Sports Day 2014
Sports Day 2014. It was a beautiful sunny day with lots of sports fun! As ever, the fruit breaks laid on by the PA went down a treat. The after-busy-sports-day ice-cream went down well too.
Visit to Dunsany Castle June 2014
Visit to Dunsany Castle June 2014
When all the pupils were sleeping in on the first morning of the holidays, 6th class were busy having a very enjoyable and informative morning at Dunsany Castle. On foot of an invitation from Lord Dunsany and his mother Lady Dunsany, we took ourselves up to the majestic Dunsany Castle for a hands-on, exciting walk-through history on 27 June 2014.
Our guide was long-serving member of staff at the Castle, the very knowledgeable Michael Smyth. Michael gave us the full tour and made the Castle’s history come alive for us.
Our sincere thanks to Michael, Lord Dunsany and Lady Dunsany for affording us this unique opportunity.
Farewell 6th Class 2014
We bade farewell to our 6th class friends at the end of June. We saw them off in style with an evening reception attended by all. There was music, singing, dancing, poetry, food and PowerPoint presentations from 5th class. We wish them every success along the way and will always be glad to welcome them back.
Teddy Bears Picnic
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
A great morning was had recently at this year’s Teddy Bears’ Picnic. It was strictly Infant Room only and lots of big people like Mrs Muldoon and a team of dedicated parents (who were all too big to be taking teddies on picnics, don’t you think!).
A wonderful morning of fun was enjoyed by all @ Summerhill playground. You’ll see from our pictures that those teddies sure did enjoy themselves!
Our grateful thanks to all the parents for helping out on the morning.
Cumann na mBunscol County Final 2014
It was with great pride that the boys and three girls of our Boys’ Hurling Team took to the pitch in the Cumann na mBunscol Hurling Final on Saturday morning 14 June 2014 @ the GAA grounds, Trim. Not least because it had been 5 years since Dunsany NS had clenched a hurling title, but also because they stepped out in style!
The team were surprised by an unexpected gift the previous day of a full set of brand new tailor-made jerseys. The jerseys, bearing our school crest were gifted to the players by the Keoghan Family, Kilcarty. We’re sure Lorcan, Seán and captain Eoin Jack were especially proud to be the first team to wear the new jerseys, given to us by their dad, aunties and grandad. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir, a mhuintir Uí hEochagáin!
And if that wasn’t reason enough to be proud – we won! Yes, Dunsany NS are this year, the holders of the county title in football and now the county title in hurling.
Well done team!
The scoreline 4:4 to 0:1 suggests that match was a very one-sided affair, but that wasn’t the case. Killyon, 2012 and 2013 champions were worthy opponents and put up a great match. Unfortunately for them, they were unable to convert their efforts into scores – although our gang assert that they “didn’t let them play”, “We shot them down!” !!
In his acceptance speech, which included the traditional 3 hip-hip hoorays for the losing team (and on this occasion 3 well-deserved hip-hip hoorays for our Mr Donnelly!) our captain Eoin Jack paid tribute to Killyon saying that it was their game over the past few years that had made us bring up our game. Thanks were conveyed too to our parent mentors, Therese Kane and James Maguire.
We thank too our local trainers – their dedication to these young players played no small part in their success.
The support on the morning was amazing – many families with young children turning out in force, in red and white and flags a-flying to lend their support. Some younger pupils had been up early that morning making their own flags. A reception was laid on afterwards back at the school for all who attended.
We are proud of your sporting success and your sporting attitude this year boys and girls.
History Day at Dunsany NS
Living History Day @ Dunsany N.S., 29 May 2014
For our Living History Day pupils and teachers dressed in old- style clothing. We also had some interesting historical characters – Martin Luther King, Al Capone, Abraham Lincoln, Frank Sinatra, Marie Antoinette, the Great Geisha and a 1920’s charlston girl.
Everyone went to great lengths to ‘get the look’. We were most impressed by you all. A ‘huge thank’ you and ‘well done’ to all the mums, dads and pupils for all your efforts. The pupils looked so authentic. The day was topped off by an interesting display by Kilmessan man Richard Farrelly, chairperson of Navan Historical Society. Richard brought along his vast collection of artefacts and fielded questions from the pupils for nigh on two hours! Thank you to Richard for giving the pupils the opportunity to see and touch items from our past.
Remember what Richard told us….
“The worst handwriting is better than the best memory.”
In other words, get writing! Keep records! Ask questions of your parents, grandparents and great grandparents and write down what you learn. Who knows maybe the pupils of Dunsany NS in 2114 will be reading your records and handling your artefacts!
Class Election Spring 2014
Class Election Spring 2014
The Senior Room conducted a full ‘general election’ in Spring 2014. Candidates were drawn up following an anonymous nomination process. The pupils then organised themselves into ‘parties’ or chose to remain independent.
They then had to prepare their own campaign literature. Then it was all put to the test in what turned out to be a very lively (and funny!) debate. Everyone voted on a ballot paper prepared by Ciara Maher, 4th class. There was a presiding officer, plus assistant. Papers were franked and voting went ahead. We used the PR system for counting. The count was public. Congratulations to Cian Maguire, 5th class who topped the poll. Well done to all for putting themselves up for the process.
Open Night 2014
Open Night
The school held its annual Open Night recently. The children did themselves proud at their interesting and beautifully laid-out stands. Well done boys and girls!
History Field Trip
The Senior Room took themselves off to Dublin recently on one of their History Field Trips. The day began at Trinity College Library where we viewed the Book of Kells. It’s a great exhibit, well worth the visit. Did you know that there was a ‘purposeful’ mistake made on each page – to show that we are not perfect! We made friends with a couple of retired school teachers from Kentucky at the exhibit. We convinced them to include a trip to the Hill of Tara in their itinerary.
On to the Science Gallery at Trinity then. They’re running a Failure Exhibition at the moment. “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” Samuel Beckett. We actually have that quote in our classroom! We learned that from failure comes success.
After a quick lunch, we took a gallop around St. Stephen’s Green, where the pigeons took a liking to our Lorcan! Onwards then to the National Museum on Kildare Street. Mary Jane our guide, gave us a great talk and her undivided attention for over an hour. She took us right from the Stone Age, through the Bronze Age, onto the Celtic Iron Age and finished off with a very informative talk on the Bog Bodies. We took ourselves off to the Viking Exhibition, The Egyptians & Christianity in Ireland then. We saw the Tara Brooch, the Ardagh Chalice & Derrynaflan Chalice. We really had a most interesting visit.
An ice-cream finished off the evening nicely! A great day was had by all. Watch out for our written recollections on what we saw on our History Field Trip – coming soon!
