All the children looked on excitedly as the two letters addressed to Miss Chloe McBride and Master Shane McElwain were delivered to the 5th and 6th Class room. Everyone wondered what they could be. It was soon revealed that they had both won a prize in the INTO Handwriting Competition.
Miss Fitzpatrick and Laura, along with Chloe, Shane and their very proud parents headed off to the prize giving ceremony in the IontasTheatre in Castleblayney. There were 18 children there from all around County Monaghan. To begin, the coordinator Catherine Kelly, made a lovely speech and congratulated all the children for their great work and emphasised what anachievement it was to win a prize in a handwriting competition which had entries from 38 schools in total.
Chloe won 2nd prize in her section which was for students from 5th and 6th class. Both Shane and Chloe went up to receive their certificates and prizes to a big round of applause. They got lots of photos taken as well. Soon after this refreshments were served. It was a lovely evening and both Shane and Chloe did themselves and Scoil Mhuire, Magherarney very proud.
Cycling Safety Course
On Your Bike!
Recently the school organised a programme about bicycle safety for 6th class students called ‘On Your Bike’. Despite it being a very wet day, everyone had great fun and learned lots of useful tips and information.
That morning we all cycled into school and the shed was full of bikes!! At 9.30 an instructor from Monaghan Partnership called Valerie came into our classroom and briefly introduced herself. She said that in Ireland we cannot let the rain stop us enjoying ourselves so we put on our raincoats, hats and gloves, tucked our trousers into our socks and headed out to the shed to collect our bikes!
Firstly Valerie gave us fluorescent jackets (hi-vis jackets) and fluorescent arm bands - we always need to wear these when cycling or walking so as to be seen clearly. We then learned how to adjust our helmets and ensured that they fitted our heads properly!
We were then split into groups of three. Valerie explained to us how to do a half pedal. This type of pedal is used when we want to slow down so as to keep a safe distance from the person in front of us. Valerie then made a square out of cones. We cycled up to the cones and attempted to do a half pedal while also practising our balancing skills.
The next activity focussed on learning to use the brakes properly. We were cycling in single file and when Valerie blew the whistle wehad to pull our brakes. We learned that it is dangerous to only pull one brake and instead we must pull the two brakes together.
After this we practiced weaving in and out between cones and turning. Gradually the distance between the cones got smaller and smaller. The people on the racers had a huge advantage! It was very hard not to hit the cones or cut corners as in the end the cones were placed so close together!
Later on we practised cycling in single file and in pairs. We had to make sure to keep a safe distance from each other and from the person / group in front of us. This meant we had to practise the half pedal and balancing skills learned earlier in the day. It was hard trying not to crash!!
By this stage the day was nearly over. We did some stretches as a cool down activity. We were soaking wet but had great fun! We learned lots of new things about cycle safety and got lots of advice on how to look after our bikes. We would like to thank the Parents’ Association for their funding and for giving us to chance to take part in this brilliant programme.
By: 6th class
Confirmation 2013
On Wednesday 15th May, the children in 6th class received the sacrament of Confirmation in St. Tierney’s Church, Roslea. Children from Scoil Mhuire, Gransha and St. Tierney’s Primary School, Roslea were confirmed along with us. We arrived in the Church at 5.40pm to get a class photograph taken. Everyone looked beautiful and we were very excited.
To start the mass, Bishop McDaid along with Fr Flanagan, Canon McGreevy and the altar servers came in as the entrance hymn was being sung. Ms Payne carried the oil of Chrism to the altar. The Bishop wore a hat called a mitre on his head and carried a gold staff called a crozier. He then used the thurible to bless the altar and the ceremony began.
Bishop McDaid welcomed us all and after the Gloria we listened to the First Reading about Pentecost. We then heard the Responsorial Psalm followed by the Second Reading. This was about the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit and how they help us throughout our lives. The Gospel was about Jesus being baptised in the River Jordan.
The Bishop then came down into the congregation and asked us some questions about Confirmation. We were very happy as we knew many of the answers and the Bishop was very impressed with us. He said that we must have been listening very carefully at school.
After this came the Rite of Confirmation. All the children to be confirmed stood around the altar and the first thing we did was renew our baptismal promises. This was an important part of the mass as it showed that we are mature enough to speak for ourselves and are now responsible for our own decisions and actions. The next part of the ceremony was the Laying on of Hands. Fr Flanagan and Canon McGreavy laid their hands on all the children and said a little prayer over us. Then the Bishop extended his hands over us and said a prayer asking God the Father to send his Holy Spirit upon us. Lastly, our sponsors came and stood behind us for the Anointing with Chrism. One by one, we kneeled in front of the Bishop and he made the sign of the cross on our foreheads with the oil of Chrism. This was a sign that we were being sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
The mass then continued as normal with the Prayers of the Faithful and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the concluding rite, the Bishop congratulated us on receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. We were very proud.
There were lots of photographs to follow and then we went and celebrated with our families and relations. We had a great evening and enjoyed every minute.
Confirmation Class 2013
On the Monday following our Confirmation we got a lovely surprise of a Confirmation Cake to end off our celebrations. It was every so tasty!
Our Lovely Art Work
Our School Garden
During the month of May 5th and 6th class planted fruit and vegetables in the school garden. Firstly we had to weed each raised bed as many weeds had grown since our big Spring Clean a few weeks ago. We pulled on the gloves and set to work. Miss Fitzpatrick then brought out the various types of plants. We had spring onions and white onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, potatoes and strawberries. We decided to plant the spring onions in the first bed. We then put a net over them so as the crows would not eat the tiny bulbs. We dug small holes in the second bed with trowels and with our hands and carefully planted the cauliflower and broccoli. We found plenty of worms and little insects as we dug. In the bed next to this we planted our cabbage. In the fourth raised bed we carefully planted our strawberry plants, followed by the lettuce. Lastly we made little holes in the soil and popped an onion bulb in each hole. We then used water out of our water butt to give the plants a drink of water.
To end the day, we put compost into car tyres and planted 3 potatoes in each tyre. The potatoes looked funny as there were little shoots called eyes growing out of them!
We had a great day in the school garden and hope to have lots of fresh, organic vegetables to eat very soon.
Congratulations Hazel!
Congratulations to Hazel Behan, one of our fifth class pupils who came first in the Clones Library Bike Week Art - Senior Category Competition and then won an impressive second place in the Monaghan County wide competition. Well done Hazel!
Sixth Class Presentation to Best Friend Shane McElwain
As the end of this academic year arrived sixth class faced the end of eight years in primary school. This as with every sixth class brings with it a time of reflection, a sharing of memories and a sense of excitement at what lies ahead in secondary school. But this year's sixth class was a little unique as with their graduation and moving to secondary school they leave behind a very dear class member. A person with whom they have grown up, with whom they have giggled and laughed heartily and a person with whom they share all their primary school memories right from day one in Junior Infants. And so the class felt it important to mark the occasion by making a special presentation to Shane to share with him how he has contributed, in an unquantifiable way, to their journey through primary school.
