Welcome

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Dunsany National School

Welcome to our website. Dunsany N.S. is a small, intimate  country school nestled beneath the trees of Dunsany Church in the centre of the picturesque village of Dunsany, Co. Meath.

We have five full-time, fully qualified primary school teachers and a complement of ancillary staff members.  The caring ethos which is the hallmark of  our school  is  valued by all who attend  here. Standards of excellence are expected and strived for.

Some of our educational initiatives include World Maths Day, Artefact Day, Art Exhibitions, Autumn Big Day Out, senior/junior collaborative projects and World Book Day celebrations.

In June 2013 we were awarded the Blue Flag by the European Commission in recognition of our success in the Bluestar Schools’ Programme. 2012 saw us take receipt of our new laptop trolley and 10 new laptops.

We have an active and thriving PA and greater parent body which works hard each year to raise funds which go directly back into the school. In recent years our PA organised  major culinary star Neven Maguire @ Ardboyne Hotel, Navan &  the 25th Anniversary of Dunsany Chase Dinner Dance both events were a major success and enjoyed by all who attended.

The school takes part in inter-schools’ sports competitions in many disciplines;  football, hurling  and cross-country running.  We have had many successes in these competitions over the years. We won the Cumann na mBunscol competitions in both hurling and football in 2014 (Boys – small schools division).  Our Girls’ Team took the football title in 2010 and also took 3rd place in the Meath Cross Country Championship that year. A new basketball court was erected in 2011 and basketball is taught as part of the PE curriculum.   We have taken part in GAA initiatives in hurling and football with external trainers and in a Leinster Rugby initiative, tag rugby and were the first school to take part in Meath Athletics School Programme when they started out in 2010.

Drama and music play a great part in school life here in Dunsany NS too.  Regular performances are the norm in any given school year.  In addition to class performances, over half the school take part in the Peace Proms orchestra in the RDS.  We have our own school singers ‘Gliondar’, open to all boys and girls from 1st-6th class incl. It currently has over 3o members.

Each Tuesday  “Chirpy Chicks” toddler group meets in the GP room in the school. This is open to all local  parents and toddlers (It is not necessary to have a child attending the school to attend ‘Chirpy Chicks’.)  10am to 12 noon. (Approved by Meath County Childcare)

The school celebrated its 85th Birthday in style in September 2013  with a Gathering which drew a crowd of over 300, with past pupils coming from all over the country and from England.

Buail isteach orainn anseo sa scoil agus cuirfear fíor fáilte romhat agus roimh do pháiste anseo ag ár doras.  You have to experience a small school to know the joy that it is. If you would like to visit our school please phone or email and we would be delighted to meet you.

Principal: Mrs. Catherine Bockett
Vice-Principal: Mr. Richard Donnelly

To contact us: 046 9025058

Or Email: dunsanyns@gmail.com

Here is a link to Senior Room blog:  Click here

 

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Fund-raising

CatherineFund-raising

Charity Fund-raising

The school has a great track record when it comes to charity fundraising.  Last year the school contributed to the Shoe-box Appeal and ran a soccer marathon for the Haiti earthquake victims. This Christmas our chosen charity is…..

St. Vincent de Paul

Bob-a-Job Week during the last week of December was very well supported throughout the school. As was our carol-singing in Navan Shopping Centre on Sunday 19 December. Many of our pupils from 4th-6th class turned up and sang their hearts out for for this very worthy charity.

A whopping €862.55 was raised in total. The money has been forwarded to the Dunshaughlin Branch of the St. Vincent de Paul, with a formal presentation to follow at the school in the New Year.

Well done to all involved and thank you to all who supported in any way.

The Dunsany Chase

The Chase went off brilliantly well today, Sunday 30 January. There was a great turn out – well over 100 riders and many more supporters. The school staff wish to thank the hard-working, very competent committee, all those from the parish who helped out on the day, the land owners for so graciously allowing us access to their land, the parents who gave generously to both raffle & auction and all the pupils who worked hard to keep the Chase on our tongues and in mind over the past few weeks.  We acknowledge the huge input of our neighbours and friends from Kilmessan N.S. and thank them for their hard work in making the Chase such a success. Proceeds are in aid of Dunsany & Kilmessan National Schools and local Senior Citizens Groups.

€5174.30 was raised through this year\’s Chase. Thank you to all.

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Welcome to The 1st & 2nd Class Room

CatherineLeave a comment1st & 2nd Class

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This Room is where you’ll find 1st & 2nd class all working away merrily under the watchful eye of their teacher, Bean Uí Ghallachóir.

It’s a hive of activity here. We’re really pleased with the lovely crested-cranes we created in honour of Fr. Clement’s visit. We learned lots about Uganda too. We had fun studying the tea-pots of the world too! Was your favourite teacher’s ‘posh’ silver one?! Didn’t you like all those lovely boxes from all over the world too?!

Can’t wait for our hyacinths to bloom! But we’ll have to – till next spring!

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Welcome to the Senior Room

Catherine5th & 6th Senior Room

In the Senior Room you’ll find our 5th & 6th classes who are taught by Mrs. Bockett. We’ve had a very busy year so far with our work on The Suffragettes and The Irish Famine. We’ve posted some creative writing to our blog too – why not check out what’s on our mind!

6th class pupils are looking forward to going along to the cinema to see ‘The Suffragettes’ on our first Big Night Out. We had great fun on our Big Day Out @ the Botanic Gardens.

We’ve worked really hard on our partners’ profiles (and our own) this month. Take a look along the main corridor when you’re next in the school. All 76 are ready!

Hurry up with yours teachers!

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Here is a link to Senior Room blog:  Click here

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Sport

CatherineLeave a commentSport

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The school has enjoyed great sporting success this year so far….

  • The Boys\’ Football team made it as far as the semi-final of the Cumann na mBunscol competition.
  • Dunsany N.S. was the first school in Meath to partake in a new Athletics Initiative funded by the Meath Athletics Board. Trainers came out to the school on 16 September and got all classes from 2nd class upwards involved in athletic activities out on the GAA pitch. It was a busy and very enjoyable morning.
  • All pupils from 3rd-6th class took part in a hurling blitz at the GAA indoor facilities in Trim over 2 days in November (15th & 16th) run by the County Board. A fun but exhausting time was had by all!
  • Our cross-country runners put in great personal performances at the Meath Inter-Schools Championships @ Bellewstown Race Course on 24 November 2010.  Thirteen pupils in total represented the school at U11 and U13 levels. It was the first year we had entered a team for this event.
  • The Girls\’ Football Team WON the Cumann na mBunscol Championship this year. On a cold Saturday morning, November 13 in Páirc Táilteann, Navan, the girls put in a tremendous performance against Ballinancree N.S. to win the Championship convincingly. Their Cumann namBunscol medals were presented at a presentation at the school on 23 December. The team was captained by Megan Thynne, whose mother Dawn was a team mentor. Mr. Donnelly was the team trainer.
  • The U13\’s Girls\’ Team came 3rd in this year\’s Meath Cross Country Championships (small schools). News in on 16 December that our U13 Girls\’ Team got 3rd place in this competition – well done girls! The team comprised Ruth Crehan, Deirdre O\’ Brien, Kate Stafford & Megan Thynne.
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