Our pupils had a fantastic time during their recent trip to Páirc Uí Rinn for the finals of the Sciath na Scol Gaelic football tournament. There was tremendous excitement as everyone boarded the buses and set off for the pitch carrying a vast assortment of blue and white flags, banners and teddies. The Scoil Maria Assumpta team played the girls from Star of the Sea, Passage West in a fast paced and entertaining game. Our super-enthusiastic cheerleaders and supporters played no small part in willing our footballers on to victory. The final whistle blew and we were over the moon with joy. It was a very emotional moment for all of us when the team members were presented with their cup, trophy and gold medals.
When we returned to school a special assembly was held in the Halla to celebrate our talented team’s wonderful win. Our principal, Mrs. Fitzsimons, thanked Denise Walsh from the Ballyphehane GAA Club and her husband, Timmy, for their consistent support throughout the year. Each week, Denise and Timmy are joined by students from UCC and Coláiste Stiofán Naofa to impart their football skills to the children from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. It is great to see that all of their hard work has been rewarded.
Mrs. Fitzsimons also expressed her deep gratitude to Alana Hegarty and Stuart Forsythe, our very dedicated football coaches, and to Sinéad Hartnett who facilitated a wide range of team building exercises for the children. There was one final cheer at the end of the day when the girls were told the would have homework off! Mrs. Fitzsimons treated the entire football squad to a well deserved pizza party last Friday. Scoil Maria Assumpta abú!!
The first session of the Happy Talk Junior Infant Programme took place on November 9th. The children’s parents met with Speech and Language therapist, Amy, in the Happy Talk training room. Then they spent the following half hour in Miss Roslyn Coughlan’s classroom engaging in language activities with our Junior Infants. The moms and dads received some really great advice on how to explore and share books with their young children.
Mrs. Maeve Griffin’s Fifth Class pupils also had a lovely experience on November 9th when they visited the City Library to see Dave Rudden, author of ‘Night of the Borrowed Dark’. Mr. Rudden shared some superb ideas and insights into creative writing with the group. When everyone arrived back at school, Mrs. Griffin remarked on how much her girls had enjoyed their energising walk to and from the Grand Parade in the crisp winter air.