St Aidan’s Blog

Lé Chéile

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:06:24 +0000

Le Chéile was set up in September 2008 by myself and Ms Tully. Drawing from our experience within the school over the years with folk groups, choirs, variety shows and musicals etc. and keeping in mind the vast variety of students attending the school from all over the world, we felt the time was right to bring the students together,“Le Chéile “ .Our aims are to:

* To train and develop the students as singers and as musicians.

* To showcase the songs and music representing all traditional and ethnic minorities on a regular basis.

* To explore and develop the similarities and differences within the different genres of music and fuse them together into one melting pot.

* To foster an appreciation among the students for each other throughout their playing and singing together. “Unity through Diversity “

Classes take place on a Friday. These include: Jembe drum, bodhran, tin whistle and guitar. Approximately forty five pupils are involved in this. Singing practice takes place on Wednesdays at 1 o clock, with thirty pupils participating.

Lé Chéile

We are delighted to say that Le Chéile got off to a great start.

Firstly we sang and played in the school at the Remembrance Mass with Bishop Eamon Walsh.

Next we played and sang for St. Margaret’s Display Day with Miss Spring and the parents and teachers.

The Group then welcomed Santa to the Citywest Shopping Centre and we played and sang Christmas carols and other songs for two hours. This was a great success. The pupils really enjoyed it and our projector and slide show containing pictures of the students in their classes caught the eyes of the listeners.

Next we set about our first concert. Here we showcased all the talent. There was a mixture of Irish dancing, African Jembe, African songs, Bodhran playing, Hip Hop dancing, Tin Whistle, Christmas songs and Solos in contemporary music. With great support from the management and especially our care takers and students who managed the stage and sound, the concert was a great experience for all concerned.

Just before Christmas the group travelled to Lucan Lodge House for the elderly. Here the students performed a wide variety of songs, tin whistle playing and dancing. The pupils enjoyed chatting to the residents. They were a credit to the school.

Lé Chéile

Le Chéile is making steady progress, Thanks to all who have supported us. Looking forward to the next showcase on Friday 13Th of March. Le Chéile will sing and play Irish songs and ballads as part of Seachtain Na Gaeilge and to celebrate St. Patrick’s day and finally to give the school’s under 16’s Gaelic Football team a great send off before their Dublin Final.

Library Furniture Arrives

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:53:49 +0000

The library is quickly taking shape. The most striking development is that most of the library furntiure has been installed. The furniture is in beech wood and includes the shelving, an IT desk which will have four PCs, the librarian's desk, two spinners and the radiator covers. Of the ten new JCSP school libraries around the country, St. Aidan's is the first to get their furniture fitted!

Stock has already been purchased and more will be bought. The library in Tallaght also kindly donated some of their brand new books. Every item in the library needs to be catalogued so that everything is recorded on the computer system and can be kept track of. Every item will also need to be prepared with labels, a barcode and some will need to be covered. If anyone has suggestions for stock for the library please drop into Ms. Larkin and tell her your ideas.

Fresh Film Festival

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 19:34:58 +0000

I am delighted to announce that two of our films, ‘The Voice’ and ‘Mirror zone’ written by Aideen McDonnell and Ross Ellis respectively will be screened in the
Irish Film Centre (IFI) on Thursday 12th March.

Students involved in writing, acting, directing and editing are invited to attend. Make sure that all consent forms are completed and returned to me as soon as possible.

Bus departs the school at 8.30 sharp. Screening begins at 10.00am and ends at approx. 1pm.

Congratulations to all involved, to Mr. Derek West for Creative Engagement funding and to all staff who supported the making of these films.

Comenius Project

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:19:04 +0000

The Comenius Project is part of the Socrates Programme and is funded by Léargas. The Project links European schools under a common theme. Our theme is Culture & Heritage. St. Aidan’s was approached by Dublin West Education Centre to become involved in the project.
The school management and staff were delighted to accept the invitation as they felt it would be a great opportunity for students, teachers, parents and the wider community to make links with other schools in Europe.

Ms Tully, who coordinates the project with Ms O’Reilly attended a Roots & Wings Partner Finding Conference in Austria 2006.
It was at this conference that links were made with our partner countries: Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Wales and the three year multilateral project, Knowing Me, Knowing You, was established.

Students in all schools have been working collaboratively on the project exchanging information and research through the projects ICT platform, First Class.
A number of project activities have taken place over the last two years; a project logo competition, visual presentations of our school, diaries, language courses, exchanging of treasure boxes, European Days.
This year students in all five countries have been working on their Comenius Newspaper. Students in St. Aidan’s have been writing articles on the environment, economy and the future of their traditions. Students are also working on Diaries about their hopes and dreams for the future.
The project has been a great success in the school. Teachers have attended planning and evaluation meetings in the different countries. Students have learned about the culture and traditions of their partners by exchanging information through I.T and the celebrating of their partner’s cultures during European week.

New School Library

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:14:27 +0000

A BRAND NEW LIBRARY AT ST. AIDAN'S

Great news for St. Aidan's! The school is getting a brand new, modern library with a qualified librarian. The library is part of the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) Demonstration Library Project and it is one of thirty such libraries in the country. It's main aim is to encourage a love of reading and to improve literacy levels. Once it is up and running, classes will be timetabled in the library and it will also be open to students outside of class time.

The old library in the school is in the process of being transformed and it has already been painted and a new carpet has been laid. The furniture has just been chosen and will be installed as soon as possible. The librarian, Ms. Larkin, has been around to some classes to introduce the library and to get student feedback on what the library should stock.

Before:

After:

The library will be a dynamic space that will play host to a wide range of activities including paired reading, quizzes, story telling and research. Our aim is for it to become the heart of the school.

30/1/09

January - February newsletter

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 23:41:20 +0000

Some families had a very difficult start to the New Year. We offer our sincere condolences to the Farrelly family and Kate whose Dad died. R.I.P. To the Prentice family who lost Robert (a past pupil). Sr Liz Cotter of the Board of Management whose Father died also R.I.P.

Third Years & Sixth Years :

This is a very important year for the exam classes. You will be doing a most important exam in June. You know from your Christmas tests what work has to be done. Your Mock Exams begin on February 4th. This will give you a clearer indication and help you decide what levels you will finally take.

You should be doing 4 hours study at least per night.

Farewell & Welcome:

We say goodbye to Ms Behan one of our Home Economics teachers who has taken up employment nearer her home in Co. Laois. We wish her every success; thank her for all her hard work and dedication in St Aidan’s.

We welcome Ms Connolly who will replace Ms Behan.

Leaving Cert. & Junior Cert.

The fee for the Junior Cert. is €103 and the Leaving Cert. is €109. This money goes straight to the Department of Education. We will have the forms for the fee soon.

Note if your son/daughter has a medical card no money has to be paid. The medical card must be valid in February 2009.

The Mock Exams:

These begin on February 4th. There is a fee of €3 per student to cover the cost of Stationary and Mock papers. This must be paid in advance of the exams to the tutors.

The Code of Behaviour :

The Code of Behaviour is being reviewed at the moment. If you have any ideas on this please let your Board of Management representatives know, Mrs Helena Mullen Darcy or Mrs Susan McNamee.

A Few Important Reminders : While the vast majority of students never cause any hassle there are some who do. We cannot allow some students to disrupt the Education of others. The Code of Behaviour will be implemented in these cases. The Board of Management must ensure that students are safe in school.

Students must behave in all classes
Students must be in full uniform each day.
Students must have full equipment each day.
Jackets may be worn open with the full uniform on view.
Hoodies are strictly forbidden.
Students must be here on time each day (8.50am and 1.25pm)
Fights, making threats, intimidation will be dealt with most seriously and may be brought to the Board of Management and the Gardai. Students who experience problems with anger etc will be supported in every way by the school counseling team.
Students are expected to study and learn both in classes and at home.
The use of phones is forbidden in school. The Code of Behaviour will be implemented if students are using them in school, the same applies to ipods and other gadgets.
Please walk on the left hand side of the school at all times. This includes on the staircases.
Students are forbidden to be on the corridors without written permission in the journal.

Sex Education :

The S.P.H.E. classes are doing sex education in the coming weeks. If you have any queries or concerns please contact the school

H.S.C.L.:

Our beautiful new parent’s room: is now open for business! I am at the moment organising a group of parents to oversee the use of the parent’s room on a daily basis, where parents can come and relax over a cuppa. Please note we do not have Crèche facilities.

Courses: I am hoping to organise two courses for parents between now and May depending on the level of interest shown

1. Drugs awareness Course
2. Parenting teenagers – some helpful tips
3. Computer courses for parents and teenagers are starting back at the end of January for new participants.

If you are interested in any of these courses please let us know and leave a contact number for me to call you at.

Home Visits : This term I will mainly be visiting parents of Junior Cert and Leaving Cert students.

I am available to call to any parents who want me to call my number is 4140559

Enrollment:

We are currently enrolling students for September 2009. Assessments will take place in St Anne’s Fettercairn on February 10th at 9.15 and in St Aidan’s on February 12th at 9.15. We also have some places in other years.

_____________________________ ____________________________

F. Moran Sr Ann O’Donoghue

Principal Deputy Principal