🌈 Keeping Our Children Safe, Happy and Included at St. Gabriel’s N.S. ❤️

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are delighted to share our child-friendly Bí Cineálta (Anti-Bullying) Policy and Child Safeguarding Statement posters.

These colourful, illustrated posters explain our school policies in simple, age-appropriate language, helping children understand their right to feel safe, respected and included. They also encourage children to recognise unkind behaviour, speak up about worries and know who they can turn to for help.

The posters are displayed in multiple locations throughout the school, ensuring that these important messages are visible, accessible and regularly reinforced.

At St. Gabriel’s, we are committed to creating a safe, caring and inclusive school environment where every child’s voice matters.

🌟 Kind words. Kind actions. A place for everyone.

Maths – Square Numbers, Square Roots & Area
In Maths, we have been exploring square numbers and square roots and developing an understanding of why they are called “square” numbers. We have connected this learning to area, looking at how the number of squares in a grid can be used to calculate the area of a shape. The children have been investigating the relationship between the length of the sides of a square, its area and its square root.

Art – Self-Portraits
In Art, we have been learning about self-portraits and how artists can represent themselves through drawing. The children have been developing their observation skills, paying close attention to facial proportions, features, shape and detail. They have also been experimenting with shading, tone and line to add depth and character to their portraits.

Science – The Scientific Method & The Marshmallow Challenge
In Science, we have been introduced to the scientific method and how scientists use a structured process to investigate questions and solve problems. We put this into practice through the Marshmallow Challenge, where teams had to design and build a tower using a limited set of materials. The children developed hypotheses, planned and tested ideas, observed results and evaluated their designs. The activity also encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, communication and learning from unsuccessful attempts.

History – The Vikings in Ireland
In History, we have been learning about the Vikings and their influence on Ireland. We have explored who the Vikings were, where they came from and why they travelled to Ireland. We have also looked at Viking settlements, including Dublin, as well as their trading activities, battles and interactions with the Irish people. The children have been considering the lasting impact the Vikings had on Irish towns, culture, language and place names.

Gaeilge – Mé Féin & An Aimsir Chaite
In Irish, we have been developing our ability to talk and write about “Mé Féin” (Myself). The children have been learning vocabulary and sentences relating to themselves, including their family, interests, hobbies, personality and daily activities. We have also begun working with An Aimsir Chaite (the past tense), learning how Irish verbs change when talking about things that have already happened. We have been focusing particularly on the use of séimhiú and d’ with past-tense verbs.

We were kindly gifted this beautiful photograph of what is believed to be the first students enrolled in St Gabriel’s NS way back 131 years ago in 1895.

A huge welcome back to all our pupils, tomorrow, as we begin a new school year, Tuesday 1st September!

Here are the details of classes, teachers and support staff:

Classes and Class Teachers:

Junior Infants: Ms Buggy

Senior Infants: Ms Fitzpatrick

1st Class: Ms Condron/ Ms Sweetman

2nd Class: Mr Delaney

3rd Class: Mr Cullen

4th Class A: Ms Curran

4th Class B: Mr O’Sullivan

5th Class: Ms Teeling

6th Class: Mr Flanagan

Autism Class: Ms Fahey/ Ms Tierney

Moderate Class: Ms Leonard

Support Teachers:

Ms Whyte

Mr Smyth

Ms McLoone

Ms O’Dowd