News
Twinkle Toes Kevin!
Excitement has been building over the past nine weeks as our past pupil Kevin Mc Gahern has entertained us each Sunday night on RTE's Dancing with the Stars. We have been extremely proud of his performances and are delighted to see him through to the semi-finals. We were thrilled when Kevin and his professional dance partner, Laura Nolan, joined us by Zoom. They explained to us what life is like when taking part in the show. Laura shared with us how hard Kevin has been working to learn off all his dances each week. Best of luck to Kevin and Laura on Sunday night. We will be watching with bated breath!!!
ROAD Forward: Reading Initiative Winners
In October, our school put forward an application explaining why we felt worthy to receive book gifting from ROAD Forward: Enterprise Rent-a-Car and Children's Books Ireland. Minister Norma Foley launched the programme last week in Co. Kerry. Our 6th class pupils were 17 of the 1,900 chosen children across Ireland to receive a copy of 'Why the Moon Travels' by Oein DeBhairduin.
The competition had over 400 applications for this category alone. The programme is designed to promote early childhood development, youth health and wellness, and career and college preparation.
With Enterprise's support, we are very excited to have access to excellent stories from all backgrounds and perspectives. Most importantly, we are extremely proud to support wonderful Irish-published work in the process.
Below, pupils Gabija and Dylan are presented with their books.
The competition had over 400 applications for this category alone. The programme is designed to promote early childhood development, youth health and wellness, and career and college preparation.
With Enterprise's support, we are very excited to have access to excellent stories from all backgrounds and perspectives. Most importantly, we are extremely proud to support wonderful Irish-published work in the process.
Below, pupils Gabija and Dylan are presented with their books.
Someone Like Me Competition Winners
On September 21st 2021, the Someone Like Me Art Competition was launched by Minister Anne Rabbitte. The Minister was joined by two pupils of Loreto College, Junior School, St. Stephen’s Green. The Minister encouraged all primary school pupils across Ireland to learn about inclusivity and diversity through the medium of art.
The Minister stated that: “One in seven people in Ireland has a disability and research shows that persons with disabilities report more social isolation and less participation in social activities than those without a disability. “Covid-19 gave us all an insight into what it is like to feel socially isolated. Positive attitudes support persons with disabilities to take part in society and so it is vital that we place ‘ability’ under the spotlight as a way of fostering positive attitudes amongst all our young people to enable everyone to feel a valued member of society."
This amazing art competition gave our teachers the opportunity to teach our pupils all about inclusivity and diversity in society! Ms. O'Reilly and her Junior & Senior Infants class and Ms. Sheridan and her 3rd & 4th class pupils worked incredibly hard on this project and their efforts were rewarded when both classes were announced county winners for 2021. With nearly 2,000 submissions to this competition ranging from posters to sculptures and everything in between, it's a huge accomplishment to have made it this far. We are super proud of their outstanding art pieces.
Have a look below at their wonderful winning entries and the inspiration behind their masterpieces. We can't wait to watch the National Awards Ceremony online, on 3rd February, where they will be show casing our creations and announcing the National Winner!!
The Minister stated that: “One in seven people in Ireland has a disability and research shows that persons with disabilities report more social isolation and less participation in social activities than those without a disability. “Covid-19 gave us all an insight into what it is like to feel socially isolated. Positive attitudes support persons with disabilities to take part in society and so it is vital that we place ‘ability’ under the spotlight as a way of fostering positive attitudes amongst all our young people to enable everyone to feel a valued member of society."
This amazing art competition gave our teachers the opportunity to teach our pupils all about inclusivity and diversity in society! Ms. O'Reilly and her Junior & Senior Infants class and Ms. Sheridan and her 3rd & 4th class pupils worked incredibly hard on this project and their efforts were rewarded when both classes were announced county winners for 2021. With nearly 2,000 submissions to this competition ranging from posters to sculptures and everything in between, it's a huge accomplishment to have made it this far. We are super proud of their outstanding art pieces.
Have a look below at their wonderful winning entries and the inspiration behind their masterpieces. We can't wait to watch the National Awards Ceremony online, on 3rd February, where they will be show casing our creations and announcing the National Winner!!
We are all Stars but Together we Shine Brighter by Junior & Senior Infants
We are Junior and Senior Infants in St Patrick’s NS in Loch Gowna, Co. County Cavan. We decided to show all our amazing talents after working on our ‘Someone like Me’ lesson plan. We all have our own unique talents and interests, some of us love art, football, science (especially messy experiments!!), reading, jigsaws, playing with blocks to name but a few things.
We work really hard in class and are great at working in groups. Our teacher thinks we are brilliant as when we all put our great minds together we really are a bright shining bunch of stars.
We work really hard in class and are great at working in groups. Our teacher thinks we are brilliant as when we all put our great minds together we really are a bright shining bunch of stars.
Like Peas in a Pod! by 3rd & 4th Class
We got our inspiration for our art work from our classroom pods. We thought of the saying “like peas in a pod” and realised that it was a great way to express the ideas we discussed in our lesson on “Someone like Me”.
Everyone is different, different abilities, different likes and dislikes but we are all the same when it comes to our feelings, how we like to be treated and being given opportunities to learn and participate in our schools and wider communities
We represented how we are the same by doing a self-portrait inside a pea, and then we all expressed in a speech bubble what we like doing or what we are good at. Each pod then included some of the ideas we discussed in class.
We may all look the same on the outside (like peas) but can have lots of different feelings inside. Some pods looked at it from a different perspective – we all can have different physical abilities and strengths but despite those differences, everyone likes to be treated with kindness and respect and to be included.
We are all the same. We are all unique.
Everyone is different, different abilities, different likes and dislikes but we are all the same when it comes to our feelings, how we like to be treated and being given opportunities to learn and participate in our schools and wider communities
We represented how we are the same by doing a self-portrait inside a pea, and then we all expressed in a speech bubble what we like doing or what we are good at. Each pod then included some of the ideas we discussed in class.
We may all look the same on the outside (like peas) but can have lots of different feelings inside. Some pods looked at it from a different perspective – we all can have different physical abilities and strengths but despite those differences, everyone likes to be treated with kindness and respect and to be included.
We are all the same. We are all unique.
Astro Turf Development
Over the past 18 months we, the Board of Management and Gowna District Council have been working on developing an all-weather AstroTurf facility on our school grounds. We are pleased to announce that our new Astro Pitch is almost completed.
The first phase of the project involved the Board of Management making an application for Leader Grant funding to convert the existing school field into an AstroTurf and provide lighting. This is a very competitive process and not all projects receive funding. With the help of parent, Cathaldus Hartin, our application was submitted and on 15thDecember 2020, we received the wonderful news that our application was successful.
After completing the eTender process the Project was awarded to International Sports Surfaces and our fundraising drive began. In availing of Leader Grant Funding the school had to provide 25% of the cost of the new pitch. A strong fundraising committee was formed and during the incredibly difficult times of a National Lockdown due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, their amazing efforts raised a staggering €36,224 and it was all systems go.
The October bank holiday weekend, saw the start of works, with many helping hands involved in getting the site ready for the arrival of the contractor. We had help from parents, Board of Management members, past pupils and Gowna Disctrict Council.
The first phase of the project involved the Board of Management making an application for Leader Grant funding to convert the existing school field into an AstroTurf and provide lighting. This is a very competitive process and not all projects receive funding. With the help of parent, Cathaldus Hartin, our application was submitted and on 15thDecember 2020, we received the wonderful news that our application was successful.
After completing the eTender process the Project was awarded to International Sports Surfaces and our fundraising drive began. In availing of Leader Grant Funding the school had to provide 25% of the cost of the new pitch. A strong fundraising committee was formed and during the incredibly difficult times of a National Lockdown due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, their amazing efforts raised a staggering €36,224 and it was all systems go.
The October bank holiday weekend, saw the start of works, with many helping hands involved in getting the site ready for the arrival of the contractor. We had help from parents, Board of Management members, past pupils and Gowna Disctrict Council.
Over the following weeks, the children got to see first hand, the development of our new pitch.
One of the greatest attractions of this new facility is that it will provide a comfortable space for the promotion of and active participation in multiple sports and social activities in our school all year round.
This facility will serve the needs of the various sporting clubs in our community and we hope that it will become a “Hub” for sporting and social activity for Loch Gowna and surrounding areas.
This project would not have been possible without the help and support of Leader/Cavan County Local Development, parents, past pupils and the wider community. We are forever grateful for your generosity and we hope that this facility will provide great enjoyment for many years to come.
This facility will serve the needs of the various sporting clubs in our community and we hope that it will become a “Hub” for sporting and social activity for Loch Gowna and surrounding areas.
This project would not have been possible without the help and support of Leader/Cavan County Local Development, parents, past pupils and the wider community. We are forever grateful for your generosity and we hope that this facility will provide great enjoyment for many years to come.
Fundraising 2021
This year the Board of Management and the Parents Association are working together to bring big changes to our school playground, by converting our school playing field to an all-weather playing facility.
The development will consist of the laying of 900m2 of all-weather turf, the installation of perimeter fencing, ball stop netting and a flood lighting system on the current school field. Playing space at the school is very limited, especially during the winter months and activities on the pitch are not possible for up to 6 months of the school year. This development will ensure that an outdoor pitch is available for the children at the school all year round, regardless of weather conditions. In time, we hope it will benefit the wider community.
The development will consist of the laying of 900m2 of all-weather turf, the installation of perimeter fencing, ball stop netting and a flood lighting system on the current school field. Playing space at the school is very limited, especially during the winter months and activities on the pitch are not possible for up to 6 months of the school year. This development will ensure that an outdoor pitch is available for the children at the school all year round, regardless of weather conditions. In time, we hope it will benefit the wider community.
Someone Like Me Winners 2020
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Huge congratulations to Junior and Senior Infants and their wonderful teacher Ms. Jennifer O'Reilly on becoming The "Someone Like Me" Junior Co. Cavan winners for the 2nd year in a row.
"Someone Like Me" is an initiative by the National Disability Authority that aims to promote disability awareness amongst Primary School pupils and give them a better understanding of what unites children of different abilities.
The inspiration behind the Junior and Senior infants fantastic entry was that they felt, when they all joined together like a jigsaw they could achieve more, as all their strengths and talents came together!!!
"Someone Like Me" is an initiative by the National Disability Authority that aims to promote disability awareness amongst Primary School pupils and give them a better understanding of what unites children of different abilities.
The inspiration behind the Junior and Senior infants fantastic entry was that they felt, when they all joined together like a jigsaw they could achieve more, as all their strengths and talents came together!!!
