Mrs. Johanne Larkin is the Junior Infant Teacher for 2024/25. Keep an eye on the Junior Infant blog to see our newest members of the Piercestown family flourish!

JUNE 2025

First School Tour

The sun was shining, the sunscreen was on, the lunches packed and the excitement was mighty! It could only mean one thing…SCHOOL TOUR! Junior Infants headed to Woodfield today to enjoy a fun filled day. We milked the cows, make scarecrows, blew bubbles, stacked the turf and much more. What an amazing day we had on our first school tour in Piercestown National School.

MAY 2025

Firefighter Visit

This morning turned out to be anything but a mundane Friday morning as the local firefighter, aka Mrs. Larkin’s brother, popped by to visit us. The excitement was mighty as Davy arrived in full uniform, ready to share the ins and outs of his heroic work with our curious learners.

The children listened attentively as he talked about fire safety, what it’s like to respond to emergencies, and how firefighters help keep our communities safe. The Q&A session that followed allowed our students to ask thoughtful and important questions, showing just how deeply they were engaged. They were rewarded with pencil cases, pens and more for their amazing attentiveness.

One of the highlights of the day? We challenged our friends to a fun activity! Could they gear up as quickly as a real firefighter? With timers set and cheers all around, the kids gave it their all. It was an exciting way to understand just how fast and efficiently firefighters have to move in real-life situations.

And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better — we headed outside to see the fire van! Not only did we get to peek inside, but we also got to activate the sirens. That moment brought huge smiles to everyone’s faces (and maybe a few covered ears too!).

What a fantastic day of hands-on learning and inspiration. A big thank you to Davy for taking the time to visit us and help spark curiosity, courage and community spirit in our young learners. He might have a few new recruits in the near future!

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APRIL 2025

Autism Awareness Day 2025

What a wonderful day it was to celebrate all of our friends who have autism! In Junior Infants it was a day filled with joy, connection, and learning—reminding us of the power of inclusivity and understanding. We danced, played, and above all, shared knowledge and understanding; creating a space where everyone felt valued and accepted. On this special day, we celebrated differences and highlighted strengths and talents that make each of our friends who have autism so special. We embraced each moment, focused on building relationships and deepening our awareness.

Here’s to more days like this, where friendship, joy, and understanding come together to make the world a brighter, more beautiful place for all.

MARCH 2025

Lá Fhéile Pádraig

Winner, winner, picnic dinner!

What a wonderful afternoon it was for Junior Infants, who won the Book Cover Door Competition, with their creative and imaginative interpretation of a Harry Potter book cover, earning us the first-place prize—a delightful teddy bears’ picnic!

The afternoon began with plenty of energy and excitement as the children danced to our songs we had learned about teddies…lucky coincidence. Of course, no teddy bear picnic would be complete without the teddies themselves, so all the students brought along their cuddly companions, ready for an afternoon of fun and games. Special treats for the children were supplied: teddy bear jelly, teddy bear crisps and delicious cakes to enjoy while relaxing in the sun. The children laid out their blankets and settled in the tranquil outdoor space, making the most of the beautiful day. The children had a blast exploring the outdoor play area, where they had endless fun on the wobbly bridge and spinner.

Overall, it was an afternoon full of joy and friendship, all made possible by their hard work creating their owls and writing postcards to adorn our door. Well done to everyone involved, and a big thank you to Olga Conway for judging the event!

Signs of Spring

Junior Infants had lovely afternoon, on Tuesday 11th, looking for signs of spring. The air was crisp, and the sun was shining brightly, making it feel like nature was coming back to life after a long winter. We found various daffodils, daisies dotted around our pitches, bird nests, buds on trees and heard some busy birds! Sure signs that spring is here and new life is beginning to grow. We look forward to seeing how the trees, flowers and animals change over the coming weeks.

Book Cover Competition 2025

Reading Camp!

In a delightful twist on a regular school day, the infants were treated to a unique reading session in 3rd class, led by the wonderful Ms. Lyttleton and the ever-enthusiastic 3rd class students. The classroom was transformed into a cozy, enchanting space where the atmosphere was set for an unforgettable storytelling adventure.

Picture this: tents set up throughout the room, soft torchlight flickering across the pages of storybooks, casting a warm glow on the eager faces of the young listeners. The 3rd class students took on the role of storytellers, reading aloud to their younger peers with excitement and passion. The use of torchlight made it feel as though the children were embarking on a magical journey into the heart of the story, with every word creating a sense of wonder.

They also crafted personalised bookmarks to remember this wonderful day. Not only was it a great way to extend the magic of the reading session, but it also gave the children a tangible piece of the experience to take home.

Thanks to Ms. Lyttleton’s thoughtful planning and the kindness the 3rd class students, the day was filled with stories, laughter, and creativity. A day they’ll surely remember for years to come.

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Lá na bPancóg

FEBRUARY 2025

Love is in the Air!

We LOVE Valentine’s in Junior Infants!

JANUARY 2025

Open Night 2025

DECEMBER 2024

December has to be one of the best months in Junior Infants; the excitement and joy is clear for all to see each and every day. Check out some of the festive fun we had together this month.

NOVEMBER 2024

Class of the Month – November

Following the completion of a busy first half term, there were now many close contenders for November’s class of the month’! The children are always excited to win the coveted homework pass and pizza party as well as seeing their class photo on the wall! With each class having identified their specific target at assembly, there was emphasis on kindness, teamwork and hard work! And following the announcement at assembly this morning, we are delighted to announce, with less than a full term under their belts, Mrs. Larkin and Junior infants were the lucky winners!

National Reptile Zoo Visit

A friendly email from a junior infant parent ensured that the entire school benefited from the generous actions of Ms. Walsh who kindly arranged for the National Reptile Zoo to visit all the boys and girls in Piercestown National School. The junior end got to meet some scaly friends during Science Week. What a brave bunch they were!

OCTOBER 2024

Freaky Friday Fun!

We thoroughly enjoyed our very first Oíche Shamhna in Piercestown National School. It was a real treat to head to school dressed up! We had great fun at the disco and impressed the senior students with our dance routine that we had learned with SNA Becky. We can’t wait for next year already!

Muddy Puddles!

In this lesson, children:

~ Discuss the type of clothing and footwear that are suitable for splashing in puddles.

~ Investigate what happens when a shoe is dipped in water versus when a wellington boot is dipped in water.

~ Record what clothes are suitable to wear for staying dry when it’s wet outside.

We had so much fun jumping up and down in the muddy puddles!

SEPTEMBER 2024

All Settled!

Junior Infants are well on their way to becoming fully fledged members of the Piercestown National School Community. They know the rules and routines and have enjoyed making new friends. They love Gaeilge with Seán and Síofra, P.E. and the odd brain break with Danny Go! Have a peek at a snippet of learning that has been happening in the Junior Infant classroom. We look forward to continuing our learning during October.

First Day Fun

Image source – http://www.twinkl.ie

Piercestown National School welcomed the newest members of the team. We can’t wait for the fun in big school to begin!