift inside, but the message it sends: someone cares, someone is thinking of you, and you matter. The Shoebox Appeal page reminds us that through this campaign “over 2.8 million shoebox gifts” have been delivered since 2010. Team Hope

We are so proud of the effort our students, staff and families put in to make this happen:

• Choosing and packing thoughtful items for the children who will receive the boxes.

• Bringing the donations in on time and working together to prepare everything for sending.

• Embracing the spirit of generosity and kindness – values we hold dear at our school.

It’s moments like this that highlight the strength of our school community and the difference each of us can make when we come together. A big THANK YOU to everyone who took part and helped us reach this wonderful total of 64 shoeboxes.

We will be watching with excitement as the boxes make their journey to children who will open them with huge smiles, thanks to our contribution. We hope this inspires our students to keep thinking of others, to keep caring, and to keep acting in kindness.

Let’s celebrate this success, and get excited for what we can achieve together next year too!

Halloween Bake Off

🧁🎃 Spooktacular Halloween Baking Competition 👻🍪

Our Halloween celebrations continued with a frightfully fantastic Baking Competition that had the whole school talking! The staffroom was filled with the delicious smell of freshly baked treats, and the tables were lined with an incredible display of spooky creations.

From creepy cupcakes and ghoulish biscuits to monster cakes and pumpkin pies, the imagination and effort that went into each bake was simply amazing. There were cobwebs spun from icing, ghosts made of marshmallows, and even cakes that looked far too scary to eat!

The judges had the very tricky task of choosing winners – every bake was a masterpiece in its own way, and the standard was higher than ever this year. After lots of tasting (and maybe a second helping or two!), the results were finally decided…

🥇 1st Place: Sasha, 1st class
🥈 2nd Place: Alice, 5th Class
🥉 3rd Place: Hayes, Senior Infants

A huge congratulations to our winners, and well done to everyone who entered – your creativity and baking skills made this competition truly spooktacular. It was impossible not to be impressed (and very, very full!).

We hope you enjoy sampling all the tasty treats at tonight’s Halloween Disco! can’t wait to see what hauntingly tasty creations appear in next year’s competition!

Halloween 2025

🎃 Halloween Dress-Up Day Brings Spooktacular Fun to School! 👻

This year’s Halloween Dress-Up Day was one to remember! From the moment the doors opened, the corridors were alive with colour, laughter, and plenty of spooky surprises. Pupils and staff alike went all out, donning an incredible variety of costumes that made the day truly magical.

We saw everything from bouncing footballs to a rather convincing Mr Bean, sparkling princesses to terrifying vampires – and just about everything in between! The creativity and imagination on display was amazing, with costumes ranging from hilarious to hair-raising.

Throughout the day, the atmosphere was buzzing. Lessons were filled with fun, and break times turned into mini catwalks as everyone showed off their fantastic outfits. Teachers joined in the fun too, proving that dressing up isn’t just for the children!

The day was about more than costumes, though – it was about celebrating together as a school community. Smiles, giggles, and a few playful scares were shared all around, creating memories that will last long after the pumpkins have gone.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part and made Halloween Dress-Up Day such a brilliant success. We can’t wait to see what creative ideas appear next year!

The Student Staple

📰✨ The Student Staple Hits the Shelves! ✨📰

Today marked an exciting milestone at our school – the very first issue of our brand-new student newsletter, The Student Staple, went on sale!

Created and published entirely by our talented 6th Class students, the newsletter is packed with brilliant content. Inside, readers can find all the latest school news, the ever-stylish Nun’s Cross fashion section, mind-bending puzzles, exciting competitions, and so much more. There truly is something for everyone!

The buzz around the school was electric as copies were snapped up, with pupils eager to dive into the stories and challenges inside. It’s clear that a huge amount of effort, creativity, and teamwork went into bringing The Student Staple to life.

A massive well done to all of our young reporters, publishers, designers, and researchers who have been working tirelessly over the last few weeks. Your hard work has paid off – the first edition is a huge success, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll create for the next issue!

Open Cross Country Races in Avondale

On Tuesday, 21st October, a group of 40 of our students took part in the Open Cross Country Races in Avondale. The event brought together young athletes from 3rd to 6th Class, with each competitor running a challenging 1km course.

The races were organised by class and gender, giving every child the opportunity to experience the excitement of competitive running in a supportive and encouraging environment.

A huge congratulations to Louisa and Noah, who ran a fantastic race and secured first place in their category! We are so proud of their achievement.

We also want to say a big well done to all of our pupils who took part. Each runner showed determination, effort, and school spirit—qualities that matter just as much as finishing positions. It was wonderful to see our students challenge themselves and cheer each other on throughout the day.

Thank you to the organisers of the event and to the parents and teachers who supported the children. Days like this remind us of the importance of sport in helping students build resilience, confidence, and teamwork.