John Scottus School Blog: May 2013

Thursday 30 May 2013

First Class French Lesson!

Monsieur Telford has a way with children when it comes to teaching French. Here First Class girls are enjoying their lesson. Only French can by spoken (or sung!) during M. Telford's classes

Wednesday 29 May 2013

Form One Boys have made plants from recyclable rubbish they collected at home. They have been learning about plants in Science so this art activity linked with that and they are also growing watercress at the moment.

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Mrs Telford's BLOG May 21st

Popping into classrooms on a daily basis allows you see first hand the excellent work that takes place regularly throughout the school. Today I thought I should seize the day and gather a sample from each class. So keep an eye on the display boards in Northumberland road and check out what is happening. This little exercise set me thinking as to whether you all might like a further update on all that has been happening in JSS in recent weeks. Shakespeare week, voice coaches, golf, enhanced curriculum in 6^th class, cycling and projects all have made an impact in the last few weeks.

Shakespeare week was very satisfying. The creativity in evidence as each class took to the boards (of the Refreshment room) was very good. Learning by heart, learning to perform in front of an audience, learning to project your voice were the fruits of this week along with entertainment from staff and pupils No one will forget Mrs van de Belt's rendering of the Nurse from Romeo and Juliet alongside Mrs McGeough’s Juliet all happening in the Refreshment Room in the company of over a hundred children. Philip O’ Sullivan an actor of some renown took 6^th class girls through a session on how to use voice and body to maximum effect to communicate with the audience.

A scene from Romeo & Juliet

The Senior Primary classes have also embarked on enriching the 6^th class curriculum with classes in how to coach a team, producing a Newsletter, dancing, constructing a building and learning how to be a mediator. While it has proved very demanding on teachers’ time and energy and also on the pupils, it is proving to be an excellent venture. It will need tweaking for next year but it certainly stretches the abilities of this very able age group.

Cycling is gaining in popularity so also is the need to be safe on the road. The scheme launched by the Dublin City Council is being availed of by 5th class pupils and over a period of 6 weeks they are being tutored in how to be model cyclists. (We must let George Hook know on Newstalk that with a little help cyclists can be law abiding souls as well!!!!!)

On the sporting front, JSS has joined the ranks of Rory, Graham and Padraig, (well, that might be a little exaggeration!) and taken up golf. Eight pupils, under the guidance of Mr John Hynes began the first block of sessions where they learn the key skills and also get the chance to compete against other budding golfers.

Our lecture series in Education has proved very vibrant and thought provoking. What is needed most from events such as these is that discussion, dialogue and argument follow in their wake which is exactly what has happened. Do not miss the last in the series which is on nutrition and which takes place on 4^th June in the same venue.

Finally our assembly today was inspiring. Mr Pierce ( parent of two children in Form 1 and 1^st class ) showed us the video of his row across the channel from Dover to Calais. It is worth seeing. Over 5 hours in the company of 4 other brave sailors setting a world record, raising money for Cancer Research and JSS and doing it all without any hitches is the kind of deed that resilient and universal beings embark on. Well done to all. Click on the screen below to enjoy a glimpse of their heroic journey.

A new Challenge for 5th Class

5^th Class girls and boys have started a six week cycling course withDr Bike which the Dublin City Council is providing for schools in Dublin.

In this course they will be learning about skills and safety out on the dangerous roads of Dublin. In the first two weeks they have been learning about checking their bike for any loose things. Then they learnt about turning around bends and to slow down when you turn a corner. They have also learnt to expect the unexpected when cycling e.g. If a car door swings open when you are on the road.

In the next few weeks they will be talking about brakes and gradually building good skills for the road and/or whenever they are cycling.

By Madeline Hibbett

5th Class Girls Bike Lessons

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Fifth Class girls have been doing bike lessons with a man called Mr. Bike. The first day he was talking about the M check (How to check a bike) and also what type of clothes to wear while cycling. The next class was about steering and control. Mr. Bike brought in fifteen bikes and helmets to share amongst the girls. They all went to Pembroke Hockey Club and cycled beside the pitch. First they had to cycle around the cones and then the other way, twice each. Second they had to cycle really fast towards Mr. Bike and when you were half a meter away from him he pointed a direction behind his back and then they suddenly had to go that way. This was for any sudden things that might happen when you are cycling on a road. The saying is `expect the unexpected’. By the end of the sixth class I bet the girls will probably be really amazing cyclists! Catherine McCaffrey.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Sports Day for JSS Secondary, May 10th

Wednesday 8 May 2013

Active School Week, May 7th to 10th

Click HERE for the Active School Programme

Remember Sports day is on Friday!

Pictures will follow.......soon

Sweet, Stylish Vikings? Surely not!

3rd Class Girls did History projects. They chose from Vikings, Normans and Ancient Egyptians. They had to make a 3D construction to accompany their booklet. Here is one girl's "chocolate cake Viking helmet" along with a photo of her wearing her leather Viking shoes (which she stitched herself this weekend!!!).