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For Ms O'Connor's exclusive 6th Class website link click weebly.

Children's Book Week 2017

Mrs Moynihan's class paid a trip to Tralee Library for Children's Book Week 2017. They witnessed a very interesting talk by Michael Smith on the adventures of Tom Crean and got some very helpful information on becoming a writer. Click here for more pictures.

Sherkin Island Marine Competition Winners

Congratulations to 3 winners from our school, Lily-Mai Mullins, Keira Black and Emily O'Regan who have won in the Sherkin Island Art Competition.

We received the following email today:

We are delighted to attach the results of this year's prize winners for our "Environmental Competition for Primary School Children in Munster 2017".

Images of the top prize-winning entries, in both the Class/School category and the Individual Children's category, have been uploaded onto our website at www.sherkinmarine.ie/competition.htm

Prizes will be sent out by post/courier, which we hope will be sent out within the next few weeks.

What lovely prizes. We love books in Blennerville! Here are some infants browsing the books for sale in our Book Fair this week!

Dark Disco Date

You are all invited to dress up in Halloween costumes on Friday 27th October for the in-school Halloween disco. Be as spooky as you like. See you there IF YOU DARE!!!! Senior Infants might teach their families their Dark Disco song. Click DARK DISCO to listen to it again by opening it in the pop-up window- anyone who has had Miss Brassil teaching them will know the dance! Let's all do it together on the day! Click WITCH DOCTOR for another favourite. Click SPOOKY SOUNDS and picture how many spooky things you hear when you close your eyes, if you really want to get scared!

Cake Sale

• Cake Sale: We are asking the parents of Junior Infants and Second class to bake for our bake sale next Thursday the 26th of October. All proceeds will go towards Cystic Fibrosis. All children can bring in €2 to purchase goodies on the day. 

Scholastic Winner!

Congratulations to Paddy from Senior Infants who won a €5 book voucher for his Gingerbread Man book cover art. There will many more winners announced very soon!

Many thanks to the Parent Association volunteers who man this fair. It was already in full swing today on 19th October!

 

Junior Infant Aistear

Junior Infants continued the Three Little Pigs Aistear theme on 23rd October. Thanks so much to the parents who volunteer to help us do this. It couldn't happen without you. Click here for more photos.

Senior Infant Aistear

Senior Infants continued the Aistear theme of the Witch's Cave on 23rd October. Thanks so much to the parents who volunteered to help out at stations. We had super fun creating witches and baking mummy faced pizzas. Click here and see more photos.

Greenschool Day

Sixth class Greenschool members enjoyed a Marine Environment forum in the Ashe Hotel on 18th October. Callum, James D, Sarah, Emma and Róisín represented the school, taking part in discussions, art, experiments and generally learning lots of new things about the marine environment. I think those giving the course were left under no illusion that we are hoping for a place on the Limerick seminar in December! Fingers crossed you made a good impression. Thanks so much to Sorcha Ryan for accompanying them. Click here for more photos.

Literacy Lift-Off Winners

Well done to the children in 1st class who blasted off the charts today in literacy Lift-Off! Click here for more photos of literacy in our school.

Halloween Horror

Huge concentration by Lily-Mai, colouring her spider's web with oil pastels on FRIDAY 13th!!!

Three more long haired young ladies enjoying art in Miss Doyle's Class.

Emily with more lovely art work.

Below is Polly who is very proud of the book she has written called 'The Worst Witch".

Zumba

Thanks to Miss Daly for the terrific Zumba lessons! Click here for more pictures.

Dark Disco

We always look forward to the annual scary halloween disco in our school. This year, we are inviting children to dress up on Friday 27th October, in full costume for lots of fun in the school hall. Classes will take turns, enjoying music and games. Getting into the spooky spirit on 12th October were Senior Infants, decorating their class with scary skulls in preparation for the Witch's Cave Aistear theme beginning 16th October. Click here for more pictures.

Matthew even had báirín breac for lunch on the day, and was very relieved not to find the ring!

 

The Daily Mile

Our school has decided to try a new initiative called The Daily Mile, whereby children get up and out of the classroom, and walk, jog or run on a clean flat surface for a mile. Mrs Moynihan has kindly measured a lap of our school and her class worked out that 7 laps of our new school equals a mile. Some classes have already begun training. Infants tried 3 laps, and then 4 the following day, building up their stamina. Click www.thedailymile.co.uk  to read about this idea. Click here for some photos of us jogging.

Art Sculpture Launch

Tuesday 10th October saw the official launch of our Per Cent for Art sculpture by local artist Marjorie Cunningham. Click here for the article by Dermot Crean and thanks to Dermot for the photo below.

Literacy Stations

Our school teaches literacy through stations, little groups of 5 to 6 children, supervised by an adult. We find it fantastic for getting a chance to listen to each child read, do some dictation and see their writing and pencil grips first-hand. Of course we have fun with word games too! Literacy Lift Off began in 1st class on 10th October and all the groups are having a BLAST! 6th class are even doing Literacy Stations! Click here for more photos.

Gymnastics Goodbye

We are very sad to have to say goodbye to Teresa Murphy, our gymnastics teacher of the past 6 weeks. It was a huge learning curve for us all, and there was massive improvement in balance, cartwheels handstands and confidence at running and jumping. Thanks sincerely to Teresa and to the Parent's Association who paid for this treat. For the last of the photos, click here.

First Communion Date

We are delighted to announce the date for our First Communion will be Saturday 19th May 2018 at 11am. See the pencil calendar on the left for all the Do This In Memory mass dates leading up to the Communion, as well as the family mass and Corpus Christi Procession following the Communion.

Old Clothes Collection

We have decided to do an on-going clothes collection in the school. We invite everyone to bring in plastic bags with secondhand clothes, which we will gather upstairs until we have enough for a collection. We will get paid by the kg for all clothes collected and this money will be re-invested in the school.  We can also take shoes that are tied together, suitable for re-using. Please do not send in any blankets, bed linen or curtains, just clothes that could be re-used. So clean out those wardrobes and see what you can spare. Thanks everyone.

Chinese Lesson

Senior Infants tried eating with chopsticks on 9th October while learning a little about China. Somehow, they managed! Click here for more photos.

Book Fair Competition

7 lucky children will be winning €5 vouchers for the Scolastic Book Fair very soon. All you need to do is re-create the front cover of your favourite book. All classes are doing this competition. Click here to see more of the Senior Infant entries.

Amazing Autumn Art

The Junior Infants created some amazing Autumn art on 6th October, turning leaves into leaf creatures! Click here to see more.

Scolastic Book Fair Arriving 18th October

We are welcoming back the Scolastic Book Fair on 18th October where our school will open a shop in our school hall with terrific prices on offer on the latest children's books, as well as old favourites. All classes are having an in-class art competition to see who will win a book voucher for this fair. The Senior Infants brought their favourite book to school on 6th October and drew the cover of it for this competition. Here they are showing their favourite books on the stairs. Click here for more up close photos. The book fair will remain with us until 25th October 2017.

Autumn Leaf Art

Mrs Lawlor's 3rd and 4th class painted fabulous art based on Autumn Leaves, on display on 5th October.

Marrog Display

Mrs Moynihan's 4th and 5th class did a wonderful display at the school entrance based on the poem The Marrog, describing make-believe characters that nobody knows, who sit invisibly at the back of the classroom. The children's imaginations ran away with themselves!

Yard Fun

Thanks to Denise for organising a Snakes and Ladders game in the Junior yard on 5th October. It just involved a large dice and a few cubes and gathered a large audience by 1pm.

Some gymnastic moves were being demonstrated in the yard also today by Olivia.

Children enjoying the fine weather on the sculpture.

There was even some Irish dancing going on!

Old School!

Some infants enjoying the old table on 4th October while painting went ahead on their flat tables.

Gymnastics Week 5

Handstands and springboards were the subjects of Gymnastics Week 5. Amazing to watch! Click here and see pages 9, 10 and p11 for some photos which you might be mistaken as seeing upsidedown!

Nature Table

There is a fabulous diaplay in Senior Infants of items from nature. We have Autumn leaves, helicopters, conkers and even some wild garlic and mushrooms arrived on 4th October thanks to Iseult and friends.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Senior Infants painting their 'Very Hungry Catterpillars' on 4th October after reading the story this week. Children used recycled materials (apple trays) and tried to do a pattern, every second one on the 8 sections.

Star Líne

Well done to Senior Infants who took home the first trophy for Star Líne on 3rd October for great lining up after bell time during sos breaks during  September. Isuelt was the first girl to take home the trophy and every child will get to take it home for a night during October. Children got prizes from Mr O'Sullivan on the day too such as pencils, rubbers and sharpeners which the infants were able to tell him were a peann luaidhe, scriosán agus biarróir! Click here for more photos.

Jogging for Joy

6th Class jogged 5km on Friday 29th September for National Fitness Day and intend to keep it up every dry Friday from now on! Sure why wouldn't they with scenery like that?! Thanks Miss O'Connor, Miss O'Shea and Master O'Sullivan for jogging with them.

Hospice Success

For a lovely article and photo about the local Hospice and Cake Sale in our school recently by Dermot Crean, click here.

Tabata

Thanks Miss Ryan for giving classes a taste of Tabata exercise on National Fitness day during September.

Guitar is Back

Guitar lessons with Mary continue after school weekly.

Eating their Curds and Whey

Senior Infants are learning the nursery rhyme Little Miss Muffet this month and they got to taste some curds and whey in class on 28th September. Most didn't like it very much! Click here to see more pictures.

LEGO Club

Growing numbers in LEGO infants this week on 28th September. Click here for more photos.

Gymnastics, Balance Lessons

The balancing acts in gymnastics on 26th September were unbelieveable! Even the infants got in on the balancing act. A super day of balance. To balance, you need to focus and concentrate and stay still- very important things that are also needed in class. Click here to see all the latest photos from the balance lessons from the day on pages 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Newly added 6th class photos on 28th September. 

National Fitness Day

Friday 29th September is National Fitness Day and to mark this we are all being asked to wear tracksuits to school and do extra PE classes! There will be zumba dance, jogging and plenty of extra exercise.

Get Into the Groove

Thanks to our final year teaching student Ms Laura Daly, who is with us until Christmas for taking some classes out for Zumba dance lessons on Friday 22nd September. It got the feet moving and the heart pumping. Click here for more photos.

Literacy Stations

Literacy station teaching began in Senior Infants on 21st September, working on syllables, letter sounds, formation and they even had time to play with theraputty which will develop into a handwriting station over the next few weeks. Click here for more photos.

Class Portrait

Senior Infants found it hard to sit still for their group portrait! Here is our best and let's just say...best fun photos!

The Giant Returns!

Many thanks to Mícheál Quirke from the County Board for returning to us this September to train us on a fortnightly basis. Mícheál is a gentle giant and the children are in awe of his skill and calming nature. For more pictures, click here.

LEGO Club is Back

LEGO club is back on Thursday afternoons with Eve Savage from 1:30-2:30 for Infants for €5 or for older classes from 2:30-4pm, places limited.

Split Decision

More wonderful photos updated from Tuesday gymnastics from 19th September in the Gymnastics gallery album. Check out Megan's agililty below!

Chess Club Immersed in Concentration

Chess club watching a great contest being played out on 20th September 2017.

Rugby Training

Thanks so much to Seán Brosnan, who resumed training with us during September. Click here for more pictures.

Hospice Community Coffee Day

The 15th September saw the first Community Hospice day being held in our school hall. Organiser, and local lady, Maura O'Sullivan said the community turned out in huge numbers to support it. Local lady Andrea O'Donoghue was also there all day, serving with a smile. Children were invited to bring in €2 to buy buns and all money raised will go towards a 15 bed in-patient unit which is opening on Friday 22nd September. Maura pointed out that ALL the money raised in Kerry STAYS in Kerry. The day was also attended by Kerry person of the year,Ted Moynihan, who is the Chairperson of Kerry Hospice. The school and all at Kerry Hospice would like to sincerely thank the children, parents, volunteers, the supporters from the community and bakers for all their support on the day and we are thrilled to announce that a staggering €1,060.50 was raised on the day! For more pictures, click here.

Spectacular Art

Some spectacular art was created by Mrs Moynihan's 4th and 5th class during September. Here are some self-portraits and art based on their names that is displayed inside and outside of their classroom.

First's First Feadóg

First class had their very first tin whistle lesson on 14th September with teacher Mary O'Sullivan and they were very attentive and learned a lot during the lesson. Maybe they can whistle a happy tune for us by the Christmas concert time. For more pictures, click here.

Too Cool For School

Ms Doyle's 1st class did some fantastic art work mixed with writing. They wrote and re-drafted their work before finally writing into the sunglasses of their art images. What a spectacular sight to see! There really are some very BRIGHT(!) children in our 1st class!

Gymnastics

On our 2nd gymnastic session on 12th September, we focused on balance, tumbles and hand-stands. For the balance beam, children had to put on 'posh' faces while being careful not to fall off the balance beams. It was great fun. More photos were added to the Gymnastics folder in the gallery.

Fine Motor Stations

Junior Infants practised their fine-motor skills at stations in their class on 11th September 2017. Click here for more Junior Infant pictures of this.

Hospice Morning

• There will be a coffee afternoon held in the school this Friday the 15th of September from 1pm until 2.45 pm. It is in aid of the (Hospice) Irish Cancer Society. All parents and members of the community are welcome to attend. We are asking the parents of Mrs. Lawlor's and Mrs. Moynihan's class to bake for this event. We would be very grateful if the baking could be dropped in before school in the morning. There will be a donation box in the school all day. Children may bring in €1/€2 on the day. Thanks in advance for helping with this very worthy cause. 

Junior Infant Parents

• There will be an information evening for all Junior Infant parents on Wednesday 27th of September at 7.30pm in the school hall. All parents are welcome to attend. Please bring the pack that you received on the previous information evening in May.

Parent Association AGM

• Parent Association A.G.M will be held on Wednesday 4th of October in the school hall at 7.30pm.  All parents are invited to attend. I'm asking all families to make a big effort this year to attend this year. The Parent Association is a vital cog in our school and this will be clearly outlined on the night. Just to clarify the A.G.M is an information evening outlining the work of the previous year. There are no jobs given out on the night. The election of officers is held at the first meeting after the A.G.M.
• I would like to inform parents that Mr. Sean Daly is the new Parent Nominee on the Board of Management. He replaces Mr. Brendan O' Donoghue as Brendan has no longer children in the school. We wish Sean every success in his new role. The following are the members of the Board of Management of our school;

Fred Garvey - Chairperson

Fr. Francis Nolan - Patron nominee

Terry O' Sullivan - Principal

Louise Brassil - Teacher Nominee

Sean Daly - Parent Nominee

Michelle Culloo - Parent Nominee

Mary Wallace - Community Nominee

Jerry Dwyer - Community Nominee

Taking a Tumble

All classes had their turns taking tumbles on Tuesday 5th September, when new teacher Theresa Murphy came to the school to begin a 6 week gymnastic session with all children, sponsored by the Parent's Association. Children did warm ups, stretches and then did stations of springboards, head over heels tumbles and cart-wheels. Click here for more photos. To save time next week, please, all children: have empty pockets, no jewellery or watches and all long hair must be tied back and wear shoes that you are able to tie yourselves. Thank you.

Senior Close Ups

Click here for close up portraits of the Senior Infants. These will be displayed on our classroom door so all know which class they are welcome in.

Basketball Treat

Thank you to Jimmy Diggins for visiting us, with his very tall helpers Daire, Oliver and David, Mounthawk transition year students, on Monday 4th September for a basketball blitz with senior infants to 2nd classes. Jimmy was promoting the Imperials Junior and Senior Academies.

Junior Academy begins Saturday 9th September 9am-10am boys (born in 2009/2010). 10am-11am Boys and Girls (born in 2011/2012). 11am-12pm Girls (born in 2009/2010). Venue: Mounthawk School Gym for Juniors and Seniors.

The Senior Academy with Goran and Trae (from Garvey's Tralee Warriers) begins on Monday 11th September with Girls from 6pm-7pm  (born in 2008) and Boys from 7pm-8pm (born in 2008). All are welcome to join! Click here for more pictures. email: imperials08@eircom.net

Welcome Back

Welcome back to all students, parents and staff for the new school year. A special welcome to our new children who have joined us this September.

Class of 2017 Graduation

Click HERE to see the full slideshow by Pauline Dennigan. Thanks Pauline!

Click traleetoday.ie to read an article and see more photos by Dermot Crean who also took the photo below. Thank you Dermot!

School Hike and BBQ June 2017

Click HERE to see the complete slideshow of the School Walk & BBQ

Caoimhe Wins Huge Award

Well done to Caoimhe Dairo, who won a National Award on 30th June 2017! The award was from the Primary Planet magazine, which the children read on a daily basis in our school. She was one of 4 students who were nominated from Primary Schools, all around the coutry. She won a Dynamic Award for being such an Active girl, and for also being so humble in everything she does. We are all extremely proud of Caoimhe here in the school. We wish you the best of luck in secondary school Caoimhe! Below is Caoimhe with her parents. Click here for more photos.

 

Summer Newsletter

Your school Summer newsletter is now ready to read! Click here. Thanks to Ms Brassil's personal editor Marie who spots even the tiniest mistakes. You are much appreciated Marie. Thanks also to Denise who got all the graduation photos ready for it.

Star Attendance Awards

Congratulations to all the boys and girls who were awarded star attendance certificates for perfect attendance all year, or for only missing one to three days. This is something that needs to be given credit, as it is a great example for good work ethic for children's futures.

The O'Donoghue Memorial Cup

A very special day in Blennerville N.S. on 30th June saw the second year of the Tony (Todds) O'Donoghue basketball cup memorial cup match. A huge thank you to Andrea O'Donoghue, Mary Gardiner, Olivia O'Shea and those who took part. Mr O'Sullivan spoke in praise of Tony, for all he did in the local community. Click here for more photos.

Below was the youngest basketball supporter on the day! How cute is Oisín?!

O.T. Cycling Awards

We sincerely thank parent and O.T. Eileen O'Connor for taking the time to help teach 5 of our children how to cycle during June. Róisín got motoring pretty quickly and is now cycling, so well done! All children made huge progress and were awarded certificates by Eileen on 30th June.

Potato Harvest

Thanks to parent Julie Hannafin who harvested potatoes with Senior Infants on 30th June. They will be lovely after being boiled with a bit of butter!

Endless Talent in Infants!

On Friday 30th June, the infants all gathered on the little stage in Miss Brassil's class for a talent show. Children sang, told jokes and danced. Some snippets were videoed and will be held until graduation so you'll just have to wait a while for those! Those who got stage fright were given second chances to come back later and try again and got through it very well the second time. Medals were awarded for the winners, voted by Miss Brassil and Mrs O'Sullivan. Well done to everyone who took part.

Surprise Party!

Children in 5th class planned a surprise party for Mr O'Sullivan, on his last day of teaching them, on Friday 30th June. It was a complete shock and they were very thoughtful having his favourite sweets and even decorating the classroom whiteboard. What a lovely gesture by the children to show how much they'll miss Mr O'Sullivan.

Staff Vs Children Basketball Game

It was excitement all the way in this basketball match of the year with the teachers against the students. Mary Gardiner called it a day after the scores were equal at full time. There were stand out performances by Mr O'Sullivan himself and Aoife Bourke. It came down to free throws where Miss Dinan took on Cathal Concagh but Cathal ended up scoring the winning shot! So for the record, the students won! Huge thanks to Mary for acting as referee and to everyone who came to watch and cheer on team Blennerville! Click here for more photos.

Movie Day

Infants really enjoyed their movie day on 29th June. They watched the Smurfs and Maura O'Donnell from our Parent's Association brought a real pop-corn machine into the classroom which was simply magic. Thanks so much for going to so much trouble Maura. Paddy and Nicola distributed tickets during sos time and these were collected at the 'cinema' door! All enjoyed pop-corn, a mini muffin and jellies thanks to Isaac and Collette. Click here for more photos.

Miss Brassil's class drew smurfs during the morning but given the choice of how they would like to colour these, the class voted for markers above paint or crayons, so that's what they used. Click here to see some of these pictures.

4th/5th Class Basketball Class Blitz

Here is the winning team of the 4th/5th class blitz who won in the play-off after finishing tied top of the league table. Well done to everyone who took part.

Junior Infant Scavenger Hunt

Our Junior infants went on a scavenger hunt on 28th June, searching for things like a flower, a leaf, sand, a shell, a bottle but nobody ever thought someone would get the SOCK on the list! Sophie amazingly found one. Thanks to Marie for accompanying us on the trip. Click here for more photos.

First Class Junk Art

Top quality art was produced in first class this past week, and all from rubbish that was being thrown out. Re-cycling at it's best! It took three weeks and a lot of patience for many layers to dry but it was all worth it in the end. These construction and painting pieces of art were based on the theme of Africa's Big Five! Do you know what animals are in the African Big Five? See if you can find out. Click here to see more photos from the end results on 28th June.

Butterfly Masks

Mrs O'Connor's class posed with their masks on and off in the Fairy Garden on 28th June. See if you can guess who's who in the first photo before looking at the second one. There is a lovely new girl called Ellie in hide in the picture too. Welcome to our school Ellie!

U12 Kerry Ladies GAA Winners

A massive well done to the newly formed team of Under 12 Ladies football, representing St. Pat's, who, in their very first tournament playing together as a team, beat Finuge / St Senan's, and won the shield! They are also the first team to have their name on this brand new shield for Under 12s. A day of firsts! Here are the girls from our school who were part of this winning team. Well done to Martina Dairo for setting up this team. Hopefully many more girls will get involved with the club in the future.

6th Class Graduation

This year's ceremony will begin at 7pm on Wednesday 28th June 2017, and all are invited to an evening to celebrate 6th class graduating. There will be poetry, song, photos and tears. Just warning you, bring a tissue if you are coming.

Basketball Battle of the Century

Come and cheer on the Staff Vs 6th Class on Thursday 29th June 2017 at 1:30pm in the basketball court. Very special guest referee Garda Mary Gardiner. It's going to be epic!

Greenschool

At our last meeting of the year on 27th June, one of our youngest committee members Aidan presented Lisa O'Donoghue with a card signed by the committee and flowers as a thank you to Lisa's dedication to the committee since the beginning. 3 flag inspections and 6 years later, Lisa hasn't missed a meeting. We need more parents like you Lisa! We will be inviting Lisa back in September to raise the new flag, when we have a date. You and Ciara O'Donnell will be missed on the committee. Thank you for all your time. Thanks also to the P.A. for Miss Brassil's voucher. There really was no need. Thanks for the photos Michelle. See the Greenschool page for more.

Miss Brassil goes Dotty

Thanks to Ruth, parent of Roisín in Miss Brassil's class who brought Róisín's cat Dotty to school on 27th June. She was abandoned at the side of a road and Róisin and her Mom gave her a loving home. What a lovely thing to do. She is a lucky cat! Some children thought she looked like a dalmation!

O.T. Hand Stands

Here are some of the boys from the weekly O.T. sessions after mastering the crow yoga pose. Can any of you adults do this? Impressive!

  

LEGO Serious Play

Thanks so much to parent Eve Savage, who did this LEGO session with us.

On Thursday 22nd June 2017, sixth class enjoyed a 'Lego Serious Play' session which examined their hopes and fears around transitioning to secondary school. Using this methodology the bricks are used to build models that represent thoughts, ideas and feelings through the use of metaphors and storytelling. There are no wrong answers to questions posed, rather the student is enabled to express themselves through their models. This in turn elicits deeper and more honest responses than standard verbal responses allow. 
Asked to build "What you are most looking forwards to about secondary school" some amazing models were created representing students love of sports, science, art, woodwork and the making of new friends. All things they were hoping to develop further.
When asked to build a model of "A fear or worry you have about moving to secondary school" the tone in the room completely changed, the pupils took the task seriously and built visual representations of physical bullying, isolation and being left out, a fear of asking questions in case they would 'look stupid' and worries about not being smart enough to keep up with others academically. The process allowed for great discussion and allowed them to see that many fears they had were shared by others but may be expressed in different ways. Lego Serious Play creates a safe environment to explore various scenarios. It gives both facilitator and participants insight into how others perceive the world around them so as to better understand themselves and one another. Click here for more photos.

Fenit Cycle

5th and 6th classes enjoyed a cycle to Fenit on Friday 23rd June. Thanks to Garda Séamus, Mary Gardiner and Aidan O'Mahony for accompanying us on the cycle, ensuring we had a very safe cycle. Thanks also to Mike O'Connor and the staff of the R.N.L.I. for showing us around the lifeboat building at Fenit pier. Click here for photos.

Cake Sale Success

Thanks to 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes for baking for the school on 23rd June 2017. The talent is endless in this school, with Brian Kavanagh even baking chess pieces for a centrepiece. Genius! Click here for more photos from today. Thanks to Maura and Tracey who manned the shop along with Michaella and 5th class students. Thanks to all who bought and ate the goodies! Thanks to the Parent's Association for organising this. It raised €374.45 for the school.

Cinema Survey

Junior and Senior infants took part in a Cinema Survey, to decide which movie they would watch next Thursday for Movie day. Barry and Polly took care of the ticking and the totting up and the results are in: the winning film is the Smurfs movie! Infants can get their free tickets on Thursday morning in the yard for the viewing in Ms Brassil's classroom with full black-out blinds and pop-corn too. Cushions are welcome. Click here for more pictures.

O.T. Cycling

Thanks to Eileen O'Connor who took time with us today to teach 5 of our younger children how to cycle in the basketball court. Places were first come, first served and the children did very well. Thanks Eileen. Click here for more pictures.

Drama

Senior Infants had great fun acting out Mo Willem's Let's Go For a Ride today on their little stage. You can watch it on youtube by clicking here. Children were chosen randomly by the hat app in pairs to act it out. It was hilarious! Click here for more pictures. Hollywood, here we come!

Loch a'Dúin Hike

Mrs Moynihan's class, straight after their week of 25km running and non-stop exercise during Active Week, headed off on a hike to Loch a'Dúin, near Brandon on 22nd June. Yet again, Daithí Ó Connell was the best guide you could hope to have. Thanks so much to him for taking us yet again. The scenery was stunning! So who actually owns the hat?! Click here for photos.

Credit Union Ellie

We were paid a visit by Credit Union Ellie's mascot elephant on 22nd June, and she brought little rug-sacks for us all for our swimming gear this Summer! Thank you to Tralee Credit Union.

Book Worm Winners

Well done to the winners of more Book worm club medals in Ms Brassil's class who kept a log of all the books they have read this year. The lists were very long!

Taekwon-Do Champion Calum

Well done to Calum Ross on receiving his yellow tag in Taekwon-Do with Master Adrian O'Mahony.

Wetlands with the Greenschool Committee

On Wednesday 21st June, our Greenschool Committee of 26 members were treated to a day at the Wetlands in honour of their work in obtaining our 3rd Greenschool Water flag this year. Thanks to our Parent's Association for paying for this. Thanks a million to Ms Dinan, Ms O'Shea and Anne-Marie for accompanying the children on the adventure, where the whole trip was water-based. Click here for fantastic photos taken by Ms Dinan.

Tralee Town Park Hike with Infants

The infants walked all the way to Tralee town park on 20th June, with lunch boxes in hand, to enjoy a day in the playground with a pic-nic. Thanks to parents  Shannon, aunty Caragh, Collette and Andrijana, and John and Emma who were celebrating a wedding anniversary today and chose to do the walk with us! Extra eyes were vital and much appreciated. Thanks so much to Nora who met us at 12pm, just as energy levels were dropping with ice-creams for everyone. Thanks to Denise for being with us. Click here for photos from the day. Thanks to Collette for the extra photographs which are excellent! Click here for even more photos thanks to John.

Guess who?!

Kerry Mountain Rescue

A huge thank you to Kerry Mountain Rescue volunteers who came to our school with jeep (which seats 9 people!) and gear on 19th June and opened our eyes to the fantastic work that KMR have to do. These volunteers can be called on at any time, even putting their own lives in danger to save others. We hadn't realised the number of people that need to be on each rescue mission, to lift the stretcher and equipment. They lift it in teams, taking turns, as it is very heavy. Some of the children got a chance to lift a stretcher and found out very quickly how heavy it was, and Seán was a light patient. Seán Berry pretended he hurt his leg, like John Lenihan up a mountain and his leg was put in a splint and the air sucked out of it to keep it completely straight. Then Seán was wrapped up snug as a bug, secured and lifted in the stretcher. Ruadh shouted the commands to lift and to rest. The lads were sure Ruadh had done the job before! Click here for more photos. Thanks a million to parent Seán Daly for organising this.

Daniel didn't look like he got injured too badly but the helicopter was still on it's way...

Heaven is a Place on Earth

Click HERE to see the complete slideshow of the School Walk & BBQ

Our school family hike and BBQ turned out to be the most amazing day of weather this year. It was an ideal place to be on Father's Day. Around 80 of us gathered at Tonevane and walked over the mountain trail to Curraheen church. The scenery was spectacular. Our new school looks pretty impressive, even from high up the mountain. Mr O'Sullivan led the way over the rough but dry terrain. On arrival at the church, everyone enjoyed burgers, sweet goodies, cool drinks and great company. Most children availed of the free face-painting, bouncy castles and pony-rides. Thanks to photographers Pauline Dennigan and Ciara O'Donnell who snapped all day, as well as cook burgers I heard! Thanks so much to Maura and Jimmy, and to Nora and the Parent's Association who helped today go so smoothly. Thanks to Tony for all his help. Thanks to everyone who donated food, barbecues, burgers, who walked, and who turned up. Well done Molly and Michaela on the face-painting- we thank you too. Thanks to Fr Francis for allowing us the use of the church grounds for the day and to the bouncy castle people and Hayes' of Tralee Equestrian Centre. Click here for a few photos from Heléne Kavanagh of the day.

Sports Day Photos by Ciara O'Donnell

Were you lucky enough to be caught on camera by Ciara today? Click here for AMAZING photos taken on Sports Day.  Below is just one stunning photo of many. Super job Ciara O'Donnell, thank you.

Phew!

I think Ms Doyle captured Jack beautifully on camera to show how some of us were feeling by Friday evening of Active week- well some of us older teachers anyway!

Good Luck Aiden!

We just heard that Aiden Hayes, from 3rd class, who took part in the Primary School Athletics evening in the CBS The Green field this month, ran a blinder in the 200m for his age and qualified for the next round in Castleisland on 28th June. This is a great achievement and we would like to wish Aiden the very best of luck in this race. There's no doubt about it but those Hayes boys are all very fast runners!

In-School Soccer League Winners

Well done to the winning team of the in-school soccer league which finished on 16th June in the Astroturf. Mr O'Sullivan awarded medals kindly donated by Maura O'Donnell to the winners. Click here for more photos. Yes Cathal Concagh- your team WON!

Active Week Day 5 with Sport's Day

We began the day with guest speaker John Lenihan who visited us to tell us about cross country and mountain running and he had very important points that he shared with us. He told us to never give up- no matter what people tell you that you can't do or won't be able to do- if you are determined enough, you can do anything. He told us harrowing stories like when he broke his ankle near the top of Carrauntoohil and had to practically hop down and was in hospital for weeks afterwards. He showed us his WORLD CHAMPION medals and showed us a slide show of pictures showing places and races from throughout his amazing running career which has spanned 30 years and saw him travel the entire world. He was asked some excellent questions by the children. John was an absolute gentleman and Ms Brassil was thrilled to get his autograph on his book "Tough as Leather" which is an excellent read. Thanks a million to John Lenihan, inspriational runner. Click here for more photos of John.

Sports day was manned by 6th class and Barry John Keane made a guest appearance in the Astro-turf penalty shoot out station. Thanks a million to him for coming. We had a bouncy castle and lots of fun stations which involved obstacles, games, tug-of-war, races and so much more. Well done 6th class on doing such a great job with the younger children. Thanks to Maura for the welcome ice-pops at half time and for the bouncy castle! There are a LOT of photos. See if you can find yourself by clicking here. More photos to follow soon, as it takes a little time for teachers to get them to Ms B.

Wow Jake! I believe I can fly...

Mrs Moynihan's class completed the 25km run challenge set to them for Active week so WELL DONE to you all!

Sás Creek

There was amazing scenery on offer, beautiful flora and fauna, all four seasons, great exercise and the brilliant West Kerry air! The main ingredients of a magnificent geography, history and science field trip to West Kerry on 15th June, as part of Active Week with Mr O'Sullivan's class. We truly are blessed to live in such an amazing part of the country. We got wet, dried up, and got wet again but the children really enjoyed themselves. Thanks to Daithí O'Connell of the Tralee Mountaineering club for guiding us on this wonderful day that we will never forget. Click here for more photos.

Active Week Day 4

Today we had boxing with the O'Shea father and son team Pat and Seán who took time off work to be with us, so we are extremely grateful to them. We had a visit from the fairies too and some infants were in costume which meant that we had very rare boxing fairies in our school today! Thanks to Mrs O'Sullivan for her quick thinking in asking the O'Sheas. Thanks Sarah Dinan for the fantastic fairy music as the fairies arrived to school today. It was a magic moment. Thanks also to parent Lorraine O'Connor who at very short notice was able to book Joe O'Connor the famous TV referee from Ireland's Fittest Family. He did a Q&A session with the school and stayed with us for 45 minutes. He was really interesting and funny. Thanks to Maura O'Donnell for setting up an incredible Hip Hop session for the older classes with Ciara and Shannon from Cassie Leen's Dance school, near St. John's Church. You wouldn't believe the moves the children were able to do by the end of only half an hour. Infants also did Go Noodle in the hall with the big screen and 4th and 5th ran another 5km! Mrs O'Connors had their wheels day too. Thanks to everyone who helped.

Click here for more Joe O'Connor photos.

Click here to see more Hip-Hop photos.

Click here for Active Week and Wheels photos.

Click here for more Fairy Garden Photos, p2 and p3.

Look who we found in the fairy garden today!

Mary-Kate was in awe of the fairies today.

Click here for more boxing photos.

Go Noodle in the hall with infants.

Star Líne with a difference today as we did our Aerobics dance that we learned all week while in our línes!

Active Week Day 3

We had a very special surprise visit from Kieran Donoghy, thanks to Mary Gardiner and Garda Irene who came to our rescue to do basketball with the older classes. Thanks so much to them for coming during their lunch breaks from work! We had orienteering with infants in St. Pat's and aerobics for all. David O'Dea from Parnell's did hurling from 1st class upwards and it was hugely enjoyed by all. 

Here is John and Bruce, father and son cycling to school together for Active Week. Well done!

Click here for Kieran Donoghy basketball and more infant wheels photos.

Click here for more David O'Dea from Parnell's photos.

Click here for lots of new orienteering photos.

Active Week Day 2

Tuesday saw us all doing rugby with Sean Brosnan, orienteering for infants, wheels day for Seniors and 1st classes, 5km run for 4th and 5th classes, aerobics and walk from windmill. Phew! Thanks to Seán Brosnan, to Mrs O'Sullivan and everyone else who helped.

Click here for 'wheels' photos.

Click here for rugby photos.

Click here for photos of the Soccer League. Thanks to the SEN team for helping with this.

Click here for orienteering photos.

Active Week Day 1

Monday of Active week was action packed! We began with our walk from the windmill together. Mrs Moynihan's class ran 5km, and had their wheels day. We all had Tae-Kwon-Do with Master Adrian O'Mahony and horse-riding with Tralee Equestrian Centre in the field next door to the school. We had dancing in the yard at sos times. We also had guest speaker and champion rower Monika Duraska speak to us and show us her medals. Good luck to Monika travelling to Poland tomorrow for more world championship competitions. Many thanks to the parents who helped book these guests and to the guests themselves for giving us their time free of charge.

Click here for more Taekwon-Do photos. Thanks so much to Adrian for his time.

MASTER O'MAHONY'S TAEKWON-DO CLASSES can be found at:

Kingdom Academy, Unit 2, Davcon Business Centre, Monavalley Industrial Estate, Tralee

TKD KUBZ 3-4 years: 3:15-4pm Mon/Weds/Fri

TKD KUBZ 5-6 years 4-4:45pm Mon/Weds/Fri

Junior TKD 7-9 years: 5-6pm Mon/Weds/Fri

Advanced Jnr TKD 10-12 years 6-7pm Mon,  or 6-8pm Weds/Fri

Phone Adrian on: 087 6596425

 

Click here for more Monika Duraska photos.

Click here for more horse-riding photos.

Click here for walks, runs, aerobics and wheels photos.

Dancing in the yard was great fun!

Look at what's up for grabs on Friday for the 11-a-side in-school soccer league! It starts tomorrow. 

Well Done Caoimhe!

Well done to Caoimhe Dairo who represented the county in the Primary School Games Kerry V Ennis game on 11th June. She did her family, club and school very proud. Hopefully it'll be the first of many appearances in the green and gold!

Star Líne

Well done to Miss Doyle's 1st class who won the best líne in the yard, judged over a month by the teachers on yard duty. They all had a lucky dip for prizes organised by Mrs Moynihan on Friday 2nd June. I wonder who will be next to win? Here they are getting their prizes.

Basketball News

Here are our Senior Girls wearing our brand new basketball kit, sponsored by Reamada. Well done and thank you to Mary Gardiner for organising this well run Garda Síochána Basketball Tournament in Moyderwell on 2nd June, where our school made it to the semi-final! Well done girls! Click here for more pictures.

The legend Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh got the semi-final against the Gaelscoil off to a flying start. Our girls bowed out on a scoreline of 10-04 after aquitting themselves very well. Well done to the Gaelscoil who went on to win the cup!

LEGO Club

Pictures from the final infant LEGO club session from 1st June and a few from the older classes can be seen by clicking here.

Football Skills

Well done to Caoilinn, Caoimhe and Siobhán who represented the school in Cumann na mBunscoil Skills Final in John Mitchell's at the end of May. It was a great experience for the girls. Click here for photos.

  

Time Bomb

Today, the clock ticked down as we played the time bomb game for the last time with Caitlin O'Sullivan, football coach from the County Board. She has been training Junior and Senior Infants in our school this year. We are sad to see Caitlin finish with us but would like to thank her so much for the huge effort she has made. We wish you all the best Caitlin!

Cutest Cuddliest Kittens!

Thanks to Ciara, George and Sam's mom for bringing in kittens to 1st class today. They were so cute to cuddle. Click here for more cute pictures. I dare you not to go "Aw!"

Chalk Art

With the trip to Fenit in mind, Junior Infants used the school yard as their sketch pad today and drew pictures on the tar. Click here to see more art.

Footballing Stars

Three of our girls went to Ballyrickard on 30th May on a very wet morning but still managed to qualify for the Cumann na mBunscoil Skills competition final on Thursday 1st June in John Mitchels. Well done girls and the very best of luck to you all!

Baker Blues

Two very disappointed boys who missed their school tour on Friday, made up for it on 30th May when Denise took them out of class to bake buns for their entire class. Thanks a million to Denise for doing this to cheer the boys up who were very sick on the day of the tour.

   

Magnetic Day

Junior Infants went on a scientific magnetic hunt around the school on 26th May with Ms Ryan. Click here for more pictures.

Donation for a Polytunnel

Thanks so much to Fexco, Killorglin for donating €100 towards our polytunnel fund! Grandparent (of Layla) Winnie Curran and Ms Brassil wrote to companies recently asking for help with getting a Polytunnel or possible donations. So far, Fexco has been our most positive reply. Fingers crossed we will get more help and eventually get our polytunnel so we can be gardening all year round.

Thank you

Would You Like to Learn How to Cycle?

We are so fortunate to have parent and Occupational Therapist Eileen O'Connor in our school. She has kindly offered to teach Blennerville school children who are having trouble learning how to cycle. She suggested 2 different times and dates to us. It will be first come, first served for both sessions, and there is a maximum of 6 children allowed in each session. It is free!

The older children from 3rd to 6th classes are being offered Tuesday 20th June at 6:30pm in the school yard.

The younger children who must be senior infants up to 2nd class age are being offered Friday morning 23rd June at 9am in the school yard, accompanied by a parent or adult during school time.

Please put your name down by ringing Noreen on 066 7120207 to avail of this. Thanks a million to Eileen O'Connor.

Ballybunion Baking Tour

1st and 2nd classes went to Ballybunion's We Can Cook Tour on Friday 26th May 2017. I think this picture by Miss Doyle of Kerri sums up the day! Click here for more photos.

Senior School Tour to U.L.

The Senior half of the school visited U.L. for lots of fun on 26th May 2017. Click here for pictures. More to appear soon.

Caoimhe is Selected!

We are very proud of student Caoimhe Dairo who has been selected to play for the Primary School Game. She will play at half time at one of Kerry's Munster Championship matches. This is a fantastic achievement for this very talented footballer. We are thrilled for you Caoimhe and everyone in Blennerville wishes you the best of luck!

Infant Fenit School Tour

We were blessed with sunshine, correct tides, excellent children and lots of fun in Fenit on 25th May 2017. A huge thanks to the parents who helped keep extra eyes on us all. Click here for almost 200 photos!

Concertina Success

Well done to Katie Moriarty, our 6th class student who qualified for the Munster Comhaltas June 2017 playing the concertina.

Chess Champions

Thanks to the Spa school for inviting to to a challenge during May 2017.

Active Week

The timetable for Active Week is chocablock! It will be posted here very soon. There are 2 slots left however- Tuesday morning 13th June from 8:50am to 10:30 am and Tuesday afternoon from 1pm-2:30pm. There will be some horse-rides for those wishing to try it going on during some of this, but if anyone can think of a trainer or speaker that could come during these times, giving us their free time, please contact Ms Brassil. Already organised for other days are: world champion cross country runner John Lenihan to speak, world champion rower Monica Duraska to speak, mountain rescue talk, Taekwon-Do classes, Horse-riding, Parnell's hurling classes, gymnastics, basketball, dance with Jackie O'Mahony, Irish dancing with Triona Breen, football with Caitlin O'Sullivan, Boxing, hike to Sás Creek for 6th class, whole school aerobics with Mrs O'Sullivan, Sports day with special guest appearances and bouncy castle. Of course there are wheels days and walks from the windmill daily too. Thank you sincerely to the people giving us their free time to help us with this week and to our Parent's Association for booking these people for us. What about a healthy cooking demo? Just an idea! The teachers are volunteering to do the tasting!

A Novel Idea

What a great idea to read their very appropriate novel 'Under the Hawthorn Tree' in sunshine in the Fairy Garden on 24th May 2017. It was warmer outside than inside.

Scarecrow Spongebob was reading too...

Summer Sketching

Ms Doyle's class enjoyed sketching in the garden on 24th May. 

Lighthouse Art

Senior Infants drew lighthouses prior to their school tour to Fenit, inkeeping with the water theme. I think you'd have to admit they're really good for Senior Infants!

See the detail below in Wiktor's pencil drawing. He has a helicoptor rescue going on amongst a stormy night's sea and light shining from the top to guide the way. Wow!

Basketball Blitz

Well done to our boy's basketball team who aquitted themselves very well in the Primary School Basketball Tournament in Mounthawk on 22nd May 2017. Thanks to Ms Dinan and Ms O'Shea for training them.

Football Success

Well done to our super girl's football team, who on 19th May, defeated Spa National School on a scoreline of 2-03 to 1-03 in very testing conditions. The 15 players that took to the field, all played their part towards the victory.

Something Fishy Is Going On in Senior Infants...

Sticking with our Water theme for May, Senior Infants all coloured and cut out fish for a fish tank to brighten up a corner of the classroom. Ms Brassil coloured the cat, who Roisin christened Ginger and Isaac insisted that his piranha take a bite out of the cat's tail!

Beautiful Butterfly

Look at what Caden found in our school yard on 22nd May! Our fairy garden seems to be attracting lots of butterflies these days now that it's in bloom.

Lego Man Brendan

Lego man Brendan went home with Sam this week in May. I wonder what he will write in his diary!

Priest

Thanks to Fr Francis Nolan who brought his friend Fr Domnick to speak with Mr O'Sullivan's class on 19th May. He spoke to the children about his home in Goa, India. It was a very interesting Geography lesson on India.

Medal Winner

Well done to Olivia in Senior Infants for walking the 10km Ballybunion half marathon at the weekend.

Health Promoting News

News just in 19th May 2017 that we have been successful in our Health Promoting School Status for 2017. Well done HPS Committee! Meeting next Thursday 25th May 2017 at 2:10pm.

Graded Reading Scheme

Our Literacy Lift Off mobile unit and Graded Reading Scheme is all ready to go! Thanks to the Parent's Association who funded the reading scheme which cost €7,500. The mobile unit is brilliant for storing books in an organised fashion. This was the money raised from our night at the dogs last year. To all the businesses and families that supported us on the night, you have ensured that the children in Blennerville will have a fantastic reading experience. Thanks to Maura O'Donnell of the Parent's Association for categorising and filing all the books in the unit for us.

Community Games Winners

Well done to all the medal winners in the Community Games for Blennerville and Ballyard. Click here for more winner pictures.

Basketball Champions

Welcome New Infants!

Wednesday 17th May sees new infants for September visiting the school fo the first time. There will be a talk for parents and the children get to spend an hour in their new classroom at 7pm. Thanks to Denise for the fabulous display.

Garden Gifts

Thanks to Junior infant Layla Curran and her nanna Winnie for bringing 3 beautiful gifts to our garden on 17th May 2017. Winnie gave us a Clematis, a vine which she has nurtured herself in Dingle to this stage and chive. Here is Layla in the garden with the gifts.

Planting Sunflowers

Thanks to Julie and Tony for doing planting with Senior infants on 16th May. Julie told us a story about how in America, the American-Indian farmers figured out a clever way of planting. They planted sweetcorn, peas and pumpkins close together and called these the 'Three Sisters'. The pumpkins stopped weeds growing around the peas and corn and all had enough sunlight to grow and flourish. If you eat all the 3 sisters, you are meant to get all the minerals and vitamins you need to be healthy. What a clever way to farm! For more pictures on our sunflower seed farming, click here. Each child planted 3 seeds in a pot which were the seeds we saved from last year's sunflower that we grew in the garden. We will get to take these home in 2 weeks.

Speaking of sunflowers, here's a lovely display close up of sunflowers by 5th and 6th class with Mr O'Sullivan.

New Infant?! Scarecrow Spongebob

Thanks to Isaac and his mom Collette who made a scarecrow at the weekend and brought him to school on 16th May into the classroom. We think he looked away happier once we placed him in the Fairy garden. The work in Miss Brassil's was just too hard for him. He preferred reading his Blennerville newspaper in the shade. Isaac named him Spongebob, because he is like a sponge when you squeeze him.

Brooke and Mya discovering love heart shaped petals in the garden on 16th May.

Water Song

Thanks to Siobhan, Caoimhe and Emma for singing their Greenschool water song for the entire school on 16th May 2017. What a treat!

RSE Month

May is the month we teach the Relationships and Sexuality Education in our school. Here are senior infants learning about feeding newborn babies and 'winding' them so they don't get a tummy ache. The children were so gentle with the babies on 16th May and sometimes the babies even burped! (Well maybe it was sound effects!) For more pictures click here.

Good Luck Caoimhe!

Congratulations to Caoimhe Dairo who took part in the schools trial to try out to play at the half time at the Kerry football final. Caoimhe qualified for the next stage which will be on Thursday 18th May at 5pm in Caherslee. She did really well to qualify and we wish her the best of luck for the next stage.

Underwater Display

A fabulous display outside Mrs O'Connor's 2nd and 3rd class, displaying their underwater art. Well done.

Speaking of the sea theme, here are some shells by senior infants who cut up the shapes within a shell to make some lovely art.

Tonevane Family Hike Returns!

Great news- our Parent's Association is organising the much loved hike from Tonevane near the Hayes' Equestrian Centre along the mountain trail to end at Curraheen Church with a BBQ and fun. It's a super family day out. Please put the date 18th June in your diaries, 12pm start. This will nicely finish off Active Week.

Anthony Garvey

Thanks a million to author Anthony Garvey who visited Ms O Shea's class for a creative writing workshop on 11th May 2017. The class focused on character development today. Anthony also read excerpts from his Gravespeakers series of novels. The series is available from the office- €20 for 3 books. The workshop was very interesting and everybody was kept on the edge of their seats by his gripping novels!! Click here for more pictures and samples of the children's work.

Instant Infant LEGO Lift-Off!

Infant's first of four LEGO Club dates was a huge success on 11th May 2017. It continues until 1st June for infants. Click here for more pictures.

Caitlin Training

Fun on the astro-turf on 11th May with County Board trainer Caitlin O'Sullivan. Click here for more pictures.

Garden Gifts

Thanks to the Corridon girls for the gifts they donated to the Fairy Garden on 11th May 2017. They even bought gloves for Julie!

Blennerville/Ballyard Community Games

 

Blennerville Clean-Up

Well done to the girls and boys in Junior and Senior Infants who paired up on 9th May to share litter-pickers and do a clean-up of St. Pat's football field. We are always grateful to St. Pat's for the use of their astro-turf so this in is way of saying a small thank you. Click here for more pictures.

Thanks Kerry County Council

Thanks to Kerry County Council for giving us a €100 voucher for Liscahane Nursery from the Community Support Fund 2017. We are grateful for this donation and to Maura and Jimmy O'Donnell for applying for this on our behalf. It will be handed over to Julie our resident gardener asap!

First Holy Communion Class 2017

A fabulous photo by Pauline Dennigan. Contact Pauline herself or Noreen if you would like to order a copy.

Local Photo

Photographer unknown, but this is a picture taken just around the corner from our school. Isn't is very pretty?

Below is a picture received (from parent of previous Blennerville students) Kevin Quirke, prompted by the picture above.

Flower Power

Our Fairy garden is in bloom at the moment and is looking fantastic thanks to Julie and Tony. Senior Infants went outside on 8th May 2017 to sketch flowers. Children were asked to look for as many colours as they could find. See how many different colours you can spot when you click on the photos here.

 

Cycling Success

Anna Maria Costello presented three of our students with a €300 voucher each for a new bike from O'Halloran's of Moyderwell. Our three lucky pupils won the Kerry County Council Active Travel Art competition with their teacher Miss Sorcha Ryan. What a fabulous prize! Well done!

Congratulations Communion Class 2017

What a special ceremony we had on Saturday 7th May 2017 celebrated by Fr Francis who was fresh as a daisy after having participated in the 'Darkness to Light' the same morning. The boys and girls were simply excellent in every way with their prayers, readings, singing and everyone looked so very well in their finery. Thanks to the children themselves for behaving so well and saying their prayers so clearly and proudly. Thanks to their families who travelled from very near and far to be with us. Thanks to Fr Francis for making all present, feel at home. Thanks to teacher Liz O'Connor for all her hard work in preparing for the day, our ever helpful classroom assistant Anne-Marie O'Connor, Noreen our fantastic secretary, Fr Francis of course, Rose O'Connor, Catherine O'Shea, her dad and the school choir, the parents who baked and who assisted with the teas coffees and treats after the mass, to Maura O'Donnell for the shopping and hauling, and Tony for being so helpful everywhere. Everyone's efforts paid off. Thanks to Dermot Crean for the photos below and more photos can be seen by clicking on traleetoday.ie

Photo below of the Kelliher family taken by Dermot Crean

Greenschool News

See the Greenschool pencil for new Greenschool news posted on 5th May 2017.

First Communion Class 2017

Photo by Pauline Dennigan

We would like to congratulate our First Communion class of 2017 on receiving their First Holy Communion on Saturday 6th May 2017.

LEGO Club Free Trial

Thanks to parent Eve Savage who gave a free half hour session each to the infant classes on Thursday 4th May. Children were engrossed and the creativity was unbelieveable. Plenty of photos were taken- click here to see these. The children were told about the importance of clean hands before we started. Then we were introduced to Brendan the LEGO Club mascot. He is a giant LEGO man and he has his own diary. He goes home with a different child each week and writes down what he does in his diary. Some of you might have seen his photos on Facebook in the Blennerville LEGO Club page. Brendan has even sat on a motorbike! Here he is with his diary and you might spot him in a few photos too if you look very carefully! LEGO Club members all get their own ID badges. It's good to feel part of a club. After admiring one LEGO creation today, Roisin from Seniors was heard saying "And teacher- we did it together!" which is what LEGO club is all about- team work. LEGO club for infants begins for 4 weeks only on Thursday 11th May from 1:30-2:30pm for infants at a cost of €5 per session, payable on the day.  Thank you Eve!

The four LEGO club for Infants dates 2017 are:

• Thursday 11th May 1:30-2:30pm
• Thursday 18th May 1:30-2:30pm
• Thursday 25th May 1:30-2:30pm
• Thursday 1st June 1:30-2:30pm

Communion Practise

The First Communion put in some great practise all week, with prayers, readings and songs. Here they are in the hall. It's so great to have the space to practise properly! Click here to see the portraits.

Cash for Clothes

Thanks so much to the families and friends who donated clothes to our collection on Friday 28th. We collected an amazing 390kg and Pat rounded it up to 400kg, allowing us 50c per kg which made us €200. This was fantastic! A massive thanks to Tony for lifting all those bags and to the 6th class boys who helped too.

It filled up under the stairs quite quickly during the week.

A Wheelie Good Result!

Three of Ms. Ryan's pupils got amazing news on 25th April 2017. Having entered a Kerry County Council Active Travel Art Competition, not one, but THREE of our pupils won bikes sponsored by O’Hallorans Cycles Moyderwell worth an amazing €300 each plus accessories. Well done Ms. Ryan and your students William O' Donoghue, Sheola McElligott and Sean Whelan.

Below is Joseph, Seán, Millie, Sadhbh and Sheola, in a photo taken during March with their art work.

Coming this June 2017- Active Week!

From 12th to 16th June, we will host Active week. For new parents, this is a novel idea where homework is abandoned and fresh air is sought. We all meet in the Windmill car-park each morning and walk to school together. Each class has their own 'wheels' day where they get time to cycle, skate or scoot around the school for a time instead of book-work. We have daily specialist guests doing physical sessions with the children, as well as talks on nutrition, good health as well as fruit kebab and smoothie making. Hopefully Friday 16th will be our school sport's day in St. Pat's football field where parents are welcome and bouincy castles are just one station stop on a circuit around the entire field. 6th class hope to do their annual cycle to Fenit this year too. The entire school will dance together, and there will even be time for some reflective meditation and peace of mind with relaxation sessions. We hope Mr Sun helps us out during this week!

 

The Beautiful Beasts

On 24th April, 4th and 5th Class went to Siamsa Tire for an exhibition. The exhibition featured a selection of the Ark's favourite animal sculptures from its visual arts collection. The Ark is a dedicated cultural centre for children based in Temple Bar, Dublin. It commissions artists to create work specifically for children and aims to facilitate access to this work to all children in Ireland. The sculptures in the exhibition have been created by leading Irish and international artists who have been inspired by myths and ancient stories as well as the natural world around them. The exhibition was shown and explained in great detail by Kerry artist and designer Rebekah Wall. For more pictures, click here.

Clothes Collection

We are having a clothes collection this Friday 28th April 2017 at 11am in our school. This is with Pat from Cash 4 Clothes who will pay us for our unwanted clothes. Second hand quality clothes and shoes tied together may be dropped at school at any time from Monday 24th April. As always, thanks you for your support in all our fundraising efforts. Please don't arrive late with your bags or you'll miss the bus!

Greenschool News

We got confirmation on 24th April that our school has been successful in achieving the 3rd Greenschool Water Flag. Huge thanks goes to our hard-working and dedicated committee. Students Emma, Siobhán and Caoimhe will go to collect this flag on the school's behalf on Friday 12th May in Cork and attend a ceremony with schools from all over Munster. Well done Blennerville Greenschool Committee! Now to plan the party.....

Super Achievements

Lots of medals were won over the Easter holidays for running including these two by the Falvey girls Grace and Kerry and trophies by Barry and Sam for football. Well done to all. 

 

  

Easter Draw Results

The school Easter draw organised by the Parent's Association took place on 12th April 2017 in the school and the following are the winners: 

1st prize John O'Sullivan, c/o Benners Hotel
2nd prize Eileen Kissane, Ballybunion c/o Emily Corridon Senior infants 
3rd prize Matt Scanlon lines sold by Seoidín Scanlon Junior infants. 
4th Prize Assumpta Nolan Kerry ETB 

Congratulations to you all!

Nora Corridon would like to thank Terry's Butchers, Maguires and local shops for donating prizes. And also thanks to everyone who took a card and sold lines. The grand total of €862 was raised.

Here is John O'Sullivan with Stevie Rose and Caden (Junior Infants) receiving their 1st prize with smiles all 'round.

Below l-r are Seán Daly (PA), Lisa Ryan (PA), Geraldine Scanlon (Seoidín's Mom) winner of 3rd prize and Collette Price (PA).

Have an Eggscellent Easter Everyone!

See you back at school on 24th April. Here are the egg prizewinners from the Easter draw.

Easter Newsletter

The Easter Newsletter is now available to read by clicking here. Thank you to the children (and Maura) who contributed articles. Thanks to Marie for proof-reading. One hard copy will be handed to each family in the school on Friday.

The Big Raffle!

Every child in the school got a raffle ticket on Friday 7th April, and we had an assembly where Maura O'Donnell from the Parent's Association drew 5 tickets per class to win Easter Eggs! Every child got a chocolate lollipop. Thanks so much to our PA for organising this, and to Maura and Nora Corridon. Click here for more photos.

Tag-Rubgy Prize

Thanks to Tralee Rugby Club for the bag of goodies they donated to the school. It has bibs for 2 teams, rugby balls, cones.

 Clean Coasts News

Thanks to Sinéad McCoy, the coastal communities manager in An Taisce for sending us 20 litter pickers as compensation for not being selected to receive the €500 clean up the coast grant. Though we were disappointed not to get it, we will still include Cockleshell and the canal and village in our Spring Clean, once we return to school after Easter and see better weather.

Wonderful Winning Warriors!

Thanks so much to the Tralee Warriors Basketball team, and their coaches and chairman Terry O'Brien for visiting us today with their fabulous trophy. They were an inspiration. They ensured the entire school got off homework on Thursday 6th April. They were very good to take the time to have a photograph taken with all classes. Click here to see more.

Cake Sale

Thanks to the parents Caroline, Seán, Lisa, and our transition year students Katie and Ava for manning the cake sale on 7th April. Thanks so much to everyone who baked, bought and ate and enjoyed. It was a sell-out! It raised just over €360 for the school. Click here for more photos.

Seeing double anyone?!

Easter Egg Hunt, Senior Infants

Senior Infants enjoyed their Easter Egg hunt around the school on 7th April with clues to read and eggs to find. Here is Barry reading a clue to the class. Click here for more photos.

Here are the children in the fairy garden after finding lots of eggs.

Tag Rugby Blitz

Well done to our 5th and 6th classes who dressed up in the Tongan colours and partook in the Tag Rubgy Blitz at the Tralee Rugby Club on 6th April 2017. For more pictures, click here.

Parnell's Hurling Blitz

Thanks to David O'Dea of Tralee Parnells who organised a very successful hurling blitz in the I.T. Our team won their two games and more importantly had a very enjoyable morning on 5th April.

Easter Alice in Wonderland Trail-

Happy Easter Every Bunny!

1st, 2nd and 3rd classes visited the Ashe Memorial Hall Museum in Tralee on 5th April for an Easter Alice In Wonderland themed trail. Of course the white rabbit was part of the fun, as well as the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat , the Queen of Hearts and Alice herself. The children thought the experience was just amazing and loved every minute of it. Amazingly, it was only a euro per child to go in! Well done to the Museum people who put in such effort. Click here for more photos on p2 and p3 of  the Easter album in the Gallery.

Smiles all around!

Easter Egg Hunt

The Junior Infants enjoyed an Easter Egg hunt all around the outside of the school on Wednesday 5th April. They found lots of eggs around the Fairy Garden, the Basketball court and more. All the eggs were collected in baskets, and then were shared among all the children on returning to the classroom. Thanks to Mrs O'Sullivan and Anne-Marie for organising this magical trail. Click here for more photos.

Fabulous Easter Art

Art by 1st Class:

More art by 1st class:

Art by Junior Infants:

Easter Art

There is plenty of Easter Art going on around the school this week, coming towards the Easter holidays. Click here to see some work by Senior Infants and 2nd and 3rd classes.

Neurodevelopmental Therapist Talk

This is open to all parents in our school and may be open to others depending on uptake in our own school first. Parents in our school will get an expression of interest form before Friday. Parents not in our school are asked to call the school on 066 7120207 if interested in attending on the night. Also very relevant to teachers and anyone working with children in any capacity. Please share this post with anyone you think may be interested in attending. This talk is for all parents but especially parents with children in Primary school.

Walk For Water- at last!

Finally 6th Class did their Walk for Water on 4th April, carrying litres of water on a walk to highlight how difficult it is for some people around the world to get water. Click here for photos.

Cake Sale This Thursday

Our cake sale will be on Thursday 6th April. This time, it's the turn of Senior Infants and 4th and 5th (Ms Ryan's) Class to bake. Students may bring €2 to €3 to spend on the day and as usual, please label all containers, so we can sent them home to you again. All are welcome to come visit the shop during the day and buy. 5th and 6th classes will get an opportunity to purchase at 9:10am before they head to do their tag-rugby blitz so perhaps those children should bring a suitable container with an empty space for goodies so you can bring them with you to eat after the rugby.

 

 

Cathal Fennessy Invitation

Our IT student Cathal Fennessy, who was with us before Christmas invited 4th and 5th class to a free training session at the IT Tralee on 4th April 2017. The children had a fantastic time, working up a great appetitite! Click here for more photos.

2D Shape Trail

Ms Ryan's class went on a 2D shape hunt around the school during April. It began in the classroom but quickly made it's way outside. It turns out- our new school is so big, there are shapes just everywhere!

 

Inventive Callum

Callum Hayes made this fully functional cardboard arm during April. It's very creative and inventive of him and shows great imagination. I wonder if Callum is an X-Men fan?

Blooming Bulb

Senior Infants are daily watering a bulb in compost on their windowsill, taking turns to use the water spray-gun (counting 50 sprays a day- great for counting practice!) and low and behold it has taken off growing this week- the first week in April. Here it is, about 3 cm high.

Percussion Performance

Well done to 4th, 5th and 6th classes who performed in front of the entire school and some parents, playing their rhythms and drumming for over half an hour of foot-tapping music. Thanks especially to Martin Schaerer, the teacher, and to the Parent's Association for paying for this for us. Click here and see p3 and p4 for more pictures.

School Trip To Dublin

6th Class enjoyed a trip to Dublin on 31st March, visiting Kilmainham Jail, Glasnevin Cemetry and lots more. More photos if you click here.

Well Done to Eve!

Well done to our parent Eve Savage who won €500 worth of professional mentoring at Enterprise Week at IT Tralee, compliments of the college. They understand the benefits of LEGO in Education. Eve holds a LEGO class for children from 1st Class upwards in our school every Thursday from 2:30-4pm costing €6 per child. There is a different theme every week.

A Weekend of Winners

Check out the most recent trophy, terrific school work  and medal winners by clicking here. We try to photograph Great Achievements and keep them in this file in the gallery. Well done to all who won recently.

No Rust On This Chicken!

Thanks so much to Joanna McMillan and her son Bruce who brought a chicken to school on 31st March. Rusty the chicken, who is a Rhode Island Red hen, was so friendly and gentle and to everyone's surprise, Rusty fluffed up her wings and layed an egg in the classroom which smashed onto the floor! Even Rusty the chicken got a shock. What a day to remember.

It's Your Meow've!

We would like to sincerely thank Vivienne of Cosy Cat's B&B Cattery, Blennerville, for donating a large chess set to our school. It was the centre of attention on 29th March, and generated a lot of interest. Click here to go to Cosy Cat B&B web-site. Thanks to Rob Sheehy for the delivery.

Digital News

First, Second and Third classes have been pair-coding with Ms Rose O'Connor weekly this year. It takes place in the spare classroom upstairs. The idea is that they learn together and from each other- "two heads are better than one!" The children brainstorm problems and find solutions. Presently, the children are using self-directed tutorials from code.org so the children can work at their own pace. After Easter, the plan is to do some work on Word and Powerpoint presentations. Towards June, children will be introduced to Scratch for some fun with animation. Perhaps we will even upload some of these to the web-site for you here to see. Click here to watch an example of a crab dancing to music. Just click on the green flag to watch him dance. Children will be creating animations like this one. Watch this space! Thanks to Tony for saving us so much time in switching on these computers so that we get quality time learning. Every minute helps.

New Plaque

How many of you have spotted the new plaque near the front door? It took a while to make, but eventually has it's deserved place on our wall. The windmill looks beautiful in the window reflection. 

Writing Workshop

We were very lucky to have local writer Anthony Garvey with our 5th and 6th class for a creative workshop on 28th March 2017. It was an excellent day of thinking, talking, creativeness and has inspired the children to creating interesting endings for stories. Thanks so much to Anthony, always a welcome guest in Blennerville N.S.

County Final Success

Congratulations to our ballad group who came 2nd in the county finals in Scór na bPáistí on Sunday 26th March 2017. What an achievement! Well done! Here are the girls with their well-deserved medals.

Lunch in the Sun

Senior Infants enjoyed kicking off their shoes Monday 27th to have their lunch in St. Pat's astroturf. We were very careful not to let a crumb behind us, even taking some plastic bottles we found home for recycling. Of course we found time for a quick kick-around too! Click here for more pictures.

4th and 5th also availed of the sunshine with reading lessons outside on the Buddy benches.

All in Good Spirits on Confirmation Day

It was smiles all around on Confirmation Day in St. John's Church on Friday 24th March. Congratulations to our 6th class boys and girls who were confirmed by Bishop Ray Browne.

  

A Load of Rubbish On Cockleshell Strand

5th Class took advantage of the glorious weather on 24th March and went to Cockleshell in search of rubbish. It wasn't very hard to find some. We have applied to Clean Coasts, Ireland for a grant to clean up Cockleshell. We hope to get positive news about this soon, and we will include Cockleshell in our Spring clean during April. Thanks so much to Ms Dinan for these wonderful photos.

Active Travel Competition

Ms Ryan's class have entered a competition through Kerry County Council with the Active Travel theme. It's about promoting other ways of getting to school other than driving. This will be our theme for our next Greenschool flag so they are ahead of schedule! They chose to focus on bikes and created some fabulous art work during March.

They also spend some quality time in the garden, reading and writing on 24th March. More pictures can be seen on the Fairy Garden page.

May the Holy Spirit Light Your Way

on your Confirmation Day

We would like to wish our 6th Class children the very best for Friday 24th March on their Confirmation Day with Bishop Ray Browne. Have a wonderful day everyone. Here is some art done the day before their Confirmation on 23rd March of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, made with pasta and glue and spray-painted with gold. Each one is unique and special, like our children being confirmed.

Aistear Goes "On the Farm"

Another fantastic week of Aistear on the farm with lots of fun had, and plenty more learned. It involved dressing up, acting, writing, building pens, making nests from shredded wheat and melted chocolate and plenty of farm noises! Click here for more photos. Well done to Mr Holly in the photo who jumped in the deep end with this Aistear theme on his teaching practise. 

Below is some Aistear art from the Farm theme. There is a lot of artistic talent among the Junior Infants!

Junior Infants Walk for Water

Well done to the Junior Infants who did their Walk for Water on 23rd March to highlight how difficult it is for some people in the world to get water. Only one class left now to do this walk. You know who you are! Click here for more pictures.

Orange Belt

Well done to Kelly Fitzgerald for attaining her Orange Belt in Judo during March 2017.

Circus Success

The children were in total awe of Stephen McGinley on Wednesday 22nd March when he performed circus tricks for us all. From diablos to spinning plates and the smallest bicycle you ever saw, he had us mesmorised. Not only did Stephen put on a spectacle for us, but he got every child involved, as they participated in plate spinning, handkerchief throwing and tricks with flower sticks. Click here to see over 150 photos. Thanks ever so much to the parent's association and Michelle Culloo for treating our children to this special day of workshops. It's one we will all remember as being one of the best days at school EVER!

Spelling Star

Well done to Ódhran Tobin of 5th class who represented our school in the Eason's Spelling Bee County Final held in the Tralee CBS on 21st March 2017. He aquitted himself very well.

Fresh Air

Caitlin our County Board trainer brought us outside on 23rd March for some more exercise and ball skills.

Scór Group

We would like to wish Sorcha, Caoimhe, Katie, Marie (from Derryquay school) and Siobhán the very best of luck on Sunday 26th March in the Scór na bPáistí competition in Filemore, Cahersiveen in the county final. They will be taking part in the Balled Group and the Novelty Act competitions. Thanks to Mary O'Sullivan and Marie Fitzgibbon who both trained the girls.

Best of luck also to our boys Paddy, Fionn, Callum and Seán who will also be taking part in Filemore, on Sunday 26th March in the Quiz section of the competition, being tested on their general knowledge. They are some of our best brains!

Mother's Day this Sunday

Senior Infants made daffodils for their Moms for Mother's Day which is 26th March. We posed for a few photos early. Click here to see these.

Top Grade for Eddie

Well done to Eddie Stack who got Distinction in his very first piano Elementary grade during March 2017. We are so proud of you Eddie!

Lexia Superstars

Lexia is a reading programme that promotes individual learning, online, (on computers) allowing each child to learn at their own rate, and it provides performance data through assessments that are easy to interpret. Children are motivated by their own success. In Blennerville, Ms Dinan has taken on a month's trial of this programme. It is a very expensive programme so we are trialing it before we make a committment to buying it. We already have had some great achievements by some Lexia students.

Here is Isaac, two-time certificate winner!

Here are Seán and Eddie with their certificates. Well done boys!

Below is Emily on 20th March after receiving her certificate also and Roisin having received hers on 21st March. Well done girls!

 

Below is Ciarán Kavanagh who got his certificate on 21st March. Well done Ciarán!

Rugby Summer Camps

Thanks to rugby coach Seán Brosnan, who has coached all children from 1st to 6th class since September in our school. He has asked our school to distribute this information below about Summer Camps for 6-12 year olds during July and August. Thank you Seán.

Keen on the Green

Our school was very keen on GREEN on 15th March. Everyone made a special effort to wear something green to mark St. Patrick's Day. Click here for lots of photos. (Pages 2 and 3)

A special thanks to Colette Price for baking these delicious St Patrick's Day goodies made from Rice Krispies for Isaac's class. Yum yum!

A Scór Treat

The girls practicing for the Scór competition played for all classes during March. Their singing really made our spines tingle. They are absolutely excellent! Best of luck to them in the next big competition. Click here for more pictures.

James is Out of This World

A Senior Infant boy brought a very unusual and interesting lunch to school this March- space food! Here is James with his Cookie flavoured ice-cream which is completely air-dried. It is the food astronauts eat when they are in outer space. I don't think James will be an astronaut after tasting the food!

Caitlin the Coach

Many thanks to Caitlin O'Sullivan who will coach the infants weekly on Thursdays from 16th March onwards. Caitlin O'Sullivan is a third year student training in PE and is employed by the County Board. Click here for more photos.

Easter Raffle

Please support our school Easter Raffle. Lines are only €2 each and are available from Noreen in the office and in local shops. There are simply fabulous prizes on offer, thanks to Nora Corridon of our Parent's Association for organising. Cards are also available from the office if anyone could possibly bring one to their place of work. It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

 

Basketball League

The senior girls are having a basketball league in school. Here are the teams. It will conclude before Easter 2017.

St. Patrick's Day Badges

Junior infants sporting their St. Patrick's Day badges that they cut out all by themselves!

Walk for Water

Well done to the classes who did the Walk for Water on 14th and 15th March for the Greenschool. Lots of photos may now be seen by clicking here.

Rugby Coach

Thanks to rugby coach Seán Brosnan from Tralee Rugby Club for taking the time over the past month (March 2017) to coach some classes in rugby. The sessions are still going on every Wednesday morning and are thoroughly enjoyed by all. Click here for more pictures.

St. Patrick Lessons

Well done to student Sam Jones who drew a fabulous picture of St. Patrick to accompany his extra-neat writing on 14th March in 2nd class. A job very well done Sam! Sam also got a sticker for speaking Irish during Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Appeal for Logs

We are looking for some more logs for the garden, larger than the ones we already have. We would love another huge tree trunk piece like the one in the picture below, for the new woodland area of the garden, and more to act as seats and to house some more fairies. These would need to be 1ft high each at  least. If you know of any, please let Ms Brassil know and she can collect it in her van. Thanks! See the Fairy Garden page for more news of the garden.

 

Walk For Water

During March, every class is being asked to do a Walk for Water, carrying 2 litres over 2 kilometres. Senior Infants got the ball rolling on 13th March with their walk. This walk is to highlight how difficult it is for people around the world to get water. Some children have to walk for much further than we did today, with 4 times as much to carry just to get clean drinking water, every day of their lives. Click here for more photos. Thanks to parent Adrianna for accompanying us and getting us there and back safely.

 

Also taking on the walk on Tuesday were Ms Ryan's classes and Mrs O'Connor's classes. They walked all the way to the Lock Gates carrying their bottles!

Boy's Basketball Blitz

Well done to our Senior Basketball team who took part in a blitz organised by the Tralee CBS in John Mitchel's complex on Friday 10th March 2017. They aquitted themselved very well. Thanks to trainers Ms Dinan and Ms O'Shea who accompanied the boys.

Kerry Footballing Legend

Thanks so much to Barry John Keane who visited our school on 10th March 2017. He took the time to pose for photos and give autographs to the infants, signing jerseys and smiling all the way. Other pictures can be found at the end of the Mckenzie Keane album in the gallery.

Spring Breeze

A beautiful Spring breeze showed off some(!) of our flags on 10th March. They are looking great. Thanks to Tony for putting them back up for us.

He Wheeled His Wheelbarrow...

Thanks so much to Bruce McMillan from Junior Infants who donated a practically new wheelbarrow to our school for our Fairy garden. His Mom said it was going spare on the farm. It will be of fantastic use! He even put two of his friends into it this morning for a test drive! Thanks a million.

What a Day for a Daydream

Children from Senior Infants, 2nd and 3rd classes all took clipboards and sketching paper outside to the Fairy Garden on Thursday 9th March to sketch plant and wildlife for the Sherkin Island art competition. The weather was a beautiful surprise. Click here for some photos.

PE Lesson with Mckenzie

Thanks a million to student Mckenzie Keane, with us on work experience during March who taught a PE lesson to Senior infants on 9th March. It was great fun! Click here for more pictures.

Rest and Retreat

6th class took a day to reflect and retreat to Ardfert's Retreat Centre with Mr O'Sullivan and Fr Francis on 9th March 2017. Thanks so much to Fr Francis for organising this beautiful day for our Confirmation students. For more pictures, click here.

Lego Club Continues

On 9th March, the Lego club built models related to the theme of FOOD- where we get our food, novel ways of buying and accessing foodstuffs. Click here for amazing two-storey super hotels with a variety of eateries to cafés with plant pots to monster prisons! The imaginations were working overtime!

Old Photographs

Some old photographs of Blennerville that might be of interest to you.

Below is an old church, since demolished that used to be across the road from the school. You can just make out the road by the trees.

The photo below was taken from O'Shea's shop wall.

The following is a poem by the late Monty Sweeney of Blennerville.

Blennerville by Monty Sweeney

There is a place so dear to me,

just a mile outside Tralee,

Enclosed by mountain, sea and dell, 

called the village of Blennerville.

A seven arch bridge with one blind eye,

a staunch old windmill standing by, 

an aged quay, grown mossy green,

where now a ship is seldom seen.

 

The four spire church which could be seen

with naked eye from Curraheen

Alas tis now a silent mound,

It's walls now crumbled to the ground.

Hoe oft i watched the setting sun,

Reflect it's windows one by one,

And tired birds at twilight hour,

Seek refuge on the belfry tower.

 

The white washed school across the way

hold memories of a former day.

Though not majestic by it's size

One entered dull and came out wise.

 

My lonely heart with grief is sore,

For scenes like these I'll see no more

And childhood friends with whom I played

To many distant lands have strayed.

 

But hearts in exile seldom rest,

From thoughts of home and friends loved best.

If they return, perchance they will,

We will mett again, in Blennerville.

 

Bang the Drum

our Parent's Association have organised Martin to return to us to do Percussion lessons with 4th to 6th classes for 6 weeks. Thanks so much for this as we just love that drumming.

Score at Scór!

We are delighted at the results of the Scór competition that was held in Scoil Mhic Easmainn on 5th March 2017. Our girls, Sorcha, Katie, Siobhán, Caoimhe and Emma with some friends from Derryquay school too came 1st in not just one, but THREE categories! They won best ballad group, best music group, best novelty act and to top it off, they were awarded with the Plaque for Club of the Year for St. Pat's! We have never before reached such heights. There's no stopping these musical girls. Well done to you all!

Hoop, Hoop, Hurray!

Well done to Caoilinn O'Brien and Caoimhe Dairo both from 6th class, who were part of the Tralee Imperials team which won the U12 Division 3 Plate Final against Cougars of Killarney in Duagh on 5th March 2017. Well done also to Miss Olivia O'Shea, our teacher who helped coach the girls. Click here to see more pictures.

Ellie Visit

Credit Union Ellie visited us on 8th March and gave us all free pencil cases! It really pays to save and it is a really good habit to start when you're young. Here are some Ellie fans below.

 

 

Storyboard

Well done to Senior Infants who created storyboards, sequencing pictures about going to the cinema and writing their own sentences underneath. It's a very easy way to write a story!

Here are some hats we made in Senior infants in March.

Let's Go Lego!

On Thursday 2nd March, our school started a Lego Club for children from 1st to 6th class, after school. It was a massive success on it's first day. Instructor Eve Savage guided the class in their first theme "Hospitals" and children made ambulances, wards with beds and lots more. The rules of the Lego club were addressed at the start of the session. The rules are: 1. Look after our Lego. 2. Don't break other people's Lego models. 3. Ask the leaders for help or bathroom 4. Work from your team's table. 5. Work together as a team. 6. No pushing, shoving, arguing or running around. 7. Wash your hands and use sanitiser before using the Lego. 8. Have lots of fun! The skills on show were phenomenal. The teamwork of the children was evident and a credit to them. Working as a team is such an important skill in life. Click here to see some pictures. Thanks very much to parent Eve for taking on this extra curricular activity in our school.

Good Looks, and all from Books!

Children dressed up as their favourite book characters on World Book Day 2nd March 2017. Boy were there some characters to be seen! Click here to view all the photos from the day. Many thanks to the children, parents and staff who made the effort to dress up. It certainly brightened up a dreary wet day of rain, but then again, books are always the ideal way to escape from our lives and live another in our imaginations!

Ashes to Ashes

Thank you to Fr Francis who visited us on Ash Wednesday 1st March to give ashes to all who wanted to receive them. Fr Francis spoke to the school first, via the intercom to tell us why we get ashes and the story behind Pancake Tuesday. He said we should do 3 things during Lent. 1. Pray a little bit more. 2. Give up something we love to eat or drink. 3. Do something to help others like maybe being extra good for our moms and dads or grandparents. To see pictures click here.

They call her 'Flipper, Flipper, faster than lightening!....'

Well we were nothing but spolied on Tuesday 28th February 2017 when the Parent's Association donated their cooking talents and ingredients to make over 200 pancakes for the nation that is our school! Children, staff, teachers, and even Fr Francis enjoyed them. A choice of chocolate and strawberry sauces were on offer along with maple syrup and butterscotch sauce too. Of course the traditional lemon juice and sugar were a must. Fair play to chief pancake flippers Maura O'Donnell, Colette Price and Mary O'Brien (who looks after our gluten free students for years now!) and everyone else who helped make pancake day happen. Thanks to Tony for helping set up and tidy away. Thanks to Makenzie for taking photos and to Martin on work experience with us for helping out too. Pancakes were traditionally made on Shrove Tuesday, so as to use up all the rich ingredients in a house such as eggs, milk and sugar before the 40 days fasting of Lent began. Click here to see more pictures. For kid's pancake receipes, click here. 

School Closures 2017-2018

Hot off the press, your school closures for 2017-2018 have just been announced. Click here to see them and open the pop-up window. These dates have also been added to the Calendar pencil.

Water Harvester Gift

A huge thanks to Matthew, Sam Smith's dad who dropped off bags of compost, bark and a rain-water harvester with connections which we really appreciate. This picture shows you what it looks like when it is connected up. We used to have one in the old school but storms took it away. We will use this to collect rain-water and water plants with it. What a great present! Thank you! This ties in so well with our Greenschool Water theme.

Playground Markings

During February, new school markings were painted onto the school yard. The cost of these was raised at our Greyhound night last April. We hope children will enjoy them for many years to come, as they are very durable. Here you can see our Snakes and Ladders and Hopscotch.

 

 

Aistear Week 2 at the Vets

Thanks to the helpers who volunteer for Aistear in Junior Infants. Some new photos from Week 2 of the Vets can be seen by clicking here.

First Confession

The First Confession for those children making their First Holy Communion will be at 7:30pm on Thursday 30th March in Curraheen Church.

Movie Night

by Caoilainn Culloo

Pre-Loved Clothes Sale

We are delighted to announce that  our Pre-loved clothes sale has reached an incredible €1,000! Massive thanks goes to the public for supporting this recent fundraising event in Benner's Hotel. Huge thanks goes to the Parent's Association for their trojan work on this. Thanks to Benner's Hotel for their constant support of the school. See a lovely write up on this by clicking traleetoday.ie

At the Vet

Aistear in Junior Infants saw children visiting the Vet theme this week. Children had to tend to sick animals, as well as dealing with phonecalls and appointments and prescriptions, animal art  using animal prints and baking cookies in the shape of animals, and playing Snakes and Ladders and Spotty Dog. The fun had, and language learned, was immense. Children had a very special guest visitor, vet Danny Holmes on 15th February who did ultra-sounds, discussed x-rays and answered a lot of questions! He even brought a lovely little Jack Russel dog to help him with demonstrations, and an assistant. We thank them sincerely for their time. More pictures (30) from this theme can be seen on pages 3 and 4 by clicking here.

Grandparents' Day

We had a lovely day on 15th February with our Grandparents. Fr Francis celebrated with 2 services for both the junior and senior sides of the school. We had some excellent readers and singing, with lovely poetry during the senior class session. We would like to sincerely thank Fr Francis for making it such a child friendly ceremony, and the grandparents for making such an effort to come. Some came from as far as Tipperary especially for the day. Miss Brassil must apologise with tears of frustration that the photos taken of the families after the junior service never came out. Devestation. But I hope everyone has fond memories of the day anyway. (I felt terrible!) To see some of the photos that did come out, please click here.

Thanks to Mary Fagan of Radio Kerry who came out to record some of the children's Grandparent poems for her programme Horizons which is broadcast every Sunday morning at 9am on Radio Kerry. Our poems should be broadcast from 5th March over a few Sundays. Below is Mary with some of the poets.

Basketball Superstars!

Well done to our two superstars in 6th class who were instrumental in the Tralee Imperials U12 Division 3 Plate County Semi Final in Currow. Both girls scored 10 points each in their teams 29-19 success against the locals. Well done to our teacher Olivia O'Shea who was their coach on the night. Both Miss O'Shea and Miss Dinan put massive work into basketball in our school, even during their lunch breaks. It is great to see all the training paying off. Well done everyone.

Wishing all our Moms and Dads a Very

Happy Valentine's Day from 1st Class! xxxxx

Valentine Art by Ms Ryan's class.

Senior Infants got lovely heart shaped cookie surprise from student Isaac on Valentine's Day!

Senior Infants painted love bug caterpillars on Valentine's Day.

Chic Boutique

We were blown away by the support for our pop-up shop of evening wear and pre-loved clothes on 11th and 12th February. Thanks so much to the parent's Association for organising this. Thanks to everyone who donated and bought. Here are some photos from the sale.

      

Community Games Prize

A huge congratulations to Emma, Siobhán, Caoimhe, Orla and Thomass who came 2nd in the Community Games music category in Keel on 11th February. Well done to the ballad group of Daniel, Caoimhe, Siobhán, Emma, Diarmuid and Orla who also came 2nd. Well done to Siobhán who came 2nd in the solo category against 12 competitors!

No Debating that our team did a great job.

Well done to our Senior Debating team who on 10th February opposed the motion "Social media is a bad influence on children". They did a superb job against Ardfert and unfortunately were beaten in this county quarter final. We must point out that it's the furthest our school has ever gotten in this competition so we are thrilled. We would like to wish Ardfert all the best in the next round and we hope they make it all the way to Trinity College.

You've Gotta HAND it to Tommy Lyons....

A massive thanks to Tommy Lyons who organised a handball league for our 5th and 6th class in February. It was superb fun!

And the winners were: Callum, Sean O'D., Liam, Ailbhe, Róisín and Katie!

Sending All Our Love To You!

Junior Infants are sending all their love to their moms, dads, grannies and grandads this Valentine's Day!

Cherry Blossom Trees

Some Junior Infant art showing Cherry Blossom trees.

10@10

We took part in the 10@10 exercise challange on 10th February. It was great fun! Please feel free to do this at home too. It was great exercise in 10 minutes and most people would manage it. Click here to do it again!

4th and 5th in action!

Edel Coman Talk

Neurodevelopmental Therapist Edel Coman will address parents at 7:15pm on Wednesday 26th April. She's a really interesting lady and may offer some relief to those who have learning difficulties such as dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety and much more. Please see the web-site on this therapy by clicking here. The teachers met with her on 25th January and were very impressed. We recommend that parents make an effort to attend if they can please.

Sixth Class

Mr O'Sullivan's class went on a trip to the INEC on 2nd February to watch the highly acclaimed drama about monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty entitled "God has no country". It was a thoroughly enjoyable and educational drama. For more pictures, click here.

Literacy Lift Off Groups Soar!

More certificate winners for Literacy Lift Off on Friday 3rd February. Well done great readers and listeners.

Sheola's Gift

Thanks so much to Sheola and her family who donated lots of bulbs for our garden. We will get planting asap! We have also applied for the Sow and Grow and free tomato seeds recently so plenty of children will be getting green-fingered in Spring.

 

Greenschool Water Day

Three greenschool committee members went with Ms Brassil and Anne Marie Cronin to a Water information day in Ballygarry House Hotel on 2nd February. It was a wonderful day and Conor Cronin, Rory Daly and James Crean did us proud, speaking in front of 7 other schools. They will tell the committee how they got on at the next meeting. Here they are drawing a school of the future, with water conservation in mind.

Here are the boys standing in front of everyone presenting their ideas. 

Blennerville and Ballyard Community Art and Handwriting Competition Winners

Well done to the winners of the art and handwriting competitions. See the Gallery for individual photos by clicking here and don't forget to click 2 at the bottom for the second page!

Chess Mates

There was great excitement on 1st February when students from the Spa National School were welcomed to our school hall for an after school chess challenge. The concentration was fierce and the fun was immense. Thanks to the Spa school for coming to play us.

Credit Union Primary School Table Quiz

Well done to our students who took part in the Credit Union Table Quiz on Sunday 29th January. We are very proud of our teams who came 9th and 10th in 2 age categories. Here is the Under 11's team made up of Ciarán Kavanagh, Faye O'Connor, Fionn Dairo and Rory Kelliher. The under 12's team was Caoimhe Dairo, Sorcha O'Donoghue, Callum Houston and Paddy Moran. Thanks to Heléne for the top picture. 

Red Group Blast Off!

Well done to the red group in Senior Infants for blasting off on 1st February with their Literacy Lift Off certificates.

Dream Catchers

4th and 5th classes made dream catchers in January with Ms Ryan, after studying Native Americans.

Aistear Construction Art

Junior Infants created some wonderful houses during the art station in Aistear in January. It also included some Oral Language such as 'house, window, chimney, two-storey, roof, bungalow, door' etc. Children were invited to discuss what they painted afterwards, during the discussion time in front of the whole class.

Winter Art

Junior Infants looked at the theme of Winter for January and created lovely art. They discussed clothes you might wear in Winter and what you might see.

 

Brighter Days are Coming

Brighter days are coming with Ms Doyle's art. Her 1st class all created art based on Van Gogh's famous sunflowers. They look so well in an upstairs display.

Cliffhanger

1st Class have been reading a novel called 'Cliffhanger'. Here is a display they did, re-telling the story in their own words with some of the key vocabulary.

Rocket Ships

1st class art with Ms Doyle- rocket ships blasting off! Again, some key vocabulary is displayed too.

Aistear Foundations are Solid in Blennerville

Construction week concluded Friday 27th January and you can see lots more pictures by clicking here. Children were heard telling Mrs O'Sullivan that the reason the house fell was because it didn't have a solid foundation and that scaffolding would be a good idea! There are some cowboy builders out there that could certainly take a bit of advice from our Junior infant experts! Thanks to all involved.

Literacy Lift-Off Success

Well done to the 'green group' in Senior Infants who got to the top of the rocket for their great listening and reading in the 7 week 'Literacy Lift Off' programme in on 26th January. Other groups are close behind and catching up. The school made a significant investment in a new graded reading scheme called 'Flying Start' at the beginning of the year. We have already completed a 4 week block with 1st class and we found the children really enjoyed it and it helped with their listening skills, reading fluency and encouraged an interest in reading.

St Pat's Mascot

We welcomed St. Pat's fox mascot to the school on 26th January- always looking for new members. Everyone welcome! Details in the photo below.

JAMES DALY you have been out-foxed! Caught red-handed!

Aquadome

We are very lucky to be so close to Tralee's Aquadome. 3rd to 6th classes will begin a 6 week block of swimming lessons on Tuesday 31st January at the Aquadome during school time. Lucky us!

Dave Rath

Thanks so much to Dave Rath who brought his woodwind instruments to our school on 23rd January. He played the saxaphone, clarinet and flute. Do you know which instrument Dave is playing in the picture? He played music from various genres such as classical, jazz and modern, as well as a bit of fun with the Muppets theme tune! It's such a pleasure to hear music played so well. Some of the teachers got a little carried away and waltzed their way to home-time! Thank you Dave! For more pictures click here.

Aistear in January

Junior Infants enjoyed their first week of the Building and Construction theme in Aistear. It's amazing what fun children can get from a few shoe boxes and hard hats! Many thanks to the parents who volunteer tirelessly for this Aistear. Your help is always appreciated. Click here to see more pictures.

10@10

On Friday 10th February at 10am, every primary school child in Ireland is being asked to partake in a mass physical activity break for 10 minutes. It doesn't matter what you do, or how you do it- we just want to see every child moving! At 10am for 10 minutes, students can dance, kick a ball, hoola hoop, or simply walk on the spot, but everyone should try and do something. This is promoted by RTE's Operation Transformation. It is fully supported by us and our Active School Committee too. Shake a leg everyone! A classroom workout is available to download at www.rte.ie/ot

Primary Debating

We are immensely proud of our Senior Debating team who won the first round f the Primary School's Debating Competition in the Tralee Education Centre on 18th January 2017. They debated with Scoil Bhríde Loretto, Killarney. The motion was "The school day should be made shorter". Our school was proposing the motion. After an excellent debate, our team came out on top. We are extremely proud of them for aquitting themselves so well. We would like to thank Mike O'Connor and Ger Madden for coaching the children over the last number of weeks. The hard work paid off. This is the first time our school has progressed past the first round, so a historic day for the school. The final of this debating is in Trinity College, Dublin. For more pictures, click here.

St Vincent de Paul Thank Us

 

Infants Christmas Concert 2016

Click HERE to see the slideshow. Thanks a million to Pauline Dennigan for doing this slide show for us. You make us all look good Pauline!

Raffle Winners

Congratulations to our Christmas raffle winners and to Faye O'Connor who won the hamper on 22nd December. Thanks to Maura O'Donnell for organising this and to the family who donated the prizes. HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Boys Basketball Blitz

Congratulations to Team Reindeer, the winners of the lunchtime basketball blitz for 4th to 6th classes. There were 4 teams involved, the other 3 being team Robins, Snowmen and Elves. Thanks to Ryan Leonard and past pupil Gary Fernane, both members of the Garvey's Warriors Basketball Team for being with us for the final on 21st December. Thanks to Ms Sarah Dinan and Ms Olivia O'Shea for organising everything. Click here for more photos.

Infant Christmas Concert

Junior and Senior Infants are getting ready for their nativity plays on Wednesday 21st December at 7pm. This is the first year we will have a little concert in the new school.   See more pictures when you click here. These pictures were taken during the dress rehearsal on the 20th December. Please come IN COSTUME ready for the 7pm start on Wednesday evening everyone. Thank you!

Carol Singing in Manor

Well done to the children who sang for St. Vincent de Paul at Manor on 20th December with Ms Ryan, Mr O'Sullivan, Tony, Denise and Mary O'Sullivan on keyboard. We heard feedback that you all sang your hearts out and we are very proud of you.

Christmas Cribs and Logs

Thanks to Maura O'Donnell who made Christmas logs and cribs with Mr O'Sullivan's class on Tuesday 20th December. They turned out fantastic.

"Golden" Opportunity to read our Christmas Newsletter 2016

A huge thanks to Ms Sorcha Ryan and Marie for taking on the school newsletter this Christmas. You did a terrific job! Thanks to everyone who wrote articles for it and to Noreen for printing it in the office this year. Every family will receive a copy on Monday. To read it, click here. Happy Christmas everyone!

Christmas Carol Service

Click HERE to see our Christmas carol Service 2016

Magical Visits to Santy

The 15th and 16th December saw Juniors, Seniors, 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes visit the Musuem for a Santa Surprise tour. Children got to watch a Christmas Ice Age cartoon and see the Christmas displays. They also met and got their photo taken with Santy himself. Santy said we were the best singers he had seen in the museum all week! For more pictures, click here. Sorry the photos are so dark, but it was a little bit dark in Santy's cave and workshop.

Christmas Fabric and Fibre Art

Here is some stunning art by Mrs O'Connor's 2nd and 3rd classes using fabric and fibre.

Emoji City

Some children from 2nd and 3rd class began designing their very own 'Emoji city' during a rainy sos break recently and their town has grown since then and is still expanding! They've thought of everything from restaurants, roads, a zoo and more. There are definitely engineers and architects in the making here! Well done to these children for using their imaginations and creating a whole new world!

Hamper Tally

We are delighted to announce that the Parent's Association have raised a whopping €2,072.60 for the school from the Hamper Table Quiz night in Quanes on 9th December. We would like to thank you the parents, Tom Quane and staff, Mike O'Connor and everyone involved. Our handwriting without tears programme will be purchased in the new year for our Infant classes. Thanks to John MacElligott and Tony McAdams for transporting the drum and the hampers for us on the night. Happy Christmas to you all!

Family Affair at Christmas

It's Katie Moriarty's last Christmas in the school, as she's now in 6th class. It's her grandmother Hannah May's hand-knitted crib's first Christmas in the new school. So we though it fitting to get them to pose together one last time. What a fabulous crib to have, and we thank you Hannah May.

Winners Alright

Thanks to everyone who helped out with and attended the School Hamper fundraising night in Quanes bar, Blennerville. It was a fun night with plenty of prizes and laughs. Thanks to Quanes, the Parent's Association, the raffle ticket sellers, and especially the sponsors and all who bought tickets.

Congratulations to the winners!

Family Hamper: The Turner Family, Tralee- Aimee in 2nd class.

1st Hamper: The Mullins family- Lili-Mai from Senior Infants.

2nd Hamper: The Culloo family- Rodhan and Caoilainn from 1st and 2nd classes.

3rd Hamper: The Greaney family- Sarah from Senior Infants.

4th Hamper: The Quirke family- Aidan Quirke.

5th Hamper: Christopher Quin, first line sold on Ruby Foley's ticket from Senior Infants.

6th Hamper: The Burke family- Aoife in 6th class.

Try the "parkrun" 

There is a Tralee JUNIOR parkrun on every Sunday morning in Tralee Town Park. It is a 2km run/walk and is aimed at ages 4 to 14. It begins at 9:30am sharp. There is a 5km run on Saturday mornings at 9:30am. It is extremely well organised and there are people along the way to encourage and direct you. This was inspired by Siobhan Kearney, a parent of past pupils of Blennerville school. Please have a look at their web-site which has a lot more details by clicking here. It is a stunning, scenic location and well worth a try. Blennerville N.S. is a Health Promoting School.

Mass for Mary's Birthday

On 8th December, Fr Francis celebrated mass with us to celebrate 'Mary's birthday'. We had some beautiful singing from our  choir, some terrific readers, and Fr Francis told us a funny story of how he bought a lovely statue of Mary for us in Medjugorje and put her in with his clothes in his suitcase and miraculously brought her safely back to Ireland in one piece. He planned to present us with this statue in our new school, and today was the perfect day, it being the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Children lit two candles on the Advent Wreath. Fr Francis also presented two of our teachers with children's bibles for their classrooms to promote the new 'Grow in Love' Religion series. Thanks to Fr Francis for such a lovely gift and mass, and to Mary O'Sullivan and the choir and musicians for the music. Young Seán O'Connor gave us a beautiful line today when Fr Francis asked the children about why God gave us families, he said: "God gave us our parents so they could care for us". For more pictures, click here.

Book Fair Final Figure

We are thrilled with the success of our first Book Fair in our new school. The total tally on 7th December, our final day is €1,907. Thanks so much to everyone who bought books and who helped out. You have helped to raise €1,144 for the school to spend on books! A special thanks to Maura O'Donnell who took the lead on this project and ran with it.. Between putting books away for people, re-ordering and adding up, Maura you deserve a holiday! Thank to Noreen too, for putting in all those orders.

€1,907!

Chess Challenge Success

A huge thanks to Nohoval school for coming to us on 7th December to play some chess. We were fairly evenly matched and games varied in length. We hope to go to Nohoval sometime in the new year for more chess.

Christmas Art

Bookworm Club Christmas Winners

Well done to Dara and Mya for reading the most books in Senior Infants!

Infant Reindeer Art

Senior Infants are getting so good at cutting out shapes. A few gold stars used for spelling tests even found their way onto their art work on 7th December. 

Infants in the Library

For more pictures, click here.

Mad Professor Fun Science Workshop

On Wednesday 30th November 2016, Ms Ryan's class travelled to Tralee Library to partake in a Mad Science Workshop. The mad professor brought the class on a journey of science in a fun atmosphere, covering a multitude of science disciplines, mostly using everyday items. Volunteers were chosen to participate and assist with experiments on energy, chemistry, electricity and other fun subjects. Thanks to Tralee Library for this. Click here for more photos.

Welcome Back Mrs O'Sullivan

Junior Infants showered Mrs O'Sullivan with gifts today to welcome her back after a week away. It's lovely to be appreciated!

Snowman Clay

Ms Brassil's class made snowmen from clay and had fun sticking on carrot noses, buttons, sticks and scarves. Thanks to Eve Savage for the material. Click here for more pictures.

Book Fair - The End?

Thanks to the parents manning the Book Fair shop this week. So far, we have made over €1,500, exceeding our target of €1,000 by a good amount! This will mean we will have over €700 to spend on books for our new library. Thanks to everyone who supported. Last chance to purchase books: Wednesday 8:50am. Click here for more photos.

Greenschool Inspection

Ms Brassil is so proud of the Greenschool committee who spoke to Mícheál Ó Coileáin on 1st December about our Water themed flag. He was very impressed. We took him out to see the water harvesting system and boiler room and our rubbish bins too. If there was a 'man of the match' award for Greenschools, it'd definitely go to Siobhán O'Sullivan who was simply outstanding today, speaking with such confidence and clarity about the meter readings. Well done everyone! Rory Daly also deserves a mention for being terrific for telling Mícheál about experiments his class did last year, especially as he was off school sick today, but insisted Dad bring him in for this "most important meeting of the year!" Thanks to the parents Lisa, Anne-Marie and Ciara and Tony who also came to this meeting. Siobhán, Caoimhe and Emma have been selected to go to Cork in May to collect this Water flag.

Book Fair Opening Times

Our Book Fair, which is open to the public, will now be open from 1:30-2:30pm after school days daily until next Tuesday 6th. It will also be open on Sunday 4th from 11:30am-1pm and on Monday night from 7-8pm. It has different sections for each age group, including 2+, 4+, 6+, 8+, and also has some stationery and posters for sale. Bargain book section also. See you there! See more pictures from the Book Fair by clicking here.

Book Fair Winners, Fair Play!

Well done to our students who entered the "Design your favourite book cover" competition. 5 children won €8 vouchers each for our Book Fair which arrived on 30th November. Congratulations to you: James Daly, Claudia Duffin, Cyprian Tyburski, Faye O'Connor and Ailbhe Daly. Well done also to the children who won Christmas annuals Noah Flynn, Aidan Berry, Nathan Moriarty, Ella Gethin, Callum Hayes and Caoilinn O'Brien. Unfortunately, not all were present for the photo, but here are a few happy faces.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!

Christmas Hamper

The school and the Parent's Association would like to thank all of you who have so far donated to our Christmas hamper appeal. In particular, we would like to thank one local family who made a very generous donation to us, of toys and food on 28th November. We are blown away by this generousity. The Christmas spirit is certainly alive and well in Blennerville! Go raibh míle maith agat!

Christmas Art

Some lovely Christmas art on display by Ms Ryan's class during Christmas 2016. See  more Christmas art by clicking here.

More displays by Denise below really brighten up the school.

 

Spring Marches On In November

During crisp dry sunshine, on a cold November day, Senior Infants wrapped up warmly and ventured outside to plant bulbs in pots. Parent Julie Hanafin guided us as to how to plant correctly. We put in stones first to help with aeration, then a layer of compost which she and Tony got for us. Then we added either daffodil or tulip bulbs, making sure the shoots were facing upwards, and then filled the pots to the top with more compost. Hopefully, all we need to do now is wait and watch. Thanks so much to Julie and Tony, and well done to Senior Infants for not being afraid to get your hands dirty! Click here for more.

Aistear Café Concludes

Making lists and checking them twice during Aistear Café fortnight in Junior Infants class during November. Here are children taking orders from others, pretending to be in a café in the Home Corner, one of the Aistear stations. 45 new photos added on 25th November. See them by clicking here.

Christmas Hamper Night

 

 

We are hosting our annual school table quiz and family Christmas hamper draw on Friday 9th December in Quanes pub at 9pm. We would LOVE to see all our new parents attend this FUN-FILLED FREE evening. Lots and lots of prizes to be won on the night. 

Sean Óg Irish Fairy Doors

Thanks very much to Seán Óg fairy doors, a local business from Ballybunion who gave us 2 fabulous fairy doors and a large fairy castle with two smaller castles for our Senior Infants. There was great excitement today when two names were pulled out  of the hat and the lucky winners are: Olivia Crean and Rory O'Brien. These children will have a fairy in their gardens very soon I'm sure! Thanks to this local business. You can order ones to paint yourself or already pre-painted on their web-site www.seanogsirishfairydoors.com 

Percussion Performance

A huge thanks to Martin Schaerer, percussion teacher who directed a masterful percussion performance on 21st November 2016, in front of the entire school and parents. We really showed that we've got rhythm!

Pop Up Café

The Junior Infants enjoyed the café theme in Aistear during the past week making courgette bread, making out menus and acting out the restaurant scene of taking and making appointments and taking orders, all great things to learn, along with the vocubulary associated with it. Next week, it's pizzas! To see pictures, see the last 2 pages of this album (7+8) by clicking here.

Cake Sale Success

Thanks so much to the bakers, the buyers, the parents, our fantastic Parent's Association volunteers and the hungry mouths that made our cake sale on 18th November one of the most successful ever, raising €463.80 for the school. This will go towards all the baking equipment we have bought lately for Aistear. To see pictures from this, taken by Sean Daly- thanks Sean, click here.

Penguin Art

Some lovely Winter themed art appeared outside Mrs O'Connor's room during November with the class penguins.

Tom Crean

2nd and 3rd Classes are learning about local hero Tom Crean. Here is a display from their class done during November 2016.

Supermoon!

To coincide with the Supermoon on 14th November, we thought it'd be a good time to share with you budding astronomers and astronauts of the future two images taken especially for our school by the Blackrock Observatory last month. Ms Brassil applied for the observatory to take a photo for our school. Thanks to Michelle Culloo for the idea. Both are unique images. The first image was taken in the northern hemisphere by the telescope at CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory on Friday 7th October 2016, and the second image was taken for us by the Watcher telescope in South Africa in the Southern hemisphere, on Sunday 9th October. They show close up sections of the moon. The Supermoon on 14th November 2016 was the biggest and brightest moon to rise in almost 69 years and the full moon won't come this close again to Earth until November 25th 2034. How old will you all be then?!

Bake Sale

On Friday 18th November Junior Infants and 6th Class are invited to bake instead of homework. Children from these two classes are invited to home bake while other children are invited to buy. (Approx €1 to €3 recommended.) Please support this worthy cause as this money goes towards funding our Aistear programme for Junior and Senior Infants classes.

November Indoor Soccer Challenge

Well done to our students who won 2 and lost 1 game on 16th November in the new Mitchel's indoor soccer inter school challenge. Thanks to Mr Sheehan for the photos!

Christmas Chess Challenge

We have challenged Nohoval NS to a chess challenge on Wednesday 7th December from 1:30pm-3:30pm. Please could all interested chess players let Rob or Paul know next Wednesday, as there will be 30 players coming to challenge us and we need all the players we can get. It is open to 3rd class upwards. It's just a friendly challenge, so no trophies this time. Nohoval will be bringing giant chess pieces with them to play us with! Venue: Ms Brassil's classroom. Please could our members wear their blue chess tee-shirts for a photo opportunity? Thanks everyone and best of luck!

Scolastic Book Fair

There will be over 200 of the most popular children's books of the moment available for sale at our school Book Fair at unbeatable prices. In class competition of  'Re-design your favourite book cover' will be held to decide who will win our 5 x €8 vouchers! Parents Association, thank you in advance.

National Science Week

6th Class have already been experimenting with their science projects, the week prior to Science week, so they will be able to show and tell other classes about what they have found out. From rainbow skittles, to self-inflating balloons, to miniature explosions, it's fair to say lots is being learned as well as fun being had. Click here to see more scientists from 4th to 6th classes.  New photos of Ms Ryan's class making electric circuits during Science week 16/11/16.

Greenschool Day of Action

On Thursday 10th November our Greenschool had a "Day of Action" where we ask everyone to bring unwanted clothes and shoes (tied together) to the school in plastic bags first thing in the morning. We were delighted to receive €250 for our clothes so thank you everyone who brought a bag! Well done to Callum from the committee who spoke about our Re-usable water bottle campaign, whereby he encouraged children to re-use bottles like the ones we got free from the Food Dudes, and to save on water too. The committee put themselves into a water drop shape afterwards for a photo. Click here for more photos.

Hurling Coaching

Thanks to David O'Dea from the County Board who is coaching 6th class and Mrs O'Connor's classes in hurling during November and December.

Primary Planet

Our school featured in the Primary Planet received 10th November 2016! We are so proud. Kayla's haircut was mentioned, as well as the Fairy Garden in a piece by Katie Moriarty and a story with a serious message was printed by 6th class student Sorcha O'Donoghue. Caoimhe Dairo and Callum Houston also had articles published! Well done!

Aistear Senior Infants

Senior Infant fun in Aistear continued during November with hairdryers posing as wolves trying to blow down children's houses constructed from jellies and cocktail sticks, saugage roll baking, sand houses using wet and dry sand, party invitations to a pig's birthday and acting out the drama on stage. The Three Little Pigs theme was such fun. Click here for more photos updated 10/11/16

Radio Kerry Winner

Congratulations to our student Caoimhe Dairo whose Spooky Halloween Story was read out on 28th October live on air on morning time Radio Kerry, where she won the top prize of €100 voucher to spend in the Killarney Outlet Centre. Well done! We are so proud of you Caoimhe! Please listen to Caoimhe's story "The Teddy Bear" by clicking here. Warning: it is not for the faint hearted.

 

Halloween Horror Party!

Thanks so much to the Parent's Association for our Halloween Party on 28th October. We had a super disco, traditional games and plenty of fun in our new hall. Click here for almost 200 pictures! For even better photos by Dermot Crean, click on traleetoday.ie

First Responders Information Evening

Science Outreach Programme

Thanks to Antoinette O'Grady and the students from the Institute of Technology Tralee who visited our senior classes on 28th October to do a hands-on science session called "Fantastic DNA" designed to allow every child to practice science in their own classroom. Thanks to parent Tracey Kelliher for organising this for us.. Click here for a few more pictures. Some of us definitely look like mad scientists on the day that's in it!

Rugby Technique Training

Our senior boys learned about scrummaging techniques under the guidance of Munster coach Seán Brosnan during our mild weather in October 2016 at the Tralee Rugby Club. Thanks to Tralee Rugby Club.

Brave Kayla

9 year old Kayla from 3rd class chopped off her golden locks on 27th October for the Little Princess Trust, for children with cancer. She did it in front of the entire school, as well as family and friends. Thanks to Anne-Marie our SNA for being our resident hairdresser. Kayla looks fabulous with her new shoulder length haircut. Click here to see more pictures. Thanks to Gavin O'Connor of traleetoday.ie for a terrrific article with photos. Click traleetoday.ie to read this.

Basketball Team

Well done to our boy's basketball team during October who took part inan Introduction to basketball with other schools. Scores were not kept, but our team did very well.

Senior Infant Aistear

Thanks to the parents who are helping out with Aistear. Senior Infants had great fun during October with the Three Little Pigs theme. Click here for more photos.

Aistear Week 2

Junior Infants enjoyed their second week of the Three Little Pigs theme in Aistear during October. They even constructed houses from cocktail sticks and jellies. They tested which was stronger, jellies or marshmallows against the strong wind of a hairdryer which took the place of the big bad wolf. Can you tell the shapes that the children made below in the picture? I can see triangles and squares. Can you? Senior Infants will get a turn next week. Juniors also made out birthday invitations to the little pig's party and even baked puff pastry from scratch to make sausage rolls which the children called "pigs in a blanket!" Click here for more photos.

Tidy Tralee Together Awards

Thanks so much to Joe Moynihan and Julie O'Sullivan of Tidy Tralee Together who presented our school's Fairy Garden with a prize for Best Small Area Enhancement 2016 in the Rose Hotel on 17th October 2016. The school was represented by the wonderful Brian and Caitlin O'Grady, Maura O'Donnell and Michaela McAdams. We got a lovely certificate and a surprise of a voucher for €50 for Ballyseedy Garden Centre which will be spent on bulbs for children to plant after Halloween. Thanks to Julie Hannafin, Tony McAdams and Brian O'Grady for their hard work in the garden, and the parents and children who donated plants and gifts, the reward is thanks to you all! Click here to read more about the night. Thanks to Dermot Crean for this amazing photo.

Kerry Cup Visit

On 17th October we were lucky enough to welcome back past pupil Kerry minor footballer Kieran Dwyer with the Tom Markham Cup which he and his team won in the All Ireland Minors Final in September. We are so proud of you Kieran! Thanks for being such a good sport posing for all those photos! Click here to see more.

Garda Trish

Thanks to Garda Trish for calling to see us all on 17th October to speak about Halloween safety and safety in the car. There's a lost teacher in you Trish! Click here for more pictures.

Big Brother in a Big School

It's simply sweet to have a big brother to mind you in such a big new school! Here is Ódhran minding his younger brother Donnchadh who is in Junior Infants on one of his first trips up and down the stairs to have his photo taken with Pauline Dennigan on 17th October. It was lovely to see them holding hands and happy!

Group Work

Mr Sheehan did a lovely lesson on seasons on 17th Ocotber, where children discussed the same picture taken in different seasons and talked about the differences. It was a terrific oral language lesson and we were shocked by the vocabulary of senior infants who were able to tell us that there was ploughing going on on fields, and that the deciduous trees had lost their leaves! 

Circle Time

Circle time in the library with Senior Infants. Only the person holding the magic stone can speak. If you don't want to speak, you can pass the stone on.

The Three Little Pigs

Infants are doing the Three Little Pigs in Aistear during October. Click here for more photos. See p6 and p7. The got to act out the story, make pig muffins, construct houses, look at the sequence of events and eat the rewards! Next week it's sausage rolls! Thanks so much to the parents who make this happen.

Better Watch Out!

The school is getting a little bit spookier! See if you can find witches and skeletons around the place next week. Look out for bats on the staircase and a witch in reception! Agh ha ha ha! Art work here by 2nd and 3rd. More fabulous art work when you click here with Ms Doyle's class. Her witches are below.

Tree Day at the Wetlands

On Friday the 7th of October to mark Tree Day which was on the 6th of October we went to the Wetlands to do a workshop with Dr. David Mc Cormick all about Trees.  During the workshop the class learned about;All the parts of the tree and why trees grow so tall

·     Recognising our native trees, even without their leaves

·     How trees make the planet better and provide homes for millions of creatures

·     How to grow a tree from a tiny seed  

      During the workshop David had the class out and about all around the Wetlands looking at the different  trees.  At the end of the lesson every child was given a pot which they had to fill with compost and  planted a chestnut seed in it which will hopefully in time grow into a beautiful Chestnut Tree.  To  conclude our workshop David with the help of the class planted an Alder Tree at the Wetlands for  Blennerville National School. For more pictures click here.

 

 Team Building With TYs

 

     On Monday the 10th of October 

As part of the ‘Sky Sports – Living for Sport’ Programme (which is mentored by Darran O’Sullivan) Méan Scoil Nua an Leith Triúigh's Transition Year students are currently doing a project called ‘Team Building with TY’s’. The students in question have worked extremely hard with Darran and their PE teacher Mr. Jonathan Lyne on this project and are now ready to move onto the next phase which is coaching fun games to Primary school students.  4th and 5th Class were invited from Blennerville National School to participate in the games they also got to take part in a Home Economics Class where they made fruit smoothies and fruit skewers and they also had a Technical Graphics Class. It was a fantastic day! For more pictures click here.

Food Faces

Senior Infants made food faces with Mícheál Sheehan their student teacher, linking in nicely with the Food Dudes this month! For more click here.

Goldilocks to Get the Chop!

A very brave girl in our school, Kayla O'Connor from 3rd class, has decided that she wants to cut off her golden locks and give her hair to help make a wig for another child with cancer. We are bowled over by this gesture, so we are inviing donations, if you wish, to this Princess Trust cause that she is sending her hair to. Kayla will be getting her trim on Thursday 27th October in front of the entire school at 11am. We will leave a donation bucket at reception. Any donations are welcome. Well done Kayla. Thanks to our SNA Anne Marie Scott who has offered to man the scissors. Kayla's grandmother is our 2nd and 3rd class teacher!

Dancing For Joy

Friday afternoons from 1:30-2:30, Trína Breen coaches our Junior and Senior Infants in Irish dancing. The class is thriving and children are showing great improvement weekly. Trína uses an App on her phone to play the music on speakers in the hall. We'll be ready for a céilí by Christmas. Click here for more dancers strutting their stuff. Class costs €5 per session, pay on the day.

Starry Starry Night

2nd and 3rd classes studied Vincent VanGogh's Starry Starry Night in October and created their own versions of the masterpiece. Here they are on display in the corridor. Well done!

Fundamental Movement

Many thanks to Cathal Fennessy for volunteering to do Fundamental Movement sessions with our younger children for a few weeks. Cathal is a college student studying P.E. Click here for more pictures.

 Green Fingers 

Well done to Ciara Higgins from 1st class who planted tomato seeds last year in Senior Infants and has nursed them since. She brought them to school on 6th October to show us her fantastic result. Well done Ciara, Mom and Dad!

Chess Club has Many Good Mates

The school chess club is packed and members are getting really tactical. They meet every Wednesday for an hour after school. Thanks to the parents Rob Sheehy and Paul Kelliher who volunteer to do this. New members are always welcome. €2 charge. Click here for more pictures.

Tralee Tidy Towns

We are thrilled that our fairy garden (which they called the bee garden) has been listed in the Tidy Towns "Enhancement of Small Space Areas". Well done everyone!

Percussion Workshop

Thanks to our wonderful Parent's Association, a 6 week drumming programme began on 3rd October for classes Junior Infants up to 3rd class from for half hour sessions per class. It is under the guidance of Martin Schaerer who works in schools all over Kerry. Click here to read about his school workshops. Apologies in advance to Santy, who may be asked for drums this December! Let's tap it out everyone: "1-2-3-have a cup of tea!" Click drumming to see more pictures. Updates 5/10/16

Library Visit

Mr O'Sullivan's class visited the library on 3rd October to listen to children's author and illustrator Alan Nolan. He showed the children how to draw some comic characters from his books. Thanks to Kerry County Library for this. Click here for more photos.

Vintage Vantage

Thanks so much to the organisers of the Blennerville Threshing on Sunday 2nd October 2016 who put our vintage tractors so beautifully on display. We are very grateful and proud and never knew we had so many farmers in the school. We were delighted to see some winner stickers among the masterpieces. Well done everyone. Thanks to our current student teacher, local man Mícheál Sheehan for acting as our journalist and photographer for the day. Well done to winners Rory, Cathal and Caoilainn below who got lovely prizes on Monday for their art work.

Greek Week

This week in Ms Ryan's class, the students made Tzatziki, a traditional Greek recipe, linking with their current theme of Ancient  Greece. They used some of the Food Dudes cucumbers to dip into the sauce. Delicious! See Food Dudes in the Gallery for more.

It's Hip To Be Square!

Ms Brassil's class made fruit and vegetable mosaic art during September.

Calendar Updated

Please see the calendar year updated 29/09/2016

New Enrolments

Any parent who wishes to enrol their child in our school up until 2021,  can they please fill out an online application form as soon as possible? It can be found on the Prospective Parents pencil on your left at the top of the page.  Thank you. 

St Pat's Extra Training Session

After school football coaching will take place in the school hall commencing next Monday the 3rd of October for Junior and Senior Infants between 1.30pm and 2.15pm. St. Pat's coaches will lead the coaching session. All children in Juniors and Seniors are welcome. Please ensure that parents are on time for collection at 2.15pm. Children partaking in this session may wear their school tracksuit on Monday's from now on. It will proceed for 4 weeks up until the Halloween break. Parents will be notified whether or not it will continue, in advance of the commencement of the second term.

Irish Dancing with Trína Breen

Irish dancing will commence on Friday 7th of October 1.30 -2.30pm for Junior and Senior Infants in the P.E hall with dance teacher Trina Breen. It will cost €5 per child for the hour. Please pay the dance teacher on the day. If interested in this activity for your child please ring/call into school secretary and put your child's name down. If numbers are too big it will work on a first come first served basis.

Corn by Our Own Hands

Thanks to Julie for bringing in the corn we grew in the fairy garden this Summer into the Senior Infants room. She pulled off the leaves for us and showed us the corn underneath. Then Maura O'Donnell took the corn and cut it into rings. She showed the class how to steam some and to bake more. We got to taste it steamed, baked and raw. It tasted so differently depending on the way it was cooked, but all the time sweet. 6th class got to taste some as well. Thanks so much to Maura for doing this for us. To see more pictures, click Sweetcorn. (p5 and p6).

Phonic Games

Infants began station teaching in September based on the sounds and letters they have learned so far. Well done Junior Infants!

Food Dudes Going Strong

The Food Dudes is going well in the school. We are already into the first week of tasting and eating and have already received stickers and pedometers to keep track of how fit we are. To see more pictures click Food Dudes.

Old Clothes Collection 10th November

We are asking parents and families for help in collecting old unused clothes and shoes. We are going to do a collection of these at 9am on Thursday 10th November so you all have plenty of time to be cleaning out the wardrobes during the Halloween Break.  We will be paid by weight 50c per kg for this collection and the money will go straight back into the school. Please help if you can by gathering your clothes in plastic bags. Shoes MUST be tied together. Only clothes and shoes are being accepted. Please do NOT send in any bed clothes or blankets. Thank you everyone.

Wise Old Owls

Here is some fabulous art work by Ms Doyle's 1st Class during September.

Art by Ms Ryan's class

Fabulous silhouettes of the Olympic Torch by 4th and 5th class.

Birds of a Feather

Thanks to Anne-Marie O'Connor for bringing chicks to school on 26th September. Children got to cuddle the soft downy fluffy chicks. We had various colours. One decided to fly in Noreen's office but was quickly brought back to the safety of the box! Anne-Marie shared some sad news with us, that Chicken Kiev who we named last year, is actually Chicken Kev, and will have to move homes as he won't lay any eggs. Very sad news indeed. Good luck to Chicken Kev! For more pictures click chicken.

Pumpkin Treat

Thanks to the Junior Infants and their teacher Mrs O'Sullivan for making pumpkin soup on 21st September. They used a simple recipe which you can follow when you click here and all had a taste of the finished product. You can also see some photos from the preparation. Some even made its way into the teachers' staffroom! Delicious!

Junior Infants Art

We already have some budding artists in Junior Infants!

Best of Luck to Past Pupil Kieran

Best of luck to Kieran Dwyer, past pupil of the school who plays for Kerry in the minors this Sunday in the All-Ireland final. Kieran always took sport very seriously and is also a very strong runner and swimmer and had several wins in Mosney at the Community Games finals. He is a devout St. Pat's supporter and his dad Jerry, is on our Board of Management. He always joked at school that any medal he won in swimming was a stepping stone for his Kerry football career! 

Blennerville Book Club

The Blennerville Book Club met on Tuesday 13th September to celebrate what would have been Roald Dahl's birthday. He is an author that children and adults appreciate equally and was the reason behind such a big turn-out at the meeting. Please see the Extra Curricular pencil for lots more about the night. The book club welcomes new members with open arms. Here is Faye reading Roald Dahl's take on the Three Little Pigs. 

Mícheál Quirke Returns

Thanks so much to Mícheál Quirke for returning to train us from the County Board. Mícheál travels to us once a fortnight to teach football skills to our infants. Hopefully we may have more future Kerry players amongst our pupils!

Brooke's Guinea Pig

Senior infant Brooke brought her guinea pig to school in September, much to the delight of her classmates, but he couldn't stay long, as he doesn't like noise very much.

Playtime

Having fun during playtime in Senior Infants.

Painting In Style

We are so lucky to have such room in our new school. Here are infants painting in comfort in their new classroom.

Food Dudes

The healthy eating programme will begin in our school on September 26th. See the Active/HPS page for more.

New Infants

We would like to welcome the new Junior Infants and their families to the school! They made a hugely impressive start, with hardly a tear in sight- one or two by the moms! Here they are looking very smart in their new Blennerville school uniforms with their wonderful teacher Mrs Edel O'Sullivan. Wishing you all a healthy and happy school year ahead.

Senior Infants

Here are our Senior Infants, who seemed to have grown so much over the holidays.

Budding Rose

Well done to our Rose Bud Gráinne who cheered on the Galway Rose in this year's Rose of Tralee Festival. Gráinne was certainly mixing with top celebrities during festival week in Tralee. We hope you enjoyed every minute of it Gráinne and the O'Donnells!

Cover Girl!

This is such a cute photo on the front cover of the Outlook magazine on 07/07/2016 by Pauline Dennigan of baby Ruby, Principal Terry O'Sullivan and Bishop Ray Browne on our Opening Day. Red really suits Ruby!

Another lovely inside photo and article:

Official Opening

To see Pauline Dennigan's amazing slideshow of the full event, please click HERE

Please read Gavin O'Connor's article and see his wonderful pictures by clicking on this traleetoday.ie link. Below is a photo by Gavin.

Thanks so much for celebrating our Official Opening with us. It was a huge success and the school couldn't be prouder of the children during the mass and ceremonies. The choir were outstanding and all Ms O'Shea's and Mary O'Sullivan's hours of hard work really paid off today. Thanks to the entire staff and children of the school. Thanks to Bishop Ray Browne, Fr Francis, Fr Moynihan and Fr Sugrue, to the politicans and Kerry school principals who turned up to support the day, to Jimmy Deenihan who officially opened the school, the Board of Management, the Parent's Association and the families and friends who watched us on-line and came in person. Thanks to Ms O'Shea's dad also. Thanks to Pauline Dennigan, most patient photographer and to the other photographers who came to cover our big day. Thanks to Kingdom Catering for the lovely food provided. I think Mr O'Sullivan deserves a huge WELL DONE himself, managing the preparation making the day run so smoothly. Click here for more pictures.

Perfect Attendance Awards

Well done to the children below who had a perfect attendance record for the school year just ended. There were four students in total, Róisín, Rian, Eve and Caoimhe.

Well done also to those who only missed one to two days all year.

Basketball League Winners

Congratulations to all the children who took part in the Basketball league and thanks to Mary and Andrea O'Donoghue for coming to award the trophy in honour of Tony O'Donoghue to the winning team the LA Lakers! The finishing score was La Lakers 18, New York Knicks 14. Well done to all involved. A special thanks to Olivia O'Shea for organising this league and training our teams on a weekly basis. For more pictures, click here. To read a lovely article, please click traleetoday.ie

 

Oak Tree Planted

Thanks to Ann-Marie O'Connor who helped the three youngest Greenschool members plant the native Irish oak tree near our Fairy Garden on the last day of school. Thanks to Tony for digging the hole for us and supporting the tree with a cable tie. Well done to Ródhan, James and Darragh who didn't mind getting their feet dirty.

 

 

Oak Tree Unveiled

The day began with the unveiling of an Oak Tree art work. Every child and staff member coloured or designed a leaf and all were stuck to the bare oak tree, bringing it to life. The staff's leaves were placed at the roots, being the foundation of the school, and the children on the branches, as they are the life of the school, blossoming more with each year. Two special places were given to Julie Hannafin, our fairy garden designer and to Michelle Culloo of the Board of Management whose idea this was. Their two leaves are floating in the wind. The tree was painted by Fenit artist Bridie Brassil (seen on the right), who wouldn't charge us for the work. We are very grateful to you Bridie. Bridie was given a token of appreciation for her time by Maura O'Donnell, Chairperson of the Parent's Association (left). Thanks also to Joe Costello of Noyeks Newman for providing us the MDF free of charge. We are thrilled with the finished tree and it really brightens up the downstairs corridor.

Wishes for the Future

Here are the wishes for the future of the school, as read on the Official Opening day by Barry, Ródhan, Gráinne, Faye, Ailbhe and Oisín. These were released tied to helium balloons which we thank Michelle Culloo for. The children came up with these wishes as a class group.

Cycle Safety Talk (Bike Week Concluded)

We have to thank Séamus Moriarty for coming to the school on 28th June to address the children on Cycle Safety. Séamus is a retired guard, and is in the perfect position, coming from years of experience to speak about rules of the road. It was a very informative and practical talk for the children. From now on, on bike or wheels days, the school will be adopting a "No helmet, no cycle" approach. Helmets save lives and Séamus really brought this point across today. Thanks to Ms Sorcha Ryan for the photos.

Blennerville Basketball

The school is delighted to announce a new cup, the inaugural Tony O'Donoghue Perpetual Cup which will be presented to the winning basketball team for an inter-school league we have been hosting. The winning team will be presented with this cup on Thursday 30th June by Tony's family. This is the inaugural (first time) running of our basketball league in Senior classes. It has been a huge success. A massive thanks goes to Ms Olivia O'Shea, for co-ordinating and running the league very successfully over the past number of weeks. Tony was a great friend of the school and an integral part of St. Pat's football club and the Blennerville community. He helped us with the collection of  Barry's bread wrappers, which enabled us to get our very first set of school jerseys which we wear with pride. We are delighted to remember Tony in our school with this cup.

Credit Union Ellie

Thanks a million to Credit Union Ellie who visited the school on 27th June and made a very generous donation to the school as a thank you to our super savers. Ellie also kindly gave each child a colourful bracelet.

Summer Newsletter

Click here to read the Summer Newsletter. A copy per family will be handed out this week.

A Hands on Hike to Brackloon

Ms Doyle's class had a fantastic hike in Brackloon, Annascaul on 23rd June. Many thanks to Miss Dinan for the pictures. Click here for more. Daithí is the most amazing guide and makes every walk magical. Here thay are meeting the Tom Crean statue and below, on top of the world!

Cycling Success

A huge congratulations to Elizabeth Sullivan and her dad Mark who got cycling as a result of Eileen O'Connor Occupational Therapist's cycling sessions as part of Bike Week. Thanks so much to Eileen for this. Here is Elizabeth, proud as can be with her cycling cert.

A Massive Thanks To You Julie!

We presented Julie with a bunch of flowers and a voucher on 23rd June to thank her for her fairy garden design and all her hard work over the past few months. You'll never guess where we found her.... yes, in the garden! Julie has spent so much time planting, buying and glueing recently, she has been practically here as often as the staff itself. This was a small token of appreciation from the Parent's Association, staff and children. It was presented by Maura O'Donnell of the PA along with Ms Brassil and representitives from the Greenschool Committee.

 

Graduation

Congratulations to 6th Class on their Graduation night, where they each sang and read poems with such confidence. Presentations were made on the night to Mary O'Sullivan, music teacher, from the Parent's Association, and to Denise for all her hard work with videos, pictures and displays and to Terry O'Sullivan from the children. Well done 6th Class! Lots more photos can be seen here. Thanks to everyone who brought cakes on the night and to Maura, Colette and Nora in the Parent's Association who manned the teas. Huge thanks to photographer for this fabulous article and brilliant pictures on traleetoday.ie.

We Star in Tralee Tour Video!

Click here and watch a video made by Traleetoday.ie showcasing Tralee as a school tour destination. Our children feature in this!

Famine Village

1st and 2nd classes walked from the old Famine Village to Camp beach as their school tour on 22nd June. They took time to make wishes and play on the beach too. Click here for photos. Huge thanks to Miss Dinan for the fantastic photos.

Infant Hike to Town Park

We had a ball walking into Tralee to the Town Park playground on 22nd June and getting a bus back. We are ALL exhausted, teachers and helpers! Thanks to Colette, Ann-Marie, Emma and Kate and to Nora for the drive back for the adults. Click here for more.

Football Success for 6th in June

We came second out of 11 schools and Jade won best girl of the match!

Real Fairies

Real fairies from the Kilflynn Fairy Festival visited our fairy garden on Friday 17th June. Thes festival is happening on 25th and 26th June and comes highly recommended! For more photos, click here. Thank you fairies!

Cake Sale Makes €366.90

Thanks so much to the bakers, the buyers, the parents and the sweet teeth of Blennerville. A special thanks goes to Nora Corridon and Maura O'Donnell. We raised an amazing €366.90. For more pictures click here.

Learning to Cycle

Huge thanks to Eileen O'Connor, Occupational Therapist who took time out during Bike Week to teach some of our pupils to cycle. Emily, Elizabeth and Nathan all did very well in the session. The bike week folder in the gallery has lots more photos.

Hamster Surprise

We had a visit from a hamster today courtesy of Colette O'Leary, visiting SNA. He was really cute and cuddly and some of us held him. Thank you Colette! For more pictures, click here.

Greenschool Check Out the Water Harvesting Tank

The Greenschool committee checked out the rainwater collector container on 16th June which holds up to 25,000 litres of rainwater which we use for flushing our toilets. This saves the school a fortune.

HPS Success

We were thrilled to have the beautiful Anne Culloty at our school today to present us with our Health Promoting School Flag for our efforts this year on our theme of 'Fitness'. Anne presented us with a framed certificate of success, personalised certs for all committee members and the colourful flag. Thanks so much to Anne for taking the time to visit us on Tuedsay 14th June 2016. For more pictures, click HPS.

Bike Week

Bike week continued with Mrs O'Connor's class on Thursday 16th June.

There was lots of fun in the yard on 15th June with 3rd, 4th and 5th classes cycling in the yard as part of bike week. More pictures in the gallery under Bike Week. Thanks Ms Doyle for the terrific photos.

Puncture Demo

We had special guest Peter from Jim Caball Himself at the school today to show us how to take a wheel off a bike and to fix a puncture. It just goes to show, if you have the correct spanner, anything is possible. Thanks so much to Peter for doing this for us as part of National Bike Week. Children were fascinated to watch and learn. For more pictures, click here.

Maybe next Sunday, you could go to the Pedal in the Park and stay in Bike Week mode!

Fairy Photo Op

Some of the fairies from the Kilflynn Fairy Festival will be coming to our school on Friday morning at 9:30am for a photo opportunity in our garden with Edel Lawlor, Play Therapist and founder of the festival. We would love if some of the Junior Infants would dress up for the occasion. You don't have to if you don't want to, of course.

Going Green to Support Keane and Team

We all dressed in green on 13th June to show our support for Ireland in the Euros. 

"Come on Ireland!"

A Family Effort

We got such a lovely surprise when Timmi and his Mom Sylvia presented a windmill to the school for the garden on 13th June 2016. This was home made and painted with great care and love by both Timmi and his mom in the school colours. It's sails actually spin in the wind and is is all too tempting not to give them a turn when you visit the garden. Thank you so much Timmi and Sylvia. What a thoughful gift for the garden! Any fairy in their right mind would move straight into it.

 

"Chicken Noodle" and "Chicken Kiev" Visit the School

We were thrilled to welcome 2 chicks to school on Monday 13th June, when Chicken Noodle and Chicken Kiev (daughters of Chicken Tikka) visited the infant classes, thanks to Ann-Marie O'Connor and her beautiful assistant. The children were very brave and all rubbed a chick each. One tried to kiss Kerrie with a peck on the cheek but she wouldn't let it! We all washed our hands after handling the chicks. Thanks a million Ann-Marie. For more photos, click here.

"Happiness always sneaks in a door you did not think was open."

Who would have dreamed that a little plot hidden behind a wall would bring so much good will and happiness to our school? Parents have been absolutely brilliant in donating their time, gifts and lending their skills and expertise to our little garden. The original door returned to us this evening 8th June, a brand new shade of deep purple. Brian O'Grady, I think we will have to name a fairy after you for the work you put into the door. Not only did Brian strip years of paint colour after colour, but he sanded, mended, filled, primed and painted, and then even touched up again once it was hung. What a fantastic job. Thanks so much to the O'Grady family for doing this. I must thank Julie and Brendan, and Tony too for being in the garden this week (they mustn't realise we are on holidays), who have been planting the past few days. Thanks sincerely to the Blennerville Book Committee who have recently given a huge amount of money towards the garden. For everyone that has given to the garden, this little fairy is for you all:

 

Bike Week

The coming week is National Bike Week. Our school applied to Kerry County Council for a grant to help promote cycling in our school, which we were delighted to have been accepted for. During Bike Week, we will be cycling to Fenit with the older classes, undertaking a massive 24km cycle. We will have cycle safety talks at school. We will have puncture changing demonstrations. We will also have Occupational Therapist Eileen O'Connor on board to help target teach some older children who cannot yet cycle. This session will be on Friday 17th at 9am but places are limited to 6 and it's first come, first served. Those awarded places must be accompanied by an adult, and their bike of course! We also invite classes to bring their bikes to school on their allocated day, for fun in the school yard. Classes will get a text the evening beforehand to remind them when it is their turn. To read more about this national week, click bikeweek.ie

Smiles All 'Round on Sports Day

Our annual sports day took place on Friday 3rd June 2016. Many thanks go to the 6th class who manned the stations, to Maura for keeping the ice-pops cool and ordering the bouncy castles, the Parent's Association and Mrs O'Sullivan. Thanks to those who cheered us on and to those who took photographs also. For more pictures click here.

 

Fun in the Sun for Infant's Fenit School Tour

What a spectacular day the infants had on their school tour on Thursday 2nd June! It was sun and fun all the way. We began in the playground and after a while, Megan's nan's ice-cream truck pulled in and gave us all ice-cream!  Thanks SO much to Megan's nan for doing such a phenomenal price for us. Then we headed to the beach with buckets and shovels, making sandcastles with moats which we filled with water, making sand pyramids with booby traps inside, spotting jellyfish and digging holes to Australia. Click here for more photos. Thanks to Miss Quinn, Denise, Rose and Abina for helping with supervision.

Hike to Sás Creek

In the most idyllic scenery, weather and company, 6th class embarked on a field trip to remember on 1st June 2016. For more pictures click here.

Thank You High Tower Tree Service

It is such a wonderful thing, to meet such good, kind, generous people. On Ms Brassil's way home near Ballyseedy on 1st June, she spotted a trailer full of fully round tree logs attached to a trailer belonging to High Tower Tree Service. After doing a u-turn in persuit, she approached them about acquiring some, as seats for our fairy garden. They immediately handed over 30 logs for the school, not asking for anything in return. So she asked them to please see our web-site where she would thank them. So lads, thanks an absolute million! Please see our Greenschool pencil on your left above and see what is going to happen to your logs. Ye are welcome to come visit the garden any time. Oh yes- and yet again, Ms B's rusty white van was a life saver. 

Hike to Cockleshell

Senior Infants had a fabulous morning in sunshine on 31st May, hiking to the Lock Gates and Cockleshell. We found dead crabs, lots of insects, a haunted house and lots of amazing stones, some even with Kerry diamonds! They were so well behaved, and were rewarded with a Rich tea biscuit for energy en route and an icecream wafer after it all, thanks to Tara's mom Rita Dowling once they returned to class. For more pictures click here.

Busy Lizzie!

Thanks to everyone who gave us gifts on 1st June. We really are so taken aback by all of your kindness and good will. It has created such a magical atmosphere in the garden and I think everyone can sense the excitement. Thanks today to Sinéad and her Mom and Nan who called in with these beautiful gifts, to Mrs O'Connor and her Busy Lizzies for the fairy named Lizzie, and to Maura for the pelican, to Sarah for the fairies and to whoever left plants this morning without a name by the garden entrance, thank you! Thanks to Caitlin's Dad for volunteering to prepare the door for us. The paint has been bought with the Woodie's voucher today. It'll be a rich velvet shade of purple, which will compliment the green walls beautifully. For all the other photos please see the Greenschool page.

Senior School Tour to UL

Photos from the 3rd-6th class school tour can be seen by clicking here. A fantastic day of fun in sunshine on 27th May 2016. 100 more photos updated 31st May, thanks to Rose O'Connor for these.

Woodie's Gift

Thanks to the Garden Squad project and Woodies for posting us on a €250 voucher on 31st May for being runners up in the Garden Squad project. This will buy us a wheelbarrow, at last! We hope to buy foxgloves and much more too. What a prize!

Gifts for the Garden

Thanks so much to everyone for their garden gifts on 31st May. From Mary, to the Culloos, to Niamh and Ochuko, Ann-Marie and whoever escaped without their photo being taken, we are so grateful to you all for the plants and gifts.

For more please see the Greenschool page.

Egyptian Wonder

Senior Infants are learning about ancient Egypt and Katelyn brought in original papyrus (what the Egyptians used as paper) with the Hieroglyphic Alphabet which her mom got while on holiday in Egypt. See what your name looks like spelt using hieroglyphics. Other vocabulary we used this week in may was: Pharoh, King Tutenkahmun, Valley of the Kings, Cleopatra, papyrus, sarcophagus, mummies, pyramids. We also spoke about the archaelogist Howard Carter and the mummy's curse and about Egyptian's love of cats and the Sphyinx.

 

Cherry Blossom Planted

Thanks again to Julie and Tony who planted in our garden on 27th May. They called out the infants to witness this special moment. Please see the Greenschool page for the Fairy naming details.

Hairdressing Salon Remains Open due to Phenomenal Demand.

The Junior Infants are learning through play in the Aistear programme with Mrs O'Sullivan during May. Click here to see more pictures updated 27th May. Children are getting knots out, making appointments, learning to plait and making delicious pin-wheel pizzas this week. A huge thanks to the parents who help out with Aistear. It couldn't happen without you.

 

Baking Treat for 1st and 2nd Classes

A huge thanks to Maura O'Donnell for volunteering to come into Mrs O'Connors class on 27th May to make pin-wheel pizzas. It was a real treat. So who can remember how to make them? Use the pictures below as a reminder and tell people at home how to make them. Junior infants should know too.

Friends For Life

Ms O Shea's class receiving their certificates upon completing the 10 week Friends For Life course. Friends for life is a school-based anxiety prevention and resilience building programme developed by Dr. Paula Barrett in Australia. The World Health Organisation cites ‘Friends for Life’ as the only evidence-based programme for anxiety in children that is effective at all levels of intervention (WHO, 2004). The class really enjoyed the programme and gained many useful strategies for dealing with difficult situations. Many thanks to Ms Olivia O Shea, Ms. Ryan and Mrs. Sugrue who helped Ms. O Shea deliver the programme. For photos click here.

Our Old Door Returns to Us

This was the original school door to our 1932 Blennerville school. It has returned to us, having been re-shaped to fit our Secret Fairy Garden entrance, thanks to Clifford and Co. If any parent could spare time and energy to help us sand it and re-paint it, please call in to Ms Brassil. All help is greatly appreciated. Julie and I were thinking a deep purple might be nice! We have a little metal fairy for the door too, ready to be put in place when it is finished.

Darren Wallace Training

Thanks to Darren Wallace who took infants for football and fun on 26th May. See the Active HPS page for more.

Girls Football Skills Success

Well done to the 6th class girls who won the St. Brendan's Board girls football skills competition as a team in Ballyrickard on 25th May 2016. They go on to the county finals in Austin Stack Park next Thursday 2nd June. (Written by Terry O'Sullivan!)

Bruce Springsteen Comes to Blennerville School

Senior Infants did their own Bruce Springsteen concert on stage on 26th May. Ruadh, aged 6 knows every song and his excitement about going is rubbing off on everyone. Cian is taking lead vocals here.

Accommodation Available in Blennerville

Next week we will have 5 fairy houses up for rent by local fairies. As soon as the 5 doors are secured in place, the key to each door will be left outside each door overnight. If the key is gone the following morning, it means a fairy has moved in. As it was the current 1st and 2nd classes who won the competition last year with Ms Brassil, they will be the classes to choose the 5 names for the fairies and these will be registered online. Get your thinking caps on (all of) Mrs O'Connor's class! Wishing you lots of fairy luck!

Cheers for the An Post Rás Cyclists

We cheered on the professional cyclists in the An Post Rás as they cycled past our school on 24th May as part of Stage 3 of their big race. It was wonderful to see the unbelieveable speed at which they travelled, as well as the garda escort in cars and on motorbikes. There was more entourage than athletes! Thanks to An Post who gave us flags and lollipops.

Cyclists of the Future

Thanks so much to Occupational Therapist and parent in the school Eileen O'Connor who taught children to cycle after school hours. This is a huge deal for children who weren't previously able to cycle. Here are Joseph and Lily who were presented with certificates on 20th May for their wonderful achievement.

The Secret Garden Photo Shoot

Thanks to those who made a huge effort to dress up as fairies for Traleetoday.ie on 20th May. The two classes involved posed for a photo in the new garden, views below from upstairs and from O'Shea's garage. David Condon visited us today and will be reporting back to the Garden Squad head office.

Kerry Film Competition

Thanks to all the children who entered the Radio Kerry Film Art competition during May. Children were asked to draw their favourite scene from their favourite film. Miss Brassil delivered some very artistic entries to the office on Tuesday 17th. The prize is an outdoor cinema in the school for a day, so keep those fingers crossed. From Ratatouille by Grace O'Brien, aged 12:

From the Hobbit, by Oisín Murray, aged 12:

From Toy Story, by Aoibhín Corridan, aged 12.

Blennerville Basketball League

This league is for those who showed interest in 5th and 6th classes. It will be held on Monday evenings beginning 25th May from 2:30-3:30pm. Here are the teams. Best of luck to all. Prizes for the winners!

Communion 2016

Congratulations to Ms. O' Connor's class who made their First Holy Communion on Saturday at Curaheen Church! Thanks to Ms. O' Connor, the children, their Parents and Fr. Francis for their hard work in preparing for the big day. 

This group shot can be purchased directly from Pauline Dennigan as a 10x8 inch for €16. Payment can be made HERE. Your print will be delivered to your child in the school. The deadline for placing your order is Mon, 23rd May.

St. Brendan's Day Blessing

We marked St. Brendan's day, our school patron saint's day with prayers in the hall with Fr. Francis. We had singing from the school choir under the guidance of Mrs Moynihan, prayers read by 6th class and a reading about St. Brendan. Thank you to Fr. Francis for this. A senior infant was overheard saying "That was very interesting teacher!" Second class First Communion children said the Our Father with their actions that they did at the altar last Sunday. Click here to see more pictures.

Bicycle Stands

A new addition to our car-park on 16th May 2016 are bicycle stands. So who's going to keep up being active and cycle to school?

Night at the Dogs Cheque Presentation for a whopping €33,869!

The hard work and organisation of the parents council and school staff along with the generosity of the advertisers, parents and sponsors of prizes for our recent Night at the Dogs paid dividends in a big way when we were presented with a cheque for €33,869 by Declan Dowling (centre), Sales & Operations Manager of Tralee Greyhound Stadium. Thank you to everyone involved.

Blennerville May Bloom!

Whoever said Friday the 13th was unlucky? To our utter delight today, we got a call from Kerri at the Garden Squad headquarters (in association with Woodie's) on 13th May to tell us that we are one of the finalists for the Garden Squad Competition! The winning class will get to go to Bloom, Ireland's biggest garden festival (2nd-6th June 2016).

On Wednesday ot Thursday of the coming week, we will be visited by none other than Leonie Cornelius, the beautiful judge from the RTE Super Garden programme, to speak with the children about our plans for our secret fairy garden and to take photos. The classes involved- Senior Infants and Miss Doyle's 3rd and 4th class are being asked to please get consent forms signed over the weekend to be returned to Miss Brassil by Monday. Those who sign the consent forms may be photographed for the national papers when Leonie visits us during next week.  Watch the Super Garden programme on RTE Thursdays at 8:30pm.

Parent Julie Hannafin has been brilliant to us, in designing the garden, helping with the classroom experiments and plant diaries and even painting the garden wall. Julie, it is such an achievement to even be in the shortlist and we thank you so much for all your time. 

In-School Hairdresser Open for Business Monday 15th May

Appointments are being taken now for new hairstyles at the Aistear hair salon opening in the Junior Infants class Monday 15th May. Please phone in advance so you won't be disappointed! (No scissors involved!)

 

Health Promoting School Success!

News just in on 11th May 2016. We are delighted to have been informed today that we have been successful in our application for HPS status for the following year and that we will be receiving a flag in recognition of this achievement on Tuesday 14th June at 1pm from Anne Culloty. Miss Brassil would like to sincerely thank the HPS committee for their hard work, with the surveys, the meetings and the journal, and the help with Active week. Ye are a terrific committee and a pleasure to work with.

Space Art

Here is some art work on display in their classroom by our Junior Infants with Mrs O'Sullivan. They learned about the solar system and rockets during the Star Dome week visit.

Below are more wall displays from 1st and 2nd classes with Mrs O'Connor showing current work being done.

Transition Treat

A very big thank you to the Transition Year students from Mercy Mounthawk who visited Ms O' Shea's class to present their project H2Woah. Their project highlighted the dangers of overfishing in Irish Waters. Aoife, Zack and Colin presented a short movie that they made themselves that illustrated some of the dangers the fishing industry faces. They explained the hazards of 'ghost fishing' where fish are being caught in discarded nets. They also highlighted the dangers of 'bycatch' where different species of fish are caught by accident.

5 Gold Medal Winners from Speech & Drama Class!

Under the expert professional tuition of Ger Madden, A.L.C.M her Speech & Drama class in the school earned 5 GOLD MEDALS in the recent Irish board of Speech & Drama exams held in Manor West Hotel. Pictured from left are the talented actresses Millie O' Brien, Caoilinn O' Brien, Kelly Fitzgerald and Faye O' Connor with their teacher Ger Madden. Missing from the pic is Sadhbh Horgan. Ger's classes have worked wonders for the children who would have previously avoided public speaking and performance of any kind. Confidence in communication is a major skill for a child to bring with them throughout their lives so I would like to thank Ger for her dedication in getting the students to this high standard. We hope to see Ger back in the school next year.

Community Games Winners

The school was awash with medal winners and participants from the Blennerville and Ballyard Community Games on 9th May. Click here to see individual pictures of all these fantastic athletes.

1916 Poets

Congratulations to Nicholla Smith and Sorcha O'Donoghue, 5th class whose 1916 poems came runners up in a competition in May 2016. They both received a voucher and certificates for their wonderful poems.

First Communion

We would like to wish our children from 2nd Class making their First Holy Communion the best of luck for Saturday 14th May at 11am. Mrs O'Connor has you all well prepared no doubt! Thanks to Pauline Dennigan for the fabulous photo below.

Thanks to Denise for the lovely display of the children's names which will be seen in the church on the big day.

Garden Glowing in Green

On 9th May, it was all hands on deck  for the painting of the wall in our Secret Fairy Garden. The school can't thank those who helped out  enough at such short notice. We really appreciate you Julie, Bridie (Miss Brassil's mom), Maura, Ciara, Tony and Pat O'Brien, (the professional!) who guided us through every detail.

Here were Miss Brassil's class taking a look at the garden before it all started.

Blackbirds Lodge at the Blennerville School Hotel

Do any of you remember the birds that nested in the ceiling of the old school? We were all sad about it being knocked and destroying their home. Well, good news- blackbirds have nested in the new school! They are just above the main door entrance and are busy at the moment bringing food to the newly hatched chicks. Here is the mother bird just flying in with a big juicy worm to feed them.

Star Dome Docks Safely In Blennerville

 

On 5th May, we had a very special guest Frances McCarthy from the Blackrock Observatory with us, bringing her Star Dome. She did 6x45 minute sessions with us, based on the class age, so each session got more difficult and detailed. It was simply OUT OF THIS WORLD. It was so interesting and informative. Children were all left wanting more, and we certainly learned about what to look for tonight in the sky. Thanks to parent Michelle Culloo who provided fabulous 'Space' themed prizes for the best questions on the day. Thanks to Pauline for coming to take photos which we can't wait to see. To read more, click STARDOME.  Click here for more pictures.

Literacy Lift Off

Senior Infants are in their 5th week of a 6 week reading programme called 'Literacy Lift Off'. Children are divided into groups of similar reading ability and have 10 minute sessions with 5 different teachers, reading familiar and reading unfamiliar material, doing oral language, playing tricky word games and doing dictation and writing a sentence based on what they read. Here are the children after making a list of what they might pack in their Spaceship as part of the Oral Language for the Stardome week. For more pictures, click Literacy.

Judo Champion

Well done to Kelly Fitzgerald who achieved her yellow and orange belt in Judo in May 2016. 

Active Week in Blennerville?!

Thanks to everyone for the huge effort this week, children, staff, parents and volunteers, which all contributed to the most action packed 'Active Week' yet. I bet children and teachers all slept sound this week. Here are senior infants during a 'Mindfulness' winding down session on the last day of it. It was well worth doing.

'Unbelieveable!' Taekwon-Do

A huge thanks to Master Adrian O'Mahoney and Master Barry O'Connor who took all the children on 26th April for a Taekwon-Do session. The words heard afterwards were- "Awesome!" and "Unbelieveable!" and I've no doubt there will be some converts to the sport after the day. Children learned about the importance of self-defense. Thanks to student Oisín Murray, 6th class, who is on the HPS committee for setting up this super session. Good luck to Oisín who will be going for his black belt in November. See Oisín below in the second photo doing some awesome moves! (Well done Miss Dinan for capturing it!) Children interested in more, might like to attend the Kingdom Academy, Unit 2, Davon Bus Ctr, Monavalley Industrial Estate. TKD KUBZ 4-6 years old 4-4:45pm Mon/Weds/Fri. Junior TKD 7-9 years 5-6pm Mon/Weds/Fri. Advanced Jnr TKD 10-12 years 6-7pm Mon. Advanced Jnr TKD 10-12 years, 6-8pm Weds/Friday. 087 6596425. More pictures may be seen by clicking here.

Pirate Art

Arrrrgh! Fabulous art, us usual in Miss Doyle's class during April.

 

Water Experiments

Thanks so much to Mrs O'Connor's class (and a special mention to Rory Daly and Caoilainn Culloo for setting up this lesson for the Greenschool committee) for doing experiments based on water on 28th April. They even have a special Water Area in their class set up where children can experimant with floating and sinking and much more. For more pictures, click here.

Wheels Days

Children are really enjoying their wheels days this week. New photos updated in the Active Week 2016 folder daily during this very active week! Wednesday saw us doing dance. Thanks AGAIN to Mrs O'Sullivan for taking every class for orienteering and dance this week.

Healthy Eating Puppet Show

During Active Week, we were extremely lucky to have Treasa O'Regan visit us with her puppet show. Through many puppets, voices, healthy eating lessons and magic, we were entertained all the way in this amazing production. Here is Ciara, a senior infant, who was one of Treasa's assistants during the show, but the magic wand wouldn't work- it was very funny! For more pictures of the show, click here. Thanks a MILLION to Treasa for doing it for us at such a great price. Treasa is available to hire for parties on 0872804460. She performed for Junior infants through to 2nd class with us and all were mesmorised by the show. 

Kieran Donaghy Visits

Thanks massively to Kieran who took time out to visit us and speak about the importance of healthy eating and fitness to everyone today. Thanks to Aoife Bourke of the HPS committee for organising this. More pictures can be seen in the Active Week 2016 folder in the gallery.

Active Art

Senior Infants posed doing their favourite sport and we created amazing art from it all. Click Active Art to see these. See pages 2 and 3.

Junior Infants also got in on the Active Art. Here are their bicycles and trampolines. Fantastic!

Night at The Dogs a Huge Success!

Polly Jones and Isaac Price receiving their Best Dressed Girl and Boy prizes from judge, Eileen Whelan, Paco Tralee, with Nora Corrridan, Maura O' Donnell and Denise Shanahan all from the Night at the Dogs Organising Committee. Pic: Pauline Dennigan

Winner of the Powerworx Buster Sweepstake Final "Saleen Dream" owned by Stephen O' Carroll, Josephine O' Connor and Ciaran Culhane being presented with their prize by Shane O' Neill (Grandad of Molly, Shane & Conor) on behalf of Powerworx who sponsored the race. Pic: Pauline Dennigan

Pictured from left Eileen Whelan, Paco Tralee who Judged Best Dressed Lady with Karen Soffe, winner of Best Dressed Lady along with Tony McAdams, winner of Best Dressed Man being presented with his prize by Micháel Moran, Ryle Menswear, Michaela McAdams and Kerrie Keane O' Neill, Blennerville N.S Parents Assoc. Pic: Pauline Dennigan

Pictured from left are Raphael Crowley and Maura O' Donnell, organising committee. Mark O' Sullivan, General Manager, The Rose Hotel  (and Elizabeth's Dad!), David Brosnan, Neil & Mike O' Shea with their winning dog, Southern Spark being presented with the trophy by Eibhlin and Dick Henggeler, Owners of the Rose Hotel and sponsors of the race, Anthony O' Gara, Anne O' Shea, Oonagh O' Gara, Cait O' Donoghue and Kerrie Keane O' Neill, organising committee. Pic: Pauline Dennigan

Congratulations to the winner of the €500  for the winning combination ticket. It was our own student Caitlin O'Grady's uncle, Gerard O'Riordan, the cheque being collected by his mother Mary on his behalf.

A Fighting Start to Active Week

We got Active Week off to a fighting start despite the rain, meeting at the windmill and walking to school. A massive thank you to Pat O'Shea and his assistants Noel, Andy and Jimmy who took on the entire school today for boxing. They are from Tralee Boxing Club, who currently work out of Monavalley. Pat told us about the importance of giving EVERY sport a try until you find the one that suits you best. He encouraged more girls to try boxing too. Thanks so much Tralee Boxing Club! For more pictures from Active Week click ACTIVE 2016.

Orienteering For All

Thanks to Mrs O'Sullivan who took all classes for orienteering sessions in the school. Children had to take one photo at a time, find where it was in the new school, and make note of the clue they found at it. It involved a lot of running! Pictures from this are in the Active Week 2016 gallery folder.

Mary Rose Benner

We are extremely fortunate to have Occupational Therapist, Mary Rose Benner working in our school since Christmas. She comes on a Monday morning to our school, taking out children who would benefit from building muscle tone and co-ordination. It costs €5 per child and spaces are limited. For more pictures, click here.

Buddy Bench

We got 2 brand new 'Buddy Benches' in our school on 22nd April. They are in the infants to 2nd class yard. A 'Buddy Bench' is a simple idea to eliminate loneliness and foster friendship on the playground, promoting inclusion and kindness. No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. Here are Bishop Ray Browne, Principal Terry O'Sullivan and Fr Francis Nolan taking time of from the busy Confirmation schedule on 22nd April, in the Blennerville sunshine.

Confirmation

Congratulations to our 6th class pupils who made their Confirmation on 21st April 2016 in St. John's Church. We are very proud of you all. Enjoy the disco!

State Commemoration Ceremony

Mrs Moynihan's class attended the ceremony in Banna Strand on 21st April 2016 for the commemoration of the landing of the Aud with Roger Casement. They were in the presence of President Michael D. Higgins and his wife as he laid a wreath. What an historic day. For more photos, click here.

Let's Get Set for Our Night At The Dogs on Sat, April 23rd!

 

To read more, click traleetoday.ie

We Are The Champions!

Well done to the boys and girls who participated in the AIB Fitness Challenge on 20th April in the Killarney National Park. A big thank you to parents Siobhán Kearney and Kathleen Laucher who brought the children to the race. Jade Harkin finished second overall in the girl's category while Tomás O'Sullivan finished 3rd in the boy's. A fantastic achievement! Thanks to their coach Michelle Greaney who has been working with them throughout the year and was also present on the day. This race was held the day before the confirmation, so we are very grateful everyone came home sound! Well done everyone in 6th class who took part!

Spring Cleaners

Senior Infants did a Spring clean of St. Pat's field and Astroturf on 20th April. They were shocked at the amount of rubbish found and promise never to throw litter on the ground- ever! Click here for more pictures.

Anti-Bullying Policy

Please click here for our new Anti-Bullying and Anti-Cyber Bullying Policy.

Copper Coin Collection

Would you believe we collected €471.84 with our copper coin appeal? We would like to thank everyone sincerely for donating these coins to us. This was an amazing collection and one which will be ongoing in the school. Thanks to Fr Francis who counted the money for us. This will more than cover the shortfall for the Stardome. Thank you everyone!

Aistear

New photos from Aistear from April 2016 can be viewed by clicking here.

They Did It!

What a fantastic achievement for St. Pat's Scór na nÓg Páistí Balled Group who are the 2016 County Champions! The members of the group are Tomás O'Sullivan, Danny Greaney, Grace O'Brien, Judith Waugh and Siobhán O'Sullivan. (4/5 are Blennerville school pupils). Their team mentor is our wonderful music teacher Mary O'Sullivan who has put in a tremendous amount of work to achieve this. The hours of practice certainly paid off. To see more photos click here.

School Closures 2016 to 2017

Click here and then open the window that pops up, to view holidays 2016-2017.

Past Pupil Returns

We were charmed on 14th April when a past pupil, nearing her 90th year called in to the school. Nora Williams, who now resides in England had fond memories of the school, having attended the original school at the corner- the school prior to our old 1932 school! She visits whenever she is home, and is making the most of her Kerry trip this time, intending to do lots of sight-seeing and even mingling with President Higgins himself. It was such a pity Nora hadn't known about the Blennerville Book, as she has such clear memories of it. Sure we can always do another book! We presented her with a book copy before she left us. It was lovely to meet you Nora. 

Wetlands Visit

Thanks to Dave who guided Mrs Moynihan's class through the Tralee Wetlands on 13th April. They saw wildlife up close, went on a boat trip, climbed the rock wall and had a fantastic time. Click here to see more pictures.

Spelling Bee

A massive well done to Oisín Murray who represented our school in the Easons Spelling Bee in Ballybunion on 12th April 2016.

  

Cash For Clothes

Thanks everyone for bringing old clothes to school on 13th April. We gathered 630kg of clothes and shoes and received €315 for it. This money will go towards the Star Dome on 5th May. Thanks to Pat from Cash 4 Clothes for taking our clothes for re-use.

New Sign

The new school sign has begun to be put up on our gable wall on 12th April 2016. The Irish version has to come yet. Two senior infants were overheard talking about it. One asked why the sign was put was put up at all, and the other answered- in case anyone gets it mixed up with a hotel!

The Irish version was added on 17th April 2016.

 

Seven Dwarves Give Snow White the Road!

Senior Infants avail of the new stage in Miss Brassil's class. We had great fun recently taking it in groups to act and watch the others. Here is Snow White (Lily) waking up to meet the dwarves for the first time. The dwarves voted whether they wanted her to stay and help with the cooking and cleaning or not, and decided not to let her stay!

The boys acting out Mo Willem's Elephant and Piggy book 'Let's Go For a Drive' in April 2016 on the stage in Miss Brassil's classroom.

Planting Seeds for the Future

A huge thanks to Julie Hannafin, gardening parent who visited Miss Brassil's class on 11th April to help with experiments. Children compared 3 tomato plants, the exact same. One will be denied water, one will be denied sunlight (it's in the sliderobe!) and the third plant will get water AND sunshine. We are keeping a plant diary of this and we will let you know what happens very soon. We also planted tomato seeds in compost, and in coconut shavings which looks like a chocolatey compost. We will see which grows faster. We planted a slice of a baby tomato bought in a shop which has seeds in it, to see if this will grow into a plant. I wonder will it?! We also have a bean in a jar with a damp tissue paper. The first child to spot roots growing on this gets a 'Homework Pass'. Eyes peeled! Julie brought samples of plants to us, and asked us to guess the smell. We didn't know Rosemary, but liked it, we knew lemon and amazingly, Sean knew chive. What a thing to know for a Senior Infant! Click here to see more pictures of our Monday morning gardening session. Thanks a million Julie!  You can also see the new hedge planted in the garden and new trees and windbreakers planted around the outside basketball court.

The boys love the earth and getting their hands dirty!

Proclamation Day

The children of St. Brendan's N.S. did us proud on Tuesday 15th March, when we raised the tri-colour in front of our new school. Children read about the men who lost their lives in 1916. They read the original Proclamation. A committee of children put together by Miss Catherine O'Shea, re-wrote the proclamation, so as to make sense in the modern day that we are now living in, suggesting all Irish people, whether living at home or abroad, have a right to be respected, not to be bullied, and a right to medicine and to be free among other things. This was also read aloud by children on the day. Thanks to Mary O'Sullivan who played along with us on piano and the student musicians, to the wonderful singers, speakers and people who came to support the day. Mrs Liz O'Connor raised the tri-colour in our new car-park, as she is the longest serving member of staff. Thanks also to Pauline Dennigan who took photos on the day. Teas and buns were served afterwards in the new PE hall. Thanks to Maura O'Donnell and the Parent's Assiciation who provided the tea and to Dan the Baker who supplied the school with lovely buns. Thanks to Maura for the pop-corn which she made to feed 150 hungry and appreciative children! It was a very special treat indeed. 

Click here to see all of the photos

A massive thanks to Pauline Dennigan who did such a fabulous job on this slide show. We are so lucky to have you as part of our school Pauline.

The Proclamation Committee of Blennerville, who signed their names to our re-written proclamation to suit the modern day in which we live.

New Car Park

The new car park will be ready to use from 4th April. It is a fantastic space and will make for a much safer drop off. Click CAR PARK to see more.

1916 Commemorative Coin

Thanks to the O'Regan family who presented the school with a 1916 coin on Proclamation Day 15th March. It was a lovely gesture, and will be displayed in the school and referred to for years to follow. Here is Emily with the coin in it's lovely presentation pack.

  

HPS Survey Results

Please see the Active/HPS pencil on the top left of this screen for the results of the Parent's Survey. Thank you to the parents who went to the trouble of filling it in and returning it.

Easter Newsletter

The Easter Newsletter is now available HERE to read. Thank you to the budding student (and adult!) journalists, and to Pauline Dennigan and Dermot Crean for the wonderful photographs. Thanks to Marie for proofreading. A copy will be handed to each family on Thursday 10th March.

School Tour to Dublin

6th class went to Dublin on Friday 11th March on an historic tour of 1916 memories. The tour included the amazing Glasnevin Cemetry which for a lot, was the highlight of the tour. Thanks to the adults who accompanied this tour and the Parent's Association who sponsored money towards this tour too. For more pictures, click EASTER.

Easter Fairies

Well done to Miss Doyle's class who made these fabulous little fairies during Easter art classes in the school.

Dressing in Green

Some classes dressed in green on the 16th March for St. Patrick's Day. Photos of Senior Infants on their Easter Egg hunt and playtime are available to see on the Easter 2016 folder in the gallery, which is also filled with the 6th class school tour photos. Click HERE for a shortcut to see these.

Singers Qualify for Kerry Semi-Final

Best of luck to Danny, Grace, Tomás and Siobhán for winning the Scór na bPáistí Group singing competition in March. They will go forward to the final in April.

New Library Shelves Handmade by the I.T Students

No More Messy Books! Members of Blennerville School Bookclub, a unique bookclub for both pupils and parents are pictured making a presentation to Seamus Murphy, Lecturer, IT Tralee (centre) and the five students who built bookshelves for the new library in the recently opened school. The shelf building project formed part of their course in Advanced Wood Technology and Sustainable Construction. The 5 students, Cormac Lawrence, William O' Connor, Chris McKenna, John Fitzgerald and Shane O' Sullivan collaborated with Parents, Conor Culloo (left) and Joe Costello (right) to complete the project. Pic: Pauline Dennigan

Huge thanks to Michelle Culloo for baking this amazing cake for the occasion.

Thumbs Up to Séamus Murphy!

It's Lights, Camera, Action in Senior Infants Class!

Thumbs up to Séamus Murphy and students for building this amazing stage and fitting the curtains to the Senior Infant classroom for drama. It looks so amazing. Interestingly, Miss Brassil says the curtains were a great bargain, though Mr O'Sullivan won't believe her! Seriously they were master! The kids arrived to school on 8th March to gasps and shouts of 'Awesome!' on seeing their stage.

Thanks to parent Maura O'Donnell for taking the time to bring her sewing machine to school to sew the curtains for the stage together. It was very kind of you.

Chess Mates!

Thanks to parents Paul Kelliher and Rob Sheehy for setting up a brand new Chess Club in our school. It takes place for an hour straight after school on Wednesdays for children from 3rd to 6th classes. New members are welcome. For more pictures, click CHESS.

Get Reel!

A new Irish dancing class has started in Blennerville school. It is on Fridays between 1:30-2:30pm and is for Junior and Senior Infants. They are taught by local award winning teacher Trína Breen. It is €5 per class and you pay as you go. New members welcome.

National Flag Raising Ceremony

This will take place on Tuesday 15th March and is a national event. At 12pm, we will have a flag raising ceremony and sing songs to remember 1916. All families are welcome. It will be held inside if the day is too cold.

Easter Art

Thanks a million to Ciara Higgin's dad who donated A3 card to the class. We made these beautiful cards from it and will be using it for art for weeks to come! For more click EASTER 2016.

It's so wonderful to be able to stand up and paint in our new school. We are not taking it for granted!

Garden Squad

Thanks to David Condon of the Woodies Garden Squad for presenting 3rd and 4th class with 6 plants for our garden on 8th March 2016. The children are holding up the wonderful plans drawn by Julie Hannafin. Thanks to Julie and to David. For more pictures, click on GARDEN 2016.

St. Patrick's Day

Children are invited to wear green to school on Wednesday 16th March to mark St. Patrick's Day.

World Book Day

 World Book Day dress up was such fun on 4th March 2016. Children and staff really got into the spirit and fair play to the granny of Dirty Bertie who turned up to collect him at 1:30pm in full costume! Please click WORLD BOOK DAY for more photos.

Please see the Extra Curricular pencil on your left to see an update from the afterschool Blennerville Book Club. Note: Senior Infants are now invitied to join too!

Happy Mother's Day

Moms of Blennerville, you are in for a treat! Senior infants have been busy making cards and flowers and are very proud of all the hard work they have put into their art.

Singing and Musical Medal Winners

Congratulations to the children from the Blennerville and Ballyard Community who took part in the the Music and Ballad competition in both Keel and in Abbeydorney on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February. The U16s including our Tomás and Danny came 1st in the singing section winning gold medals and will be heading to Athlone to the All-Ireland ballad finals. The under 12s musicians came an impressive 3rd on the Saturday. Well done everyone. Special thanks to our fabulous music teacher Mary O'Sullivan who has the skill of bringing out the best in everyone. For more pictures, click MUSIC.

Blennerville Sees Red!

We had a surprise visit from Labour leader and Tánaiste Joan Burton on 16th February. She came with an entourage of Labour supporters, photographers, camera crew and gardaí, much to the amazement of the infants, who weren't in the slightest bit intimidated by the thought of being on tv news. Though the senior infants mistook Arthur Spring for Enda Kenny, he wasn't bothered, as he said he wouldn't mind being Taoiseach at all- it was a pleasant visit, filled with chit-chat, reading and music from our beautiful 'Féile Cois Lí' singers, singing 'Caoineadh Cill Cais'. The school would like to thank Councillor Terry O'Brien and Graham Spring, also present on the day, who recently gave €3000 each towards the improvement of road signage in Blennerville. This work is due to commence in the coming weeks. Photos from the ministerial visit will no doubt feature in the weekly papers.

A Welcome Present from the Harkin Family

Thank you sincerely to Marie-Jeanne Harkin who called to the staffroom on 16th February with a photographic canvas collage of photos that she put together herself. It has lovely photos, including one very artistic shot of the new school through the open window of the old school from it's last wall standing. It's a lovely gesture and will brighten up another wall in the school, because let's face it, there are a lot of walls to fill! Thank you very much Marie-Jeanne, Neil and family!

Valentine Art

Mrs O'Connor's First and Second classes with some of their Valentine Art on display.

Shhhh! Quiet please!

Thanks to the students of the Advanced Wood Technology Course in the Institute of Technology, Tralee for the fantastic job they did on our new library. Thanks to parent Conor Culloo who engineered the design and to his wife Michelle who suggested the whole idea. Thanks also to Joe Costello of Noyeks Newmans for supplying the wood. Finally, thanks to Séamus Murphy who kindly agreed to coordinate and supervise the whole project. Míle buíochas! All we are missing now are the books and the beanbags, which we will be purchasing after our major fundraiser on the 23rd April at the Tralee Greyhound Track.

Thinking Out Loud

For those classes practising Ag Smaoineamh Ós Ard- Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran as Gaeilge, in Irish, here is the link.

Pancake Tuesday Treat

Many thanks to parents Maura and Jimmy who singlehandedly made pancakes for the entire school and staff on Pancake Tuesday 9th February, as well as giving every class a cooking demonstration. What a feat and what a feast! Between chocolate, butterscotch, strawberry sauces, squeezes of lemon and sprinklings of sugar, we had a delicious day in Blennerville. Thanks O'Donnells! More pancake photos here.

Community Games Artists

Congratulations to Emily O'Regan for winning a 1st and gold medal on the evening of Wednesday10th February for the under 8s art competition in the Blennerville/Ballyard Community Games, held in the school. Congratulations also to Caoimhe O'Sullivan who came 2nd in the girl's under 10s Art competition, to Oisín Murray 1st in the U12 boys art, Tomás O'Sullivan 2nd and Danny Greaney 3rd in the same competition. Congrats to Callum Houston who won the boys under 12 boys handwriting competition. All these children will go forward to the Listowel County Final on 27th February. Best of luck to you all!

Getting Ready for Night at the Dogs, Sat, April 23rd!

Our SNA Denise Shanahan was busy on 1st February 2016 with students Wiktor Kopec and Lily Mai - Mullins taking the greyhounds for a gallop in preparation for our schools big fundraising Night at the Dogs which is on Sat, April 23rd. All betters are in with a chance of winning €500 in the Buster Draw. It will be an exciting night for young and old! Many thanks to dog owner John Kelly for lending us his well behaved dogs.

Cake Sale

Well done to Miss Brassil's Senior Infants, and Miss O'Shea's 4th and 5th classes for baking so many delicious goodies for us all on Friday 5th February. The Parent's Assiciation were fantastic altogether in making sure everyone got enough, and even managed to sell every last bite leaving not a crumb behind in our gorgeous new hall. Roll on the next one on June 17th where 1st, 2nd and 3rd will be asked to bake. For pictures from the day, click here.

Grandparent's Day

Thanks to everyone who came to our Grandparent's Day. It was an historic occasion, the first family occasion in our new hall. A massive crowd turned up. Well done to the children who read, sang and played instruments. The 6th class poems for grandparents were a real highlight. Thanks to Denise for the beautiful displays of photos, all of which will be returned to their owners. Thanks to our fantastic Parent's Association for organising the tea and refreshments afterwards. The buns and cakes went down a treat. Thanks to Fr Francis for the prayer service, and the blessing of the throats on St. Blaze's day. For stunning photos, please click on Traleetoday.ie to lead you straight to Dermot Crean's photos and article who we thank sincerely. To see some of our own photos (thanks Denise!) click on photos.

Tag Rugby Training Day

Well done to our girls who were very much 'hands-on' and fearless in the tag-rugby training day in February.

Credit Union Quizzers

Well done to the children who represented our school at the end of January in the Credit Union Table Quiz competition. Pictured below are Diarmuid, Oisín, Tom and Dylan who did us proud. Well done boys!

Also taking part were Paddy, Fionn, Róisín and Callum. Well done!

TOP SECRET!

Want to read more about a secret garden in our new school? Then go to the Greenschool page. Shhh! Don't tell anyone!

Century marked at Brand New School!

Children were on the ready with their instruments today, as they created a grand entrance for two members of the Irish Army who arrived to present the Irish Flag to the school in celebration of the 1916 Rising. Pictured (from left) is Solider, Paul Moynihan, Collins Barracks, Cork, Thomas O' Sullivan, 6th class, Principal, Terry O' Sullivan, Isaac Price, Junior infants and Denis McGarry, Collins Barracks, Cork.

See more photos HERE

Winner Alright!

Well done to Denise for entering us in a competition and winning a set of handmade 1916 wooden pieces shown in the photo below. They will look fabulous on the walls in our new school.

New Guidelines for Parents

Guidelines for parents of children with Special Needs starting school. Click here to read the article.

D Day

On Friday 15th January, much to the surprise of everyone, the demolition of our old school began to make way for the new car park and drop off area. Read about it by clicking on traleetoday.ie, Thanks to Dermot Crean for these pictures and video. Thanks to parent Joanne Daly for the photos below.

Maguire Masterpiece

A beautiful painting was kindly donated to the new school on 14th January 2015 by Liam and Sinéad Maguire and family. It was specially painted by Artist Florence O' Connor of Lohercannon. In the photograph are the Maguire children Jack and Harry, parents Liam and Sinead, with Principal Terry O'Sullivan. No doubt this painting will look beautiful on a wall in the new school. It depicts Blennerville in the olden days.
Also thanks to Roger Farmer who kindly donated a new basketball to our school on the same day.

St Pat's Foxy Lady!

Mrs Fox and Séamus from St. Pat's visited us at school on Wednesday 13th January to tell us all about their Football Academy 2016.  It is starting Sunday 17th January with indoor training in the Presentation Secondary School Hall, Moyderwell at the following times: U6 and U8 at 10am, and the U10 at 11am. Girls football (for all ages) and Community Games soccer will have their first training session on Saturday 16th at 3pm, same venue. New members are always welcome and this is a great opportunity to join this fantastic club, where children get fit, learn new skills, while having lots and lots of fun! Come on 17th January and meet the club mascot Mrs Fox!

New Website to Teach Yourself A New Language

Thanks to a parent for bringing a new web-site to our attention called "Duolingo". You can learn other languages, including Irish on this site and it is also available as an App. Click DUOLINGO for a look.

Welcome to a New Year and a New School

Thanks to everyone who has helped over the past few weeks with the move from the old school to the new. It wouldn't have been possible without your help. An extremely busy period but made easier by the many people who gave a helping hand. Looking forward to the start of a new chapter in the fantastic story that is Blennerville National School.

To read an article by Dermot Crean, of Traleetoday.ie please click on NEW SCHOOL.

Keys of New School Handed Over

The keys of the new school were handed over to Principal Terry O'Sullivan and parent representitive on the Board of Management Brendan O'Donoghue on Friday 18th Decemebr 2015. It is the day we have been waiting for since 1996. Many thanks to those who helped with packing up, lifting boxes, tables, chairs and much more. The move wouldn't happen with out all of your help. See you all on 6th January for an open day of the new school from 10am-4pm where families and visitors are welcome and school resumes on 7th January for everyone. Happy Christmas everyone!

On behalf of staff, Board and parents, I think we all agree that our principal Terry O'Sullivan deserves a massive 'Well Done!' for co-ordinating the past few weeks. It was no mean feat. He has coped with everything thrown at him, from emails, phonecalls, posing for photos, heavy lifting, van driving, school concert, being 'the boss!' and he's still as enthusiastic as ever! You are doing a fantastic job Terry. Helpers Tony and our 'Charlie's Angels' were also amazing with their superhuman lifting powers. Thank you all.

Out celebrating the new school and Christmas were our gorgeous girls Miss Ryan, Miss Catherine O'Shea, Miss Olivia O'Shea and Miss Denise Shanahan! A massive thanks to Dermot Crean of Traleetoday.ie for the photo. (Apologies to all the other gorgeous girls who were not asked to pose!)

Past and present staff members celebrated too. Another massive thanks to Dermot Crean of Traleetoday.ie for the photo.

Please Note: All photos pre 2014 will be deleted from January, as we were told our website has far too many photos on it. Please make a copy of any you want to keep before it is too late. Once they're gone they're gone!

Thanks to local parent of past pupils Pat Foley for the overwhelming amount of bottle tops donated to us in December. We now have enough to do our project.

Christmas Carol Service 2015

Well done to all of the pupils for a fantastic performance tonight at the annual Christmas Carol Service. Huge thanks to all of the Teachers for the time spent preparing and rehearsing and talented parent, Mary O' Sullivan for her expert musical guidance. Click HERE to see the photographs. 

To read Dermot Crean's article on the Carol Service, click CAROLS.

Thank you to Michelle Culloo for making Reindeer food with Miss Brassil's senior infants. Each bag was sprinkled  with a little bit of magic, which makes the reindeer fly. She also brought Christmas crackers for extra fun. Photos in the Christmas 2015 folder. This also now includes photos from 6th class making their cribs.

Thanks also to Maura O'Donnell for making (and washing up and preparing in advance!) special rice krispie Christmas buns which we decorated with icing. What a fun way to spend our last week in the old school. Photos in the BAKING folder.

One Last Stand

On Wednesday 16th December, we took photos of children standing outside the school main doors for the last time. See LAST STAND for these. Some children just have a natural way with the camera! Ruadh!

Miniature Masterpiece

We got a wonderful surprise on 15th December when we were presented with a miniature version of our school, gifted by the O'Donnell family. It was painstakingly made in minute detail by Paul McDonald of "Woodlore Creations". It is really fit for a fairy queen to live in, complete with desks and chairs inside! It even has the old sports shed out the back and gutters too. What a fabulous work to display in our new school. We will never forget our old school. Thank you very much to the O'Donnell family.

Book Club are Snug as a Bug

The book club met on 14th December, for their last meeting of 2015.  It was a very Christmassy theme, with children getting to mix a few magic ingredients to make Reindeer food to leave out Christmas eve, as well as poetry reading, 'Turkish Delight' tasting and Christmas books assigned for their next session. Here is the group in their knights of the round table pose! The next meeting will be held in the new school in the new year.

Christmas Carol Service

Please join us for the Christmas Carol Service in St. John's Church on Tuesday 15th December at 7pm. Please could children wear their uniforms and a Santy hat on the night? Thank you!

GOAL Speaker Visit

We were joined by GOAL representitive Tara McGrath on Thursday 10th December to handover the cheque for €234 that we collected on our Non-Unifirm day. She spoke to all classes about human basic needs and showed us videos of children from Africa finding it so hard to have basic water to drink.

Last Mass in the Old School

We celebrated mass on 8th December in our old school for the last time. Fr Francis said a very moving mass, speaking about the importance of change and moving with it. We were joined by past teaching principals Mrs Sheila Griffin, (accompanied by her daughter in law Trish) and Mike O'Connor, as well as past Deputy Principal and teacher Helen Sugrue, who, as Father Francis pointed out have over 100 years of teaching experience between them. Our choir sang beautifully under the guidance of Miss O'Shea, musicians played well and trainee priest Stephano helped out with the prayers of the Faithful, which the First Communion children read. Thanks to Denise for preparing the hall and the altar. To see more pictures, click Mass.

 

F-AIR-Y Mail Special Delivery

What a magical start to a Monday morning on 7th December to receive our prize from the Fairy Door Company competition that we won last May. Thanks to parents Maura O'Donnell and Cathy O'Grady for bringing the competition to Miss Brassil's attention. We won 5 fairy doors which we will put in our new little garden area in the new school, and a 'Worry wall plaque'. Children place their hands on the red hand of the plaque and tell their worries and the fairy magic will take the worries away. And don't worry, adults can use it too!

Basketball Court Tarred

There was a distinct smell in the air these past few days of December while the smell of tar overtook the smell of the sea. All was in aid of tarring our new basketball court which will be ready to play on really soon.

It's Christmas!

We are practising hard in our 'halla' for the Christmas Carol Service which will be on Tuesday 15th December at 7pm in St. John's Church. All are welcome, as there will be plenty of room! More Christmas photos and Christmas Art when you click Christmas.

Student teacher Miss O'Connor made snowmen from clay with Senior Infants. Click above to see them all.

6th Class did painting with Miss Slattery. See the same Christmas link above for all of these.

The hall is looking very festive this December, thanks to Denise. It'll be Santy's last time visiting the old school so I think the extra effort was well worth it. Thank you Denise! Thanks again, as always to Hannah May Alman for our fabulous, hand-knitted crib. Santa has just landed in Blennerville- thanks to Katelyn Kearney and her mom Aileen, who donated a 5 foot standing Santy and other little plug in Santys for our display in the hall. The place is just magic now!

Senior Infants are learning Éadaí Daidí na Nollag in a very fun way by dressing up as the man himself! Here is Jamie, our little elf in the red suit.

Even the old fireplace in the classrooms are Christmassy! Here is Denise keeping warm.

Christmas Newsletter 2015

Click NEWSLETTER to view our latest newsletter. Thanks to all those who contributed with their articles. It simply wouldn't happen without your help.

Blast From the Past!

Click 2011 to view the photos taken of children from that school year for Miss O'Shea's Entrepreneur flag. Somehow Mary O'Brien got in there too towards the end! It was too pretty to delete Mary. Click VINTAGE AWARDS to see some medal winners that just might have aged a little since these were taken! 

Paving the Way for Future Education

Our new school was painted during November 2015. The tar was laid on 24th November and builders also began laying the walkway alongside the stone wall, which will be our entrance for a little while. It looks like we will be in  our new school by 7th January!  The photos of the new school's progression are updated on a regular basis. Click OLD TO NEW to see all of these. Click GROUND to study the plan of the outdoor area, building, drop-off area, car park and play areas.

New photos added 24th November of all the NOOKS AND CRANNIES! inside and outside of the old school. See pages 9, 10, 11, 12 of this gallery for these photos.

The floorboards are being laid during the last week in November in our brand new PE hall!

One Good Idea

We need everyone's help! We need a couple of buckets of plastic bottletops please asap! Any bottletops collected, please drop into Miss Brassil. See the Greenschool page for all the details. It is fine if they have writing on them, but they must be plastic. All colours and sizes are welcome, thanks.

It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas!

Listening to the Christmas Carols and the suberb group guitar playing in our school this past week would put anyone in a Christmassy mood. Looking forward to the carol service now at 7pm on Tuesday 15th December in St. John's Church. Mary O'Sullivan, our music mentor, you are simply fantastic. To see more photos, click GUITAR.

Blennerville Book Launch

Known affectionately as "The 10 Amigos", the 10 people who generously donated such time to the Blennerville book. Thanks to Domnick Walsh for this photo.

For 18 more fabulous photos from the book launch, please click on TRALEETODAY.

We launched the 'Blennerville National School and Community Book' on Saturday 21st November to a phenomenal crowd of past and present pupils and members of the local community who turned up in force to support it. Thanks so much to everybody for coming along and purchasing the book. There are already 300+ books sold! Thanks to those on the committee for all the scanning, the correcting, and the late nights, to those who spoke on the day, those who contributed articles and photos and thanks to Bishop Ray Browne who attended the launch, and wrote the introduction. Thanks to the Parents Association for organising the teas and coffees and to Denise for the fabulous displays of photos in the hall. Thanks to Therese and Scoil Eoin for the old school tables. More photos may be seen by clicking HERE. These will be added to over the coming week.

Current teacher Liz O'Connor with her grand-daughter Kayla who she teaches in 2nd class, Blennerville, early arrivals at the Book Launch.

Thanks to Andrea O'Donoghue for photos.

  

   

Thank you to Fr Francis for celebrating mass in Curraheen Church for the school and community. Thanks to Quanes for hosting an evening of music, food and great hospitality.

Traleetoday published a lovely piece in November to promote our book launch. Thanks to Dermot Crean for the photo and to Gavin O'Connor for the article. To read this, click on traleetoday.

The children in 6th class drew wonderful pictures of our old school on 19th November 2015. Click OLD SCHOOL ART to see these. The above pencil sketch is by Tom Brett and the coloured one below is by Diarmuid Griffin.

More pictures of the Old School updated in December by Mrs O'Connor's class. Here is one by Caoilainn Culloo below. The link is the one above this picture.

More art from Mrs O'Connor's class. See their display here on Kandinsky's art.

Greenschool Art Competition Finalists Announced

Please see the pencil on your left marked "Green School" for the names of the finalists in the Be Smart Water Greenschool Poster competition. Congratulations to the finalists! You have a chance of winning an i-pad for yourself! If your class hasn't entered yet, don't worry, closing date isn't until December. 5 children are being selected per room in the school.

Cake Sale

Thanks so much to all the bakers from Juniors and 6th, the chocolate lovers, the buyers, the eaters, the helpers, the adults, the cashiers and everyone who took the camera and snapped, (especially Miss S. O'Connor for those up close delicious pictures) who all helped raise

€312.50

at our very successful Cake Sale on 20th November 2015. Parents Association, ye are simply the best! For more pictures, click here.

We Found Wally!

Some of the boys having fun doing group work in the Resource room with Miss Dinan on 20th November 2015.

Here is Seán giving baby sister Ruby a taste of the old school before it is too late!

Blondes Have More Fun!

Here are some of the boys from Senior Infants having fun at playtime.

November Scientists

         

More pictures from Miss O'Shea's and Mr O'Sullivan's science experiments and field trip if you click SCIENCE. Please could one of these scientists come to Miss Brassil with details so she can put some information up here on what ye learned about? It would make a great Christmas newsletter article. First to come to Miss B on Monday 16th November can swap homework for writing this article!

Non Uniform Day for Syria

We helped those from Syria on Friday the 13th November by having a no-uniform day and children donated a euro or two which was donated to GOAL. We collected lots and lots of coins and some notes too so thank you everyone. We collected an amazing €234 for GOAL. A representative from GOAL will speak to us on Thursday 10th December in groups to tell us what our money will go towards. Here is Ochuko looking very happy in Miss O'Shea's Resource room in his favourite clothes.

Feeling Blue

On 4th November 2015, we had a Greenschool Day of Action. Everyone wore blue to school to represent raindrops, to highlight the importance of every drop of water. It was a great success. We even did a Mexican wave at the front of the school thanks to Miss O'Shea! For more pictures, click BLUE.

Christmas Hamper

Our annual Christmas Hamper draw will take place on Friday 11^th December in Quanes Pub. Please come along and support this great night.

Clothes Collection

Thanks to everyone who donated clothes to our collection on 4th November. We raised €375 but had to give €8 to pay to dispose of some duvets, pillows and curtains that some people put in bags and gave us. They only accepted clothes, shoes, belts and bags. Please note this for the next collection, thanks.

Christmas Concert Date

We have booked the church for Tuesday 15th December for our carol service at 7pm in St. John's Church. If there is a funeral on this night, our date WILL be changed to the following night so please keep the evenings free that week if you can.

We are Going to the Dogs!

The Parent's Association are organising a fundraising night at the dogs for us on Saturday 23rd April at the Tralee Greyhound Track. All are welcome.

Manga High Mathematicians

  

Well done to Cathal Costello and Katie Moriarty who won gold medals for Manga High! This is a massive achievement. Both students won 100+ gold medals. The school pays an annual subscription to Manga High, and each child is given their own unique ID. Children from 1st class upwards battle with maths questions against the computer, and other schools worldwide to try and win medals.

Film Maker In Residence

Ms. O’ Shea’s 4^th & 5^th class had a great day at Kerry County Library last Thursday. They had a film-making workshop with Lisa Fingleton, film-maker in residence with Kerry County Council. She discussed the film making process with them and how it goes from an idea to the big screen. The children then created their own original characters for Lisa. Lisa was very impressed with all the class’ creativity and imagination! For more pictures, click FILM.

Most Valued Player

Well done to MVP, most valued played Ella Breen at the 'Be a Star' Kieron Donoghy Basketball camp during Halloween.

Bag Packing

Thanks to the parents who did bag packing for us on 6th November. We really appreciate the time and effort that parent Kerrie Keane O'Neill put into organising this. Amount raised €579.58

Book Club

Have you heard about the Blennerville Book Club yet? It is held once a month in the evenings for children from 1st class to adults. Thanks to Ciara O'Sullivan, Mary O'Brien, Pauline Dennigan and Michelle Culloo for organising this. Please see the Extra Curricular pencil on your left for more details on this.

Halloween at School

It was a great day at school on Friday 23rd October, when children and teachers dressed up for Halloween. There are hundreds of photos to see. Click HALLOWEEN to see these. It could take you until midnight to see them all! Have a very Happy and SAFE Halloween and see you all on Monday 2nd November. To see Dermot Crean's fantastic photos and article, please click on TRALEETODAY.IE from 26/10/15

Garda Irene

Thanks sincerely to Garda Irene who visited the school on 23rd October to speak with all classes about safety during Halloween. She told us to stay clear of bonfires, and candles, and not to go trick or treating without an adult to mind you. She picked some winners for the Halloween Art competition and gave them medals. One was found in the yard so if you lost yours- lucky winner- please ask Miss Brassil the day we return after Halloween. The photos are all mixed in with the Halloween 2015 ones in the Gallery.

Dark Disco!

Practise your Dark Disco dance for Halloween by clicking on DARK DISCO! Make sure you open the little window that appears and turn up the volume! Try other songs too: WITCH WITCH, GHOSTBUSTERS, PURPLE PEOPLE, WITCH DOCTOR. Now- only if you are brave enough, listen to the SPOOKY SOUNDS and see how many spooky things you can hear!

Take the Risk And Go...

Why not try a run in full Halloween costume and get fit having fun?!

Hurling Blitz

Well done to the 6th class students who took part in the Hurling Blitz on 20th October 2015.

Film Maker In Residence

Exclusive news just in on 20th October! Our school has been chosen from a number of schools to do a 'Film Maker In Residence' course. The class involved will be Miss Catherine O'Shea's and it will take place during November/December. Film expert Lisa Fingleton will come to the school to help us make our own films, using the i-pads and lap-tops. We applied for this last April, proposing to film our old school and interview people about it before it was knocked so we are thrilled to have been accepted in the nick of time. The first part of the project will begin on Thursday 5th November with the class attending the library for a session on storyboards. There is a waiting list for this course so we must count ourselves very lucky! Thanks to Miss O'Shea for jumping at the chance!

Medal Winners

We had some very proud children at school on Monday 19th October. St Pat's handed out medals to those children who attended the football training and games throughout the year. The new girls team also got medals. This is the first girl's team ever in St. Pat's. 

Aoife and Caoilinn got medals for attending the Carmel O'Connor memorial football Blitz. Here are Róisín and Aoife with their different medals. Well done to everyone out and about! To see all these medal winners, click MEDALS.

  

Scientists Experiment

Miss Ryan who was teaching 4th and 5th class during October did science with Miss O'Shea's class for Science week. Cathal's experiment was about a Bouncing Egg and Ailbhe showed us what happens when you mix milk,food colouring and washing up liquid!

    

4th and 5th Class Running Strong

4th and 5th Classes are hot on the heels of 6th with their running! On 16th October, they ran an amazing 2.04km. They are aiming to run 100km during the year. They ran around St. Pat's football field 4 times. Sometimes they train in the astroturf too. They are aiming to train to be able to run around the canal by 2016. Well done to you all. This photo was taken after the training. It really didn't knock a sausage out of them! See the Active Flag page for more.

  

Sixth Class Running Fit

Sixth class continue their weekly 5km runs on Thursdays during October. The children were joined by principal Mr O'Sullivan, Student teacher Miss O'Connor, parents Siobhán Kearney and Michelle Kearney. Well done 6th class!

Halloween Antics

We have been doing lots of Halloween art and looking at Halloween games and traditions this October. Click HALLOWEEN to see some of these.

Bag Packing Appeal

Please could parents volunteer an hour or two of their time on Friday 6th November to bag-pack for the school? Please contact Kerrie O'Neill if you can help, thanks.

Halloween Costume Day at School Friday 23rd October 2015.

Wear your Halloween Costume to school the day before our Halloween break begins and scare your friends and teachers!

League Final Winners

Well done to Danny Greaney and Tomás O'Sullivan who won the Coiste Trá Lí U14 League Final with St. Pat's on 11th October.

Perpetual Cup Winner

Congratulations to Ella Breen who won the PJ O'Halloran Perpetual Cup playing with the Kerry U11 Development Squad.

Danny Holmes Vet Visits

A huge thanks to Danny Holmes, the vet, who visited our school on 9th October to talk to us about proper pet care. He gave us all a copy of the 10 Commandments of Responsible Pet Ownership which we read through and talked about. He scanned Tomás' tummy and confirmed he had Weetabix for breakfast. He showed us endoscopes, cameras that could see up noses and lots of interesting equipment. Danny showed us x-rays of real animals, including a dog, a cat, a horse and something that looked like a dinosaur though I doubt that's really what it was!  He also brought a lovely little Jack Russel dog who showed us his teeth. Thank you Danny and vet nurse for giving up your free time to talk to us. It was a really interesting talk. To see lots more pictures from this, click DANNY HOLMES.

We were amazed at the distance a flea could jump. Here we are trying to guess the size of a flea.

 

Primary Planet Prizewinner

Well done to Molly O'Neill, 6th class, on getting 2 articles published in the October 'Primary Planet' magazine. This magazine is sent nationwide to Primary schools. She got a book as a prize, and a lovely letter of congratulations.

  

The Green school Page has Just been updated with spectacular art work, as has the Extra Curricular page, with guitar photos from Mary O'Sullivan's after school classes.

Bookworm Club Winners

Well done to Claudia, Seán and Ródhan who won medals for reading the most books so far this year in Senior Infants.

Ruadh forgot his Bookworm club sheet, so he got his medal the following day 9/10/15. Keep up the good reading everyone! More medals at Christmas.

Teeth Examination

Senior Infants are learning about the teeth this month, and examined a real mould on 8th October. They could see the molar teeth, incisors, canine teeth, and even one or two that needed fillings!

  

  

Tag Rugby Training

3rd and 4th Class are doing tag-rugby training every 3 weeks. They really enjoyed the session of 45 minutes in October. To see more of these photos, click RUGBY.

Promising Paintings

Senior Infants were limited to one colour in October to paint a tree with. After discussing the parts of the tree, such as branches, trunk, twigs, roots and leaves, we all painted on large sheets of paper. The results were astounding! To see more of these, click ART.

Station Teaching

Once a week, in Juniors and in Senior infants, there is station teaching, where phonics and maths are taught in small groups. We use i-pads and games and each group is guided by an adult. What a fun way to learn. To see more of these pictures, click STATION TEACHING. Junior Infant station teaching photos have been added to these 10/10/15

  

Mícheál Quirke Football

Thanks to Mícheál Quirke for training us in football on Thursdays. To see more pictures, click MICHEAL.

Football  Victory

Well done to our victorious Blennerville N.S. football team after winning a thrilling encounter against Currow N.S. on a scoreline of 4-11 to 4-07. What a fantastic team effort it was!

Need Help With Your Irish?

Thanks to parent Anne O'Connor (Cronin for those of you who asked!) who brought an Irish web-site to our attention. It will translate as well as pronounce phonetically the Irish words in your chosen dialect. We would be Munster Irish or Gaeilge na Mumhan. The pronounciation ap will not work on your mobile phone but it works superbly on an ordinary computer or lap-top. To see this site, click www.teanglann.ie  My apologies the link didn't work before. It is working now. Type in a word in the search box and click Enter. You must use 'fadas' if they are in the word. Then click on Pronunciation (4th box over). Then listen to it being said. The word "mná" (women) is very interesting to hear!

Wetlands Wonderland

A huge thanks to our guide Dave from Tralee Wetlands, who guided Junior and Senior Infants, 1st and 2nd classes on a bug hunt! It only cost €5 for the trip, which was part of Science Week. It was really funny for Senior Infants to see the vole jump right out of Dave's hands and run away, and amazingly, Lily caught an eel! For all the pictures from all classes, click WETLANDS.

6th Class Jogging

6th class are jogging 5km weekly in this fine October weather with Michelle Greaney and Siobhán Kearney helping out. Well done everyone!

Geography Field-trip

6th Class went to Cockleshell beach near our school, with guide Dave from the Wetlands on Monday 28th September. What a fabulous day it was. For more pictures, click FIELDTRIP.

A Run in the Sun

Well done to our children, parents and staff who ran the 3-5km fun run on Sunday27th September to help raise money for CBS the Green's Astro-turf. For more pictures, click FUNRUN.

PJ Reidy Training

Training continues with PJ Reidy for Seniors-4th class. Photos taken on 25/09/2015 of all classes are now available to view. Thanks PJ for the time and energy you give us! To see photos from this session, click PJ Reidy. Thanks to St Pat's for the use of their Astroturf. Updated 15 October 2015.

 

Cuddly Toys to School Day

Senior Infants brought their favourite cuddly toys to school on 25/09/15. We will be writing sentences about these toys in class. To see more pictures with our cuddly toys, see the latest photos added to the portraits album by clicking on PORTRAITS.

 

Cash For Clothes

Our next Cash for Clothes date is Wednesday 4th November 2015. We are going with a local company this year, who are offering us 50c per kg, as 45c was the best offer from other companies I tried. Pat, who I spoke with asked to please take care packing your bags so as not to include any blankets, rubbish or toys. Please help your school by gathering secondhand quality re-usable clothes, shoes tied together, belts, bags in a plastic bag and bringing them to school on this date. Any plastic bag will do so get busy over the Halloween break. We will be paid for all clothes collected, so please help your school by doing your Summer wardrobe clean out, and tell your friends!

Calendar Updated

Our calendar has just been updated with cake sales for the year ahead. First Communion masses have also been added.

Attendance Awards

Congratulations to the children who won STAR certificates for their exemplary attendance during the school year 2014-2015. Keep up the good work!

All Ireland Fever

The children donned their green and gold colours on Tuesday 15th September to show our support to the Kerry team in next weekend's All-Ireland football final. Of course there were a couple of Dublin supporters too! To see more of these photos, check out this week's papers and click on ALL-IRELAND. This was updated 22 Sept. To see more pictures and an article by Gavin O'Connor, please click on TRALEETODAY.IE

Thanks to Gavin for the lovely photo of our three girls in green and gold below.

Tin Whistle

Lessons with our own Mary O'Sullivan began in September with great enthusiasm. You can now listen here on-line to the tunes, thanks to Mary, and play along to help improve your playing. Click on your class's appropriate song to hear it. You may need to click on 'open' once more when the window pops up. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  Fainne Geal An Lae. London Bridge. Roddy McCorley. O'Donnell Abu.

Pauline Photographs the Infants

Thanks to Pauline Dennigan for taking photos of the new Junior Infants in September 2015. What an ironic backround they have!

New Pencil

New pencil CLASS LINKS added to your left, storing many helpful web-sites for children, both educational and fun. The above 2 individual class sites will be housed at the top of this new page from October onwards.

After School Club

Blennerville Community Playschool's AFTER SCHOOL club is back. They are now situated at the back of the Station House. The girls can collect your child from the school and walk them over to the Playschool. Monday-Friday until 2:30pm. Please contact Marlene or Fiona on: 086 3466115

Fun in the Sun

Our new 6th class Student's Council organised games for the Junior and Senior Infants in the school yard during sos times this week. It is lovely to watch and see such happy faces, with children of all ages involved. To see more of these pictures, see Student Council 2015 in the Gallery.

New LCD Screen in Infant Class

Junior Infants are having a very hands-on experience of a brand new LCD touchscreen interactive computer in their classroom. It is just like a giant TV screen and doesn't come with the expense of new bulbs every year like our other Smartboards. We hope to be able to have one of these in each classroom in our new school.

St. Pat's Football Training

St. Pat's welcome all boys and girls to football training at the pitch in Blennerville every Sunday at 10:30am with activities for under 6, 8, 10, 12s and more! Text your details to 087 6755226 and you will be texted details of events and activities through the club messaging service. 

We Finished the Jig-Saw!

Delighted Rodhan and Ciara were very proud of themselves after completing a jig-saw in only 10 minutes in Senior Infants.

Rugby Training

Tralee Rugby Mini's Club will resume training on Saturday morning 5th September at 10:30am in the club for all kids aged from 4 to u12. The mini's pitches are located on the left of Pitch No.3  (Latchford's). There will be club members in high viz jackets located at the carpark and by the path to training ground to help with directions to your team coaches. All children are welcome.

Welcome Back Everyone!

A huge welcome back to everyone, especially to the new children and parents who have joined us. Thanks to Dermot Crean for writing a lovely article and taking some great photos of the Junior Infant's first day. To see this, click TRALEETODAY. Photo below by Dermot Crean. Parents of new Junior Infants, please note that teacher Rose O'Connor has set up a special web-site for the new children, which already includes some photos from their first day at school. There will always be a link to this at the top of this Home Page. To have a look, click JUNIORS.

Welcome back to Senior Infants pictured below. For more portraits of infants, click PORTRAITS. This folder was updated with pictures of Mrs O'Connor's 1st and 2nd classes on September 9th 2015

Tour of the New School

On Saturday 22nd August 2015, Michael Williams invited the Board of Management to see the progress of the new school. Under the guidance of Diarmuid, in charge of construction, we were guided around the jaw-dropping new building. Thank you to Michael and Diarmuid for allowing us in. To see some of the photos from the inside, click INTERIOR.

This is what the gable facing the road will look like on our new school. The school name will be written in English and in Irish under our school logo.

The Plaque Is Heading For It's New Resting Place

On Monday 17th August, builders removed the historical 1932 school plaque from our old building to secure it, at the front door entrance of our new school.

Here is the plaque in it's new position in the new school.

Pupil Insurance Claim Form

The pupil insurance claim form is now available to download by clicking INSURANCE.

School Year 2014-2015

Summer Newsletter

..The Summer Newsletter is now ready to read. Click SUMMER to read this. All families will get a copy of this on Monday 29th June. A massive thanks to Denise Shanahan who took charge of the editing of this and to Marie and Anne-Marie also.

School Re-Opening Date

Have a wonderful Summer Holiday everyone and see you all when school re-opens on Thursday 27th August at 8:50am.

Run the Kingdom

Photos taken on the day by Ciara O'Donnell can now be seen by clicking on CIARAODONNELL. What fantastic photos you took Ciara- we all thank you!

It was lovely to see past pupils (and former staff member!) the Brosnans at the race.

Corey with his Mom at a magic moment.

Ann Kelliher and Stephen Griffin, local legends.

  

A huge thank you to everyone who came out and supported our run today. We were overwhelmed with the numbers that came out and participated. We would like to apologise to those who didn't get a medal. Unfortunately we didn't foresee the numbers and only ordered 300 medals. However, we will be ordering the extra medals first thing in the morning. We will post on here when the medals arrive. They will be available to collect in the school. We had 400 entrants which was a massive success for our inaugural event. Mìle buìochas. To view the results, click RESULTS. Congratulations to the winners, but to everyone who took part also. Thanks a million to our fantastic parents who helped today run so smoothly, between BBQs and bouncy castles, desserts and sandwiches.  Blennerville bunch, ye are beyond brilliant. Thanks to Michelle Greaney for taking photos. Click HERE to see more. Peter Murphy did a fantastic job snapping everyone on the course, but you must see his pictures on Facebook, which, unfortunately, I am unable to link here. For a fabulous write up with more lovely photos, click on TRALEETODAY.IE

Born to Run Winners

Cake Sale

There was a cake sale in the school on 30th June. Thanks to all those who baked- Miss Ryan's/Doyle's class and Mrs O'Connor's class. Thanks to the Parent's Association for manning the shop and the children who helped out also. Looking back on the photos, it'd make anyone hungry for more! Click CAKES to see some of the sweet things on sale from the day.

Football Champions!

A massive well done to the Austin Stacks team for winning the Under 14s at Féile na nÓg on June 28th 2015! This team had 3 members from our school on it- namely Connor Kavanagh, James Fernane and Daniel Breen. A fantastic well done also to St. Pat's team who made it to the semi-finals, with Danny Greaney, Tomás O'Sullivan, Tadgh Kerins and Jamie O'Brien on the team. There certainly is a bright future for the Kerry team selection in years to come!

St. Pat's Send Off

We gathered on the bridge on Friday 26th June to wish the teams going to Féile well. To read an article about this, click TRALEETODAY.IE

Chicken Run

Thanks to the Breen family for bringing in 5 day old and 5 week old chicks to school for us all to cuddle in June. Ella was obviously well used to their gentle handling. Unfortunately we didn't cure Anne-Marie of her fear of birds! To see more pictures, click CHICKEN.

Tracks and Trails

Some classes have been going on trails this last week of school in June- Ms O'Connor's and Ms O'Shea's classes enjoyed fine weather on their trails around the village. To see pictures of both classes, click TRAILS.

Tie Dye

Well done to Mrs O'Connor's class who tie-dyed t-shirts during the last week of school, just in time for the Summer weather!

New Yorkers

A huge thank you to New Yorkers pizza takeaway who provided pizzas for 1st -6th classes today for free! They were totally delicious and very much appreciated.

Teddy Bear's Picnic

Junior, Senior infants and 1st class enjoyed a Teddy Bear's Picnic at the Station House picnic tables on 26th June 2015. To see more pictures, click PICNIC.

Boxing

A big thank you to the Tralee Boxing club who put on a fabulous training session for our 6th class today in their hall. The children had a fantastic time. The smiles tell the story.Thanks to Pat O' Shea and his volunteers for inviting us in and for also providing the children with refreshments after their session. To see more pictures, click BOXING.

Cycle to Fenit

Congratulations to 5th and 6th class who cycled from Blennerville to Fenit on 25th June 2015. Thanks to Garda Irene Riordan who accompanied us. Well done to all the boys and girls on cycling the 20km. Future Ring of Kerry cyclists no doubt. To see more pictures, click CYCLE.

The route to Fenit and back, thanks to Miss Catherine O'Shea.

Graduation

Congratulations to our 6th class boys and girls who graduated from Primary School on 24th June 2015. The children spoke so well, reading their own poems, and we had a lovely service from Fr. Francis and slide show of photographs from down through the years. It was fabulous to see up to FOUR generations of families, namely the O'Brien family! To see more pictures from the graduation, click GRADUATION.

Anthony Garvey Visit, by Caoilinn O’Brien.

Anthony Garvey came to our school to talk about his book called ‘The Dark Green Book of Dreams’. He was very funny and nice he made us laugh a lot. He is one of the members of the Listowel writer’s week children’s committee. His book was really good and funny. His book is aimed at ages 7-10. It’s about a mysterious substitute teacher who asks four children to write a story for her but their adventures become true. He made us close our eyes and imagine what the substitute teacher looks like. He made us think that she was an old woman but she was a nice young woman with red hair, a multi coloured cape and a cane. He read us a bit of his newest book about a girl named Maria and her best friend called Helen. Maria keeps having strange dreams about people who died wiggling their hands at Maria. They send her videos of their last wish before they died but the strange thing is they are sending the videos after they died. He’s also writing a few more books for kids. We enjoyed his visit and hope he comes back soon.

Ballyseedy Woods Walk

Miss Sorcha Ryan's class walked in Ballyseedy woods in June.  To see some pictures, click BALLYSEEDY.

Hot Air Art

Well done to Miss Sorcha Ryan's class who made a most beautiful hot air balloon entirely from re-cycled bottle tops, collected by us all. What a way to use our rubbish!

Magnificent Masks

Miss Sorcha Ryan's class with their masks. Can you identify who's who?!

Who needs toys? The shelves are terrific fun! 

Community Games Champion

Well done to Fionn Dairo, pictured here with the famous Kerry footballer, Maurice Fitzgerald who won gold in the Kerry Community Games with his relay team on Sunday 21st June. He will now go on to run in the National finals in Athlone in August. Well done also to past pupils Fergal O'Brien and Ellen Wallace who also qualified for the finals, with Fergal taking the coveted gold medal in the Under 14s 100 meters race. It's great to see current and past pupils doing so well on the sporting field.

Tablet Triumph

We got a very welcome phonecall on Monday 22nd June from the kind people at Bag2School, who took our re-cycled clothes recently, telling us that our school had collected the most clothes in Ireland and they were awarding us by giving us a Tablet, being sent by courier on Wednesday to us. What a generous thing of them to do, and it's all thanks to everybody who went to the trouble of doing a Spring clean of their wardrobes! Well done again Blennerville, we really are on a winning streak!

Muckross Farm Tour

To see some of the pictures from Mrs O'Connor's class tour to Muckross farm, click MUCKROSS.

This Is Me

Mrs O'Connor's class did a beautiful wall mural of self-portraits, to be seen in the hall. See if you can recognise anyone.

On Top Of The World!

Our 6th Class reached new heights, on top on the Kingdom on Thursday 18th June, on their trip up Mount Brandon via Sás Creek. Their guides were Daithí O'Connell and his assistant Amber who took great care of the children all the way. We thank them sincerely for their time and patience. The group was accompanied by teacher Catherine O'Shea, our priest Fr. Francis Nolan, parent John Walsh and principal Terry O'Sullivan. The climb was 12km and it took exactly 5 hours. The views were spectacular! To everyone's utter delight, Ann Walsh surprised everyone afterwards with a barbeque on site to feed the hungry mountaineers. Ann you are a legend! To see more pictures, click MOUNTAIN.

Prelim Prodigy

Well done to Sarah Brett who got a distinstion in her very first piano exam called Preliminary, in June. A fantastic achievement.

Sr Nuala

Franciscan nun, Sister Nuala visited us during June 2015 and spoke to 2nd to 6th classes about the children in the developing world. Thanks to Sr. Nuala for doing this.

Loch a' Dúin Re-Visited

Miss O'Shea's class re-visited Loch a' Dúin on a cold damp day on Tuesday 16th June, under the guidance of Brother Daithí, proving their climbing skills and fitness were up to the mark! Thanks a million yet again to Brother Daithí. To see pictures from this, and from Miss Ryan's visit there too, click LOCH.

Christy Ring Cup

We were thrilled on Tuesday 16th June to be graced with a visit by Colm Harty from the Kerry Senior Hurling Team who recently beat Derry to win the Christy Ring Cup. He spoke to classes about the importance of fitness and never giving up on your dreams. He arrived to the Astro-turf to observe our 3rd and 4th class doing their hurling training. Then he was escorted by student Seán Whelan who gave him a guided tour of our school. Thanks to Colm for being such a gentleman, posing for photos and speaking to us all. He recommended training with Parnell's in Caherslee weekly to those kids who would like to follow the hurling dream. To see more pictures click CHRISTY.

Outdoor Classroom

On Tuesday 16th June, Miss Brassil's class walked to the Lock Gates onto Cockleshell strand where they discovered crabs and lots of unusual stones. Children brought back stones to paint in their real classroom later on. It was a beautiful way to spend a morning in June. To see more pictures click COCKLESHELL.

Flag Day

We had a great day on Friday 12th June, beginning with mass in the yard, with Fr Francis celebrating 30 years of being a priest. Then we were all shocked and delighted when the very talented footballer James O'Donoghue visited our school to raise our flags for us. We had our second Greenschool flag and our brand new Active Flag raised. James was so well-spoken and terrific with the children. He posed for countless photos and signed many jerseys. He advised them to get as much fresh air and exercise as they could and told them it was even more important than homework! Thanks so much to James for giving us his time. Click FLAGS to see more pictures. Thanks Denise for the photos. To read a great article by Traleetoday.ie, click here.

Splitting of Classes Policy

It is coming to the time of year when we begin planning the classes for next September. Please familiarise yourselves with our Splitting of Classes Policy by clicking here.

Puppy Power

Tara brought her puppy Tiny to class on Monday 15th June. He got plenty of cuddles.

Medal Winners

Three children arrived in with medals on 15th June, from football, to 'thinking of others before myself' Beaver awards to sand castle making awards. Here are Emily, Grainne and Sean with their shiny new medals. Well done to you all!

  

Road Race Promotion

Well done to Kerrie and Molly O'Neill and to Caoilainn and Michelle Culloo who donned Blennerville Road Race 5-10km t-shirts at the weekend 13th June to promote our race in Ballyheigue. We hope more people will sign up for this race on 28th June. 

Science with Mr Z

6th Class enjoyed a day of science with Mr Z  on 10th June where they worked in groups and had to co-operate and combine brain-power to make a vehicle using batteries and wires, so that it would go by itself. They had fun races at the end of the session. Thank you to Mr Z. To see more pictures, click Science.

Sports Day 2015

On Thursday 11th June, we headed to St. Pat's football field for a day of sport and fun. We were all surprised and delighted to see 2 bouncy castles as one of the 8 stations this year. 6th Class did a superb job manning stations and tidying up afterwards. Thanks to everyone who helped out. To see some pictures click SPORTSDAY. More classes' photos will be added very soon.

Ní Neart Go Cur Le Chéile!

There's no strength unless you work together!

Cycling Lessons at the Windmill Car Park

Thanks so much to Occupational Therapist Eileen O'Connor, who volunteered to teach some of the children to cycle. The group was made up of Megan, Caoilainn, Rory, Rodhan and Timmi. We are very grateful to you Eileen. Thanks to the Curran family and Kerry Co. Council for the use of the car park. Thanks Michelle for the photo. Click CYCLING to see more pictures.

Junior School Tour

We had a glorious day of sunshine on Wednesday 10th June for our Junior tour to Fenit. Thanks so much to Mike O'Connor for organising the Fenit lifeboat, to Maura O'Donnell for the life-jackets, and to Megan's mom and nan for bringing the ice-cream van which was a real surprise! Thanks to parent Kerrie O'Neill for coming to help out with a tidy up. The playground and the beach was such great fun. It was lovely to see our old Principal and vice- Mike O'Connor and Helen Sugrue who came along to help us out. To see photos from the school tour on 10th June, click FENIT.

Runners

6th Class are availing of the fine weather and have run 2 x 5km this week. Well done to all, and thanks to parent and coach Michelle Greaney and Catherine O'Shea for heading out on the sessions too.

Fairy Door Competition Winners!

News just in! We are runners up in the Fairy Door Competition! We will be having a fairy area, marked with a plaque in the new school where children can go with wishes and worries and we will have some wooden fairy doors, that hopefully, fairies will take up residence in. Each door comes with it's own key and if you leave the key outside the door on the first night the door is in place, and the key disappears by the next morning- it means a fairy has moved in. Well done to Miss Brassil's Senior Infants and 1st class! If you click on FairyDoor, you will see some photos from their web-site. Click on FAIRIES to see our art work and also some of the children in the class that prove how many teeth we lost this month already! Thanks to Cathy and Maura the parents who encouraged Miss Brassil to enter this in the first place!

School Tour to UL

3rd to 6th Classes enjoyed their tour to UL on Friday 27th May. Children and teachers got very active taking part in a host of activities on land and in the water. The day ended with a McDonalds treat before the journey home. To see some of the photos, taken by Denise (thank you), click UL 2015.

Rice Krispie Surprise

The children from Junior Infants to Second classes weren't too disappointed at being left behind while the other classes went to U.L. on their school tour because we all made Rice Krispie buns with Maura O'Donnell! We got to stir, spoon out and do a very special taste test on one bun, while we took the second bun each home. Some may not have made it that far... Thanks so much to Maura who organised all the spoons, bowls, cooker and the melting. Thank you also to Jimmy, who we were informed, volunteered to do all the washing up! What a lovely treat for us on the Friday before our June week off! Have a wonderful break everyone and see you all on Monday 8th June. To see the rest of the photos, click KRISPIES!

Bag 2 School Best Ever Collection

Thank you so much to everyone who brought bags of clothes to school today. We broke our record and collected

€979.75.

€200 of this was thanks to 1st Kerry Scouts, Tralee who have been collecting for us since February.  Thank you too 1st Kerry Scouts! We cannot believe how much we have raised this time. Well done everyone!

Green Flag Collected

We were delighted to collect our second Green Flag in Cork on May 26th in Cork. The raising of this flag, along with the Active Flag and Digital Schools plaque has been penciled in for 12th June. We are awaiting news from a celebrity who we hope can join us on this date. We will celebrate with mass  and with a party and a movie day at school.

Communion 2015

Big thanks to Mrs O' Connor and Miss Slattery who prepared the Communion class of 2015 so well that the ceremony on Saturday 23rd May was flawless. Thanks also to Fr. Francis and the choir who performed brilliantly. Thanks to Denise for the photos. To see these click PICTURES.

Scríobh Leabhar

Second to sixth classes wrote their own books in Irish. They did an outstanding job and got a certificate in May to commend their efforts. To see photos of the children with their scríobh leabhar certificates, click SCRIOBH LEABHAR.

Loch a Dúin

Miss Ryan's 3rd and 4th class visited Loch a Duin in May under the guidance of Brother Daithí who we thank sincerely for his time and patience. To see some of these pictures, click HIKE.

RSE

May is RSE (Relationships and Sexual Education) month in our school. Look out for letters home in the school bags telling parents all about what we have done in class.

Basketball Brilliance

Congratulations to the Blennerville Girl's Basketball team, under coach Olivia O'Shea who had a terrific win in Moyderwell on 21st May 2015, beating Moyderwell 24 to 06 points.

5km Preparation by Blennerville Girls

Well done to Emma Greaney and Nicole Healy who took part in the 5km run in An Ríocht, Castleisland on Sunday 17th May. The girls took it all in their stride, and alternated between jogging and sprinting all the way. This is such terrific training for the Blennerville race on 28th June. 

Girl's Football Success

Well done to our girl's football team who had a fantastic win over Ó Bréannáin of Ballymac today in St. Pats pitch. After an epic battle the girls won on a final score line of 1 06 to 1 05. They now go on to face Duagh next week. Time and venue not yet decided. Well done to all the girls involved.

Community Games

Thanks to St. Pat's for hosting the Blennerville Ballyard Community Games on Thursday evening 14th May 2015. Children arrived to school on the Friday morning with so many medals, there was actually a gold, silver and bronze shine from the school that drivers noticed as they drove past. We are very proud of everyone who took part, not just the medal winners.  Well done all! Thanks to Denise for the fabulous photos and click COMMUNITY to see these happy faces.

Ministerial Visit

On Thusday 30th April, we all got a surprise visit from Jan O'Sullivan, the Minister for Education. She was accompanied by Arthur Spring T.D. She spoke to the children about Active Week and came to see the Literacy Lift Off in action in the younger classes. To see more pictures with the Minister, click MINISTER. To read traleetoday.ie 's wonderful coverage of the visit with even more terrific photos, click TRALEETODAY.IE

Jan O'Sullivan with Arthur Spring and members of the school's Board of Management and Parent's Association.

Orienteering Day

Thanks to Mrs O'Sullivan who co-ordinated a day of orienteering in St. Pat's football field on 30th April for all classes. I'd say we all walked about 3km by the time we got all those clues! To see more pics, along with updated pictures of bikes and wheels, and dance, click EXERCISE.

World Champion Visit

World Champion cross country mountain runner and winner of the race up and down Carrauntoohil no less than twenty times- John Lenihan, took time out to speak to pupils and answer questions on Thursday 30th April, as part of our Active Week. John was simply inspirational, telling us that a teacher once told him he would never be a runner. He advised us all to NEVER give up on our dreams, and that we can all achieve anything, if you have dedication, do the training, and have belief in yourself.  Thanks so much John for visiting us today, and thanks Michelle Greaney for organising this. To see more pictures, click JOHN LENIHAN.

Jack O'Connor Q&A

Former Kerry Senior Football Manager, Jack O' Connor came to our school on Wednesday 29th April, as part of Active week for a Question and Answer session. He told great stories and his visit was enjoyed by all. Thanks to Mrs O'Sullivan for organising this.

See more in the GALLERY

Tralee Boxing Club

Thanks to Tralee Boxing Club, who gave 5th and 6th classes the chance to vent some passion through punches on Friday 1st May as part of Active Week. To see these boxing pictures, click BOXING.

Wetlands Visit

As part of Active Week, 5th Class visited the Tralee Wetlands. We did plan to walk in, but it was pouring, so we got a last minute bus. It was wet enough in the Wetlands without arriving wet! It was extremely informative. To see some of the pictures, click WETLANDS.

Garda Irene

Thanks so much to Garda Irene who spoke to the entire school about the importance of Safe Cycling on Tuesday 28th April. We learned an awful lot about rules of the road and safety and Garda Irene even cycled safely to us on the day! To see more, click IRENE

More Astro Turf Fun

We are really making the most of any fine weather and are very grateful for the use of St. Pat's Astro-turf which we are using to train on, weekly. See updated pictures from April by clicking ST. PAT'S

Family Effort

Well done to the O'Donnell family who cycled to school every day during Active Week! Mom and Dad took turns in bringing George and Sam all the way. Fair play to you all. Well done also to Ethen Sigler, a constant cyclist, and all the other children who cycle to school daily.

Tralee Today

Thanks to traleetoday.ie for featuring our school on 29th April 2015 in an article celebrating our second Greenschool Energy flag, our Active Flag, and our Digital Schools recognition. To read the article, click traleetoday.ie

First Communion

Miss Slattery prepared a fabulous wall display of the children awaiting their First Holy Communion Celebration on 23rd May. If any parent could help out by playing a musical instrument along with the choir, please talk to Miss Catherine O'Shea as soon as possible. Thanks.

Active Week

Active week got off to a flying start with our walk from the windmill and bicycles 'go leor' by Miss Brassil's class. There will be more fun and wheels Tuesday with a cycle safety talk from local Garda Irene, and more scooters. Thanks to the Curran family for the use of the car park as our starting point. The photos from this week will all be updated Friday and Saturday but here are a few from Monday. Click ACTIVE to see these. Just for your information, 6th class have now clocked up an AMAZING 40.114km of running with coach Michelle Greaney. See the Active Flag page for exact details of distances ran each session. Well done 6th class!

Aistear Update

Click AISTEAR for an update of photos from Aistear, learning through play up to April 2015.

Literacy Lift Off

Beginning on Tuesday 21st April 2015, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the next 6 weeks, there will be a new reading initiative in Miss Brassil's Senior Infants and 1st class, under the guidance of Learning Support teacher Miss Áine Quinn. Literacy Lift-Off gives children lots of opportunities to read at their own level of competency and gradually lift the complexity of what they can do in reading and writing. 5 teachers will rotate among 5 groups of children, in groups of 5. A book is sent home every night, which has been read in class already, and an adult is asked to listen to their child re-read it at home. It is then re-read again the following day, a sentence is written about it, and also, a new book is also prepared. It is very important that children bring their folders with their books and copies in daily in their bags. To read about it, and to see sample vidoes of it in action in other schools, click LiteracyLiftOff

Blennerville Basketball

A huge congratulations to Nicole Healy and Aoife Bourke, who won the Under 12s girls basketball final for the Kerry Area Basketball Board plaque on Monday 20th for the Tralee Imperials. They would like to thank their coaches Miss Olivia O'Shea, and Anne O'Shea, Ulick their manager and Bowling Buddies for the treat after their win. They both had to qualify to get onto the team, and they train every Wednesday in the Mitchel's indoor basketball court from 6-7:30pm. Well done girls!

Active Week 27th April-1st May

Please visit the Active Flag pencil on your left  or find the note that went home in school bags on 21st April for all the details for Active Week.

Spring Clean 2015

On 16th April 2015, classes headed in all directions of the village to do our annual Spring Clean. Such an amount of rubbish was collected, children could not believe the things dumped by people. To see some of the photos taken on the day, click SPRING CLEAN.

 

Astro-Turf at St. Pat's

On 16th April, some of our classes got to play on St. Pat's new astro-turf surface, when the County Board took Junior Infants to 1st class for training. 6th Class also had training on it. What a fantastic facility to have on our doorstep. Click ASTRO-TURF to see some pictures.

Digital Award

Well done everyone! After a visit from Digital Schools Inspector Mr Tom Roche on 15th April 2015, we got word that we will be the 9th school in Kerry to receive the prestegious Digital Schools Award, recognised by the Department of Education and Science. We will receive a plaque for our wall, which I've no doubt will look fabulous in our new school, and also a years supply of coloured ink. Great work everyone!

Spelling Bee

Congratulations to 6th Class student Sinéad Trant who came a very credible 5th place in the Spelling Bee competition in Balloonagh school on 14th April 2015. Sinéad won the spelling heat held at our school and represented our school so well today, spelling words that would send most of us searching for a dictionary! Well done Sinead!

New Face

It was lovely to see a new visitor in 1st class in April with a visitor Kiera, all the way from Scotland. Call back again soon to see us, and thanks for joining in with our Spring Clean.

Cake Sale

Thanks to the children and parents who baked and bought at our fundraising cake sale on Friday 27th March. The smell of chocolate from the hall from early morning was too much to resist!  Thanks to Kerrie, Ann Marie and Claire for manning the station, and to the 5th Class sellers. To see some of the pictures, click CAKES. Thanks to Ella Breen who took on the school camera to take these photos for us. Here is Mrs O'Sullivan's infants at the sale and also Brian with the fabulous display he made with his Mom's help. Happy Easter everyone!

Retreat for 6th Class

The children from 6th class who will be making their Confirmation very soon, attended a retreat on 26th March for the entire school day in the Ardfert Retreat centre. Click RETREAT to see more pictures. 

Here is an article written by Emma, from 6th class who was there on the day.

Retreat by Emma Greaney. On Thursday 26 March Mr O’Sullivans 6^th class when on a trip for Confirmation to the Ardfert retreat centre. We did a dance to the song Come Holy Spirit and it was very fun. At break time, we all went outside and played in the grass. In the middle of the grass, we saw that they were building a labyrinth out of stones. It was very cool. After break we went inside again and did confession with Fr.Francis. The day was very nice and I really enjoyed itand I am sure everyone else did too!!!!!

Easter Chocolate Nests

On 26th March, Senior Infants and 1st Classes made chocolate nests under the guidance of parent Maura O'Donnell. The children had a ball, crushing the shredded wheat biscuits, cleaning spoons and shaping their nests. Maura was magnificent, and put so much work into having chocolate melted on time and bringing all her own equipment, with Jimmy's help. Thanks so much to you Maura for the baking sessions and we are sad that this was our last one for the moment. Thanks Ann Marie for washing up again for us! I still can't figure out how some nests got a lot smaller before they left school for home. If anyone can solve this mystery, please let Miss Brassil know. Click NESTS to see more pictures.

Composer In Residence

On 25th March, 6th class had a visit from Composer in Residence Kevin Gleeson, thanks to Kerry Co. Council. The children lent their voices to an old Disney cartoon, creating voice and sound effects. If you go to the 5th Class website link at the very top of this Home page, you will be able to find, hear and watch this terrific video. Click COMPOSER for more pictures.

 

Credit Union

We take part in a saving initiative with the Credit Union called 'Ellie Saving Stamps'. We encourage children to bring in anything from €1 to €5 on Fridays. For every euro, children get an Ellie sticker in their savings book. They may cash these in at any Credit Union at any time. It is a great way of saving for school tours and we feel is a terrific opportunity to instil a saving habit from a young age. We thank Tralee Credit Union for being so good to us, these past few years, giving us presents for the children such as colouring pencils, rulers, sweets and most recently in March 2015, sports bags. Ellie the Elephant visits us at least once a year. Here is Ellie visiting us in March 2015. To see more pictures with Ellie, click ELLIE.

Table Quiz

Thanks so much to the Parent's Association, but most especially to Maura and Jimmy O'Donnell who put a huge amount of work in to the school quiz on Friday 20th March in Quanes bar. There were lots of terrific spot prizes. Thanks to Mike O'Connor, our brilliant and hilarious MC for the night, and to the always generous Quanes, who handed out well appreciated baskets of finger food and sandwiches. Thank you to the parents and locals who supported the night also. To see more pictures, click QUIZ.

Writer In Residence

The school was so lucky in securing a visit from Irish author and poet Máire C. Holmes. She visited us on Thursday 19th March and spoke to Senior Infants, First Class and 6th classes. Children had a huge number of questions for Máire. Here are some things we found out: She started writing at the age of 9. Her Mom and Dad inspired her. She had her first book published when she was 30. She lives in Spiddal Co. Galway and she writes in Irish and English. Sometimes, when Máire gets an idea, she pulls over the car and starts writing! She says she does most of her writing late at night. She has her own library in her house. She wore a brilliant necklace that had pencils and biros attached to it. She has poetry on the Irish Junior and Leaving Certificate syllabus. She has about 400 more poems in a drawer at home that she hasn't published yet. So maybe we should all keep our stories and poems for a few years and when you have enough, you, like Máire could turn them into a book! She is a beautiful lady and we hope she inspired some of our children to keep writing stories and poems. To see some information on Máire, click  Máire C.Holmes. To see and hear Máire read one of her poems, click Poem. Thank you Máire and Kerry Co. Council.

Miss O'Shea's Baking

Miss Olivia O'Shea did some baking with some children in the resource room, as a treat on her last day in Resource. It's a good job that Miss O'Shea is not moving too far away- only into the main school building! To see pictures of these bakes, click RESOURCE.

New Computer Photos.

Digital Schools page was updated 19th March with new photos of Miss Brassil's class with 6th class on the lap-tops.

Hot Off the Press

The Easter newsletter is now available to read HERE. Thanks to all who contributed articles and photos. A copy will be handed to the eldest in each family on Wednesday 18th March.

Green Scene

We made a huge effort on Friday 13th March and dressed in green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day before our long weekend. We wish you all a very happy St. Patrick's day! To see more pictures, click ST.PATRICK

   

Mini Sevens

Congratulations to the 5th and 6th class boys and girls who took part in the Mini Sevens in March. The boys  beat the Spa, and lost to Caherleaheen and Listellic while the girls beat the Spa, Caherleaheen and Fenit to qualify for the Brendan's Board Finals of Cumann na mBunscoil 7-a-side competition on Wednesday 18th March. Unfortunately we lost in the finals but it is a massive achievement to reach the finals so well done all! For more photos click MINISEVENS

Lee Strand Surprise

Second class pupil Seán Whelan got a big surprise on 11th March when a parcel arrived to the school for him. He was delighted on reading the accompanying letter that Lee Strand had been so impressed by his project, that they wanted to give him this cool bag as a thank you. Well done Seán!

 

Blennerville Ahoy!

The Junior and Senior infants in Mrs O'Sullivan's class have covered many topics in their Aistear play sessions lately, including construction, restaurants, the vets and most recently pirates. Look out for them arriving from the high seas in big ships to our yard! Click AISTEAR to see 4 pages of photos.

Afternoon Tea for Old Time's Sake

Looking back on the old times in the school last Friday 6th March were past pupils, teachers, principals and parents. They reiminisced about  times past and the kettle was put on a second time, as the stories were plentiful. Thanks to those who came and to the parent's association for organising the tea and homemade goodies. Click TEA for more.

Out and About

Senior Infants and 1st Class availed of the fine weather in March when they went on a walk through the village. Click WALK to see more.

Active Week

Our School Active Week will be from April 27th to May 1st. 

We SCORE at SCÓR!

What a fantastic result from Friday night's Scór competition 27th February 2015 at the ITT Campus. Blennerville and Derryquay schools combined their talents to win the Music Group category on the night. The group were: Katie Moriarty, Oisín Gallaghar, Judith Waugh, Orlaith Murphy, and Ciara Fitzgibbons. These children will now go forward to the next heats which are the county finals. We wish you all the very best of luck! In the Figure Dancing, Sorcha O'Donoghue, Katie Moriarty, Oisín Gallaghar and Keelin Enright came 2nd, which was excellent! The ballad group which came 3rd was made up of brothers Seán and Conor Crowley, Seán Fitzgibbon, Tomás O'Sullivan and Danny Greaney. Well done to Caoimhe O'Sullivan, who came 3rd all by herself in the solo singing category. Also there was a quiz team on the night, made up of Conor Crowley and 3 Derryquay children and they came 3rd. Finn Brosnan, Derryquay did a recitation on the night of a poem 'Mr Nobody' to much applause and came 2nd. Katie Moriarty kept up the winning streak on Saturday too when she came 2nd in the under 11s concertina in Sult na nÓg in the ITT Tralee.  A huge HUGE thank you must go to Mary O'Sullivan and James Allman for their time, patience, coaching, guidance. You have been fantastic to help all these children with their music and we really appreciate it. Thanks to Therese Greaney for the photos. Click SCÓR to see more.

Queen Cakes with the Queen of Baking!

On Friday 27th February, Senior Infants and 1st class baked Queen cakes and decorated them with icing and sprinkles. They measured out ingredients, cracked eggs, and stirred until they got arm muscles. Nobody could resist eating one or two, but everyone got 2 more buns to take home. Thanks so much to Maura O'Donnell, who put so much preparation into the bake, to parents Mary and Tina who came to help out too, and to Anne Marie who helped and did all the washing-up for us. Click BAKE to see more photos. Thanks again to Ciara O'Donnell, George and Sam's mom, for the better photos of the bunch, including these two fabulous shots below.

Pizza Time!

Well done to Freddie who made pizza with Miss O'Shea in the resource room. We really are making the most of our little oven. It looks delicious Freddie. Do you need any help eating that?

Hot Chocolate

Ochuko enjoyed making his own hot chocolate with Miss Olivia O'Shea in one of our Resource rooms at the start of March. Well done Ochuko! To see more pictures from the Resource room, click RESOURCE.

Budding Author Emily

Emily from Senior Infants decided to write and illustrate her very own story on a weekend recently in March when she didn't get enough homework!. Her story and art work were beautiful as you can see. Well done Emily!

Lee Strand Visit

Thank you to Lee Strand who took Mrs O'Connor's 2nd and 3rd Class for a tour of the factory on 26th February 2015. It was a fascinating visit and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Large glasses of milk were enjoyed, with some chocolate bars after the tour. Each child got a pack with a Lee Strand mug and markers as a token upon leaving. Know that it's Lee Strand all the way in our staffroom and please keep collecting the Mighty Mikey Milk cartoon logo on the side of cartons, so we can raise money for the school everyone. Click HERE to see more photos.

Flower Boxes

Thank you to Ann Marie O'Connor for doing the flower boxes for us at the front of the school. It really makes the place look so smart. Beautiful job!

Pancake Tuesday

Many thanks to Maura O'Donnell, her son Ryan, Mary O'Brien, Kerrie Keane O'Neill, past pupils Laura Devane and Clara Moran and everyone else who helped on 17th February to make pancakes for the entire school. They were so delicious and even those needing gluten free, and those who didn't like pancakes were accomodated. We all appreciate all the time and cooking that went into these 170 odd pancakes. Great job! To view photos from the day, click PANCAKES.

Community Games Art Winners

Congratulations to the children who won medals in the Community Games Art Competition during February 2015. These were Molly O'Neill, James Dowling, Emily O'Regan and Dylan Griffin. They will now go on to the next stage which will be in Listowel soon. See our winners in our Great Achievements section of the Gallery. Click WINNERS to see some of these terrific achievers.

Bookworm Club Winners

Well done to the Bookworm club winners in Miss Brassil's class, who won medals on 18th February for reading the most books in the class. The winners this time were Ben, Caoilainn, Gráinne and Brian. More medals will be awarded later on in the year so keep reading everyone, and keep an account of all the books you read too.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Rose O'Connor's 5th class were learning about the heart in February, and they got to handle dissected lambs hearts. The class were surprisingly brave, with many finding their gloved fingers travelling the path of blood through the aorta. We may have a few budding doctors in the future. For more pictures, click HEART.

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Next Bag 2 School Clothes Collection

We will have our next collection of old clothes and shoes at the school on Thursday 28th May. We encourage everyone to start saving old clothes now, as it  is such an easy way to raise money for the school. Bags will be given to all children next week, but any plastic bag will do. I'm afraid we were scolded last time for some items, so please- no duvets, books, hard toys or underwear this time! The whole community are invited to donate. Thanks everyone!

Friends For Life

In January 2015, Miss Rose O'Connor's 5th Class started the 'Friends for Life' programme with Miss Dinan. The programme is designed to teach students the skills required to manage their thoughts, emotions and body responses to life stresses. The programme also seeks to develop self-esteem and teach coping skills in a simple and structured way. It is a positive, fun learning experience. To view photos from some of the sessions, click FRIENDS. To read more about the programme, click LIFE.

St. Pat's Kit for Sale

The St. Pat's juvenille football kit can now be ordered through the school. Talk to Noreen to order one.

Grandparents Day 2015

Thanks to Fr Francis Nolan for the lovely service today, albeit a little cramped, but principal Terry O'Sullivan promised that it'll be the last year that we will have trouble accomodating our much loved grandparents. Thanks to the readers, those children who wrote articles and to Pauline Dennigan for the photos. Click GRANDPARENTS to see more pictures, and please know the better quality ones are Pauline's!

 

Perfect Attendance Awards

Congratulations to the students who didn't miss a day of school last year and got a Gold Star Certificate Award. Congratulations also to those who only missed a day to receive Silver Star Award Certificates.

        

Budding Bakers

Miss Brassil's class baked bread on Friday 16th January, under the guidance of parent Maura O'Donnell. Children mixed the ingredients in their own bowls and Maura was simply fantastic to take home the children's loaves to bake them, as our oven was a little bit too small! However, Miss Brassil's own loaf (baked not burnt) did fill the room with a most delicious smell and there was a slice of warm bread fresh out of the oven with a dollop of real Lee Strand butter for the whole class to taste before they went home to share their loaves. Next month we hope to bake queen cakes. Thanks Maura for all the trouble you went to for us. Thanks to David and Ann Marie for all their help and for the washing up!  to Ciara O'Donnell for the wonderful photos. To see these, click Baking with Maura. More pictures were updated 27 January 2015.

Stay Safe

The Stay Safe Programme will be taught in the school during the month of February. The Stay Safe programme is a personal safety skills programme designed for use with primary school children from Junior Infants through to 6th class. The programme seeks to enhance children’s self-protective skills by participation in lessons on safe and unsafe situations, bullying, inappropriate touch, secrets, telling and stranger danger.The programme aims to give children the skills necessary to enable them to recognise and resist abuse/victimisation and teaches them that they should always tell (an adult that can help) about any situation which they find unsafe, upsetting, threatening, dangerous or abusive.To read more about it, click www.staysafe.ie

Future Olympian

Congratulations to Jamie O'Brien who ran in the Tralee Musical Society 5k run on Sunday 18th January 2014. Jamie won the under 14 category in an amazing lightening fast time of 21.42 minutes! This is a fantastic achievement. 

R.S.E. Policy

During January and February, our staff, a committee made up of volunteer parents, and the Board of Management, will finalise our Relationship and Sexual Education Policy. This will be taught in the school according to Departmental Guidelines. We would like parents to read some of the lessons that will be taught under this headline of 'Social Personal and Health Education' during a half hour lesson in each class per week, specifically during the month of May each year. Parents will have the choice to withdraw children for this if they so wish. It is an excellent programme, and deals with lots of issues including self esteem, body awareness, bullying and more. Please feel free to browse through the teacher's manual by clicking this link:

Infants RSE  First and Second RSE  Third and Fourth RSE  Fifth and Sixth RSE

New i Pads

Thanks to the Parent's Association, families and friends of the school, we raised enough money with the Christmas Hamper fundraiser to buy 4 new i pads for the school. These will mostly be used in the Resource rooms for work with pupils on a one to one basis. We already have lots of educational Apps on them. Please see the new Digital Schools page if you haven't already heard about it. (Bottom pencil on your left)

Mass in the Hall

Thanks to Fr. Francis who said mass in the hall with the older classes to mark the Epiphany on 6th January.

Christmas Carol Service

The Christmas Carol Service was the best yet with performances from Junior Infants right up to 6th class who sang, danced, recited poetry and played many instruments. The Carol Service gave us all the chance to witness what a tremendous amount of talent there is within the school. All of this talent was brought together by a serious amount of hard work by both the Teachers and pupils along with special thanks to Parent, Mary O' Sullivan for her musical assistance.

Many more Christmas Carol 2014 photos here in the Gallery! More photos taken by our own Jimmy O'Donnell have just been added 07/01/15 so if you thought the photographers missed you, then have another look by clicking Jimmy's name above and you might see yourself.

To see the article on Traleetoday.ie please click HERE

Here are 2nd and 3rd class wearing their Christmas outfits for St. Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal.

Please see our brand new page on a new pencil on your left called Digital Schools.

Merry Christmas Everyone and a very Happy New Year!

The Christmas Newsletter is now available to view online. Click CHRISTMAS 2014 to read it. A printed colour copy will be handed to each family on Tuesday 16th December. Thank you to all the children and photographers who gave their time to the newsletter this Christmas.

Christmas Carol Service

The annual Christmas Carol Service took place in St. John's Church on Tuesday 16th December. Thanks to parent Ciara O' Donnell for the photo of our Three Wise Men.

The turning of the sod.

Thanks to all the politicians, principals, board members, parent association members and photographers  who turned up in force today for the photocall in hard hats. Read more on traleetoday.ie

To listen to the Radio Kerry Boradcast about the Turning of the Sod Day,

click Radio Kerry Interview.

Here is Principal Terry O'Sullivan with Caoilainn and Rory from 1st class.

See more shots in the Gallery

See pictures of the infant class during 'Construction Week' during Aistear by clicking Aistear. You will also see pictures from the 'Cafe Week' on this link. Aistear is done in the Junior Infant class with Mrs Edel O'Sullivan for half an hour in the mornings, with different themes weekly. Parents help out by manning a station each and children move to a new play station daily. It is a fantastic way for children to learn through play.

Christmas Hamper Draw

Many thanks to Maura O' Donnell and all the gang on the Parent's Council who organised the Christmas Hamper Draw & Table Quiz (with some some impromptu singing thrown in!), on Saturday night in Quane's Bar. Big thanks to all of the Parents who kindly donated gifts for the hamper.

See more photos in the Gallery

Thanks Pauline Dennigan for all those fabulous photos!

Brenda Morgan - Study coach.

Please click on the following link to bring you directly into the exclusive videos for parents by Brenda Morgan. 

www.istudyskills.com

Username: blennervilleparents@gmail.com

Password:blennervilleparents@gmail.com

SEAI Speaker

Sincere thanks to the fantastic Catherine Daly of SEAI and Killarney National Park, who spent the day with us on 26th November for a day of Energy experiments. The Greenschool page is the place (pencil on your left of screen) to visit to see and read about exactly what went on.

The Great Blennerville Bake Off!

There was a cake sale on Friday 21st November in the main hall. Mr O'Sullivan's and Mrs O'Sullivan's classes baked and children were invited to bring in a euro or two to buy some goodies at very reasonable prices on the day. Thanks so much to the parent's association for all their time and effort on the day and to the 6th class children who sold buns too. We raised an amazing €451.35. Well done everyone! Click CAKEBAKE to see the photos. Thanks to parents Ciara O'Donnell and Maura O'Donnell for both taking all these photos.

Sam Maguire Visits

THE SAM MAGUIRE CUP CAME TO BLENNERVILLE WEDNESDAY 5th NOVEMBER. Thanks to Barry John Keane and to Jimmy O'Donnell. Click SAM MAGUIRE to view the photos.

 

Resourceful Boys in Miss Dinan's Room

Miss Dinan's boys got to create their own snow scenes in December without having to wait for the real thing or put up with the cold! See their creations of the Snow Village that they created, just click Resource.

Run for Fun

6th Class began their 0-100k running training with coach Michelle Greaney on 18th November. Thanks Michelle! See the Active Flag page for more. (Pencils on the top left of your screen.)

Primary Power

Congratulations to students Julie Foley, Conor Crowley, Conor Kavanagh, Nathan Costello and Sinead Trant who all recently had articles printed in the national school magazine Primary Planet. 5th and 6th Classes use this modern current affairs magazine every month for reading assignments. Click PRIMARY PLANET to see photos of their articles as printed in November 2014.

A sincere thank you to Jason who is with us on Fridays until Christmas, who takes the 2 younger classes for football.  Jason you are a legend! For more pictures click TRAINING.

Tiger's Dave Falvey

Thank you to Dave who volunteers on Wednesdays to train us in basketball. Dave also trains in the Tralee Sports Complex on Saturdays from 11am-12pm, which all children are most welcome to join. Click DAVE for more photos.

Tralee Today Halloween Review

For Traleetoday.ie's write up of our Halloween party, click TRALEE.IE

The photos from the Halloween Party night are now available to view. Thank you Jimmy O'Donnell for taking the photos and to all in the Parent's Association for planning a great night. Click HALLOWEEN to view the photos.

 

Bag 2 School Collection October 2014

We raised an incredible €761.75 from the Bag2School collection on 10/10/14. THANK YOU EVERYBODY! You were all so generous with old clothes. Thanks to the children who helped load it all up too! Gold star to Blennerville! See the Greenschool page for more.

Energy Awareness Day

Thank you to parent Maura O'Donnell for speaking to 3rd and 4th classes about how people survived without electricity long ago on our day of action 10/10/14. Children learned a lot about the past and even got to try out an old Singer sewing machine with the aid of a gas lamp! See Greenschool page for more.

Ice Bucket Challenge

On Friday 12th September, the staff of Blennerville took up the challenge set by Caherleaheen N.S. and braved the Ice Bucket Challenge! It is to raise awareness and to raise money for motor neuron sufferers. Please text MND to 50300 to donate €2 to this great cause. Mr O'Sullivan nominated our Parent's Association, Fr. Francis Nolan and Derryquay N.S. Thanks to the staff for being such good sports, some even taking the challenge for the second time. Well done all! Click ICEBUCKET to see the video. 

Grotto

Thanks to Fr Francis and Humphrey today who took the time to take each class into the grotto for a blessing. Thanks also to the 6th class boys who tidied it up.

Bag 2 School clothes collection will be on 10th October from 9am-1:30pm. Please start collecting secondhands quality clothes to raise funds for the school. Thanks.

NEWS FLASH!

The 6th Class Graduation Video which combines photographs, live poetry and the slide show from the night is now available for Download or on DVD. The cost for the Download version is 8 euros (delivered within 24hrs by email) or the DVD version is 10 euros (3 day postal delivery). For those wishing to play their video on multiple devices (ipad, PC, Mac, TV Screen), downloading is the preferable option. You can place your order by clicking here http://www.denniganphotography.ie/pickpic/shop/addpayment.php. 

Please enter "Blennerville Graduation 2014" in the comments box on this payment page before proceeding with payment.

 

A sneek peek from the Sixth Class Graduation...Brilliant night had by everyone which brought back memories and caused a few tears. Thanks to Terry and Miss Brassil for organising and of course sixth class who wrote and recited their own poems.

Lots of laughs....

And tears....Grainne helps to wipe a tear from her Mum's eye...

The Summer Newsletter is ready to read. Click NEWSLETTER  to see what we've been up to during the last school term.

Art exibition June 4th 2014. This was held in the prefab, and children's paintings were on display, all framed, and for sale. To see the exhibition in action, click EXHIBITION.

 

Thanks to PDST RSE co-ordinator Breda Enright who spoke to parents and to teachers on 27th and 28th May 2014.

Congratulations to all of the pupils in Mrs O' Connor's class who made their First Holy Communion on Saturday at St. Brendan's Church, Curaheen. Thanks to Fr. Francis for a great ceremony and Mrs O' Connor for all her hard work in the lead up, and on the day.

 

Our new school plans!

Revealed at our open night, the new school plans...pictured from left Michael Williams Architect and Head of the Design Team, Brendan O' Donoghue, Parents Nominee on the School Board of Management, Jimmy Deenihan T.D. Minister for Arts,Heritage & Gaeltacht, Terry O' Sullivan, Principal,St. Brendan's N.S Blennerville and Gareth Williams, Architect. To see the full photograph please click on the home page and scroll down to the new school section.