Newsletter 23 April 2021 - Canal Way Educate Together National School, Dublin 8

Message from Dermot

It’s great to have everyone back in the school after the Spring holiday getting term three underway. It is always a fun term in the school. We look forward to bright days ahead and sunshine.

Our core value is kindness and there is a feature on it in this Newsletter.

Our board of management will meet next week, and we are working on our additional accommodation which will be getting underway soon. We look forward to having six extra rooms and freeing up the school building for September.

We appreciate that everyone in our school community is following our one way system in the morning and afternoon and observing our covid guidelines throughout the school – Stay Safe!

Bank Holidays reminder

This final term of the year, we have two bank holidays, Monday 3 May and Monday 7 June. The school is closed on both days.

Back to school declarations

These need to be submitted after every absence from school on Aladdin Connect. Please keep an eye on your App for notifications about this. If your child is off school for any reason you need to submit this declaration the evening or morning before they return to school.

Mural in the garden

We have been working hard to produce designs for a new mural to replace the current mural in the garden. Hazel says ‘A big thank you to all the classes who gave designs for our Creative Schools mural in our school garden’. Hazel gave all of the designs to our Creative Schools artist Violet Dempsey who will look through all of them and come up with an overall plan for the mural. She was very impressed with the amazing creations she received. Here is a link to a selection of submissions

PTA NEWS

Thank you to everyone who filled out the Parents Association Committee survey so far. The survey is still open and will close Sunday 25th. It is a great way to raise awareness about the PAC structure while also serving to help the current PAC. So please take a few minutes to fill it out if you haven’t already.

We are still working on ideas on how to create fun virtual fundraising events. The annual sponsored walk and a welcome session for new parents are among the events we are currently planning.

Finally, enjoy the spring term.

Value of the Month – Kindness

Kindness is our value of the month for April. Each class has looked at what kindness is and how we can be more kind. Here are some of the thoughts on what it is to be kind, from Mick’s and Luke’s classes, which they shared at assembly;

To be kind is to…

‘Let someone go ahead of you in the line’.

‘Help someone with their work’.

‘Hold the door open for another child’.

‘Use please and thank you’.

‘Look after the environment’.

‘Listen to others’

‘Share with others’.

‘Be a good friend’.

All lovely ideas we are putting into practice in school and at home!

Assessments

Standardised tests in Numeracy and Literacy will take place during the weeks beginning the 10th and 17th of May. We ask that families make a special effort to get children to school on time and ensure attendance wherever possible.

Getting to know you, Hazel!

What is the funniest thing you’ve ever done?
In school the funniest thing I’ve ever done was doing the play ‘Stranger Schools’ a few years ago. Reading Shane’s script made me laugh so much and then seeing it come to life on the stage made me laugh even more- I still can’t believe how good everyone was in it.

What makes you feel proud?
I feel proud when I see any of the children in Canal Way presenting something or sharing their work with others at an assembly. The children in our school make me feel very proud to be a teacher here. I would have loved to have gone to school here when I was a child.

What are you good at?
I think I’m good at talking to children which is probably a good thing as that’s the job I’ve chosen for life!

What makes you happy?
Being on holidays! Everything about it- the sunshine, walking through a new town, getting ready for dinner, swimming in the sea, buying cheap weird things in a market that you instantly regret when you are trying to stuff them into your tiny airplane bag.

What do you do when you feel sad?
If I can I book a holiday! Having something to look forward to really makes me feel happy. If I can’t go away i’ll do something small like plan a nice dinner or watch a movie. I love going to watch live music too and can’t wait to see some new bands and singers when we are allowed to go back out again!

What are your hobbies?
I like being creative. I loved helping to make the assemblies over lockdown. I love making little movies and writing little sketches. I’m working on getting better at video editing over the next while. I’m lucky that I can be creative in Canal Way!

What is your favourite food?
I am fond of a nice sandwich. I like different combinations of ingredients depending on the day. My friend rings me up when she’s about to order a sandwich so I can tell her exactly what to get!

What are you afraid of?
I will never willingly hold a spider in my hand. I woke up and saw a massive hairy spider under my head on my pillow when I was four and haven’t gotten over it yet.

Beach or mountains?
Beach every time! I went to the Copper Coast in Waterford last summer and discovered so many amazing new beaches that I didn’t know about.

Who is your favourite musician/sporting hero?
Dermot is my musical hero. Also Ciaran can play a great version of Enrique Iglesias ‘hero’ on the guitar. You should ask him to play it if you see him.

Coming up in May…

We are looking forward to the following events during May.

Canal Way Arts Festival 24thMay- 28th May 2021

Watch out for this great festival, with poetry, music, art, performance, literature, film, drama and more!

Active schools week

Fun ways to be active.

In the meantime, check out these lovely chalk drawings that Emily’s class have created!