Congratulations to Rián Quinn winner of U13 North Kerry Skills Competition 2017. Rián was also runner-up in the U13 Kerry County Club Skills 2017.

‘Beir Bua agus gach dea-ghuí’ to Aoife Scanlon in 3rd class who has taken on the challenge of cutting her lovely long hair in aid of Brú Columbanus who provide ‘Home from home’ accommodation for families of patients attending Cork hospitals.  To support Aoife, Thursday 6th April was a Non-Uniform day where children donated €2 to support this worthy cause. Well done to all who contributed so generously. Best of luck to Aoife who will cut her hair during the Easter holiday!

A different type of learning…..

Children very busy taking part in the National Spring Clean-up in connection with An Taisce, Kerry Co. Council and KWD. Junior and Senior Infants picked up litter around the school. 1st 2nd and 3rd gathered rubbish in the Church grounds and around the Community Centre. Senior classes focused their attention around the Sports Field and in the wood area.

Our JEP journey for 2017 has reached it’s final stage. The Sales Team prepared a programme for ‘Showcase Day’.  This was the launch day for our product – the board game  – ‘Moyvane Mayhem’. The children had worked hard on it for weeks. The event was a great success and only a few board games remain unsold. The JEP project improved confidence, team building and independence in the children who participated. In their Programme Evaluation children were provided with an opportunity to learn about organising the Showcase Day as well as calculating profit and loss.  They also evaluated the various stages of the programme and reflected on the lessons learned during their JEP Project. It was not just a business plan but a real business. The good news is ‘we made a profit!’ The children themselves decided to use this money to subsidise the cost of their own school tour. Thanks to all who supported the project by buying the Game. A special thanks to those parents who ‘went the extra mile’ for us and without whose help the project would not have been the success it was. Thanks again to our Dragoness Leona and a special Míle Buíochas to our teacher Mrs. Curtin for all her work and guidance!

World Book Day in Murhur N.S.

A Chairde, we were delighted to celebrate World Book Day in our school on Thursday last 2^nd March, 2017. World Book Day is an annual event promoting the enjoyment of books and reading.  The main aim is to encourage children to explore the pleasure of books and reading by providing them with an opportunity to have a book of their own. This may sound like a  simple idea, but unfortunately, many children do not have an opportunity to access books in a library or to experience the wealth of different resources available in libraries today.

As part of World Book Day  our 4^th 5^th 6^th classes were invited to Listowel Library where there was a presentation by Joan O’Reilly, a Killarney based author  to mark the occasion.  Joan gave an interactive presentation on her first publication – ‘A simplified history of the 1916 rising’  There was great interaction between the children and Joan.  The feedback from the pupils and teachers afterwards was very positive. Joan is currently working on her second book which she hopes will be a valuable resource in primary schools.

Our Infant and Middle classes enjoyed dressing up in their favourite character’s costume.  Playing  and ‘showing off ‘ their costume prompted discussion on their favourite book.

To finish off World Book Day local poet and former teacher in our school, Gabriel Fitzmaurice  came to visit. The children were entertained by his amusing renditions of his own child centred poems, recounted through the eyes of a child. The poems, ranging from the silly to the serious, from the sad to the happy, from the naughty to the nice, struck a true chord with his captive audience. Gabriel’s visits are always appreciated!

We hope our trip to the Library, dressing up in our favourite costume and Gabriel’s visit encourage and foster reading into the future…..

Happy reading!

A mouth-watering Experience…..

Tuesday 28th February, Pancake Day was a memorable day for the children of Murhur N.S. when ‘celebrity chef ‘ Shane, ably assisted by Rochelle, Marion and Karina demonstrated how to make the perfect pancake. Children were invited to assist step by step in the pancake making process. Some added the flour, eggs or milk. Others were in charge of the mixing. Their whisking skills were later tested when the pancakes were flipped and tossed between ceiling and floor! Delicious toppings were spread on the pancakes which were greatly enjoyed by all.  ‘Buíochas Mór’ to Holly’s Gala for their generosity in providing pancakes.

On Friday and Saturday there was a Fáilte mór for all who came to sample school life with us here – from the academic in the classroom, to the array of pursuits such as Scór, Green Schools, JEP, GAA competitions, Concerts etc – that  now form part of the Primary School Curriculum.  We look forward to a happy and successful association with the new Infants that will start with us here this coming September. We hope they will progress through the years and leave us in 2024 as bright, happy and confident young adults ready to take their place in the world.

There was a real energy in the room this week when the children of the JEP class of 4th, 5th & 6th welcomed to their classroom as their business visitor, Leona Fitzmaurice (Lynch)  ‘Every Occasion’ florist, Tralee.  Leona is a past pupil of our school who returned as a ‘Dragon’ – part of the The Junior Entrepreneur programme to nurture the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

The idea is simple; help the children set up their own business in the classroom. The 10-12 year olds were open, creative and quick to learn.  They really enjoyed this visit where they interacted with and learned so much from Leona.  JEPs fosters skills such as creative-thinking, problem solving and team work. The programme encourages children to make decisions, negotiate, resolve conflict and connect to the wider world.

Four groups presented their business plans to be assessed and evaluated by the panel Dragon Den Style!!! After fantastic presentations and much consideration there could only be one winner!  The Big Idea for the JEP class of Murhur N.S. Moyvane 2017 is a board game called ‘Moyvane Mayhem’ 

We would like to thank Leona for her time, knowledge and expertise and look forward to her next visit.

Two ‘Great Grandmothers’ visited on Grandparents’ Day

Celebrating Grandparents in Murhur N.S.

A Grandparent is often one of the most important teachers in a child’s life!

On Wednesday 1st February, as part of Catholic Schools’ Week there was a warm welcome for all grandparents who visited. For some it was their very first visit to our school; for others it was their daily visit to collect a grandchild. The Celebration began in the church with a short Prayer Service and a Reflection on Grandparents where the children gave thanks for the gift of their grandparents and took time to remember the grandparents who could not be with them on the day, those who could not travel and the grandparents  no longer with us.

Grandparents and children together, they create a chain of love, linking the past with the future. The chain may lengthen, but it will never break…..

Children from Junior Infants to 6th class along with Miss Prendeville and Mr. Galvin taking part in GFT (Get Fit Today) dancing for 10 minutes as part of the school’s “Operation Transformation” currently on television on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Our Fundraising Variety Concert at the Marian Hall was a great success.

Míle buíochas ó chroí to our sponsors – Kerry Group, Kostal and our local businesses. Your sponsorship of our school calendar and your support of our Christmas concert is greatly appreciated.

The children of 4th, 5th and 6th classes are participating in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme 2017.  Children will explore the meaning of the words” entrepreneurship” “entrepreneur” and “enterprise”  They will think creatively in order to generate a range of potential project ideas.  Then the children will work in groups to negotiate and agree on a team project.  Over the weeks the children will work on one idea and create their own business.  The programme is linked with all aspects of the curriculum. The idea will be chosen over the next little while.  So all hands will be busy.

Updates will be given weekly!  Watch this space!

Murhur N.S. supporting Radio Kerry’s Christmas Jumper Fundraising day, in aid of St. Vincent De Paul, to support families in need in Kerry!

Children brought in their ‘Filled‘ shoe boxes.   68 boxes were collected in total.  ‘Buíochas Mór’ to everyone who contributed. These gifts will be greatly appreciated by all the children who’ll receive them at Christmas.

We recently raised our Green Flag. This was presented to our school for the appropriate management of litter and waste. We recycle as much as possible in our school.  Aoife, Rián and Ava recycle paper bags which are then taken to the local charity shop.  Cara and Rebekah look after the milk delivery in the school.  Áine, Cara and Jacinta collect, wash and dry the used milk bottles and we store them for the local Parish Liturgy Group who use them to distribute holy water for Easter!

Friday 28th October was a proud moment for all of us as we gathered to celebrate the raising of our school’s Green Flag.  A  ‘Fáilte Speisialta’ by delighted children was extended to Colm Cooper and Barry John Keane who helped us raise the flag.  The Green Flag is about creating an awareness and an understanding of the link between the way we behave – our actions and the environment. In the pursuit of this award the children showed that the Green Flag represents an understanding of our rights and responsibilities.  The Green School’s Committee explained that getting the Green Flag means that we value our environment as a precious resource and that we all depend on and should take care of it. It is up to each one of us to care for and protect our Environment and preserve it for the generations to come.

On Thursday 20th October 4th 5th and 6th classes went on a Maths Trail.  They explored the school grounds while answering mathematical questions. They used their measuring and estimating skills and put the metre stick, rulers and trundle wheel to excellent use!  They acknowledged/picked out the various angles, 2d shapes and 3d shapes found around the school.

As this week is Maths Week, we have been doing lots of problem solving questions.  We did station work where we solved a different problem at each station.  Can you solve one of the questions?

A big thank you to Seán Óg. We thoroughly enjoyed painting our fairy doors.