Texaco Prize Winner

Well done Gráinne O'Reilly from Ms. Connolly's second class who won a Special Merit Certificate in the Texaco Children's Art Competition.

Ribbit-ing views at the Tadpole Hotel!

Spring is here! The leaves and spring flowers are blooming in Skerries and we have some "riveting" new additions to our school garden. Michael's hard work and Cate's advice have resulted in a new habitat for tadpoles. This term we hope to follow their development as they grow into frogs. This is how their new home was built:

First Michael dug a hole in the garden. We re-used a gardening bucket for our pond. Michael stacked stones around the edges and left a space for the frogs to hop in and out.

Michael put an old flower pot in the bottom of the bucket and Cate added a special plant. The plant will oxygenate the water so that the tadpoles can live in our pond.

Next, we helped our newest residents move in to our "Tadpole Hotel", and topped up the level of water.

Finally, we covered the top with chicken wire for safety reasons.


We will follow our tadpoles' progress over the next few weeks and post updates on this blog. 

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!

Seachtain na Gaeilge sa Scoil.

Bhí Seachtain na Gaeilge ar siúl an tseachtain seo caite agus ghlac Scoil Phádraig Naofa (shoisir) páirt le imeachaí gach lá. Bhí gach duine ag labhairt Gaeilge! Of course Gaeilge is heard in every room in St.Patrick's JNS every day througout the year, but during Seachtain na Gaeilge staff and pupils put a special emphasis on using Irish as much as possible. Seachtain na Gaeilge always takes place the week before St. Patrick's Day - a very special celebration for our school - so pupils of the school took part in a wide range of extra activities during the week. 

 The sound of Irish traditional music was everywhere this week. Pupils from St. Patrick's SNS came back to us and played traditional music for our pupils. Our pupils then returned the compliment with some of the tunes they had been practising. Pupils from the Community College played for first and second classes in the halla and answered children's questions about traditional music and their musical instruments.  Every class had a lively, engaging and enjoyable set dancing lesson with Mrs. Mary Keane. Green, White and Orange was visible everywhere as St. Patrick's day art was made and displayed in every classroom. 

Fun Walk

On Friday the children, parents and teachers braved inclement weather and completed the fun walk in the rain. All involved enjoyed the walk, proving that there is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing. After their walk children had a fruit snack kindly provided by the Parents' Association. 

Tinól Lá 'le Pádraig

Our St. Patrick's Day assembly brought this fantastic week to a close as each class performed a song or a poem, played a tune or danced a dance.

Many thanks to parents, teachers and all our friends and supporters in the community who made all these extra activities possible and helped to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge, a very special week in the life of our school.  

Mrs. McLoughlin Retires.

The pupils, teachers, parents and Board of Management of St. Patrick’s JNS came together on Wednesday the 29^th of February last for a very special assembly in celebration of the occasion of the retirement of Ms. Emer McLoughlin from the school.

Mrs. Bowe spoke about Ms. McLoughlin and how much she has contributed to the life of the school. She spoke about Ms. McLoughlin’s hard work and dedication, her commitment to the pupils of our school and to her colleagues, and her extraordinary knowledge of all aspects of teaching.  Mrs. Bowe then spoke about the new adventures which Mrs. McLoughlin will have as she starts this new stage of her life.

A PowerPoint presentation from the Green School Committee recalled all the work co-ordinated by Ms. McLoughlin which led to each of our first three Green Flags, and Ms. McLoughlin was delighted to be able to formally announce that we have been awarded our fourth Green Flag. Ms. Sandra Flavin from An Taisce (which co-ordinates the Green Schools Awards nationwide) presented Ms. McLoughlin with a cyclist’s kit.

Each class group sang a song for Ms. McLoughlin. Junior Infants sang “I’m being eaten by a Boa Constrictor”, Senior Infants sang “A Caring Day”, First Class sang a specially adapted version of “What Makes You Beautiful” and Second Class sang a new version of “Cailín na Gaillimhe” for our very own Galway Girl. The Teachers then sang a specially adapted version of “The Safe Cross Code”.

Ms. McLoughlin was presented with a huge card signed by all the children of the school and Mr. McGovern was present to wish her a very happy retirement on behalf of the Board of Management.

Finally, two pupils from the Senior School presented Ms. McLoughlin with a beautiful bouquet of flowers on behalf of all the pupils and teachers in their school. 

Ms. McLoughlin will be remembered for always putting the needs of the child first, for her attention to detail, for the professional approach she took to her job and her unwavering support of her colleagues throughout her long career. She was a good friend to all her colleagues, who wish to take one last opportunity to wish her a long, happy and fruitful retirement. Go n-éirí go geal leat, a Emer!

Our New Príomhoide

Welcome to our new principal Máire Ní Chróinín.

Miss Ní Chróinín took up duty as principal on Monday January 9^th 2012. Miss Ní Chróinín has come from Holy Spirit Girls’ School, Ballymun where she spent the last thirteen years of her teaching career. Already Miss Ní Chróinín knows St Patrick's JNS as a caring, friendly school with a skilled, enthusiastic and dedicated staff.

Miss Ní Chróinín has observed that while Skerries and Ballymun are very different areas they both have a strong sense of community and take great pride in their schools and in their children’s achievements. She aims to build on the huge achievements of her predecessor Mrs Jenkinson.

We wish Miss Ní Chróinín many happy, fulfilling years in St Patrick’s JNS.

Ní neart go cur le chéile!

Mrs Jenkinson Retires

Mrs Jenkinson started her teaching career in 1973 in St Patrick’s GNS in the old school on the Dublin Road. During her 39 years she was an integral part of the growth and development of the school as it is today – St Patrick’s JNS, Tennis Court Lane. Hundreds of pupils, former pupils, their families and the community of Skerries will remember her fondly.  Mrs Jenkinson retired December 31^st.  We had a very special Tionól in school just before Christmas to celebrate her last assembly as principal. 

  

 Over 340 pupils, the entire staff, members of the Board of Management, and Parents Association gathered in the halla, which was decorated with flags and bunting in the Galway colours in Mrs Jenkinson’s honour.   

Every class sang a special song for her.

Junior Infants sang a Christmas song.

Senior Infants sang ‘This Little light’ and Mrs Bowe’s class recited ‘Forever Young’. 

First class sang ‘Walking in the Air’, accompanied on piano by their teachers. 

 

 

Second class gave a special rendition of ‘The Galway Girl’ accompanied by Ms Wilde on guitar and dancing children. 

 The teachers sang an edited version of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, specially written for the príomhoide.

Dancing to the Galway Girl

Members of the BOM

Presentation from PA

Mr Jenkinson, members of the BOM, PA and caretaker enjoying the tionól

Mrs Jenkinson was given a card sighed by every child in the school

Junior Infant child placing Baby Jesus in the crib

 Presentations were made by Elaine Spillane on behalf of the Board of Management and Rachel McGloughlin on behalf of the Parents Association. Both of whom said it had been a pleasure working with Mrs Jenkinson.

Mrs Jenkinson’s principalship was open, inclusive and highly professional. She encouraged the holistic development of all the children. Her main aim was that the school would be a happy, secure and safe place for teaching and learning. She will be greatly missed.We wish her a long and happy retirement.

Green Schools News Update

We have been informed by An Taisce that our application for the renewal of the International Green Flag award has been successful. Congratulations!

A big ‘Thank You’ goes out to all the children, their parents and the whole school community for your involvement, co-operation and commitment.

The Green-Schools Award Ceremonies will be held in May when we will officially receive our fourth green flag for Travel.