Wishing all the children, friends and families of Scoil Maelruain Senior a very happy and peaceful Christmas. See you all on the 6th January 2014.
Please see below a copy of our latest school newsletter.
Christmas Newsletter 2013
The staff and pupils of Scoil Maelruain Senior wish you a Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year. School finishes at twelve noon on Friday December 20th and reopens on January 6th 2014.
Board of Management: A sincere thanks to all members of our B.O.M. – Frank Moran, Thomas Conway, Mairead Cullivan, Martina Comerford, Aileen O’Toole, Paula McGuigan, Margaret Murphy and Caitriona Hogan.
Enrolment and Staffing: 363 pupils, 19 teachers and 2 Special Needs Assistants.
Parents Association: Chairperson: Fiona Lacey, Vice Chairperson: Sinead Tighe, Secretary: Mary Giglione, Vice Secretary: Linda Dunne, Treasurer: Pamela Conway, Vice Treasurer: Debbie McLeod. The committee are ably assisted by other parents. The Parents’ Association organize fund raising events and among other things the Sixth Class Disco and the Confirmation Breakfast. They subsidise Music in the Classroom and the Sixth Class Cycling Course. From their fund raising activities, they will contribute towards the purchase of lap tops in the New Year. They are always on hand to fund, support and organise social and cultural activities in the school. Mile buiochas daoibh go leir.
Lotto Committee: Susan Thomas, Rhona Mc Carton, Catherine Clayton, Pamela Conway, Annette Condon, Sandra Kelly and Niamh Geoghean organize the weekly lotto draw. They raise much needed funds for both schools. Thank you so much.
Library: We are very fortunate to have a well stocked and computerised library. Thanks to our librarians Pat O’Brien, Pamela Conway, Alison Carey, Orla Murray and Andrea Adamson who work hard weekly to ensure its smooth running.
Christmas Activities
Christmas Concert: Well done to all the classes that took part in our Christmas Concert this year. It was a wonderful success. A special thanks to our drama teacher, Ciara Byrne, who helped prepare the items. Thanks to all the teachers who worked so hard with the children and in particular Ms. J.O’Reilly, who produced the magnificent Nativity Play and to master of ceremonies, Ms. M. Murphy, who put the show together on the day. Thanks also to Ms. N. Biesty, who accompanied various items on the keyboard and guitar.
Art and Craft: All classes decorated the Halla with poems, stories and art. It looked fantastic. A separate craft competition was organized by Ms. McHugh. The winning angels were made by Ryan Mooney, Marcus Cullivan, Katie Cullen Boland, Oisin Cullivan, Sarah McEvoy, Anna Lambert, Sarah Whelan, Kellie Mahon and Aoife Landers. Winners of the Art and Craft Competition were Robyn Gillespie, Emma Brennan, Daragh Ruttledge and Siobhan Rae. All entrants received a prize.
Well done to the boys and girls in Ms. J. Walsh’s and Ms. S. Murphy’s class who organized a fund raising event for St. Vincent de Paul. They raised an amazing €1716.80.Thanks to all who baked cakes and donated prizes. It was a great success.
Sport
- Our Senior A football team lost their semi-final against St. Pious’. It was a draw at full time. We went ahead in extra time. A penalty was awarded against us in injury time. Pious’ scored a goal and the full time whistle was blown. We lost by a point. Everyone was bitterly disappointed. Mr. Moore put a lot of work into this team and they are fantastic footballers.
- The Senior B panel enjoyed their games. Thanks to Mr. Broderick and Ms. M. Byrne.
- The Girls team were beaten by St. Oliver Plunkett, Malahide, in the quarter final. They played their hearts out but were beaten in the last five minutes by a bigger, stronger team. Well done to Paula McGuigan and Ms. Flood.
- Training is now concentrating on third and fourth class boys and girls. Thanks again to all teachers involved.
- Sam Maguire paid us a visit on Thursday, November 7th. Footballer of the Year and student teacher, Michael Daragh McCauley, was master of ceremonies.
- Basketball training has started for fourth, fifth and sixth class boys and girls. Ms. J.O’Reilly, Ms. F. Calally and Ms. M.Flood train the children.
- Thanks to everybody who supported our annual sports’ fund raiser, the All Ireland forecast card competition. There were fifteen winners.
Art and Craft
- We had a fantastic Hallow’een Art and Craft Display in the halla. The standard was exceptionally high. Ms. Carty and Ms. Flood judged the entries. Lots of prizes were awarded. Ms. Dunning organised the Fancy Dress in aid of Temple Street Hospital. €314.55 was raised. The children were encouraged to make costumes from recycled materials. Their creativity was amazing and the items were far superior to commercial products. Well done to all.
- Congratulations to Jake Murphy, Kiara Maher, Alika Streikova, Leah Layton and Joshua Lalor, who won prizes in various competitions run by outside agencies this term.
- Thanks to parent and artist, Alberta Maher, who gave art lessons to sixth classes. The children really enjoyed the activities and produced very creative work.
Music:
- Ms. M Murphy’s choir practice takes place every Tuesday lunchtime and Thursday after school. The children will be performing at the Peace Proms in City West in the New Year. They entertained us all with their fantastic medley of songs at the Christmas Concert.
- Ms. Biesty runs a music group with third classes after school on Wednesdays. They also entertained us at the Christmas Concert.
Rainbows: Ms. S. Murphy, Ms. F.Calally, Ms. N. Biesty, Ms. F. Holland, Ms. J. Walsh and Ms. J.O’Reilly are running a Rainbow’s Group. This group supports children coping with loss.
Comenius Project: Ms. J. Walsh is coordinating the Good Life Project. Ten of our classes are involved. We are working with schools in Denmark, Finland, Wales and Italy. We have a website for our project which will enable all partner countries involved to share information, photographs and short videos: the-good-life.dk. The children are very enthusiastic about the project and enjoy skypeing their peers in other countries. We are looking forward to welcoming the teachers from the various countries to Scoil Maelruain in May 2014.
Recycling: Ms. K.McHugh and her active green committee are kept very busying recycling clothes, batteries, stamps and phones. They also work hard at reducing our energy costs.
Chess: Mr. Lucas has set up a Chess Club. The children will participate in an inter schools competition after Christmas.
Digital Schools of Distinction Award
We are delighted to announce that Scoil Maelruain has been recognised as a Digital School of Distinction. The Digital Schools Award is an initiative which recognises excellence in a school’s approach to the integration of ICT in learning and teaching. Congratulations to all the teachers and in particular IT co-ordinator, Ms. D. O’Reilly. The school will receive a plaque and a laptop.
Website: Check out the school website for all the latest photos of events taking place in the school. www.scoilmaelruainsenior.ie. This website has had over 100,000 hits.
The Children’s Highlights of the Term
The Christmas Concert, sewing Christmas jumpers, making new friends, writing scary stories, doing projects, skipping in the yard, visiting the Lord Mayor, various school trips, setting up the Students’ Council, Sam Maguire visit, the cake sale, art lessons, learning about Vincent van Gogh, Michael Daragh McCauley, skyping children in different countries and Sport!! Not a mention of maths or homework !!! Roll on next term.
Thanks to ALL the staff of Scoil Maelruain for their commitment and hard work and to the parents, who are always so supportive and involved in our school. We remember our dear Secretary, Christine Kiernan, who passed away suddenly this term. Our thanks to Valerie Duggan, who kept the two schools running smoothly, since Christine’s untimely passing. Thanks also to Orla Hardy and Joan Greene, who keep our school clean and fresh. Last but certainly not least, Bernard Cullen, who is always cheerfully on hand!!!!!!!! Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir!! We would like to welcome our School Chaplain, Father Brian Edwards, and a special word of thanks to Fr. Piarais and Breda who are a great support to all.
Nollaig Shona agus Bliain Nua Faoi Mhaise Dhaoibh Go Leir