Stay Safe Lesson Catch-up
In January 2020 teachers began teaching the Stay Safe Programme at all class levels. The school closures in March meant that teachers were unable to introduce all topics of the programme to children. The Department of Education has advised all schools to complete the teaching of the programme during this school year. In St. Gabriel’s N.S. teachers from senior infants to sixth class will teach the remainder of the programme to pupils between now and Christmas.
This week in St. Gabriel’s N.S. we are all learning about fire safety.
We are looking at how we can be extra careful in our homes and school to prevent a fire from beginning. We are learning what to do if ever there was a fire in our school or at home. We will practise our fire drill in school and we hope you will chat about what to do in the case of a fire at home.
Some things to remember are:
We’re also learning what to do if our clothes caught fire.
We’re learning to stop, drop and roll.
Many classes will learn about how Dublin Fire Brigade are always there to help us. We will look at the work they do, the uniforms they wear and the equipment they need to do their jobs.
Halloween is a time when we need to be extra careful about fire as we may come across candles, costumes, fireworks and bonfires. We hope that learning about fire safety will ensure that we all keep extra safe this Halloween and in the future.
Good Friends Week
7th –11th September 2020
After an extra-long, unforeseen school closure, children, parents, teachers and staff are so delighted to be back in school this September. Although many aspects of school life are different, the first few days of school in St. Gabriel’s have gone very smoothly due to the cooperation of the whole school community. Thank you all. Every September we love to focus on a theme for Good Friends Week. This year our theme is ‘Be Respectful’.
Parents deserve huge respect for the way you have made adjustments to how we approach school life. You have shown respect for the new routines that we are all getting used to, especially at morning drop-offs and home-time collections. This all contributes to the safe, secure and happy return to school.
This year, more than ever, to be a good friend to those around us, being respectful is of great importance; respectful of space, respectful of belongings, respectful of ideas and opinions. This week, classes will explore, learn about and practise lots of ways in which we can be respectful. Pupils will be given the opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions around the topic of respect in order to promote the wellbeing of all in our school.
Pupils have impressed us so much already by displaying wonderful respect for the new school rules and routines. Although it may be a challenge to stay within their own pods and bubbles, the pupils of St. Gabriel’s are respecting the notion of staying together by keeping apart. Well done boys and girls! You are amazing!
We will continue to encourage this wonderful display of respect during Good Friends Week and throughout our school year ahead.
Hello girls and boys in Junior Infants,
Well done for reaching the end of the school year. I am so proud of you all. You have all been so busy and active during the last few months. I have been amazed to hear about and see all the fantastic things you have been getting up to at home. You have all been keeping safe, remembering to wash your hands and have been behaving so well for your families. I really loved being your teacher. We worked hard and had lots of fun in Junior Infants. I have missed seeing you all in school but I’m already looking forward to seeing you in St. Gabriel’s in September. There are lots of fun times ahead for us when we return to school. Thanks so much to your parents for all your cooperation since September.
I hope you all have a wonderful summer break.
See you all in September,
From Ms. Leonard. x
P.S. Here’s a recording of the song that Junior Infants were due to perform at assembly for you all before the schools closed in March. Perhaps your child can perform for you at home to finish up the school year! Click here for The Mountain Song.
Hello Boys and girls in Junior Infants,
You have all been working so hard since our school closed its doors so I want you to take the time over the next week or so to do some of your favourite activities. Think about all the activities that I have suggested over the last few weeks. Which activities did you enjoy doing the most – phonics, maths, art, writing, story online, reading? I loved seeing so many of you take part in Flower Power Week! Perhaps you and your family came up with other exciting and fun things to do. Below you’ll find a few reminders of some activities we’ve done along with some links to click on to practise what you’ve learned so far. There are exciting things in store over the next few weeks so keep checking on the website and on Seesaw to hear more. Continue reading
To Parents/Guardians,
I hope you are all well and have been able to enjoy and make the most of this time at home with your families. After our Taoiseach’s announcement last Friday it will be important to keep the link between home and school open and active. I understand many of you will choose not to broadcast return dates in order to maintain motivation during the coming weeks.
It will become more important to engage with our school website and Seesaw to help prepare your child for the new school year. Many of you have downloaded Seesaw as an app to your phones which appears to make uploading photos and videos very straightforward and quick. I encourage you all to post as much as you can so I, along with the teachers who have worked with our class this year, can comment, encourage and provide guidance on their learning.
I’m delighted to see lots of you posting some of the activities I have suggested here on the school website. I am also thrilled to see pictures of creative activities you have come up with yourselves, from gardening, sewing, playing, baking, juicing, singing, art and craft activities to collage and story making! These are all fantastic learning experiences for your child. It is clear that so much valuable play and learning is happening at home. So please share these activities to help keep the home-school link open.
Please note that we understand that everyone’s situation at home is different and that it may be more difficult for some people to engage than others. We do not want to overwhelm anybody, so do what is feasible for you and your family.
Well done to those of you who have already shared items on Seesaw. If anyone is having difficulty logging in, please don’t hesitate to contact Mr. Donnelly. Please ensure you have sent on your consent to use Seesaw to Mr. Donnelly. His phone number and e-mail address are on the home page under ‘About’.
Regards,
S. Leonard
Hello girls and boys in Junior Infants,
I hope you all have had a lovely week and you enjoyed bank holiday Monday. I’ve been delighted to see all the activities that you’ve been doing at home and while you’ve been out for some exercise. It’s clear that you have been learning your sounds, practising your writing and drawing, improving your counting and so much more! Keep taking some photos as I, along with Ms. Dunne, Ms. Fitzpatrick, Ms.Hanlon and Ms. Condron love to see all these wonderful things! Below you will find some new activites to keep you busy next week. Happy Birthday to Tadhg and Will who celebrated their birthdays this week.
One challenge I would like you all to try this week is to record your voice saying/ singing one of the nursery rhymes I have suggested over the last few weeks. Post this to Seesaw. Remember, don’t rush and take your time. Best of luck!
Ms. Leonard
Phonics Practise
Reminder of Link to phonics resources on CJ Fallon website
Click on pictures to link to songs
Reading Choice Board
Online stories – this week’s suggestion
https://www.storylineonline.net/books/no-more-noisy-nights/
Maths Choice Board
Number Rhyme
Click for link to video
Nursery Rhyme Suggestion
Some other activities to try
I have enjoyed looking at and listening to lots of birds outside my home. Many of you also told me you have seen lots of birds. This week I would like you to do some birdwatching and bird listening. Below are four birds that you may be able to spot. The busy people at Dublin Zoo created some short videos for children to learn about wildlife. Click on the robin to link you to Dublin Zoo’s website and find out more about these wild birds. You will find out the name of each bird, what the male and female look like and the sound of their birdsong.
Perhaps you could make a bird feeder or a water bath like in the videos. I hope you have fun watching and listening out for these beautiful birds.
Don’t forget –
Hello again boys and girls in Junior Infants. I hope you had a lovely Easter break with your families. The weather was wonderful for having fun outdoors. I hope you all got lots of fresh air by playing out in your gardens or by getting out and about for some exercise on your scooters or bikes!
Usually, when we go back to school after the Easter holidays I love to hear all the stories children tell me about the nice things they have done during the break. However, this has been a very unusual Easter break and unfortunately I won’t get to hear these stories. So what I would like you to do for me this week is to draw some pictures of what you got up to over the last two weeks.
Don’t forget ‘thinking time’ is very important to help you to remember, to figure out things and to decide what you will draw. There’s no need to rush your thinking. You have lots of time! Enjoy your thinking time! Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
Hopefully sometime soon I’ll get to see the pictures you’ve drawn and decorated. I know Ashley will also be looking forward to seeing them too. She misses you all too!
If you’re looking for some extra ideas, you should have a look at the suggestions our other teachers researched for you all. I have enjoyed looking through them myself and have noted a few that Junior Infants would especially enjoy.
If you have a look at RTE Home School Hub today on Monday 20th, Múinteoir Ray plans to teach about éadaí (clothes). It might help you remember some of what we have learned about éadaí in school so far.
Enjoy trying lots of these suggestions out during the week. Hopefully I will get to chat to some of you on the phone again also.
Keep washing your hands and stay safe,
Ms. Leonard.