Calling All Chess Players

Congratulations to Lucy who is the winner of our Active Slogan for the school year 2014-2015.

Walk, Run, Jump and Skip, come on Piercestown Let’s Get Fit!!!!!!!

For her efforts Lucy won a sparkly hoola hoopa and a lovely skipping rope!

Lucy’s slogan could be heard all over Piercestown N.S. on Thursday when all 234 children took part in Active Assembly. There were many slogans that were of a very high standard. Check out the Active School noticeboard for a selection that came highly commended!!!!

Watch this space as the poster competition takes off this week to incorporate the Active School Slogan all around the school.

Internet Safety day takes place on Tuesday 10th of February.

While the technology of late has enhanced both learning and social experiences it can also be a dangerous tool. As parents, teachers and children we MUST take time to remind ourselves how to use this advanced technology in a safe way!

As part of Internet Safety day, leaflets on internet safety will be sent home to all families.

Carmel Walsh will be hosting a talk/activity session with the boys and girls of 5th and 6th class. Many thanks to the Parents’ Association for funding this essential session on internet safety and cyber bullying.

For more information please go to http://www.saferinternetday.ie/

Hot on the heels of powering kindness week, Friendship Week kicks off on Monday 9th Feb-13th Feb. This is a lovely opportunity to remind us about the importance of friends.

Something as simple as giving a compliment, sharing, chatting to somebody you don’t usually talk to, taking time out to reflect on the importance of friends are very worthwhile activities to engage in over the course of the week.

For us as adults, maybe meeting a friend for a coffee or making a simple phonecall to a friend that we haven’t seen in a while might give us an opportunity to participate in Friendship week too.

We look forward to hearing some of the lessons and conversations that will take place about Friendship week over the coming days!

The staff and children of Piercestown N.S. would like to wish all grandparents a ‘Happy Grandparents’ day for 2015.

Many thanks to the grandparents/parents/relatives from the children in 4th and 6th class who took time out of their lives today to join us in the school to experience some of the present and give us an insight into some of the past.

Well done to 6th class who experienced the first ever ‘Bakathon’ at Piercestown N.S. with 33 apple tarts being made with Ms. Walsh. The grandparents got to do the taste test today and gave the seal of approval.

It was a wonderful occasion for all concerned.

Catholic schools week takes place from January 25th – February 1st 2015.

Catholic Schools Week has been celebrated in Ireland for the last five years. This annual event calls on Catholic schools to give expression in a special way to a particular aspect of Catholic education. This theme of Catholic Schools Week 2015 is ‘Catholic Schools: Called to Serve’. A letter for how you the parents and families can be involved will be sent home on Monday 26th January.

Children will have an opportunity each day to participate in Catholic schools week during their religion time. Wednesday is Grandparents day. This is a lovely opportunity to remind our children the important role grandparents play in their lives.

For further information check out the Catholic Schools Week booklet online at

http://www.catholicschools.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/CSW2015_Primary_Resource-Book.pdf 

Piercestown will be re-opening its doors as a Rainbows venue in the coming weeks.

What is Rainbows? Rainbows is a national children’s voluntary service with an average of 6,000 children and young people coming into the service every year throughout Ireland.Rainbows supports children and young people in groups. There are groups for children and young people who have been affected by the death of a close family member and there are groups for children and young people whose family has changed because their parents have separated or divorced.. It is a 12 week programme run throughout the school year. Children like adults do experience grief and loss – it is often misunderstood and not recognised. Grief and loss not supported at a young age can become deep and unresolved in a young mind and heart and can affect future pathways to emotional and positive health and well-being.

If you are interested in your child attending Rainbows, further information around dates and days will be available in the coming weeks. If you have any immediate queries contact Siobhán on 053-9158854. Piercestown N.S is an open venue which is happy to accept both children from Piercestown N.S. and other schools.

For further information on Rainbows go to http://www.rainbowsireland.ie/