Saint Brigid's Primary School Website

Early Maths

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We have introduced Maths support in the Junior Classes using the Ready Steady Maths , Numicon and Mata sa Ranga Programs whilst the support in the Senior Classes is mainly in problem solving.

The videos on this page were taken in Senior Infants and show the children playing Ready Steady Go Maths Games. These games have been devised for children to play as part of their number activities to help them develop and consolidate important ideas in number in a fun way. This program is being taught in Senior Infants with the help of the Learning Support Team. It is part of our Numeracy School Improvement Plan.

Click on the images to play the video clips.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Happy Faces Game” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23f4c119″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Animal Matching Game” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23f4c119″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1445286452789{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”Making 5 Game ” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23f4c119″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Sweetie Jars” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23f4c119″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Apple Memory Game” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23f4c119″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Online Payments

We want to thank all the parents who used our online payment system this September. There were a few hiccups initially but for the most part it went very smoothly and cut down on the time teachers had to spend counting and recording payments. We hope to use this system again for school tours later in the year.

There are a few payments still outstanding so if you have lost your link just click on the payments logo here and you will be directed to your payment page.

Reminders

For safety reasons when collecting children early please do so through the office .

Dogs are not allowed in the school grounds. Some children are afraid of dogs but also there has been dog excrement in the yards a few times already this year .

Saint Brigid Sculpture 1970

[trx_icon icon=”icon-plus” align=”left”]Our Original Sculpture:

In 1970 , to mark the opening of the “new school” , a beautiful stone sculpture of Saint Brigid was created by Imogen Stuart and installed on the gable wall of the school. It features Saint Brigid standing in the midst of animals and people . She has a basket of bread which she is giving to the poor as she stands in front of her convent. We have used a line drawing of this sculpture as our logo for the last number of years.

[trx_image url=”http://saintbrigids.ie/wp/pwa/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/10/IMOGENSTUARTmed.jpg” title=”Saint Brigid’s Sculpture” shape=”square” width=”588″ height=”640″]

[trx_icon icon=”icon-star” color=”#dd55aa” align=”left”]About Imogen

[trx_image url=”http://saintbrigids.ie/wp/pwa/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/10/url-1.jpg” shape=”square” width=”174″ height=”168″]
Imogen Stuart was born in Berlin in 1927 and grew up in Hitler’s Germany – her parents never revealed that her grandmother was Jewish in order to protect the children and their grandmother. Although she lived through the War, she describes her childhood as being idyllic, thanks to her parents.

After the war, she met a young Irish man called Ian Stuart who had come to Germany to study sculpture. For Imogen, it was love at first sight. They married and came to live in Ireland. They lived in Laragh, County Wicklow with no electricity or running water.

Ian Stuart was from a well-known Irish family. Maud Gonne was his grandmother, Iseult Gonne was his mother and Francis Stuart was his father.

Imogen was a Lutheran but later in her life she concerted to Catholicism. Imogen was working closely with the Catholic church when she was commissioned to create our piece. She also created many other sculptures of Saints. and at a later stage she made the altar in the our church.

Head Lice

Every September we get the usual outbreaks of head lice in our school. If there is evidence of nits or lice in your child’s class we will send a health warning to you. Please do not ignore it and assume your child is immune. The only way to eradicate lice is if everyone checks and treats accordingly. If a child is infected and is not treated the whole class will be reinfected again.

Sight and Hearing Tests

Children in Junior and Senior Infants will bring home forms from the HSE this week regarding Sight and Hearing screening tests. Please sign and return even if you do not want your child screened. We do not have a dat for the examination yet.

After School

Chess will begin soon on Tuesdays. Forms are available in the office for those interested .

Top Ten Writing Tips for Parents/Guardians

Infants to 1st

Model writing yourself – shopping lists / letters / cards etc.
Provide a special place for your child to write / scribble provide a variety of materials- crayons markers /pencils (box)
Display your child’s name as often as possible i.e. Sean’s Room.
Teach your child the letters in his own name.
Provide alphabet books friezes.
Write messages / reminders to your child.
Encourage child to write his / her own messages. Computer.
Praise your child’s efforts.
Ask child to read their own messages.
Respond to the messages and not to grammar and spelling

2nd to 4th

Praise your child’s efforts – respond to the message and not spelling / handwriting grammar.
Look for opportunities for purposeful writing activities at home – writing greeting cards, notes, telephone messages.
Encourage your child to use a word processor / computer.
Provide a quiet writing /study area for your child well equipped with pencils/ paper
Encourage your child to keep a diary.
Support your child’s spelling attempts.
Encourage him to have a go at spelling difficult words.
Use scrapbooks to support the child’s hobby / special interests. Presents that support writing.
Make sure your child has a dictionary to help with writing.
Help child fill in personal details on forms etc.

5th and 6th

Encourage your child to keep a diary. Respect privacy.
Encourage your child to write for real purposes everyday – shopping lists / phone messages etc.
Praise the effort and respond to the message and not the handwriting, grammar etc.
Make sure that your child has access to a dictionary, thesaurus to help with writing.
Allow your child work on a word processor.
Try crossword puzzles and ‘Find the word puzzles’.
Provide a range of attractive writing materials – coloured pens, fancy paper.
Encourage your child to write greeting cards / thank you notes etc.
Encourage your child to take part in writing competitions / community projects.
Show your child that you value writing by writing yourself.

Epayments

This week we began accepting E-payments for classroom charges like homework journals and books, art and craft /photocopying, and accident insurance. There were a few hiccups to begin with….. the family art and craft payment was initially showing up as E45 instead of E70 but we have sent another request for the balance to the parents who paid it before we made a correction. We also had one wrong amount for 5th/6th payment. We rectified it this morning and refunded anyone who had made an overpayment. We want to apologise if you experienced either error.

For the vast majority who paid online it went very smoothly and it will make a HUGE in the office, where in the past we spent most of September counting money. It will also free up time in the classroom as the teachers won’t have to record any payments. Thanks to all the parents who have already used the system and we would ask others to please try it.

https://www.aladdin.ie/p/24807292

For parents who find themselves unable to pay for whatever reason, please talk to Mr. Courtney in the strictest confidence.

Junior Infants Lining Up

The Junior Infants have settled into school so well that the teachers feel they are ready for the next big step…..walking into their classroom in their lines. They have already practiced lining up, so from Monday 7th of September, we ask parents to allow the children to stand with their class in the Junior Infant Yard.

When the bell rings the teachers will come to collect the class and the children will walk in their line to their classroom. Parents are requested not to congregate near the doorway or enter the building as the teachers need a clear view of all the children. Parents should wait in the yard until the children have gone in.

Thank you for your continued support,