Nuacht 12/02/2018
Dates for your diary
14.02.2018: Red Day, fundraiser
15.02.2018: & 16.02.2018: School closed, mid-term break
19.02.2018: School closed for PDST staff training – Primary Language Curriculum Day
26.-28.02.2018: Fairtrade Focus at CETNS
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Here is the latest from CETNS.
Slapped Cheek/Fifth Disease
Slapped cheek has been prevalent in the school for the last few months. As it is dangerous for anyone who is pregnant to be in contact with the virus it is imperative that parents notify the school if their child has slapped cheek.
Stay Safe
All classes will be covering the Stay Safe Programme in the coming weeks. The five topics covered are: Feeling Safe/Unsafe, Bullying, Touches, Secrets and Telling, Strangers. Please discuss the topic covered on the worksheets with your child. You can find more information at:
http://www.staysafe.ie/parent_ss_prog.htm
1st class assembly
1st classes worked on Gender Stereoptypes and won’t be put in a box. As they said “you just want to be you and I just want to be me”. In their drama pieces we visited a certain toy shop and a certain shoe shop and listened to some children somewhere near Castleknock. There were quite a few stereotypes to see but thankfully “Super Stereotype Buster” was there to help out. Watch out how we will bust those stereotypes when we encounter them.
We also learned about some positive role models from our school community and further afield who break gender stereotypes every day. There is a little photo gallery for you to look at outside the library. The audience loved their song “Everyone belongs”.
Credit Union Quiz
Well done to Adam, Harry, Matthew and Saul (5th/6th class team) and also to Conor, Luka, Nicole and Rory (3rd/4th class team) who represented CETNS very well at the the recent Credit Union Quiz. It’s a very competitive event and both teams can be very proud of their performance.
CETNS Orchestra
The CETNS orchestra has resumed this week and some pupils from 1st to 6th class are taking part. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays at 12 45 - 1 20 in the prefab.
In this way, it will mean that all pupils, both junior and seniors, will use part of their lunch break and a little part of class time. Players have been chosen based on their interest, commitment and ability to play a suitable instrument. In some cases, where there is a surplus of suitable players, different pupils will play in different pieces. Our first rehearsal went really well and we are very excited for our musical adventures to come. We are delighted that a parent has offered to help set up and tidy up and this will help enormously in helping us make the best use of rehearsal time.
If any parent plays an instrument and would like to play with us, you are welcome. Wouldn't it be amazing to have pupils and parents play together! Don't be shy!
Romey
Spikeball
On Tuesday 6th February we represented our school at a Spikeball blitz in Terenure Badminton Centre. We usually play Basketball but because this blitz was upcoming we switched to Spikeball with Andreas and Liz (our teacher). We really enjoyed the blitz with the other schools.There were three teams from our school. An all girls team, an all boys team and a mixed team. Both the girls team and the mixed finished 3rd. We would like to thank the parents who provided lifts for us.Thanks to Andreas and Liz for teaching us.
Alexsandra, Rémy and Ryan (Liz`s class)
Fairtrade Focus Feb 26-28th
The national Fairtrade Fortnight draws near on 26 FEBRUARY – 11 MARCH, so we will have our annual Fairtrade Focus from Monday February 26th to Wednesday February 28th. Details of what’s coming up on a national level can be seen at https://www.fairtrade.ie/get-involved/fairtrade-fortnight/.
Details for our C.E.T.N.S. focus will include a Fairtrade product hunt and display in the foyer, poster competition and classes will learn more about Fairtrade.
There has been a lot of publicity about the terrible waste with approximately 2 million disposable coffee cups currently being sent to landfill sites in Ireland every day! A shocking and sad statistic. We ask everyone in CETNS to consider using a reusable cup when they buy their coffee/tea in a cafe.
The Conscious Cup Campaign, was started in late 2016 by a group of concerned individuals who, inspired by similar initiatives of cafes and citizens around the world, are aiming to reduce and eventually eliminate single use cups in Ireland. They met through the Zero Waste Ireland Facebook Group, and now have the support of VOICE, an environmental charity with expertise in waste prevention initiatives. The central focus points of this campaign will be to encourage individuals to switch to reusable cup and to persuade coffee shops to; one, accept the reusable cups and two offer a reward to those customers, more details can be found at:
Conscious Cup Campaign
Also, our February’s Family STEM challenge will be based on a Fairtrade Challenge such as creating a trashion piece/artwork using Fairtrade packaging.
If you have anything you would like to bring/present for our Fairtrade Focus, please email Elaine at elaine@cetns.ie
First STEM Family Project
Thank you to all the families who participated in our first STEM Family Project. The imaginative creations were the source of great excitement in classrooms throughout the school. Photos of projects will be uploaded shortly to our new school website.
Brothers Josh (3rd), James (2nd), Jake (Senior Infants) and Jude Byrne (aged 3) created a sugar cube castle. Let’s hear about the process!
“Our school STEM project was to make something with sweets. Sugar is sweet and not good for your teeth so we decided to do a build with sugar cubes. We built a castle. We got a board and painted it white. We painted it together. We started our build and each did a tower. Then we did the walls, the walls took a long time! Then we did the high tower. Our little brother a.k.a. Demolition Man trashed the high tower so we had to rebuild. Mom said whatever knocks you down makes you stronger and better. Our new tower is bigger and better! We did the drawbridge. Added some finishing touches with soldiers, an Irish flag and lights. We completed our castle!”
Written by James Byrne
February’s STEM Family Project
February’s STEM Family Project is to create a Fairtrade themed object using recyclable materials. This challenge will link in with our whole school focus on Fairtrade this month.
Check out www.engineersweek.ie for local events and activities during Engineers Week 24th February to 2nd March.
Garden Birds
Conor’s 2nd Class have been learning about common garden birds found in Ireland. The class designed this lovely display and organised for three new bird boxes to be put up outside their classroom.
Parent Teacher Association
This weekend's Sunday Family Walk on Killiney Hill was very beautiful, if a little chilly! Adults and children really enjoyed the views, the snow and the sunshine! Next month's walk will be to the Hell Fire Club on Sunday, 4th March @ 1pm.
The PTA Family Céilí will take place in the school hall on Saturday, 10th March 5-7pm. This is fun way to kick off the Seachtain na Gaelige celebrations. Come along and give irish dancing a whirl. Irish dancing teacher, Natalie Mowldes, will be on hand to teach us the steps. There is a charge of €5 per family to cover costs.
This month's PTA coffee morning will be held on Friday, 23rd February in the 12th Lock.
The date for this year's Summer Fair will be Sunday, 10th June.