METNS Summer 2014 Newsletter Highlights
METNS Summer 2014 Newsletter Highlights
the P T A committee
life at METNS: classroom help; presentations at assemblies; help with social
events; maintenance; fundraising; policies; ethos review; car park duty; web-
site; newsletter; garden; planting; ECA; committees; cleaning; and much more! I
What a year! Due to ALL the support cannot mention everyone but I would like to day a special thank you to Marlene,
received from children, families, who has designed our school newsletter for the last few years with amazing
teachers and staff, the PTA was
style and is now handing over to Patrick McKay. To all parents for your continued
able to generate over 20,000 (after
expenses) to be put back into the positivity and support this makes a real difference to the staff and children.
school for needed resources. These ...to the committee involved in setting up our wonderful after-school facility and to
resources include science and
computer workshops, IT Equipment,
the staff of the den for creating a lovely space for our children to play and chill after
numeracy and literacy resources, school.
dance workshops, the bee man
...to the ever-amazing staff who make METNS the special school it is. The excellent
experience, our garden Green Flag,
sports day support, and much, academic learning, the nurturing of creativity, the inclusivity and the happy
much more. In addition to all of funds atmosphere are all a part of our wonderful school. Hard work, energy, time and
generated, we hope you all had a talent all went into planning the following this year: WSE, SSE, green-schools,
great time participating in coffee student council, garden, IT, library, sports day, music, social events, ethos,
mornings, the winter fair, sponsored
assemblies, safety in the school, gaeltacht, seachtain na gaeilge, book week,
walk, the summer fair and all new
movie night this year. The parent playtime, special education, book fair, buddies, trips, tests, sports, extension,
classes taking place in The Den have disco, Spreagadh, and Graduation. Thank you all for your wonderful care and
been a great success, so we will be dedication.
looking for more parents to offer up
their knowledge by teaching a course ...to the pupils at METNS, thank you for brightening up my mornings. It is a
to other parents come September pleasure to see your happy and eager faces each day. It is a privilege to see you
please express interest by emailing learn, develop, and grow each year. Thank you for being the light in the centre of
[email protected] or
our community.
dropping a note in the PTA box in the
foyer. We will look forward to telling I wish 6th class, and the many parents who are leaving us, well in their new
you more about the year at our AGM
secondary schools and I hope that they will bring many happy memories with them
on 23 September, when we review all
the financials with you so mark your from METNS. Please come back and visit, you are always welcome.
diaries now. On behalf of the entire
Finally, I would like to wish you all a safe, restful and sun-filled summer. We will see
PTA Committee, we wish you a safe
you all on Monday, 1st September.
and fun-filled summer! Le gach dea-ghu, Rosario
* IMPORTANT The Sibling Policy is NOT AUTOMATIC! Every child must be enrolled before their 1st birthday in order to qualify.
How do the kids fill their day?
JI1 1
Weve been learning about the values of simplicity and freedom...
JUNIOR INFANTS KATE AND LIZ SENIOR INFANTS A MARTHA
It is hard to believe that the junior infants Well, it certainly has been a busy few
have nearly completed their first year in weeks in senior infants! The children
METNS! The year has really flown by! Our explored all things Safari with our student
third term has been full of fun and learning. teacher Emily, and loved learning about Sports Day
Kates class welcomed student teacher safari animals and their habitat. They have
Mary into their classroom for a few weeks been busy in the garden, planting peas
and both classes loved learning lots of new and plants, and watching our beautiful
skills with our GAA coach Darren. As the school garden grow. In May, senior infants
weather improved, we were able to enjoy had a fantastic school trip to Dublin Zoo.
lots of outdoor learning. Weve been visiting The children saw lots of different animals,
1
the garden and we even planted some watched the elephants have their lunch,
potatoes with the help of Ann Marie. She and they even got to meet the new baby
has promised us we can taste them when giraffe! Then, they had so much fun playing
they are ready to harvest if we look after together in the playground; it was a brilliant
them and water them. Term three has had day! Senior infants had a great time on
plenty of highlights for us but there is no sports day, and really enjoyed all the
doubt that our school trip to the childrens activities, especially the parachute, obstacle 1ST CLASS A EIMEAR
museum, Imaginosity, was particularly course and penalty kicks! The children are We have had a busy and exciting last term!
special. The boys and girls spent the now enjoying their last few weeks in senior In science we have enjoyed carrying out
morning fixing cars, building houses, infants, and are busy getting ready for first experiments on heat, electricity and floating
going shopping, putting on little plays and class. I would like to wish all the children and sinking. We enjoyed predicting what we
generally enjoying the novelty of being the and their families a very happy, safe and thought would happen and then recording
grown-ups for a change! Sports day was fun summer holiday filled with sunshine our results. In art we practiced our sewing
another memorable day for junior infants. and fresh air! Thank you for your help and skills and used wool to stitch our initials
We even tie-dyed our own t-shirts for the support throughout the year. onto hessian fabric. It was a bit tricky but
occasion! We had so much fun participating we were very patient and delighted with our
in the different activities and the ice cream SENIOR INFANTS (B) KAREN work in the end! A bird expert named Eric
in the afternoon was a great treat too! Now Senior infants (B) have been very busy since Dempsey visited our classroom recenlty
the junior infants are all looking forward our last newsletter. After we came back and told us lots of interesting facts about
to the summer holidays and returning to from our spring break, we began to get various birds found in our environment.
METNS in September as senior infants! ready for our school tour to the zoo. We We really enjoyed his visit and learned lots
What a great year they have had! learned about lots of animals in preparation from him! We went on our school trip to
for our trip, and collected lots of information Butlers Chocolate Factory and were lucky
books and story books about animals. We to taste many different types of chocolates.
voted on an animal to learn more about; We also got to see how they are made and
we chose a tiger. It was interesting to learn packaged in the factory and in the end we
more about where tigers live. Sports day got to decorate a chocolate teddy bear to
was very exciting! We ran lots of races, bring home! Luckily the sun came out for
played duck, duck goose, and tried out sports day and it was a day full of of fun
some rugby skills. We really liked playing and excitement! We loved the parachute
in the playground, and dancing to the games, the obstacle course and drawing
music in the yard. We are getting ready to pictures with the different coloured chalks.
say goodbye to our big buddies. We have We are looking forward to our summer
been so lucky to have them and we are holidays now and we are ready for the
really going to miss them when they go challenge of second class in September!
to secondary school. Now we are getting
ourselves ready for first class. We cant
wait to make lots of new friends and to
meet our new teachers. Right now, we are
looking forward to our holidays. We hope
that everyone has a fun and safe summer
holiday.
e factory
ist class trip to Butlers chocolat
Senior Infants at Dublin Zoo
1 1 3rd class Riot of Colour
1 2 3
1ST CLASS B HELEN
In these last weeks of first class
we have been compiling our
art portfolios, our S.E.S.E., ethical
education, writing and S.P.H.E. work
booklets, taking some time to reflect on
2ND CLASS B MARIE
Its hard to believe the school year has
gone by so quickly, it doesnt seem so
long ago that the children were excitedly
arriving into 2nd class, now the time has
come for them to leave the junior cycle of
3RD CLASS DONAL
3rd class A were a pleasure to teach this
year. The year has flown in so fast! The
transition from 2nd class to 3rd class was
not easy. It took some of the class a while
to get used to the jump but they managed
1 2
the progress of all of our work during primary school behind them and make the very well as the year went on. I think we
the year as we stick and staple it all big leap upstairs to the senior end and 3rd had great fun in the classroom and this
together. We are enjoying early morning class. During this last term, we completed developed a great team spirit amongst
pitch time as well as taking our lunch our GAA sessions with Darren, which everyone. 3A should be so proud of the
outside whenever the weather permits. we all thoroughly enjoyed; what a super work they produced during the year, with
We say good bye and good luck to Lily opportunity to receive training and have excellent creative writing stories, beautiful
and her family who are moving to Israel. such fun with such a professional in the art work and outstanding S.E.S.E. projects.
We will miss you Lily! Have a wonderful area! We have had a fabulous five weeks of We had some great outings with trips to
summer and thank you to all the parents learning fun with our student teacher Sarah the Zoo, GAA Blitzes and a big trip to W5
and guardians for all your support during Jackson and we were sad to see her Science Museum. Our class talent shows
the year. leave. The children enjoyed practicing for and assemblies, showed so much flair in
our special 2nd class show Spreagadh, music and drama and developed everyone
2ND CLASS A CLAIRE AND MOLLY where we performed a rap and a song all s self-confidence and self-esteem. Well
This is a very busy term for 2nd Class. about leaving the junior end of METNS done to everyone and best of luck in 4th
Along with the usual bustle of sports day, and going upstairs to the senior end. class.
trips and such, we have been working We also read out some of our memories
from the junior classes and our hopes 3RD CLASS B CHRISSIE
away on preparations for Spreagadh,
for the senior cycle. It was a very special As you know, we are raising money to send
our big graduation ceremony to mark the
day indeed. I would like to express a a girl called Anu to school in Calcutta. We
move from junior to senior cycle. We have
sincere thank you to all the parents, did an assembly about it and showed all
been writing raps and songs, painting
grandparents, guardians, after-school the childrens rights. We needed to raise
and decorating, writing and composing
carers and all involved with 2nd class of 750 and so far we have raised 800.
and having lots of sticky fun with papier
2013/2014 for your consistent support Weve had two visitors to teach us. The bird
mache! This years Spreagadh has taken
and kindness throughout the year and man came in and taught us about different
inspiration from the visuals in the movie
for helping to make this a memorable types of birds, and Adrienne taught us
Up look out for a beautiful display of
year. I wish the children the very best drama every Tuesday and did fun games
our miniature selves floating off with our
in 3rd class and look forward to with us and she was very nice. This term
coloured balloons! This is a really exciting
seeing them all in September. we were learning about World War II. We
time for us all and we are really looking
Wishing you all a great learned how people were effected. We
forward to the big move upstairs. As well
summer! Best Regards, learned about the Blitz and what it was like
as our big Spreagadh project we have
Marie. to be an evacuee. We made a war time
been really enjoying learning about birds
cookie recipe with carrots. For art in school
and minibeasts in the past few weeks. We
we were doing a Riot of Colour. We had
were lucky enough to have a visit from a
to do flowers with lots of colours, no white
bird expert called Eric Dempsey who taught
allowed! In maths we were learning about
us lots of interesting facts and answered
3D shapes, so in art we used shading to
the many questions we had about birds.
make our shapes look 3D. We went for a
We have found that the minibeasts are
GAA Blitz in Cabinteely which was really
beginning to move in to the bug hotels
fun. Next we are going to do a project on
that were built this year and we enjoyed
Australia, we are also going to W5 in Belfast
hunting the school grounds to see how
on the train, we are really excited!
many different little creatures we could The B
litz
find and comparing them against each
other. What a wonderful year we have
all had together in second class and
so many new memories made of fun
and friendships! Spreagadh 2nd class Bs paper
mache balloons
1 11
4 5
4th Clas A te
sting our 5th class visit Dublin Zoo 6th class
anemometer Gaeltacht
s trip
6
4TH CLASS B DERVLA/VICTORIA honing our gaelic skills in the Robert Shaw great time here in METNS from junior infants
A highlight from this term was our Cup. Finally 5th class had a fantastic end to 6th class and we would like to take this
interesting workshop with the Junior of year trip to W5. opportunity to thank all members of staff and
Einstein Science Club, which Sophies Mum the pupils that have been with us throughout
won for us (thanks Jennifer!). Amongst the eight years sln agus go raibh maith
other things, we made our own slime, used agaibh go lir! Cronimid sibhse go lir! (we
a smoke cannon & observed electricity will miss you all especially our buddies!).
generated by a Van Der Graff Generator.
By abha, Jack Rowan, Eva-Rose and Joe
We demonstrated our skills and great
sportsmanship at a GAA Blitz against Kill
of the Grange & Guardian Angels. We also
really enjoyed participating in the Robert
Shaw Memorial Cup, with Maja Hamidovic
5th Class Balloon Rocket
on the winning team. In art weve been Races
busy printing. We created printing blocks
based on drawings of our shoes and made
cards, book covers, individual prints & a
e,
whole-class print (named Sh-Art for shoe Robert Shaw cup winners: Suffi
art!). We also made prints on tissue paper Caia,Oran,James and Luke
which look amazing on our classroom
windows. Be sure to check out all our
fantastic artwork in our portfolios. For the
last few weeks of term weve each had a
turn in the Spotlight, sharing something
of importance to us (from special photos
to real live pets) with the class, and have
learned something new about each other
in the process. The children have worked
really hard this year and I wish them all the
best for 5th Class! Victoria.
ss of 14
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Cla
Report from the Board of Management
Ethos Vision Evening A really positive and productive Resource Hub As you can see, the Resource Hub is
evening was held in the school when staff and parents came taking shape and will be finished and ready for business in
together to share ideas and make suggestions for inclusion September.
in the schools action plan regarding our Educate Together
Ethos.The three areas which were discussed were the Learn Landscaping Plan A massive thank you to Joan Mallon and
Together curriculum, the voice of the child, and parental Ann Marie Kenrick and to all who helped in the landscaping
involvement. A special thanks to all members of staff who and planting over by The Den. Joan won a silver medal for her
came, in great numbers, on the night. However, I have to garden at Bloom this year - congratulations!! She then very
express our disappointment at the poor turn out from parents kindly donated all her planting from that garden to the school,
- 20 parents in total (representing 5%). I would welcome and it looks amazing.
any feedback as to how we can better encourage parents
to attend such important meetings. This was an invaluable New Staff Victoria Stuart has been appointed to the
opportunity for parents and staff to sit down together and to permanent post - welcome on board! We will be interviewing
have an input into the future direction of the school. for two temporary posts in July for the year 2014/2015.
Congratulations to Karen and Liz on expecting their first
Fundraising The fundraising campaign has been receiving babies! As a result, we will also be recruiting for two maternity
fantastic support. Thanks to everyone who has already Made leave positions, which would start in October.
Their Mark on METNS. Both the METNS Golf Classic and
the Stars in Your Eyes events were great successes! Thanks We Care Do You Thanks to all who supported the We
to Dave Lane and the golf team who organised such a great Care Do You campaign to highlight the need to keep all our
event. Accounts are being finalised but it looks like it will raise SNA supports for children with special educational needs. It
around 25,000 euro - a fantastic result. I would particularly is still not too late to sign the online petition to the Minister,
like to thank Shane Kirwan and all his team (you know who asking him not to reduce the current level of support. This is
you are!!),who made the Stars in Your Eyes night such a an issue which affects all children.
triumph! In addition to raising about 5,000 euro for the school,
a wonderful sense of community spirit abounded on the night! School Finances The school remains in a healthy financial
At the outset of this fundraising campaign, we aimed to raise situation at the end of the school year. This is largely due
around 50,000 euros in total, so, we are well on the way to to everyone keeping a keen eye on expenses and to your
getting the money we need to finish and fit out the Resource voluntary contributions, which amounted to 29,500 to date.
Hub to the highest standards. We have also begun to receive
donations through the Little Big Ask campaign, which will BOM AGM Many parents in the Ethos survey told us that
run to the end of the year. So, if we want that new piano, that they were not fully aware as to what the BOM does and about
adventure trail for the older children, those additional computer the school finances. This BOM piece in the school newsletter
tablets and computer mobile trolleys - then we ask you to try came about as a response to this. In addition, this year, we
and Make Your Mark! approached the PTA to see if the two bodies could hold a
joint evening together, whereby the BOM has its AGM on the
The Den - The afterschool has same evening as the PTA. Everyone agreed that this was a
been renamed The Den, with its good idea and, so, will be going ahead in September. It will
own new logo too! Thanks to Ziene, also help clarify the different roles of the PTA and the Board of
Teresa and the team for their hard Management, which can sometimes cause confusion!
work over the year in setting up As we break for the summer, I would like to thank all our
this valuable service! We would ask wonderful staff for their enthusiasm, commitment and hard
you to remember, when choosing afterschool care for your work during the year. I would like to thank the PTA and all
children, that The Den is an important source of on-going our parents and guardians for your continued support of the
income to the school, now and in to the future. We have a school, helping us to make METNS the best that it can be.
vacancy for a new member of staff from September. An advert But, above all, a HUGE thank you to our 379 children who
for this position will be on the school notice-board. The Den make METNS such a special and happy place for all of us!
will remain open from 2 - 6pm through July at a cost of 6 per
hour and is closed for August. Have a wonderful summer break and see you all back, full of
energy, in September!
NB after school is nearly at full capacity for September
14, please book your place if you havent already
done so!! Contact Teresa Kavanagh on 087 677 0855 for
Clodagh OBrien
CHAIRPERSON, BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
information on after school.
JUNIOR
SUMMER CAMP Performing Arts Together Summer Camp
Junior summer camp is running for the first four weeks of July a singing, drama and dance camp that runs from the 14th to the
from 9 - 2pm daily for children from junior infants to 1st class 25th of July at METNS. For the the ages of 5 - 17 years. For more
- places still available. Contact Teresa Kavanagh on 087 677 information or to book, please contact 086 354 8883 or visit
0855 for information on camp. www.performingartstogether.com.
Soccer Athletics
World Cup fever struck METNS with force
this year; boys and girls are playing soccer
in ever-greater numbers! The huge astro
Well done to everyone who qualified to
represent our school in athletics in Santry
on May 28th. Sean Brogan, Yang, Dylan,
Blooming
pitch shrinks in size at 2.10pm every Friday
when over 100 players, from 1st to 6th
class, pour out of their classrooms to play
David, Dan, Cian, Hemant, Sean Kelly,,
Malachy, Lucas, Suffie, Kai, Oran, Reuben,
Sam, Caetano, Jack, Joe Speer, Oisin,
Wonderful!
ball. All age groups are developing rightly, Lucas, Joe Whelan, Tara, Anoush, Erin, We have been so lucky at METNS to
showing new skills and moves. Coaches Summer, Emma, Elena, Maisie, Sadie, recieve the garden designed by mom
juggle sessions seeking to get everyone Maja, Shauna, Chloe, Lea, Abbey, Isobel, of Blaithin and Sibeal, Joan Mallon.
playing in groups suited to their individual Alana, Sophie, Marina, Kate and Lily Joan was one of the garden designers
level, challenging but not overly so, and had a great day, even if it was very wet! (and silver medalist!) exhibiting at the
with enough favourite class friends to make Alana Scanlan and Joe Whelan were our Bloom in the Park festival, and when
playing football really fun. In senior soccer, medalists and we were delighted to cheer the festival was over, we were the lucky
we now have a separate girls' session. them on. Alana was the silver medalist and recepients of most of the plants and
Joe won gold. They made our day and we the hard landscaping. The garden is
This is the second year we have entered
think that their talent will see them go far in being recreated around The Den (the
teams in both the girls' section and
the future!! after-school building) and will give the
the boys' section of the FAI schools
school community many years of joy.
competitions; both squads have played Following on from covering the distance to Many thanks to Joan, to Brian Kirby who
a storm in 5-a-side blitzes and full sized Gorey in the first term, our senior athletes co-ordinated so such of the logistics
11-a side fixtures. Our girls' team narrowly in 5th and 6th class embarked on another involved in the transportation, to Gerry
missed a semi final spot, only going out on Journey this term, in February they set Killen who orchestrated the removal
the slimmest margin of goal difference. Lily their sights on running enough 100m laps of the plants, and to all the parent
Bennett was top goal scorer. The METNS to reach all the way from METNS to Athlone volunteers who helped dig it in.
boys' team followed up a fabulous cup run - over 130km! We divided in teams to cover
with a stellar performance in the league: the the distance in relays over 100m stages; at
Pat Connaghtan and his son
boys qualified from group stage to win their the end of each session, if one team was Luke sitting in the raised
semi final and in a gripping final between falling behind, the other teams ran a little vegetable bed that they made.
METNS and DSP, the METNS boys won further to help complete the target. We Pat and Luke did incredible
the league cup. Well done to Donal and added the laps from all the teams together volumes of work in the spring
Craig for all the training. A fantastic match to make the total distance for the day - one for us and again now.
and win! BIG team effort. And by the end of our last
session, Athlone was just around the bend.
Well done everyone.