Author: peadarsmith@gmail.com

September—December
2020

TERMLY NEWSLETTER

Volume 1, Issue 1

Aughadreena
National School

Lead Story Headline

Welcome to our very first edition of a school newsletter. We hope to bring you this newsletter on a termly basis beginning with our first term Sept to December 2020
In this newsletter we endeavour to bring you, the parents some insight into the daily activities of the school and what the different classes take part in. Enjoy!!

Message from Mrs. Smith
2020 has no doubt been an exceptional year for all of us and certainly for our school. In March we had to close and parents, guided by teachers, took on the challenge of home schooling. We said goodbye to our Sixth Class over Zoom. The Parents Association kindly provided them with 2020 Hoodies and the school did a book of Memories of their time in Aughadreena. Thankfully with the backup of a great team of people, our school staff, our Board of Management, the Parents Association and you, the parents we have got to Christmas safe and Covid-19 free.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all A Very Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2021

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Parents Association	1
New Junior Infants	2
Biodiversity Garden	2
Halloween	3
Presentation to Pieta House	4
First Communion After Party	4
School Events	4
G.A.A. Coaches	5
Music Generation & The Nutcracker	5
The Daily Mile	6
The School Calendar	6
Santa visits the School	6

Parents Association
This term a new Parent Association was elected as follows:
Chairperson: Michael Kavanagh, Vice Chair: Kerry Flood, Secretary: Victoria Chambers, Vice Sec:: Lorraine Johnson, Treasurer: Tricia Scannell, Assist. Treasurer: Yvonne Smith. Many thanks to the outgoing committee for their hard work over the past two years. So far this year, the P.A. have provided funds for the purchase of new basketball boards/nets for the basketball court and a set of portable basketball units which are currently in use in the back yard. They also provided treats for the 1st Communion after party and for Halloween. The P.A. also arranged the Mufti Day collections and the ‘white ticket’ raffle, which is their major fundraiser during the year. Santa himself arrived at the school on Friday, 18th Dec to pull out the winning tickets. The children watched the draw via a zoom call to the classrooms. The Parents Association provide a very valuable link between the parents and the school and they provide much needed recreational and fun times for the children We are indebted to all those who take on this role.

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Aughadreena
National School

NEW JUNIOR INFANTS

We welcome our new Junior
Infants to Aughadreena. We trust that this new chapter in their lives on the road of learning will be an enjoyable one
experience.

Biodiversity Garden

In December 2019, we were successful in our application for funding of €500 under the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund. We had begun working on developing a Biodiversity Action Plan during the school year 2018/2019. The aim of the plan is to educate the children, staff, parents and the wider community about biodiversity and its important role in the environment and in climate change.
We were assisted in setting up our plan by Mark Nolan, a heritage expert, who visited the school and worked with the children and staff. Following his visit, we completed habitat maps and identified the area at the front of the school for development as a wildflower garden. Using funds allocated, the children installed bird boxes and feeders. Bird feeders have also being placed in classroom windows, where children can watch the birds feeding.
Under Ms. Tierney’s guidance, the children of 5th & 6th class have continued to maintain and develop the garden. It now hosts a fine ‘Bug Hotel’ which has remained open throughout the pandemic!!
We are very grateful to Ms. Tierney and her gardening crew for their continuing work on this project.
We hope that we will be successful in raising awareness among the school community that we all need to do what we can to stop biodiversity loss.

The aim of conservation of biodiversity is to protect, preserve and manage natural resources.

Volume 1, Issue 1

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Halloween 2020

The Children got all dressed up for Halloween. Again this year we must say a big thank you to the parents for putting in such a great effort. The costumes looked incredible. Again due to Covid –19 changes had to be made and the teachers organised a Halloween Parade in the school yard. Here are some of the pictures from Halloween 2020

Presentation to Pieta House

The Halloween Mufti Day collection was kindly donated by the Parents Association to Pieta House. See right Lorraine Smyth presents cheque to Mrs. Smith for Pieta House.

First Communion & the After-Party

Due to Covid-19 our First Communion Class had their original date cancelled twice. First Holy Communion finally happened for them on Tuesday, 6th October. 12 children received it. The children had an After party in the school on the following day. The Parents Association provided all the treats for the party. They also kindly gave a gift to each child. The overall general consensus was:
THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER!!

School Events

NEW STAFF MEMBER
We welcome Ms. Rachel Smith as the S.E.T. who has replaced Ms. Assumpta Hannon who is on Maternity Leave

NEW BABY
We welcome into the world baby Aoibhe Scully, daughter of Peter & Assumpta. We wish them all well.

WEDDING BELLS
Congratulations to Ms. Rachel Smith & Mr. Tony McLoughlin on the occasion of their wedding on 5th Dec 2020

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Aughadreena
National School

GAA Coaches & Cavan Football

Graham Mills & Chris Conroy are our School GAA coaches. Our thanks to Graham for his continued coaching each Thursday in the school where the children are taught very valued skills and get great enjoyment from his coaching.

UP CAVAN AND WELL DONE ON THEIR ULSTER CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

Chris Conroy takes all the classes every second Wednesday. This year was a special one for Chris as he was on the Cavan Team who won the Ulster Championship.
Needless to say the children were delighted to see their hero back to the school after his big win. They made cards and all the classes drew pictures and decorated the windows with the Cavan Logo. Pictured here is Chris with the Junior and Senior Infants

Science Week: The children took part in a range of lessons and activities during Science week. We were provided with some excellent resources thanks to Laura Carey & Cavan/Monaghan Library Services who also provided a great range of on-line support for literacy activities.

MUSIC GENERATION—THE NUTCRACKER

5th and 6th class were invited by Music Generation Cavan / Monaghan to perform the ‘The March’ from the Nutcracker for a virtual concert from the newly restored Kavanagh Centre in Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan on the 21st of December. Our performance was recorded on Thursday 10th December. We accompanied the musical excerpt with lollipop rhythms under the direction of our Music Generation Teacher Brioni Gallagher . We really enjoyed this experience.
This Concert will be premiered on the Music Generation Cavan / Monaghan YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsQi3uFj9vImplAgOg-ZvzQ) on Monday the 21st of December at 8pm. Simply follow the link above, subscribe to the channel and hit the bell icon to be notified.

Volume 1, Issue 1

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THE DAILY MILE

On Thursday, 10th December, we raised our Daily Mile Flag which was awarded for our participation last year. We are looking forward to participating again this year beginning on the 11th Jan 2021. In conjunction with this we will also be promoting ‘Healthy Lunchboxes' to make children aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle

SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 2020/21 Academic Year

Mon 31st Aug: School opened
Mon, 26th Oct—30th Oct: Mid-Term Break
Tues, 22nd Dec:: School closes at 12.15pm
Wed, 6th Jan: School reopens
Thurs, 18th & Fri, 19th Feb: Mid-term Break
Wed, 17th March: St. Patrick's Day Closure
Fri, 26th March: Easter Closing
Mon, 12th April: Re-opening after Easter
Mon, 3rd May: Bank Holiday
Mon, 7th June Bank Holiday
Wed, 23rd June: School closes at 12.30pm.

SANTA’S VISIT TO THE SCHOOL

Santa Claus took time out from his very busy schedule to pull out the winning ticket for the Parents Association on the 18th Dec. in the school. On behalf of the Parents Association we wish to thank all the sponsors, ticket buyers and all involved for their generous contributions and help. The White ticket winners were: (1)Ella Walls, (2)Dónal Sheridan (3) Laura Stafford (4)Geraldine Muldoon (5)Pauline Smit. Children's Raffle: (1) Amy Scannell (2) James Smith (3) Allie Keane. Spot Prizes: Joseph Jordan, Harvey Smith, Megan Caswell, Alex Malincraveanu, Darragh Reilly, Conor Curtin, Jack Reilly, David Zitiniaviciute, Brendan Caffrey, Paul Arnold, Lee Sheridan, Saoirse Smith, Jayden Gaffney & Laura Carey
The Sponsors were: B.D. Flood, BJD Electrical, Boots, Brian & Aisling Smith, Carryout Off Licence, Centra, BJD, Clinton & Annmarie Mulligan, Crover House Hotel, Dealz, Eamonn & Kerry Flood, Eason’s Cavan, Finola & Liam Maguire, Gormley’s Total Healthcare, Gray’s, Centra, Greene’s Pharmacy, BJD, Halfords, Harry’s Electrical World, Hotel Kilmore, Kiernan’s Texaco, Killyconnan Parents Association, Lavey Inn, Lorraine & Derek Plunkett, Lorraine Johnson Hostolics , M & C Hybrid Energy Ltd.,, McCrystal’s Pharmacy, Michelle & Patrick Donohoe, Playdays Crèche, Riverside Spa, Rudden’s Costcutter, Skelly’s Mace, Tractamotors & Tynan Transport