General
Parent Zone
School Debating League Success
Oct 28th
Our school took part in the first round of the Letterkenny School Debating League on Thursday, 27th October. Gaelscoil Adhamhnainn were pitted against Scoil Cholmcille, Kilmacrennan debating the motion that ‘Irish should be an optional subject in secondary school’. Gaelscoil Adhamhnainn were proposing the motion whilst Kilmacrennan were opposing it. All six speakers made fantastic efforts. Sorcha, Deirbhile and Ray discussed issues like Brexit, stress of homework and difficulties of the language whilst Thomas, Oisin and Caitlin discussed the history of Ireland, improved teaching methodologies and language preservation. A very interesting and intense cross fire round followed, concluding with two excellent summaries from captains Sorcha and Thomas. The judges Annette, Eileen and Pat, came to their decision and announced Kilmacrennan as the winners. However both teams have to be commended on their excellent efforts in an enthralling debate!
Maths Week
Oct 20th
All our classes have participated in Maths Week activities. Sixth Class pupils even tried to entertain us with jokes. Here’s a selection of maths jokes for your entertainment
Q: Why did the 30-60-90 triangle marry the 45-45-90 triangle?
A: They were right for each other
Q: Why didn’t the Romans find algebra very challenging?
A: Because X was always 10
Q. Why was the math book sad?
A. Because it had so many problems.
Q: What is a bird’s favorite type of math?
A: Owl-gebra
Q: Why did the obtuse angle go to the beach?
A: Because it was over 90 degrees
Q: Why do plants hate math?
A: Because it gives them square roots.
Q: What do you call an angle that is adorable?
A: acute angle
Q: What do you call a destroyed angle?
A: A Rect-angle
Q: Why did the student get upset when his teacher called him average?
A: It was a ‘mean’ thing to say!
Q: Why does nobody talk to circles?
A: Because there is no point!
Q. What do you get if you cross a math teacher and a clock?
A. Arithma-ticks!
Donegal Cross Country Finals
Oct 14th
Kilmacrennan NS had a most enjoyable day at the Donegal Primary Schools Cross Country Championship in Lifford. Our U-13 boys had great success, bringing home the Large Schools County Title for a second successive year. Well done to Oisin, Patrick, Rory and Cian. The U-11 girls had a great day too, claiming Team Silver in a large field of entrants. All enjoyed the day.
Training continues at lunchtime thrice weekly.
Marshmallows and Cocktails
Sep 30th
Rang a Sé were given the challenge of assembling a building constructed of marshmallows and cocktail sticks. The building had to withstand an enormous jelly earthquake!
Thankfully all buildings in the immediate vicinity survived the earthquake!
Skittle Pics
Rang a sé were experimenting with solutions and soluble items and made beautiful skittle rainbows!
Gaeilgeoir na Seachtaine
Sep 30th
Gaeilgeoirí na Seachtaine
Comhghairdeas leis an grúpa a bhuaidh Gaeilgeoirí na Seachtaine ar an Aoine, 14ú Déireadh Fómhair. Sa phictiúr fosta tá baill an Choiste a rinne an bronnadh.
Gaeilgeoirí na Seachtaine
Comhghairdeas leis an grúpa a bhuaidh Gaeilgeoirí na Seachtaine ar an Aoine, 07ú Déireadh Fómhair. Sa phictiúr fosta tá baill an Choiste a rinne an bronnadh.
Gaeilgeoirí na Seachtaine
Comhghairdeas leis an grúpa a bhuaidh Gaeilgeoirí na Seachtaine ar an Aoine, 30ú Meán Fómhair. Sa phictiúr fosta tá baill an Choiste a rinne an bronnadh.
School Debating event
Sep 30th
5th and 6th class have begun an inter-class debating competition, held each Friday in the School Hall.
It’s not chit-chat but a full blooded gladiatorial combat! All are enjoying the Friday joust immensely.
‘A Must-read Missive!’
Sep 21st
The first newsletter to parents was distributed on Wed 21st September. This contains details of forthcoming events and information on school activities. It’s a must read missive! The Parish Newsletter doesn’t come close!
NUACHTLITIR/ NEWSLETTER
The new school year is up-and-running and I wish to offer a particular warm welcome all our students, inclusive of 25 newly enrolled Junior Infant pupils. There are 220 pupils on our roll this school year.
SCHOOL OPENING
We wish to remind parents that the School Opening time is 9.10am daily and that members of staff supervise from that time only onwards. Pupils go to their classes at 9.20a.m. We respectfully ask that you do not leave your child/ren unsupervised at the school before/ after school opening/closing times. It is important too that you inform us if your child is due to arrive to school at a slightly later time than normal roll call time, as your child may have been marked absent for the day.
SCHOOL PARKING
I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of a few issues. We introduced parking restrictions in the car park outside the school gates a couple of years ago as we felt that there was traffic congestion there and an accompanying increased risk to pupil safety as a result. Therefore,
- the school car park is for staff and school bus parking only. This request is being observed by the vast majority of parents. In the interests of fairness to all, I respectfully ask those few remaining parents who have yet to comply to do so with immediate effect.
- We also request that parents use the car park between the Old School and the Chapel, or use the Chapel Road area, observing yellow line parking restrictions.
- Please accompany your child to/from the school gates at all times, using the designated pedestrian crossing point, exercising caution at all times.
- Please inform any other people who leave/collect your child to/from the school gates of these arrangements.
ATTENDANCE
Please note that the school is obliged to inform the National Educational Welfare Board of pupil absences each year, and that notification of cumulative pupil absences of 20 days or more are forwarded to the relevant authorities. Please inform us of the reason for any such absences, as this information can also be relayed.
SCHOOL TEXT SERVICE
We operate a school web text service whereby we occasionally send messages to individual classes/ whole school groups. The school recently forwarded a message regarding the Parents’ Association meeting. Please inform the School Office if you haven’t received this text and we will accordingly seek to update contact details. It is essential that the school is informed of any changes to your mobile contact details.
HEALTHY EATING POLICY/ LABELLING SCHOOL ITEMS
Please ensure that all items (jumpers, coats, lunchboxes, etc) are labelled with your child’s name. We request that all pupils comply with the school Healthy Eating Policy.
PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
The Parents’ Association held their AGM recently. Officers for the coming year include Dermot Lyons (Chair), Breda Mc Geever (Secretary) and Noreen Mc Gettigan (Treasurer). Frank Pinder stood down as Chairperson recently and we thank him for his valued input. We wish to thank the PA for their recent funding of a defibrillator for the school community.
UPCOMING EVENTS
27th September- Some pupils from the school will attend a School’s Cross-Country event in Milford.
3rd October– The School Photographer is scheduled to visit.
17th & 18th October-HSE nurses are due to screen Junior Infant pupils and any other newly enrolled pupils for Hearing, Vision and growth monitoring.
The First Holy Communion has been set for Saturday, 13th May at 11am, . with Confirmation of Sixth Class pupils scheduled for February 12th at 1230pm.
8th November- the school will close to facilitate Staff training for the New Primary Language Curriculum.
Finally, the children have all settled in well and are working hard. Please encourage them with their work. Please feel free to contact the school at the earliest opportunity if you have any queries/concerns etc.
On occasion, we use our school website www.kilmacrennanschool.com to post notices/pupil work etc. Please feel free to visit the site.
Regards,
John Devenney.
From Farm to fork!
Sep 13th
The ‘Tatie Hokers’ were out in full force on Monday, 12th September harvesting a bountiful potato crop. We had a splendid return from our School Garden, gathering potatoes, onions and garlic on the day. Anne, the School Secretary treated sixth class to a lovely stew the following day, using our homegrown crop. Many thanks to Master Gallagher for co-ordinating the garden and to Anne for overseeing the cooking.
Roald Dahl Event
Sep 13th
Tuesday, 13th September marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Roald Dahl, the prolific children’s author. The school hosted a themed celebration of the occasion with a School Assembly and fancy dress event. Miss Trunchbull, Willy Wonka, the Witches, George’s Marvellous Medicine were among the many colourful costumes.
Beo ar ‘Highland Radio’
Jun 8th
Bhí tráthnóna ar dóigh ag grúpa ceoil na scoile le Colm Féirtéar ar chlár ‘Ruaille Buaille’ ar Raidió Highland ar na mallaibh. Bhaineamar an-sult as an ócáid agus ba mhaith linn ár mbuíochas a chuir in iúl do Cholm agus foireann an raidió.
Our school music group, under the direction of Bn Uí Ghallchóir, recently enjoyed performing live on air on Colm Féirtéar Gaelic language show ‘Ruaire Buaille’ on Highland Radio. The group used the opportunity to showcase their undoubted talents and to extol the virtues of the school!! Comhghairdeas le gach duine.
The show, from 8.30 until 9p.m. was broadcast on Highland on Tuesday, 7th June and can be replayed on highland radio playback.
