Athy Model School

February 2017 Newsletter

September Enrolment Applications are now being invited for September 2017 enrolment. Please call to the school office to fill in a Notification of Intention to Apply form (Stage One) on behalf of your child if you have not already done so. Application forms were sent to those who have completed Stage One forms at the end of January.

Tin Whistle   1^st, 2^nd,3^rd, 4^th,  5^th and 6^th classes started tin whistle lessons with Melanie Butler on Tuesday 17^th January. These will take place every Wednesday for seven weeks. Thank you to the Board of Management for supporting us in this.

Tag Rugby All classes from 1^st to 6^th will start Tag Rugby with Joey Carbury on Monday 6^th February . It will continue every Monday until  Monday 8^th May. The children really enjoy Joey’s instruction and get lots of exercise and fresh air during this time. We are so lucky to have the use of the campus Astro turf pitch which is a lovely surface for the children to play on.

Japanese students Our thanks to Richard Daly from Athy College who visited our school on Wednesday 18^th January with five host students from Japan. These young people had spent a number of weeks in Athy, attending Athy College and visiting places of interest including Glendalough, Wexford and Carlow. They spent a morning with our pupils throughout the school, teaching them Origami in small groups. The students were very pleasant and patient and our children really enjoyed the experience.

Wednesday Workout. As we enter week eight of “Wednesday Workout”, the attendance is averaging at more than ½   of the 3rd to 6th class pupils. The general reaction of the pupils (apart from the immediate calls of “you are killing us”) has been positive, with pupils enjoying both the exercise and the fun aspects of the 45 minute sessions. The effect of the various drills and activities has already become apparent and the commitment of the pupils has shown dividends.  The clock stands at the moment at more than 7km with plenty more to come (including a non-stop kilometre run).     Conor MacGabhann

Build a Bank-  A group of 6 students from Athy College visited 5^th and 6^th class on Friday 20^th January to talk to the class about banking and saving. The students from Athy College named their bank ‘Once Upon a Bank’ and they came wonderfully  dressed as fairy tale characters.  We wish the bank manager Rebecca and her team of bankers the best of luck in the “Build a Bank” national completion.

The Annual Athy Model School Table Quiz takes place on Friday 24^th March at 8 pm in Athy Golf Club. This is always a very enjoyable evening and we would welcome everyone’s support on the night. Tickets can be purchased beforehand from the Parent Association or at the Golf Club on the night.

Mid Term Break School will close on Friday 17^th February at the usual time for Mid Term Break and will reopen on Monday 27^th February.

World Book Day. World Book Day is Thursday 2^nd March and we will be having a dress up day on Friday 3^rd March to celebrate it.

Wednesday Workout

Please note in your diaries that the West Glendalough Children’s Choral Festival and Sports Day will take place this year in Dunlavin on Friday 9th June. As is usual, there will be a church service in the morning, followed by refreshments in the parish hall. Races for pupils from the following schools: Blessington, Athy, Donoughmore and Dunlavin, will then  held. Further details for parents will follow closer to the time.

We are looking for volunteers for guided reading which is resuming this  month on 28^th February for a six week session. Please give your name to Karyn Cole if you are available to help out. If anyone is available to help out with the Word Wasp spelling sessions, we would be delighted to have you on board too!

Table Quiz

Green Schools

We are continuing to work towards earning our Energy flag this year, while also maintaining our work on recycling. The Green Schools committee are organising an ‘Energy Free Day’ during the summer term as our Day of Action. We have reminded each class of the importance of conserving energy in our classrooms and we have appointed power rangers who will be in charge of monitoring and implementing this.

We will be introducing a second motto of ‘LOLO- Last out, Lights Out!’ This is alongside our competition winning, energy saving motto ‘Do the earth a favour, be a power saver.’

We are also reminding children to make sure they bring home all their rubbish from school and recycle when possible. 1st and 2nd class are constructing robots out of recycled materials as part of this. There are battery recycling containers in each classroom, if you have batteries which need recycling at home please send them in! Ruth Armstrong and the Green Schools’ Committee.