Welcome 3rd Class 2025/2026!!

/

Third Class 2024/2025

Visit to Hook Lighthouse and RNLI Kilmore

After weeks of designing and making their very own lighthouses and researching Wexford’s famous Hook Lighthouse, 3rd class got an amazing opportunity to actually visit the worlds oldest operational lighthouse in person! A fantastic day was had by all as we explored the fascinating history of one of Ireland’s most important landmarks. From hearing medieval tales about the monks and William Marshall to taking in the stunning views from the balcony, the 115 step climb to the top was truly worth the effort.

However, the learning did not end at Hook. We then made our way to Kilmore’s RNLI Station to learn about water safety. As the summer holidays loom and the children prepare to descend on Wexford’s beautiful beaches, we learned crucial steps to keeping safe in the water. We also witnessed the amazing work of the RNLI’s local volunteers. The day ended on a high as each child got to step on board the RNLI lifeboat, and sit in the seats often occupied by crew members on rescues. A truly fantastic day to mark the last week of Third Class 2025!

Check out the brilliant lighthouses 3rd Class made over the last few weeks and which spectacularly lit up our classroom for our annual Piercestown National School Art Exhibition last week. Our learning started off with exploring the topic of Electricity in Science. We examined circuits and discovered how to make a bulb light. We then used this circuit and bulb as our lighthouse beacon along with shoeboxes and pringle tubes as towers and bases. Each lighthouse was impressively unique as each student added their own additions such as sand, shells, rocks, lego people and sea animals. Well done everyone, they were superb!

School Tour 2025!!

With great excitement the boys and girls in 3rd class set off on their school tour to the SETU Arena in Waterford. It was an action packed day to say the least! The sun shone as we took part in activities such as Laser Tag, Archery, Footgolf and, to finish off the day, a play on some cool bouncy castles. The bus journey back to Wexford was somewhat quieter than the one up and there even might have been some sleepy heads on the way home! Well done everyone, you were all super!

Prader Willi Syndrome Awareness Day

Third class donned their orange t-shirts. jumpers, skirts, hairbands and hats today to mark a very special day – Prader Willi Syndrome Awareness Day. There was great excitement as we joined with Henri to celebrate his special day. Henri, very eloquently, told us all about Prader Willi Syndrome and we watched information videos to learn even more. We finished the day with an orange ice-pop and a movie of Henri’s choice!

Odd Socks Day!!

The staff and children of Piercestown NS rocked their odd socks today in support of World Down Syndrome Day which fell on Friday March 21st last. Third class shared the day with their truly fantastic classmate, Eve Marcus, who was treated to a puppet show this morning, followed by a party with her classmates in the afternoon!

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025

Seachtain na Gaeilge came to a brilliant end today with an amazing performance by 3rd Class at our school assembly. Special thanks to Mr. Furlong for all his help in making this a fantastic performance. Bhí siad an rang is fearr gan dabht!! Maith sibh go léir!

Book Week 2025

Book Tasting

There were books, books and more books on the menu as 3rd class took their seats in a restaurant with a difference for a unique Book Tasting experience. In this restaurant, they got the opportunity to get a “taste” of all the amazing books that arrived with the Book Fair this year. With newly released books from Michael Morpurgo, David Walliams, Dav Pilkey and Onjali Q, Rauf, there was something for everyone!

“You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.” – Dr. Seuss

Campfire Reading

There is something truly special about reading a book by campfire, and to mark World Book Day 2025, 3rd class set about recreating this experience. Complete with tents, cushions, blankets, fake camp fire, torches and fairy lights, the 3rd class classroom was transformed into a magical campsite. Children from Junior and Senior infants along with Ms. Hearne’s and Ms. Sinnott’s class were invited to share this fun and exciting reading experience. Third class took on the role as storytellers, and as the noise of the “fire” crackled and the fairy lights twinkled above their heads, they snuggled into tents and shared storybooks with their younger friends. I am so proud of their amazing reading and how kind they were to our visitors today. Well done everyone!

FEBRUARY 2025

3rd Class Chess Champions!

Chess fever well and truly took over Piercestown National School over the last few weeks as students from 3rd – 6th class competed against each other to secure a place on the hotly contested leader board. A huge well done to three students from 3rd class – Beau Berry, Archie Devereux and Tom Mageen McGuire who have earned a place on the school’s Buds Chess Team. We wish them the best of luck as they head off on Friday 7th March to the CBS for their first competition. Well done boys!!!

Stone Age Projects

Over the last while, 3rd class travelled back in time to the prehistoric era of the Stone Age. As part of their learning they embarked on the most fantastic and creative project work. Projects ranged from 3D models of homes and houses, weapons, posters and even home made videos! Click on the link below to see a video of these super projects!

Class Of The Month Winners!!!!

A huge well done to 3rd class who were crowned winners of “Class of the Month” for January 2025. Their hard work in class, amazing manners and, above all, their kindness to each other made them deserving recipients. They celebrated in style last Friday with a delicious ice-cream party and movie all while snuggled up in their pyjamas!

St. Brigid’s Day Crosses

To coincide with celebrating St. Brigid’s Day on Saturday, 1st February, the students of 3rd class put their weaving skills to the test to make some St. Brigid’s Day crosses. Thanks to Ms. Hearne, Mr. Furlong and everyone else who popped in to lend a helpful hand. Well done everyone, you did an amazing job!

DECEMBER

Last Swimming Lesson

Wednesday 4th December saw the last day of swimming lessons for 3rd Class. For 10 weeks the students had excitedly boarded a bus each Wednesday morning bound for Ferrybank Swimming Pool. In these 10 weeks each and every student worked extremely hard to improve their swimming skills and the progress that each child made was absolutely AMAZING. Above all, however, Ms. Lyttleton was immensely proud of how the children behaved going to and from the pool, how they listened to their instructors and how mindful they were of other users of the pool. Well done 3rd Class!!

Mobile Farm Visit

From reptiles to farm animals, the strand of living things has been well and truly embraced in Piercestown NS. This month, we had an amazing visit from Farmer Tom and his wonderful mobile farm! The children were thrilled to meet a variety of friendly farm animals, including Popcorn the goat, Patsy the pig, Daisy the calf, a woolly sheep and a lively group of ducks, geese, and hens. Farmer Tom taught the students all about what the animals like and dislike, how to take care of them on the farm, and what they enjoy eating. The students had the amazing opportunity to pet the animals, ask lots of great questions, and even feed them some hay. It was a fun and educational day full of smiles and laughter – a special experience for everyone!

NOVEMBER

Science Week – National Reptile Zoo Visit

The students of 3rd Class were greeted by giant snails and slithering snakes, to mention but a few during Science Week. The knowledgeable keepers shared their expertise with us and many questions were asked! Perhaps a reptile or two has now been added to some of the Christmas lists!
What happened on the day –

• A zoo-keeper / educator from the NRZ visited our school with a range of animals, from giant pythons to lizards, tortoises and snails!
• Classes ran for over an hour based on the workshop selected and the children got close and personal to many of the animals (check out the blog for all the action shots)
• A unique learning experience which will last a lifetime was had by all!

Science Week – Guest Speaker – Siobhán Marcus

Thank you so much to Eve’s mam, Siobhán, who came to speak to 3rd Class as part of Science Week. Siobhán spoke to the class about her role as a Dietician. There was lots of chat about healthy eating, the food pyramid and the boys and girls even got to check the nutritional value on some of the cereals we all eat for breakfast. Thank you Siobhán!

OCTOBER

Happy Halloween/Oíche Shamhna Shona Daoibh!

We had the freakiest of Fridays as everyone dressed up to celebrate Oíche Shamhna! From superheros to princesses to skeletons and ghouls, 3rd class had the best fun! Check out our amazing costumes!

SEPTEMBER

3rd Class 2024 – 2025

Ms. Lyttleton is delighted to be teaching the boys and girls in 3rd class this year. She is looking forward to swimming lessons, Freaky Friday, maths and science week and lots of FUN over the next few months. Keep an eye on the blog to see all the fantastic activities 3rd class get up to!