Newsletter May/June
Mercy Primary School Newsletter
May/June 2014.
Welcome to our May/June Newsletter. What a busy time we have had!
On May 1st our 6th class retreat was held in Mount St. Joseph’s Roscrea. The girls had a very interesting day.
On May 7th, we held our May Procession and it was a lovely ceremony. It was the first time we had to have it in the school hall but it was very successful.
On May 11th, the school choir sang at the 10 o clock mass in St. Brendan’s Church. They sang beautifully and the congregation really enjoyed hearing them. Well done girls.
On May 12th, Garda Padraig Connaughton spoke to 3rd to 6th classes re cycling safety and use of the roads. This is very important as some of our girls have started cycling to school. We hope to see more cyclists next year.
On May 14th, our camogie team took part in the Cumann na mBunscoil final. We didn’t win but the girls should be very proud of themselves. They fought to the last minute and showed great character and spirit. We are very proud of you! Thanks to Ms. Larkin for training them this year and helping them to get to the final.
On May 16th, a casual day was held as a fundraiser for the Parents’ Association. It was very successful.
On May 17th, 2nd class celebrated their First Holy Communion. It was a beautiful ceremony. Thanks to Ms. De Chaumont for preparing the girls so well.
On May 18th, 6th class received the sacrament of Confirmation. This was also a beautiful ceremony and thanks to Ms. Larkin and Ms. Cleary for preparing the girls so well.
On May 20th/21st, Micra-T standardised testing was held in 1st – 6th classes.
On May 22nd, we had a wonderful performance of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from M&M Productions. Everyone enjoyed it thoroughly.
On May 27th/28th/29th, Sigma-T standardised testing was held for 1st to 6th classes.
On May 30th our Parents’ Association held their annual Cake Sale. This was a hugely successful event and a very enjoyable day. Thanks to the school community for the lovely cakes and buns donated and to all who came and supported the day. Sincerest thanks to the Parents’ Association for all their hard work on the day and for making it so successful.
On June 5th we had our Junior Infant induction day and we met our lovely new Junior Infants for next September.
Mrs. Fitzgerald, HSCL, held a “thank you breakfast” for our parent volunteers. It was a lovely, sociable morning and a great way of saying thanks to all.
Garda Padraig Connaughton came in and had a chat with 6th class re going to secondary school and taking care of themselves.
We held our Sport’s Day on Thursday 12th June. We packed everything up and went to the boy’s school. We had a brilliant day – the sun shone, the sport was great and everyone really enjoyed themselves. Thanks to St. Brendan’s for having us.
Fred the Magician dazzled us on Tuesday 17th – it was a great show.
Junior Infants made beautiful music in the playground, playing instruments and singing songs. They took part in the May Procession and really enjoyed M & M ‘s production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Junior Infants went on their tour on Friday 13th June. They had a great time in the fire station in Nenagh and wore themselves out in Jumping Gyms!
Senior Infants completed the Stay Safe Programme. They studied water and made beautiful Rainbow Fish. We went on Wednesday June 11th on our School Outing and had a brilliant time in Nenagh.
1st Class were very busy in May. We had great fun with Fin the potter. We made a pottery head, wall planters and a great big flower pot. In science we experimented with hot air balloons, investigating the presence of static electricity. In the lead up to our school tour, we are learning all about life on the farm, the animals, the story of milk, wool and all the food, meat etc., we get from animals. We went for a walk in the park to experience the signs of summer.
Our class loved Turoe Pet Farm which we visited on Friday 20th June.
2nd Class wrote very interesting stories for the Write a Book Competition. Well done to Alysha, Mary, Róisín R, Sarah and Goda on winning a special award. In SESE we learned about life in the 1960s. We read about the first moon landing. We looked at the fashion and we listened to music from the 1960s. We also looked at some of the works of famous artist Andy Warhol and we created our very own Pop art. We went on our school tour to Lullymore on June 10th and had a great day.
3rd Class visited “our tree” in the park that we’ve been “monitoring” since last October, looking for seasonal changes such as leaf colour, buds, mini beasts etc. We recorded changes in our tree diary and did a sketch of our tree. We did a project on Spain covering physical features, food, people, culture etc. and continuing with our latin theme we learned about Peru in South America, the people there and their culture etc.
We drew funny faces with vibrant colours based on Picasso’s cubist period.
We performed the Ave Maria dance at the May Procession.
We went to Bunratty Castle on our tour on Wednesday 18th June and really enjoyed our day out.
4th Class finished reading Matilda. In art we made beautiful flower pots – and check out our window painting of daisies. We learned a One Direction tune on the tin whistle with Mrs. Kennedy.
We had a very adventurous time in Roscrea on our School Tour on Thursday 19th June.
5th Class put great work and effort into the May Procession. We entered our ‘Write-A-Book’ projects – well done to all. We entered an Offaly County Council Calendar competition and we have been working hard on a slogan for Green Schools.
5th/6th Class The girls in 5th/6th were very busy learning all about the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence. We finished our novel ‘Annie Moore First in Line for America’. We thoroughly enjoyed it. We also did pottery in our art class and 6th did pottery with Fin O’Hara and made fabulous light holders. 5th Class worked on ‘Fathers’ Day’ surprises!
6th Class thoroughly enjoyed potting with Fin!
On June 6th, our class had their RSE talk with Ann McGuinness from Respond Education.
We spent the last tour of our primary school years in Birr Outdoor Education Centre. We had a great time.
6th Class graduation ceremony is on Wednesday 25th June and we will then say goodbye to them. They have been a wonderful addition to our school over the past 8 years and we wish them the very best of luck.
School will finish on Friday 27th June at 12.20pm.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Management, Parent’s Association and staff for their dedication to Mercy Primary School. The co-operation of all makes our school a great school!
Best of luck to Mrs. Fitzgerald and Ms. Cleary who are moving on to pastures new.
School re-opens on Friday 29th August.
Have a wonderful and safe summer.
Barbara Hanamy,
Principal