Month: March 2021

Bridgie’s Travels…. Winners

Do you remember Bridgie’s  travels during lockdown ? Bridgie was delighted with the response from all the boys and girls who sent her photos, drawings, emails and quiz answers.  Her inbox was full everyday ! Yesterday Mr. Mac Cann announced the winners of the raffle .

Congratulations to the winners pictured below and thanks to everyone who took part. 

Bebras Challenge winner in 4th class @TechWeekIRL

Mr. MacCann’s 4th class took part in the Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge earlier this year.
Today it we received the exciting news that Mia Horgan was a winner in the challenge and she will now go forward to take part in the national final as part of TechWeek 2021.

Well done Mia!  And well done to all the class who took part.

https://bebras.techweek.ie/

 

 

Collection times for Easter Holidays

We close on Friday March 26th for our Easter Holidays. Dispersal times will be staggered as usual.

ODDS : Class finishes at 11:50 for all odd classes

EVENS: Class finishes at 12:10 for all even classes

As all the Infant classes in each divide are  leaving at the same time as the older classes, we expect the carpark and school gates to be busier than usual.

If you are collecting older pupils (3rd up)  please arrange a meeting place away from the gates.

If collecting younger children please do not delay once your child is with you.

We kindly ask that as many people as possible walk/cycle/scoot to school, and remind people not to congregate / forms groups on the school grounds or vicinity.

Please ensure you are wearing a mask to protect yourself and others.

Remember school is CLOSED from 27/3/2021 – 10/4/2021 inclusive.

We reopen on 12/4/2021 at 8:40 and 9 a.m 

Happy Easter

Touch Typing

            Touch-type Read and Spell (TTRS)

Individuals who struggle with a learning difficulty can benefit from touch typing, particularly in the case of Dysgraphia which makes writing by hand painful. Students with Dyspraxia often have trouble with fine motor skills that can make holding a pen difficult and forming letters impossible. In both cases it is often recommended that writing be done on a computer using a touch-typing approach.

People with Dyslexia may also find touch typing beneficial. Dyslexia impacts on reading, spelling, and writing abilities and makes it difficult for individuals to split words into their component sounds. Taking a typing course like TTRS entails repeated exposure to language and involves muscle memory in learning the spelling of high frequency words. The TTRS program further exercises phonics skills through visual and audio prompts.

With schools closing for indefinite periods of time, there is an even greater need for students and teachers to communicate through electronic means. This has further underscored the benefits of learning to type. Students need typing skills to communicate with teachers about schoolwork, complete online work, and participate in virtual learning activities.

As we approach the final term of school this year, a number of places will be available on the course due to the success of so many students who managed to complete the course during the last lockdown. While it is still not safe to hold classes after school, I continue to deliver this valuable course via Zoom using Breakout Rooms. Class size limited to three students. If you are interested in learning how TTRS can help your son/daughter build self-esteem, learn how to touch-type while improving their reading and spelling, contact Carol Pitcher on 087 2868910 – castleknockttrs@gmail.com for details of a FREE TRIAL.

 

Letter to Parents/Guardians of Middle and Senior Class Pupils

Letter for Mr. Courtney to Parents of the  Middle and Senior Classes

As we look forward to a full return to school on March 15th, I wish to thank you for the commitment and support you gave to on-line learning since Christmas. It has been a testing time for parents, teachers and pupils but from our vantage point, the engagement, the quality of work and the commitment to learning from home has been outstanding across all age groups. Pupils responded so positively and enthusiastically to all the assignments and clearly built on their learning. Their endeavour and learning is a true testament to their resilience and work ethic.

Our third, fourth, fifth and sixth class pupils return to school on Monday. This is welcome news for parents, school staff and especially for the children but we understand that for some of you, there may be concerns about the risks involved. Whilst no one can absolutely guarantee that a return to school is risk free, the public health advice now states that it is safe for children to return to school. To minimise any risk, we are asking our school community to work together by adhering to the current level 5 restrictions and to our school’s Reopening Plan.

Over the past few weeks, we have reviewed the Department of Education guidelines and our own procedures. Our school Reopening Plan served the pupils, parents and staff very well last term and does not require huge adjustments. Please read the updated edition and the Frequently Asked Questions on the school app. The routines and timetables for drop-off and collection will remain unchanged. Our risk mitigation measures have been reviewed and updated. However, in view of the virulent nature of the new Covid 19 variants, we ask everyone to be particularly vigilant and for your co-operation especially with the following

  • Parents should not send a child to school if she/he is a close contacts of a person with COVID 19, is awaiting a test or is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or has travelled from another country in the previous 14 days.
  • Parents must complete a Return to School Parent Declaration Form on Aladdin from 3pm on  Sunday 14th March for children returning to school on March 15th  and thereafter after any absence from class
  •  All parents are required to wear a mask in the school grounds and in the vicinity of the school
  •  Pupils are asked to keep apart while waiting at the gates in the morning and go straight home after school.
  •  Parents are asked not to congregate at or near school and to keep at least 2m apart while waiting to drop-off or collect pupils.
  •  Children from first class up are asked to bring a wash-bag to school. Details are on the school app.
  •   All communication with the school must take place by phone, online or via the homework journal.
  • We ask all parents to check out our school app where you will find useful information and tips on our school reopening.

As with our younger pupils, your children will settle back to school surprisingly well and they will adjust to the school routines quickly. The children will enjoy meeting their classmates and teachers again and getting back to school work and learning. We wish everyone well for the full return to school and we look forward to working together in promoting safety and learning over the next few weeks.