Belmayne E.T.N.S.

Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 2

December 2009

The Changing Face of Homework

with 2nd, 3rd & 4th Class
The last couple of weeks in school have been filled with so many different activi-
ties. We have just finished our school play were we performed Grease the Mu-
sical and it went very well. The children learned lines for five scenes and dances
and words to three songs. We have also started up a new homework strategy
that I hope will improve the quality and enjoyment of homework. The children
will receive a brain buster sheet at the start of every week. They will have an
entire week to complete all the activities and there will be opportunities in the
classroom to discuss the activities. I will be giving this new strategy a high status
in the classroom and there are many ways you can help your child with their
homework.
• Give children time to think and talk about what they have to do.
(This will help the child better understand the work that they have to do)
• Offer ideas on how the children can present their work – careful, neat and
colourful.
•Give children a space to work in that is away from distractions.
•Give homework a high status in your house and make it a priority.
•Set aside a specific time for homework and set aside time to work with your
child.
• Reward excellent work
These are only a few ideas – the main idea is that children take interest, enjoy
and are proud of their work and that parents are actively involved in the work
and that they know what they are learning and doing in school. Both myself and
the class are looking forward to an action packed 2010 and we would like to
wish everyone a very happy Christmas.
The Christmas Play Gearoid O Flatharta

A big thank you to the all the children

for their hard work in making our
Christmas play a wonderful success and a
very entertaining evening. The staff
would also like to thank the parents who
helped us in the days leading up to the
play. We look forward to many more
occasions in the future which will
showcase the enormous talent of the
children in Belmayne E.T.N.S.
 What’s happening in Junior Infants …..
In Junior Infants this term we have had a very busy time.
We learned lots about the senses and tested our sense of
sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing. We made delicious
fruit salads and learned about food. We journeyed through
outer space to learn about night and day and the planets.
We also learned about winter and how some animals hiber-
nate. Christmas is coming and we worked hard on our end
of term play. We learned about the Christmas story and
also about Hannukah – a Jewish festival of light. We had fun
with magnets discovering what magnets attract. We also
have been working hard on our writing and sounds. We
know Santa’s elves have been watching our hard work and
we are looking forward to a great Christmas holiday.
So Happy Christmas from all the Junior Infants, Fiona and
Viv.

Friday Assembly
Christina came in to tell us all about how Santa
Claus drops in to see the boys and girls in Ger-
many at the beginning of December. Children in
Germany leave out a shoe for Santa Claus and he
puts some presents in to them if they have been
very good. However, if Santa Claus has heard that
a boy or girl has been misbehaving at home or in
school, he might leave a carrot or an onion in
their shoe instead of some toys!

Meet our Newest Teacher...

This is my third week settling into the school and I am really
enjoying my role as support teacher. As a support teacher, I as-
sist pupils whose native language is not English and also pupils
who may need extra support with class work. Over the past
few weeks, I have been getting to know the pupils at Belmayne
and am looking forward to meeting with parents in the New
Year.
I will also be organising after school athletics in January, so get
those runners on!!
I would like to thank all the staff and parents I have met so far
for making me feel so welcome in the school and I look forward
to meeting more of you in the New Year.
Deidre.
Please look at our updated website www.belmayne-etns.ie
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B E L M A Y N E E . T . N. S.
 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2

Page 3

A word from Sínead

We have reached the end of our first term and we all feel we have a positive relationship with our fami-
lies. Parents have been a great support on many occasions, such as –attending the Parents' night, helping
with Art classes, helping out when Santa visited our school, helping prepare for our play, speaking at as-
sembly, meeting at the Pub Quiz, going on trips etc. The Male Soccer Club started last Tuesday night @
8pm-if anyone is interested please ask Joe. Due to the weather our GAA did not go ahead but we look
forward to next term. The children worked very hard preparing for their play and we want to thank
both them and the staff for all their hard work. Our ethics programme covered Christianity this term
and the children were learning all about Christmas. We wish Lasse and his family all the best on their
return to Germany as they will be missed terribly in Belmayne. We will be welcoming a number of new
children next term who are transferring from other schools so I am sure we will make them all feel very
welcome. Next term we hope to initiate a Child and Parents Literacy Programme, Irish Classes for Par-
ents and there are also a number of afterschool classes starting for all children. Please check the Parents’
Board or contact Helen Moore or myself for further information. I would like to thank the Board of
Management, in particular Tom Mc Carthy our Chairperson and John Hansen our Treasurer who both
have given the school great support this term. Training this term involved me going on training for Princi-
pals in Portlaoise, myself and Gearóid attending Special Education training and Fiona and myself attending
Child Protection Training. The staff in our school give so much extra time and energy in the develop-
ment of Belmayne ETNS and this adds to the positive atmosphere in the school and also to the academic
development of your child. It also makes working in Belmayne very enjoyable for me! I hope you all have
a lovely break and I will see you in 2010.

Senior Infants and 1st Class

Well, what a first term we’ve all had in Senior Infants and 1st class. It has been
action packed from the get go. We’ve had such an amazing time making new
friends and building on the great friendships and relationships that were
formed in our first year as a school. Where do I begin? Firstly, I would like to
thank all the boys and girls for putting in a huge effort this term and working
really hard, it has been a hugely enjoyable time and the Christmas break has
been well earned. From trips to the Phoenix Park, learning about life under
the sea to singing our hearts out on a daily basis, we’ve had a ball learning and
growing together. Sadly though, our class is not going to be the same next
term. Our good friend Lasse is going back to Germany with his family in the
New Year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lasse and his family
for being such an important part of our class and school. He is a wonderful
boy and has brought so much joy and happiness to our lives in school. So
from Senior Infants and 1st Class, have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy
New Year. We are looking forward to more of the same next term !

When Santa dropped in to say Ho Ho Ho!

We couldn't believe it when we heard Santa’s sleigh
bells ringing! But when we saw Santa looking in to our
classrooms from outside , we knew it was time to put
down our pencils and have a look around the school.
All classes were very excited to discover Santa was sit-
ting upstairs in the parents’ room waiting to hear about
how good we have been. Santa asked some of us if we
had been working hard and doing our homework and
he told us to work hard and be nice to each other. We
think this is good advice because Santa seems to know
everything! Ho Ho Ho!
 Clare Kellegher
School Secretary
• The mobile library asked us to let
you know that they will not be back
to us until January 13th and not to
worry about charges as they will
cancel them in January.
• Remember to register siblings for
school as ET does not have a sibling
policy and so we cannot give prefer-
ence to family members. Enrol your
little ones early!
• Because of insurance we are in a
difficult position if we don’t have
signed permission slips for children
for trips and tours. Children will
be unable to attend trips if we don’t
have notes in future.
Dates to take note of :
School reopens Thursday 7th January 2010
Staff Meetings—school will close at 12.00 PM
on Thursday 21st January 2010
& on Thursday 18th February 2010
Mid Term Break - Monday 15th & Tuesday
16th of February 2010.
You can contact me at :
secretary.belmayneet@gmail.com
Our New Year Wish List!
As we are a developing
school we are slowly begin-
ning to build up our re-
sources and equipment. But
there are still lots of bits and
pieces that we need to col-
lect. We would be very
grateful if you could check
out the list below and do-
nate any of these items you
may have at home.
Biscuit tins, sweet tins, plastic boxes
with lids, e.g. butter boxes, contain-
ers, match boxes, toilet rolls, kitchen
rolls, corks, shells, calendars, t.v.
guides, magazines, newspapers, white
sheets, plastic sheets, wire hangers,
Parents’ Association
Pub Quiz Update
Thank you for all your support on the night the pub quiz .
We raised €650 for the school.
EASTER FAIR
Just a reminder that we will be having an Easter Fair in March 2010 . Please
see the parents’ association tab on the school website for information closer
to the event !
PARENTS ROOM AND PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP
Just a reminder that we have a parents room open to all parents upstairs. It
is available to all to come along and have a cuppa and a chat. We also hold
the parent and toddler group here on Friday mornings from 11.30 to 1.20.
Future Issues of the Newsletter
We just wanted to let everybody know that in future we will put
the school newsletter on to the school website and you will be able to
download it as a PDF file. However if you do not have regular internet ac-
cess and would like to receive a printed version please let us know in ad-
vance. We are trying to cut back on printing and paper in an attempt to
earn our Green School Flag.
After School Club
Helen & Michelle from the After School Club would like to wish all the chil-
dren and families a Happy Christmas and a New Year! We look forward to
working with all the new children in the new year! The Parent's Board will be
updated with info regarding new activities. Any queries contact Helen.
seeds, bulbs, plant containers, sieves,
clipboards, batteries 15v– 60 v, bal- The Students’ Council
lons, combs, plastic pen tops, scrap-
material, rubber bands, tin foil, bottle
tops, plastic droppers, measuring
scoops, plastic jugs, plastic storage
boxes, funnels, forehead thermome-
ters, mesh of any kind, carpet pieces,
wool, filter paper, foil plates, paper
plates, string, candles, pebbles, differ-
ent types of paper, tile, cling film,
sweet wrappers, old reading glasses,
lenses, kitchen scales, bubble wrap,
cotton wool, shoe boxes, pringle
tubes, plastic bowls, drinking straws,
table tennis balls, rubber balls,
sponges, basins, yo yos, zips, plastic On behalf of the Students’
cups. Council we would like to wish
You can bring these items you all a Happy Christmas and
into the class teacher. we will be in contact with you
next term.
Many Thanks!
Morgan Moore.
School President.