Month: October 2018

Many thanks to Cathy Fitzgerald and Louise Morrissey for co-ordinating bag-packing in Dunnes, last Saturday. The P.Association were well supported by parents, children and staff. Míle buíochas daoibh go léir. Special thanks to Dunnes Stores for the opportunity. Thanks also to Páidí Sugrue and Kaila, Tara Cullinan, Sinéad Ni Chorcra and Seán, Carol Ann Ross, Marie McMahon, Margaret Lynch O’Reilly, Sinead Dowling, Fiona Brosnan, Catriona Sargent, Eoin O’Callaghan and Darragh, Maura Ni Crossan, Ian Sugrue, Ann O’Donoghue and Sophie, Deirdre O’Regan, Clodagh Murphy, Yvonne Mulligan, Ciara Hobbert, Maureen O’ Donoghue, Sarah Fitzgibbon, Lisa Culhane, Paula Foley, Aisling Foley, Marie Morris, Ann Rogers, Angela O’Brien, Anthony Lynch and Emma, Jennifer Bailey, Gillian Bradley, Claire Murphy, Cliona Caplis and Noreen Noonan.

POEM: Oh, the Witch of Caherleaheen, on her broomstick she was seen/ Flying , swooping, hovering, stooping, all at Hallowe’en./ Changing children in to …..LIZARDS, turning teachers into …..BATS! / Hairy, scary, she ain’t no fairy./Keep away from her…..black……cat! (Take a look at how our coven of witches made their broomsticks).

We had lots of scary characters arrive into school on the day of our Mid-term Break. And it was all in a good cause! The CSC phoned Enable Ireland at 2pm today to give them the good news. We RAISED €230.00. All the children should be so proud! We had great fun today, too: Science experiments in Fourth. Fifth Class made real willow broomsticks They also swept leaves and helped in the garden.
Infants had a Hallowe’en fruit party. Caherleaheen was not not unlike HOGWORTH! The CSC presented Sean Scally of Enable Ireand with a cheque. He told them how the money would be used to enable children with disabilities fulfil their potential.

Well done to CSC ! They are busy and active! They have already approved and tweaked sketches of a mural which has been commissioned by our BoM. How exciting! They are currently promoting a fundraiser for Enable Ireland (Kerry Branch). Each child is asked to donate €1 on Thursday, when dressing up in Hallowe’en costumes. Our council members are: David Curtin (Co-Chairperson), Ava Mc Gough (Co-Chairperson). Jane Lynch (Secretary), Shauna Murphy (Recording Secretary), Abbie Redmond (Co-Treasurer), Matthew Rogers ( Co-Treasurer), Sean Corkery ( Public Relations Officer), Joe Moriarty (Health and Safety Officer), Aoife Ross (Artistic Advisor), Matthew O Connor (Sub-Committee Liaison Officer). Our SCC has 10 members, from Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Class. We are really delighted to have them take on this important role, representing all our pupils and helping our school to be (even) better!

Maths Week proved yet again to be a huge success. The children from senior classes created games that made maths interactive and fun for Junior and Senior infant classes. Most of these games could easily sell well in the open market: creative, challenging and attractive. Parents helped bring their ideas to fruition. Thank you! Thanks too to all the teachers who set up challenges that targeted strands such as number operations, shape, data and measurement.Some of the puzzles needed creativity and strategies that were’outside of the box’. The fairs lasted three days. Special thanks to our deputy principal, Ms Claire for co-ordinating the events and outings. She will invest fair funds in Maths equipment/resources.

Here are the results of the Literacy Surveys, which children completed recently. Third and Fourth Class completed Survey A. Fifth and Sixth Class completed Survey B. Please click Read More to find links

SURVEY A

SURVEY B

It was lovely to see four of our regular runners from Caherleaheen NS enjoying their Sunday run at Tralee Park Run. The sun was shining and there were so many kids from Tralee and surrounding villages: Ardfert, Blennerville, Firies. Warm-ups start at 9.20am. The 2km run finishes at 9:45, tops. Parents jog along too.VHI joined in last Sunday and gave our runners a big applause with healthy treats etc. We would love to see 40 of our kids running!! We are also very proud of the wonderful sportsmanship and skill which our young footballing teams displayed in recent weeks…winning every game, with style! Last week, in particular was a stunning display! Our first game, against Moyderwell was really really tight, but we held strong. Our second game, was very tough for Moyderwell because our players just kept finding the back of the net. Unfortunately, we lost one of two games today to Listowel and our winning streak has been well dented. Mr Damien and Mr Paul are delighted with all the boys and girls in Sixth, Fifth and Fourth for their team-work, support and good behaviour, on and off the pitch. No doubt, many players aspire to playing on the Kerry Minor team, so the cheer in the yard last Wednesday was pretty deafening when the Markham Cup arrived!

Second Class will begin their first of a series of ‘Do this in Memory’ masses, this coming Sunday at 10am in MARY IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH in Rathass. St John’s office apologises for any confusion-an administrative blip! They will issue hardcopies of new dates and times to each child soon. In the mean-time you will find days and dates of all these special masses by clicking ‘Parents’ in the menu above. You will also find these dates on the EVENTS calendar.

Well, blackberry season is well and truly over (folklore reminds us that the púca spits on blackberries in October) and even the sloes have ripened prematurely. Storm Callum shook the ash trees vigorously, covering all our yard and blocking our drains. Sixth Class spent 20mins sweeping and clearing the yard with me. I really appreciate that! They loved it. Huge thanks to Ms Brid, Gemma and Gillian for their work/enthusiasm in our garden. Enjoy these photos….

Well here she is: the most talented and generous cook! Ms Gemma here, is ‘throwing together’ a kale/tossed leaf salad with a punchy, pungent, delicious dressing. Her beetroot (from our organic garden)and carrot salad was so delicious. She even roasted our sunflower seeds with her own pumpkin seeds, in a dried spice mix, that has yet to be patented! She dressed one of these salads with Irish mozzarella…. and other inspiring and creative (secret) ingredients…. what a treat for all of her colleagues, and all done so ‘effortlessly’, in 10mins, (typical!). Míle buíochas duit, Gem.

We teachers are feeling a little uneasy…..creaky hinges in school and spells in the yard! But, the children love the anticipation. Hallowe’en approaches and winter beckons…..

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There is no doubt that teaching and learning is what we are all about. Take a look at our ‘work in progress’.

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Classes met in the hall to hear 22 nominees present themselves to the school public. We were genuinely impressed by the quality of their speeches, their ideals and their opinions on how a student council can improve the culture and experiences for all our school community. 80+ children voted and all agreed that all the nominees were excellent.There are now 10 children elected to the council! They will have an input into many of the decisions that are made during the year. They will endeavour to represent the voices of all our pupils in Caherleaheen. It’s very exciting……and very new! They spoke about their concerns such as problematic holes in the Astro turf, parking carefully, schoolbags, IT equipment, WiFi, a Caherleaheen App.,whiteboard maintenance, exercise at school and for ‘homework’, playground equipment, after school activities, homework clubs, well-being, shared reading between Senior and Junior children, chillax reading areas,music, movement and many other amazing and inspirational proposals.WOW!!! (We teachers were humbled and delighted…what great kids/speakers!) Congratulations to all of you: nominees, electorate and our first, ever CSC members👍.

Fifth Class are investigating what makes a business succeed in this world. Is it a ‘bright idea’? Or is hard work, passion and skill involved? Could it be interpersonal skills, character and an interest in people? Could it be about seeing a need/a market/a problem and solving, meeting that need? Pádraig and Tadhg McGillicuddy, of Ballygarry House Hotel and Spa, are leaders in the Hospitality and Tourism industry. Both managers explained how the hotel has grown from generation to generation. Fifth class were shown an excellent, informative Powerpoint presentation on how investments of time, passion and hard work, over the years, have built the hotel to be what it is today. The children, in groups, were shown different sectors of the hotel industry: Kitchen and Culinary, Health and Fitness suite, the Spa, the receptions and the wonderful accommodation on offer in this beautiful hotel. All the staff work in tight teams and we hope this lesson, in particular, will play a part in promoting collaboration, as Fifth and Sixth classes get to grips with the learning objectives in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme (J.E.P.). Ms Gillian witnessed how Pádraig and Tadhg gave so much of their time, so generously to our Fifth Class. The welcome culminated in lunch for all the kids and a delicious dessert, including birthday cake for ????? Huge thanks to all the staff in Ballygarry. It was a great, educational (and tasty) tour! And thanks too to Jennifer, for these photos and helping on the tour.

Fourth Class proudly presented €540 to Nuala Finnegan and Maura Sullivan of Kerry Hospice. They asked us to thank all of the children, parents and friends who supported this special cause. Special thanks must go to the families in Fourth Class who delighted everyone with their delicious cakes and buns. Ms Mary thanked Ms Brid for co-ordinating the Coffee Event.