Why stay inside when you can bring the classroom outside? Especially on a beautiful spring day!
5th and 6th class enjoyed doing some of their novel study outside in the garden. They enjoyed the read and the sunshine even more!
Circles of Fun!
5th and 6th class are learning all about the circle this week.
6th class have focused on finding the area of the circumference by trusting in pi. Before we trusted in the mathematical equation we explored it to test it out! We measured the circumference and diameter of various round objects and when we divided the circumference by the diameter we got pi – or close to it! Just like magic!
5th class put their problem solving skills to the test and were challenged to create a circle in the playground without the help of a compass. We had some very clever suggestions on how to achieve this but we decided the most efficient and accurate way was to draw lots of diameters in various directions through a centre point and then finally join them altogether with a circumference. This activity involved a lot of patience and measuring as well as some clever thinking!
Making Pizza in Senior Infants
This month in aistear, Senior Infants have been learning all about Italy. Today, we were treated to a pizza making masterclass by one of the dads of the class.
We are so lucky to have such kind parents in our school!
Biodiversity Action Day in Nun’s Cross
The weather looked a bit shaky but that didn’t dampen the children’s enthusiasm for our day of work in the school garden.
Following on from our fund raising cake sale, each class was given a job or task in the garden. All the jobs had the same end result, improving our schools biodiversity which is our aim for our new Green Schools Flag.
We all worked in various areas. We under took the mammoth task of refreshing all the wood work in our school garden in order to help brighten up the environment. The children did a great job and worked really hard.
Junior and Senior Infants planted wildflowers and bulbs in a new flower bed at the edge of the school ‘forest’. The topsoil was kindly donated by a parent. We also undertook some planting in order to create a wild flower area to help protect bees and other insects which love all the colourful flowers which will grow here over the spring and summer seasons.
And not forgetting out flying friends! We have been so delighted with the amazing contribution from parents and local community organisations such at Ashford Tidy Towns who have donated over 20 bird and bat boxes of all kinds. The children added some colour to them and we are very grateful to a parent volunteer for offering his time to put them all into the tress around our school. We cant wait to spot some birds making them their home! 1st and 2nd class were in charge of painting these.
Another area were jobs to help look after the insects in our garden. The bug hotel got a make over and I am sure all our little critters will be much more comfortable in their refurbished home! We also added an additional bug hotel, we are sure they will love the colours! The children in 3rd and 4th class each brought in something for the existing bug hotel and repainted it also.
5th and 6th class made sure that the pond was sufficiently clear of weeds for the frogspawn to continue their cycle as well as painting the fences, flower pots, PE shed and buddy bench that are in the school garden.
Another area were jobs to help look after the insects in our garden. The bug hotel got a make over and I am sure all our little critters will be much more comfortable in their refurbished home! We also added an additional bug hotel, we are sure they will love the colours!
We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has made this day possible, in any way. And all of the work wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of all the children. We are sure you will all agree that they have done a 5 star job!
Nun’s Cross celebrates Down Syndrome Day
Nun’s Cross was a hive of activity today as all children, staff and parents took part in a day of celebrating all individuals who have Down Syndrome. The children and staff supported the day in a variety of ways. Children and teachers came to school sporting all sorts of wacky socks which is the mark of celebrating this special day.
We had an information assembly as a whole school where we all learned about Down Syndrome. The children told us that they learned things like ‘Children with Down Syndrome still have feelings like us’, ‘We just need to be a little more patient with our friends who have Down Syndrome and help them with things they find a little bit harder than us’ and ‘Everyone needs to be treated with kindness and respect, and this includes people with Down Syndrome’. We watched this amazing documentary video and we recommend you should too!
We split into mixed teams where children from Junior Infants up to 6th class were all working together in various activities to promote inclusion and working together as a team.
Working as a team to transport a piece of card across the playground using only a straw!
We had to listen very carefully and co-ordinate our moves to complete the parachute games
We had great fun, and a few falls, trying to work as a team to turn over the sheet we were all standing on!
It wasn’t as easy as it looks to be a frog (or child) and make our way across the playground on a lily pad (a hoop), but it was made easier by working with our friends!
The children all brought in a small donation each for Down Syndrome Ireland, a charity who works hard to help support Down Syndrome children throughout the country. Together we raised €160.60, many thanks to everyone involved, it was a great day!
Slime in Junior Infants
Today in science Junior Infants were studying the properties and characteristics of materials. What better way to challenge our thinking on the changing properties of materials than to make slime!!
Junk art in Junior Infants
For the past fortnight, Junior Infants have been working away on the theme of houses. During aistear we enjoyed making houses in junk art. Take a look at some of our creations.
Trees in Ireland (2nd class)
We had had great fun today in second class learning about trees in Ireland. Afterwards, we went outside to investigate how many different types of native trees we had in the on our school grounds.
Leabhar Gaeilge
The children in Nun’s Cross have been very busy all week writing individual books in Irish. Every child produced a lovely book as Gaeilge covering a wide variety of topics
The children from 5th and 6th class spent some time in the morning doing paired reading with the junior and senior infants. The children shared their books and they read together
In the afternoon we had an open school for all the parents to come and view our work. Thank you to all who came to have a look and for all your positive comments to the children. I’m sure you will all agree that they worked very hard!
!!! Important Green Schools Announcement !!!
Today we received a letter in the post telling us that we have been successful in getting our Green Schools Biodiversity flag. This is the 5th Green flag and only a small handful of schools are committed enough to achieve such a feat. This is very exciting news and I would like to say a huge well done and congratulations to Ms Heaphy and the Green Schools Committee who have been working tirelessly to achieve this status for the school. Also, we would like to say a huge thank you to the whole school community who help us to carry out our action plan and keep our school become greener each year. Without the efforts of all students and their parents this huge achievement would not be possible.
With this, a representative group of 4 will travel to the Helix, DCU campus, Dublin 9 to be presented with this flag from An Taisce on behalf of the school. This will take place on the 22nd of May.
Ceolchoirm sa Scoil Mná Rialta
Tá a lan tallann sa Scoil Mná Rialta. Bhí ceolchoirm againn inniu do seachtain na gaeilge.
Rinne rang a cúig agus a sé dráma de Cinnin Óir Agus Na Trí Béír. Bhi rang a trí agus a ceathair ag canadh. Rinne rang a dó an Haka as Gaeilge. Bhí rang a haon ag damhsa agus bhí na naíonáin ag canadh freisin.
Go maith leis na páistí go léir!
Spraoi sa ghairdín
5th and 6th class had lots of fun today working in groups to solve a treasure hunt as gaeilge. There were a total of 16 clues in Irish, with each clue giving them a letter to collect. Armed with dictionaries and team spirit the children worked together to solve each clue and solve the anagram ‘Scoil Mná Rialta’. The winning team managed to solve the whole treasure hunt in an impressive 24 minutes!
Seachtain Na Gaeilge: Tráth Na gCeist
The children from 3rd – 6th class took part in a Tráth Na gCeist today as part of our celebrations for Seachtain Na Gaeilge. The questions were tough and the children worked really well in their mixed class teams. The scores were impressive with the winning team scoring 83/100. All the children got a small reward, with the winning team taking home some special goodies!
Biongó leis na naíonáin
Bhí cluichí biongó ar siúl sna bunranganna inniú. Bhí na páistí ag co-oibriú le chéile ar biongó bunaithe ar an téama ‘Lá Féile Pádraig’. Bhí an-chraic againn leis sin.
FAI School Soccer Tournament
5th and 6th class did Nun’s Cross so proud at this years FAI Schools Soccer Tournament in Greystones. We entered a total of three teams who competed really hard against other county schools.
Our Black team worked so hard together and really did Nun’s Cross proud. We had 4 matches in which we won 2 and had really stiff competition for the 2 that didn’t go our way. The boys placed 3rd in their group.
Our Blue and White team also worked like professionals and pushed through each match as a team. They played 4 matches, of which they won 3. Unfortunately the results came down to the goal difference and we lost out by 3 goals, coming home in 2nd place in their group.
The girls team are unrecognisable as the team they were when we began training a mere 3 weeks ago. They really pulled some impressive moves out of the bag resulting in 2 wins out of a possible 3. We were full sure the girls had the semi-finals in their sights as the scores came down to goal difference. The goal difference between us and one other team was the same and unfortunately luck wasn’t on our side as that was the only team we lost to on the day resulting in us taking 2nd place.
This was our first ever school football tournament and we are so proud of all the children for taking part and doing such a great job. It is especially impressive how well they worked as a team, looking our for each other and encouraging each other every step of the way. Finally, let’s not forget our amazing support team, the only support team present on the day chanting and encouraging our teams on! Our banner flew high all day and the fact that we didn’t get through hasn’t knocked our team spirit in the slightest!
We had some time to kill while we waiting for our bus to collect us and what better way to spend it than in the park? Kids will be kids after all!
Seachtain na Gaeilge: An Mháirt
Tá a lán gníomhaíochatí ar siúl sa scoil le haghaidh seachtain na Gaeilge an seachtain seo. Inniú, bhí rang a trí agus rang a ceathair gnóthach ag múineadh na ranganna naíonáin, rang a haon agus rang a dó faoí na bplandaí atá againn timpeall na scoile. Bhain na páistí taitneamh as an lá!
Amárach beidh biongó ar siúl do na páistí ó rang na naíonáin go dtí rang a dó. Beidh tráth na gceist ar siúl do na ranganna sinsearacha. Beidh tóraíocht taisce as Gaeilge le déanamh freisin.
Ní tír gan teanga!!
3rd and 4th class on World Book Day
Some more action from World Book Day in Nuns Cross N.S. 3rd and 4th class looking wonderful in character.
Wicklow Lions Clubs Table Quiz
Nun’s Cross, were once again, luckily to be chosen as one of the beneficiaries of the Wicklow Lions Club Table Quiz Tournament. Our table quiz was held before Christmas in Chester Beatys in Ashford. There was a huge turnout and thank you to everyone who supported the night. Recently, we were presented with our cheque. We are delighted to announce that we have received €690, money which will be invested in resources, arts & crafts supplies and much more for the children in Nun’s Cross.
An t-Earrach sa Killmacurragh
Over recent weeks the children in 3rd and 4th class have been learning all about the current season, an t-Earrach. They have been learning lots of phrases and new vocabulary. They made some beautiful posters about Spring.
The class then got the opportunity to take their search for signs of spring to the National Botanic Gardens in Killmacurragh. They managed to find na héin ag déanamh neadacha, na huain ag léím, na froganna ag snámh san loch, na bláthanna (lus an chromcinn, pluiríní sneachta, crócus corcra agus noiníní) ag fás agus bachlóga ar na gcrainn.
All the children had a great day out. Many thanks to all the parent helpers on the day and well done to the children for their hard work and excellent behaviour on the trip!
