Míle Buíochas

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone in our community, Board of Management, Staff, Parents and Children who have worked so hard to ensure Kilglass National School was a place of joyful learning.

The contribution of many people, working together to create and sustain places of belonging, of care and of shared interest and experience has enabled Kilglass National School to thrive over the past academic year.

6^th Class Graduation

• On Thursday 20^th June, we will have our 6^th Class Graduation Mass in the Church of the Holy Family at 12.45p.m. It will also be an opportune occasion to mark Mrs Mulhern’s contribution to the school for the students in the school.  This will be followed by a Tea / Coffee Reception in the school and our 6^th Class video, cake etc.  We would be delighted to see you on the day.

Making Memories

• Congratulations to all the boys and girls in Mrs Meeneghan’s Class who made their First Holy Communion in April.
• Congratulations to all the boys and girls in Mrs Lynott’s 5^th Class and Mr Brennan’s 6^th Class who made their Confirmation in May.
• It was great to see the children heading off on school tours to Graune Pet Farm and Play Centre in Cloonfad and to Shannon River Adventure in Rooskey filling them with memories full of fun and enjoyment.
• Cycle Right, Debates, Christmas Shoe Box Appeal, Food Dudes, World Book Day, Credit Union School Quiz and Jiving Juniors with Sandra Ganley were some of the programmes which were thoroughly enjoyed by many of the classes across the school.

Music Matters

• A big thank you to Róisín Kilgannon from Music Generation who shared her fantastic musical talents with the children in First and Second Class. Similarly, we say thanks to Mark McGovern from Music Generation who taught the ukulele to the boys and girls in Fifth Class.
• Thank you to Mrs Lynott for all the work with the School Choir during the year marking all our special occasions.
• This year, we rejuvenated the tin whistle throughout the school, bringing it back centre-stage. Thanks to this DEIS initiative, the children from 1^st to 6^th Class have been learning the tin whistle from Aileen Bourke since Christmas.  This has been a great success; the children have made so much progress and it is lovely to hear music wafting down the corridors on a daily basis.  Thank you Aileen for all your work.

Gaelic Games & Cumann na mBunscol

• Thank you to our local CDOs. We had hurling skills with Daragh Flynn and football with Alan Duffy during the year.  A big thank you to Conor Gormley (Sligo GAA) who did lots of work with the boys and girls too.
• This year we had a fantastic Sports Day in Kilglass N.S. A big thank you to all the teachers and team of coaches from Sligo GAA who made it an event not to forget – full of fun activities, skills challenges and games for all involved.  Míle Buíochas to the Parent Association who organised an ice-cream van on the day to mark the event.
• Comhghairdeas to the Kilglass N.S. Boys football team on their great campaign, final and display against Carn N.S. in the 5 to 7 teacher school category in Markievicz Park. This is a day for this group of boys to treasure and look back on in years to come. Thank you to all the teachers, parents, grandparents, siblings and classmates who brought massive support for the final.  A special thank you to Mrs Lynott and Alan Duffy (CDO) on all the work they have put in with both the boys and girls teams during the year.

Green Schools News

• Kilglass National School have continued working on our new Green School Flag theme of Travel. A big thank you in particular to Mrs Mulhern and the Green School Committee who have worked tirelessly on this theme.
• Picker Pals was a lovely new initiative introduced to the school this year. Thank you to Mrs Meeneghan for all her work in this area.
• A new Bicycle Shelter consisting of a 10 space toast rack will be installed over the summer.

Creative Arts

• Thank you to Lorraine Battle for involving the children in the creation of many marvellous constructions for the Scary Woods Walk in Kilglass House at Halloween. Similarly, thank you to Geraldine Gordon for getting the children involved in Easkey’s Scarecrow Festival.
• BLAST is an artist in residency scheme funded by both the Department of Education and Skills and Creative Ireland. Under Ms. Brogan guidance’s Third and Fourth Class worked with artist Jo Lewis in creating a collaborative class landscape art piece, wonderful mural/frieze designs from charcoal and realms from clay and natural materials based on a trip to Kilglass Woods.  They completed their superb project with the installation of tiles with prints from the woodlands which is on the wall in the school.
• We continued our great work this year in the exciting, innovative project involving our Creative Cluster of Excellence in conjunction with the Department of Education and our neighbouring schools of Stokane N.S., Rathlee N.S. and Killeenduff N.S. Puppetry with puppeteer Carmel Balfe from Little Gem Puppets was the focus.  This consisted of a puppet workshop for all the teachers and SNAs in our Creative Cluster.  Following this, the children from Third to Sixth Class took part in a Storybox Puppet Adventure workshop based on local myths and legends which involved puppet making, storytelling and puppeteering.  Finally, the boys and girls from Junior Infants to Second Class were treated to a fabulous puppet show with Carmel Balfe with all of our Creative Cluster in Castleconnor Community Centre. Kilglass N.S. were lead-school of this project, a big thank you to Ms Brogan for co-ordinating and pioneering this project and we look forward to continuing into Year 2 of our Creative Cluster in September 2024.
• Our Christmas Plays went from strength to strength this year. A Miracle in Town, Pirates vs Mermaids, Rudolph agus an Nollaig and Cinderella & Rockerfella were the productions which showcased the talent of all the boys and girls in the school.

Literacy & Numeracy

• Report writing has been a key focus during Term 1, Persuasive writing for Term 2 and Explanatory writing for Term 3. Samples of writing have been continually changing and on display on our School Writing Board.  First and Second Class completed a great programme of Literacy Lift-Off.  Our Maths Puzzler of the Week went from strength to strength during Term 1 and Term 2.  Children are full of excitement and enthusiasm as they eagerly engage with the maths puzzles each week. Hands-on materials, Izak 9 and the Prim Ed Maths Box series continue to delight throughout the classrooms.

Aladdin Connect

• Thank you to parents who have downloaded the Aladdin Connect App. Parents providing reasons for absences via Aladdin Connect is proving a great success, the Parent Teacher Meeting Scheduler was very effective and releasing our School Reports where you can keep them all safely in the same place has been a great new feature.

• A reminder that every day counts. Please support the school and help your child by making sure that he/she is in school every day every week for the full day all year round. This is very important and your interest and support in this crucial area of school attendance is vital.

Book Rental Scheme

• The Free Primary Schoolbooks Scheme in primary schools continues again next year and will remove the cost from families of funding schoolbooks for children enrolled in primary schools. Parents are no longer required to make any contribution towards the cost of schoolbooks, including the cost of any workbooks and copybooks. These books will be on loan to children and returned at the end of the year.

School Development and Maintenance

• Thank you to the BoM who facilitate many projects which continue to maintain and develop the school making it a lovely learning environment for all the children.

Parent Association

• Thank you to Kilglass Parent Association for the various ways that they supported the school during the year including:
• The Christmas Raffle
• Quiz Night in the Hilltop
• 6^th Class Hoodies
• First Communion Reception
• Confirmation Reception
• Cake Sale at the Easter Egg Hunt
• Ice-Cream Van
• This summer, the Parent Association in conjunction with one of our School DEIS initiatives, will revitalise and introduce new playground markings and furniture for all the children in the school.

Slán le Rang a Sé

• We send our very best wishes to all of the children in Sixth Class. Kilglass National School is where you have been making friends, working together in teams, discovering your talents and developing them to the best of your ability.  You have shown a great sense of community as a class, by being kind, supportive and generous.  As you now say goodbye to your primary years, and look forward to your first year in secondary school, we wish each and every one of you every happiness as you continue your educational journey.  This year marks the end of a chapter for the Bartonova McGowan, Bourke, Cleary, Hallinan, Hannon, Henry, Long and McDonnell families who are finishing their association with Kilglass National School after a long number of years. I would like to thank them for their support and wish them well.  Beir beannacht d’on todchaí.

New Junior Infants

• On Wednesday 12^th June we had an induction day for all our new Junior Infants between 10.00a.m. and 12.30p.m. It was great for the children to meet each other and acclimatise to their new surroundings in a safe and reassuring way before the new academic year.

Blúiríní / Snippets

• A big thank you to Ms Duffy, Mrs Meeneghan, Ms Brogan, Mrs Lynott, Mrs Mulhern, Martin, Colette and Helena for all their commitment to the school over the year.
• The school calendar for 2024/2025 is available to view on our school’s website.
• School for the academic year 2024-2025 will re-open for children on Monday 2^nd

Retirement

• A big thank you to Mrs Mulhern for all her great work and dedication to the school over the years. We wish her well as she embraces a new stage in life and look forward to celebrate her contribution to Kilglass N.S. in October 2024.

Finally

Thank you once again to all our parents for your ongoing support, cooperation and understanding over the last academic year.  We wish everyone a safe, restful and fun summer.

Le gach dea-ghuí,

Jarlath Brennan (Príomhoide)