1st & 2nd Class
Welcome to Ms. Brigid O’Donnell's 1st & 2nd class
Welcome to our classroom!
Here is a copy of the school calendar for 2022/2023:
The booklists for 2022/2023 can be found here:
Our Classroom News!
Army Band
Ms. Lorraine O’Loughlin
May 5, 2023
A huge thank you to the Army Band for visiting the school yesterday and performing for the children.
What a special performance it was!!
School Fete Day 2023
Ms. Lorraine O’Loughlin
March 30, 2023
The school fete is back! It will take place on Sunday September 24th.
Looking forward to a fun filled community day. More details to follow.
Non Uniform Day
Ms. Lorraine O’Loughlin
March 25, 2023
The Parents Association are holding a non-uniform day on Wednesday March 29th.
Donation of €2 per child.
Additional School Closure: Friday April 21st
Ms. Lorraine O’Loughlin
March 25, 2023
School will be closed to pupils on Friday April 21st to facilitate staff training for the Primary Language Curriculum.
Every school is given two half days for this training and we decided to combine the two half days into one full day to limit the disruption for all.
Thank You!
Ms. Lorraine O’Loughlin
March 24, 2023
A huge thank you to everyone who supported our Daffodil Day fundraiser today.
A total of €157 was raised. This money will go directly to The Irish Cancer Society.
Student Corner
Upcoming Class Events
No Events Found, Stay Tuned Though!
Notes & Reminders
The School Day:
8:50: Drop Off
2:30: Collection
General Notes:
Tracksuit to be worn on PE day only
Healthy Eating Policy:
At Scoil Cholmcille, we have a healthy eating policy. The children are encouraged to eat fruit and veg. Sweets, chocolate, biscuits and crisps are not allowed in school.
As Scoil Cholmcille is a NUT FREE SCHOOL, we would ask that parents do not give their children nut products for lunch.
Useful Class Links
Tips for Parents:
Helping_your_child_in_1st & 2nd
Maths Tips: Tens & Units
https://www.ncca.ie/media/1439/tipsheet
Helping your Child at Home with Maths
Suggested Websites
www.reading.ie/tips/parents.php
www.talaris.org/research_sharedbook.htm
www.nea.org/parents/index.html
www.nea.org/parents/learningtoread.html
Reading Corner
The Importance of Reading
It cannot be underestimated the influence that children’s ability to read has on their experience of school. Children’s success in reading positively influences all other aspects of the curriculum as it is the basis of many other curricular areas.
It is natural for parents to be enthusiastic about children’s reading as they make the first tentative steps to master the printed word. In general, parents of children in junior classes tend to read more to their children and listen more to their children’s reading. However, the need to listen to children reading does not diminish as the child advances through the school. Just because a child “can” read does not mean that every opportunity should not be taken to allow the child to read aloud. Reading to an adult at home allows the child to consolidate what the child is practising at school. It also allows the child to consolidate the key reading skills of fluency, clarity and reading with meaning. Reading a little , but often, is much more beneficial than reading a lot, but rarely. Children should develop the habit of reading aloud to an adult at home each night for 8-10 minutes whether reading homework is given or not.
Extra Information
Reading Tips for 5-8 year olds
Make reading fun! Be Positive: Praise your child for trying hard with their reading. Let them know it’s all right to make mistakes.
Reading Environment: Turn Off the TV! With no distractions, you can concentrate properly on the reading and enjoy the reading together.
Give Them Time: Let them make a guess before you tell them the word. Encourage your child to sound out the word.
Use the Pictures: Take time to look at the pictures first. See what clues are in the pictures. Encourage your child to make predictions after spending time discussing the pictures.
Point with a Finger: Encourage them to follow the words with their finger until they become more confident readers, model how to follow with your finger.
If the text is too hard – you read to them. Always promote a positive attitude towards reading, encouraging your child to develop a love of reading.
Let Them Read Their Favourites: Don’t worry if they want to read the same books over and over. It’s good practice.
Ask Lots of Questions About the Story: Check they understand the story they haveread by asking them questions about what has happened. See if they remember what they read last time. Discuss the cover page of the book and try to predict what the story will be about.
Start Writing: Encourage them to read back their own writing.
Don’t Read for Too Long: A good ten minutes is better than a difficult half hour!
Make it Regular: Ten minutes every night is much better than an odd hour once in a while.
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