NEWSLETTER APRIL 2017
Dear Parents
Another action-packed term has flown by. Some of the highlights have been:
A very successful Parent Evening on the ‘Three R’s in Montessori and The Good Shepherd’ which was interactive, informative and a good opportunity to meet new and future parents and to reacquaint with some Montessori principles!
A big thank you is due to Sarah and the Playground Committee for all their hard work. The pirate ship is being thoroughly enjoyed and there is another great surprise to come. Further grass consultation has taken place and our gardener Andrew will be working closely with our consultant to help us create the best grassy are possible. Our Scots Pine trees though invaluable as part of the Forest Area are thirsty trees and their roots are far flung. This creates an added challenge. Rigorous attention and a big dose of TLC will hopefully have the pitch in a much improved condition for the new school year.
In the academic field the classes are bursting at the seams with sprouts and bulbs. The children are learning in detail about the Fundamental Needs of plants as well as many other things.
The AIJS (Association of Independent Junior Schools) competition awarded Specially Commended awards to Apolline and Fionn for their wonderful poetry (see below) – congratulations to both. The 6-9 Class entered a fabulous story to Imaginosity (see below) – it truly deserves to be in print. Our lawyers will negotiate with the highest bidder once word gets out. No doubt the 6-9 Class will organise a major outing with the proceeds.
We received an email from An Taisce informing us we had been awarded a Green Flag! We are waiting to hear about the flag awarding ceremony in May. We plan to have a celebration in school to honour this great achievement. Thank you Ann for all your assistance in this venture.
First Holy Communion time is in the air and the Senior Class have started their practice sessions. Thank you for ensuring that Sunday, 7th May 11am is kept free for the Senior Classes to attend. This is particularly important for last year’s communicants, in the spirit of giving back to the community that they are part of.
After visiting the DSPCA The Senior Classes held a Bake sale in aid of sponsoring some animals there and raised over €400. On the same day a raffle was held to raise
funds for a former pupil, Leah’s, Transition Year trip to India – please see her impressions attached.
As far as staff continued education is concerned we must thank the Board of The Children’s House for their ongoing support. We have benefitted from team building sessions and staff have continued to gain qualifications:
Our lunchtime supervisor with many distinctions will go into her 2nd year of Early Childhood training.
One of our 3-6 Directresses has received her Diploma in Special and Inclusive Education.
Four staff have now received training from the Dyslexia association of Ireland.
Our 6-9 Directress went to observe a London 6-9 Class and also did a workshop on Dyslexia at the AMI Training Institute in London
I was very lucky to observe and examine 30 future Montessori teachers in Chennai, India which is always like a full on refresher.
Thanks to AATI headed by our Deputy Principal for bringing Susan Stephenson to Ireland. She will be speaking in UCD on Thursday, 6th April ‘Education for the Future’ and she will be hosting a workshop at The Children’s House on Monday, 10th
THE JOY OF LEARNING is what our school is all about for the big people and the small!
Thank you all for your hard work.
Enjoy your Easter – Happy Holidays!
Micaela Kuh
THE RIVER BY FIONN
The river goes out to sea
It gurgles along happily
The waterfall goes splash!
And we make a dash
To go swimming and feel free.
PUDDLES BY APOLLINE
Rain drops fall delicately from the sky
They fall in puddles and make more bubbles
No matter where it goes, no matter where it flows
Puddles puddles puddles puddles
Where ever I go
Puddles puddles puddles puddles
I’ll always love them so.
