AISTEAR
Junior and Senior Infants continue to actively engage in play-based learning. Aistear is a vital component of the infant curriculum and the teachers are noticing many positives in the boys’ use of language, social skills, imagination and communication. Furthermore, the boys are really enjoying this type of learning! Dressing up, investigating, questioning and using imagination are key elements to the success of the programme. Check out the pictures below of our fabulous Senior Infant boys!
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!
As part of the infant Aistear, we recently purchased some new play kitchens. Like everything these days, they came in flatpack. With Mr. Maguire busy building classrooms it was left to the 6th class to assemble our new wares. Fear not, Ethan, Felix, Oisin, AJ and Liam set to work. Within minutes the boys were planning, screwing and assembling. Using great teamwork throughout the boys completed the project in record time. These boys will be very useful to know at Christmas time! Thanks to SNAs Ms. Clarke and Ms. Fennell for co-ordinating the purchase of materials and the build itself.
FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT SKILLS
With the return of sports clubs, now is a good opportunity for the boys to refresh their Fundamental Movement Skills. This week’s skill is skipping. Skipping is a rhythmical locomotor skill that involves transferring weight from one foot to another. It is used in many playground games and is fundamental to good footwork used in a wide range of sporting activities such as basketball, rugby, and dance. The skill follows a pathway with a narrow base of support so it is important that arms are extended to maintain balance.
To access a video showing the correct technique for skipping, please click here.
LETTERS TO AN TAOISEACH
Mr. Mitchell’s class were tasked with writing letters to An Taoiseach, Michael Martin, about the growing litter problem in our area. Brian Mc Mahon’s letter caught my eye as Mr. Mitchell invited me to his room last week. Litter is a serious issue in our area and hopefully Michael and many more locals will take heed of Brian’s excellently written letter. I have attached it for you all to enjoy.
Well done, Brian, you have a bright future ahead.
COMHAR LINN IRISH SCHOOLS ONLINE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2021
It is not too late to enter the Online Chess competition run by Comhar Linn. If you would like to enter, please follow the steps below. Best of luck!
- For players of all standards, including beginners.
- Any size of team - from 1 player to many – can represent their school.
- Prizes for Schools and Individuals, National and Regional prizes.
- When: The final is on Thursday the 13th of May @ 6.30pm.
- In advance of the grand final there will be a practice event on May 6th.
- Enter here.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOYS!
This week is a special week for these boys.
Riley Maher, Cillian Devlin, Daniel Young, Jack Keegan, James Hart, Matthew Rourke, James Murray and Matthew Smyth.
We wish you a happy birthday boys!
RETURN TO SPORTS
Last week, we saw a return to play for sports clubs. This week, I was delighted to welcome Paraic Mc Donald, Niall Corcoran and Maurice Leahy from Kilmacud Crokes back to Hollypark for GAA training. Our Senior Infants, 1st, 3rd and 5th class boys got the chance to resume skills training and the delighted faces bounced into the Astro with glee. We have formed close links with Kilmacud Crokes over the past 25 years and it is great to welcome them to our new state of the art facilities. Close links with local clubs is an essential part of our school plan and we hope to continue this with Kilmacud into the future. It is also great to welcome back past pupils Thomas Downey, Fionn Boyd and Stephen Mc Mahon as coaches. Thank you for passing on your knowledge and love of GAA to our boys.
GREEN SCHOOL, POLLINATOR PLAN
Thank you to our wonderful committee who continue to lead us in our Pollinator Plan. Attached are some of the many benefits this will have on our school and our planet. Every little helps and our committee are leading by example. Thank you, boys.
DARE TO BELIEVE
This afternoon all three second classes received a Zoom call from Irish Paralympian Greta Streimikyte. Greta is visually impaired and competes in 1500 metres events in international level events. The boys got to listen to her tell her story and asked very informed questions.
The Zoom call was organised through the ‘Dare to Believe’ programme which aims to inspire the young people of Ireland to ‘Dare to Believe’ in themselves through an interactive curriculum that explores the Olympic values using Team Ireland role models to bring the messages to life. We wish Greta huge luck as she gets ready to compete in Tokyo.
STAR OF THE FUTURE
First Hollypark, then Hollywood! This is how it is all working out for past pupil Sam Hardy. While Sam was here last year in 6th class, he was very busy recording voiceovers for the greatly anticipated animation movie Riverdance. Sam is cast alongside greats like Pierce Brosnan, Brendan Gleeson and Pauline McGlynn. Put May 28th into your diaries and enjoy the animated adventure. Sam, we are very proud you. Don’t forget us in your Oscar speech!
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Wellbeing is feeling good about yourself, the world around you and functioning well in everyday life, most of the time. Being resilient and coping with the normal stresses of life is also an important attribute of wellbeing.
For more information visit www.mentalhealthireland.ie
This week’s Wellbeing theme focuses on Acts of Kindness. I have attached 70 acts that you can try out over the next two weeks. Keep a record of how many you complete!
Beir bua agus beannacht,
B. O’Donovan
12.05.2021