Green Schools
We have been very busy as a Green Schools
Committee doing a lot of work around our
school to make it more green and sustainable.
We have been using the slogan “Reduce,
Reuse, Recycle” to make sure we do it right!
We are working towards our Green Flag with a
focus on Litter and Waste.
Each class has been doing litter-picks in the school and around the village. We have been doing lots of whole school activities to keep our school clean and green such as teaching each class the different bins and how to sort waste correctly.
The Green Schools Committee also delivered a whole-school assembly to share our Green Code and plans for the future. It's wonderful to see our students taking responsibility and leading the way towards a greener school.
After-School Activities
Our school has a Homework Club that runs from Monday to Thursday from 3pm to 4pm. Please contact Anne in the office to book a spot.
There is an After School Music progamme on Monday afternoons in the Hall.
Art Club takes place on Thursday afternoons with Ms. McGrane and Ms. Leann.
We have Athletics on Friday afternoons. Junior and Senior Infant children are on from 2pm to 2.50pm.
1st - 6th class are on at 3pm to 4pm and often take place on the running track and astroturf pitch.
Chess Club
Chess Club takes place in the school hall every Friday morning at 9am before school starts. Children from 3rd to 6th classes are welcome to attend.
STEM Activities
The children enjoy working on STEM projects in School. This is a great opportunity to work together and come up with ideas and solutions. We are learning to think scientifically and creatively to overcome problems. We are learning to become critical thinkers!
Hurling
Hurling coaching takes place throughout the year every Friday for all classes. Senior classes take part in Cumann na mBuncscol blitzes in hurling, camogie and football.
We are Writers
We Are Writers is a great project that the children love to take part in. It is wonderful way to inspire children to write and offers them a unique opportunity to see their own writing, published in a real book. There is always great excitement when the class receives their books that they helped create!
Music
Ms. Cowdrey teaches music to the children in St. Joseph's NS after school. There are lots of instruments that the children can learn to play such as saxophone and keyboard. We have a school concert each year where the school orchestra play together.
Gardening
Glenealy NS is very lucky to have lots of outdoor space for the children to work, learn, play and relax in. The wild flower garden was planted by the children and has added so much colour and life to our school garden and the children enjoy working in it.
We also have a wonderful herb garden where the children from the school enjoy playing or relaxing in. It is filled with lavender, lemon verbana, peppermint, spearmint, dill, chives, rosemary and thyme.
Incredible Edibles
The Incredible Edibles Project teaches us all about food origins and provides opportunities to grow our own fruit and vegetables in our school vegetable patch. We plant seeds in the class and then replant them in our garden. Last year we grew lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, chives and strawberries. The children work on watering, weeding and maintaining the garden.
The children prepare dishes using some of these ingredients. This gives the children and understanding of food sustainability by growing their own food from seed.
Picker Pals
Picker Pals is a very popular campaign where the children learn about the effects of littering and pollution on our local environment. They read a book and complete an activity book. The children then take it in turns to bring home the Picker Pals pack which includes 2 litter pickers, gloves and bags.
They go out with their family and friends in their local area to pick litter and report back to the class. This creates a great sense of excitement and awareness among the children and gives them an opportunity to do something practical to look after their community.
'Write a Book' Project
The children each write their own book which is sent to another school to read. The children work very hard to complete their unique books and love reading books from another class in another school!