Category Archives: Uncategorized
March 2020
On the 12th March we were informed by the DES that all schools were to close from 6pm that evening until March 29th. We made plans with our pupils that day and we all packed up our bags with enough books and resources to keep us learning until we came back to school in 2 weeks’ time. School journals went home full of lesson instructions, daily Maths and English exercises were encouraged, Google classroom came to the fore with our older classes, independent learning became our buzz word, emails were sent to encourage distance learning but all the while, consideration was given to the fact that we were dealing with an unknown – a pandemic that could change our lives and how we live forever. We aimed to keep our pupils calm, happy, and busy and we wanted to stay connected to them. We also understood that everybody’s experience at this time was different and that some would face very challenging times.
Here’s a St Patrick’s day exercise completed at home as Gaeilge, during this time and a recipe for a lovely St Patrick’s Day Milkshake.
Cumann na mBunscol 2019
Our Cumann na mBunscol school football season is well under way and the four school teams will be in regular action up to Halloween. We are also continuing a long tradition in St. Joseph´s by running a 3rd and 4th class football league in the first term. Our thanks to the teachers who give their time and energy coaching and supervising after school. Senior team photos. Junior team photos. 
Blue Friday in St. Joseph’s
Today we celebrated tomorrow’s All Ireland final replay by having a county colours day with the proceeds going to the Peter McVerry trust. Several different county jerseys were to be seen but blue, of course, was the predominant colour. However quite a few green and gold Kerry jerseys and even a Kerry Teddy Bear sneaked in to the delight of our deputy principal Bean Ui Loinsigh.
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Welcome Back!
Welcome Back to School everyone! We hope everyone had an enjoyable summer break and is energised and ready for a new school year of learning and fun. We extend a special welcome to our Junior Infants and to new pupils in other classes. Our new Junior Infants are settling in well to life with their teachers, Bean Uí Loingsigh, Ms. Mulhall and Ms. Larmer. These are very special days for them and their parents. From Mon. Sep. 16th they will finish school at 1.30pm.
You can consult our calendar for the school year(and add it to your Google Calendar) by clicking here.
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End of year Newsletter
Another great school year has come to an end. A gentle reminder that the school reopens on Thurs. Aug 29th at 8.50am (9.15am for new junior infants). Click on the link to access our Newsletter!
End of year Newsletter
Hurling Blitz
We wish to thank Tommy O’Mahony of Faughs(and Paddy O’Brien who sponsored the medals!) for organising hurling blitzes for all classes from 1st to 4th this week. Well done to all the boys and remember to keep practicing your skills over the summer! More photos here.
School Garden
The work that Rang a 3 (Ms Maher’s and Ms Rooney’s) have done in the garden this year is beginning to bear fruit.
The early potatoes (in bags) are almost ready for harvest. The tomato plants have grown very tall and needed staking. They are gradually finding new homes ….. hopefully in the ground or very large pots, where they will thrive and produce many juicy red fruits. The beginnings of tiny courgettes have been seen, as the boys weed the vegetable bed… we anticipate cooking them in September. Rhubarb is picked periodically to allow new growth. It will be in the freezer for us to enjoy at a later date. Spicy mizuna leaves insist on re-appearing to enhance our lunchtime sandwiches and salads.
Our sensory garden is looking quite lush: We can touch, smell, see and taste mint, thyme, sage, lavender, chives, dogwood, fuschia and a recently re-discovered apple blossom. Click here for more photos.
Olympic Medallist
It´s not every day we have an Olympic medallist(and his medal) visiting us here in St. Joseph´s so Mr. O´Flynn´s class were delighted to welcome John Tracey yesterday. They listened in wonder as he told of that summer´s evening long ago when he ran his first marathon against the best in the world in the Southern Californian sun and finished with a silver medal. John was also happy to sign the boys´ homework diaries! This week our own champions were in energetic action on Sports Day. You can see some photos here.
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Green Flag
St Joseph’s was awarded its seventh Green Flag at DCU yesterday. Well done to Mr. Concannon, Ms.Ryan and the Green Team who have led the way in energy conservation.
