Mrs T Contemplates Childrens Christmas Plays

 Christmas performances are unique events and although nearly as old as the original itself year on year something fresh emerges. 2013 is no exception.

I have only got to see a selection of offerings. Time and an unusual bust of interest in places in JSS for 2014 have taken me off the circuit but as Kavanagh muses “Through a chink too wide there comes in no wonder” My chink was narrow and I think I got a view of the “spirit shocking wonder” and "the newness that was in every stale thin"

The youngest got the show on the road with simple seasonal poems but the wonder of this one was the capacity for language displayed. In less than 5 months in school they had sufficient command of 4 languages to sing songs, do recitations and perform little playlets. I saw another dimension of the concept of Universality. We adults talk about living in the global world. For these 5 year olds it is the reality and they embrace it with staggering ease and charm.

The snippet I witnessed of the 6 year olds was marked by speech. They had definitely got the message of opening the mouth and pronouncing the ends of each word. They transformed the joke-telling scene by the way they told’ em. “What do monkeys say on Christmas morning ? Jungle Bells, Jungle Bells”; every word as clear as crystal despite half of them collapsing with the wit of it all even before the joke was finished.

From the oldest in this building came the sweetest revelation. I was lucky to see the whole novel take on Christmas from beginning to end. It was excellent; acting, scenery, music, dancing choreography, organization. But wonderful as this was, the element that took my breath away was a more subtle aspect of the children. There were a few rare moments when one of them was unsure of a line. No fuss, no panic, no embarrassment, just a direct look at teacher, a nod of the head, a brief Oh Yeah and then on with the show. Again in these cramped beleaguered conditions where there is no room, a spiritual ideal is realized and made manifest , this world is all a play, enjoy it, play your part to the full, help each other and then forget it.

This is the newness and spirit shocking wonder that was revealed by the Christmas performances of 2013. Wasn’t I lucky and wouldn’t the Centre of it all be pleased?! Form 2 Girls performance is available here and more will be posted as we get the videos

Mrs T

Visit of the Indian Ambassador to JSS

On November 12th JSS were honoured to have the Indian Ambassador to Ireland, Mrs Radhika Lal Lokesh launch Mr Kortenhorst's new textbook.

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Christmas Shoebox appeal

Christmas is a time for sharing and giving

Christmas Shoebox Appeal JS Primary from John Scottus on Vimeo.

Many thanks to parents and children for your fantastic response to our Christmas Shoebox appeal. The boxes will be sent to Albania by Heart to Hand where they will bring much joy and excitement to the children.

Mind Expanding Work from JS Primary

Mrs Telford produced this slideshow highlighting the work done by JSS Primary students on the Brain and Eye.They show excellent understanding of how the brain and eye work. Sit back and enjoy this slideshare of their project work!

Halloween Fun in John Scottus Primary

Mr Callaghan produced this brilliant compilation which shows how creative and imaginative pupils and their teachers in JS Primary are. Halloween dress-up days are great fun. Enjoy!!

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. 

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!!!).

Who was John Scottus?

Who was John Scottus? Jakob McKeown Holland, 3rd Class tells us in the following superb presentation:

More Shakespearean Fun

Fourth Class dressed as Women from Shakespeare Plays

Characters from Macbeth

Form 1: Full Many A Glorious Morning Have I Seen.....Sonnet 33

A First Class Will Shakespeare

A scene from  Romeo & Juliet

Much Ado About a Fantastic TY Production

Dogberry AKA the multi-talented Shophie Madden entertains and delights

Event Poster Designed by Aisling Murphy

Beatrice, Benedick and Leonato take a well-deserved bow

Hero has words with her cousin Beatrice

Benedick and Beatrice put aside their cynicism and embrace true love

Third Class Girls love Shakespeare!

Get Behind Magic Flute, The Musical

Magic Flute, the Musical will run from Wednesday the 6th to Friday the 8th March 2013 in The Civic Theatre in Tallaght. Expect a musically enchanting extravaganza set in a circus with princes, maidens (awaiting rescue), ninjas (see below), dragons, unscrupulous bankers and the evil Queen of the Night herself  accompanied by choruses and orchestras of Alexandra College and JSS.
A production like this, involving 120 students, requires more funding than can be raised through ticket sales.We raised most of the money via passionate in-house fundraising but are just short of our venue and technical costs. And so we turn to you..... Please sponsor our school production by clicking this Fundit link

Click here to book Tickets

Papagena and Papageno Rehearse

The Ninjas Practice their Martial Arts moves

JSS Music Recital, 10th December

Úna Ní Chanainn presented a magical recital for John Scottus parents on the 10th of December in the refreshment room of Northumberland Road. This is a slideshow to give you an idea of the range of talent and interest our small school contains. Children from both Secondary and Primary schools played their pieces beautifully and with confidence. We were treated to performances of the TWO JSS string quartets and a cello quintet in addition to individual pieces. We even had a double bass & cello piece performed for us.

12th December Magic Flute Bake Sale

Trish and Helpers get ready

Santa comes to buy a cake!!

Creating the festive feel

Third Class Girls Advent Calendar

A glorious countdown to Christmas!

Rudolph gets in the festive spirit!

An Angel reminds us that Christmas is a sacred time

The mystery of December 16th......

Festive Lunch, 11th December

Two wonderful JSS girls helping out in the kitchen - getting ready for the Festive Lunch and celebrating Barbara's return!

Naringa & Barbara are delighted with their helpers

Making the place Festive!!

Treats for Lunch!

I approve!!

Festive headgear aplenty!

Lunch Ladies treat the children with a Festive Song!!

Mr & Mrs JS Claus

Third Class Girls Sport

 Third class girls throwing and catching as part of the athletics strand. They practice such skills as under arm throw, over arm throw, chest pass, overhead throw, catching with one and two hands, kicking and catching with partners and individually, hand eye co-co ordination and communication. The skills are then used in small sides conditioned games.

Magic Flute Sweet Surprise, December 20th

Magic Flute Sweet Treats

Work continues on the Magic Flute. The School Orchestra from Alexandra College were delighted to accept an invitation from Mr Dempsey to participate in this exciting production. A hamper of delicious treats will be raffled to raise much needed funds for this enterprise. Tickets cost 30C each or 5 for €1 and are available at the Secondary School from Mr Kerr at morning drop-off. Buy some soon; If you're not in you can't win!!!

Halloween at John Scottus 2012

Magic Flute Characters

Papageno the Bird Catcher

The Magic Flute is cast and rehearsals are underway.  The 'production team' (Trish Bunyan, Susie Spratt , Valerie McGeough and Fran Dempsey) are working towards the show opening in March at the Civic Theatre in Tallaght.

Queen of the Night