September Newsletter
Click here to read the September Newsletter.
Singing in Leinster House
On Friday 20th September, we were delighted to have the opportunity to attend the Dáil 100 culture evening in Leinster House. The girls in 5th and 6th class travelled by bus to Dublin with some staff where we spoke to Deputy Michael Lowry. We had a guided tour around Leinster House, learning some of its history and seeing the Seanad and Dáil Chambers. Our guide told us all about the Proclamation of Independence, why the ink on the lower page of the page is paler because the men and women in the GPO were running out of ink on Easter Sunday 1916; we also learned about some other irregularities in the printing, like the letter F that was edited to make an E. Later we had lunch in the visitors’ canteen, followed by the sound checks before performing five songs. You can hear us singing on the Houses of the Oireachtas Facebook page.
After we sang, the 5th class pupils got their faces painted.
Class Division Policy
Great News For Tipperary Town Primary Schools
After a 3 year wait the pupils of the 5 Primary Schools in Tipperary Town will return to school in September with additional resources to help them access their Primary education.
Two protest marches – March 4 Tipp took place in the town in Sept. and Oct. 2018 and the issue of education and the lack of additional resources and DEIS in Tipp Town schools was to the fore, with huge numbers of parents, children and teachers marching on both days.
Deputy Michael Lowry attended both marches and expressed an interest in helping progress the issues in Tipp Town to include education.
Discussions began with Deputy Lowry and the Principals, resulting in a meeting with Minister Mc Hugh, Deputy Lowry and Principals Louise Tobin and Siobhan Verdon in November 2018.
DEIS was not on the table at this time, but recognizing the levels of disadvantage in the town the Minister agreed to investigate the situation.
Since last November Deputy Lowry has been working on a weekly basis ensuring that progress was being made on this issue.
Yesterday, Wednesday the 31st of July we are happy to say there was a major breakthrough in negotiations. At a meeting with DES officials at the further request of Deputy Lowry, the 5 Primary Schools were told that as an interim measure, before the next roll out of DEIS, we will have access to a package of additional supports and resources.
This package will include Literacy support, extra resources for non Irish national pupils and a Family Support Teacher.
We are confident that we will be included in the next roll out of DEIS, to be announced in Nov. 2019 for implementation in Sept. 2020.
On behalf of the children and the school communities in Tipperary Town we are hugely grateful to Deputy Michael Lowry for his ongoing commitment and dedication to this issue and ensuring we will have extra resources in our schools in September.
Louise Tobin,
(On behalf of the 5 Primary School Principals in Tipperary Town)
Principal,
St. Joseph’s Primary,
Tipperary Town
09432E
Press release pictured after a very successful meeting with Department of Education officials are the 5 Principals of the Primary Schools in Tipperary Town: Catriona Farrell , Deputy Principal The Monastery CBS, Siobhan Verdon , St. Michael’s Junior Boys, Deputy Lowry, Ide Mooney, St. Michael’s Girls NS, Louise Tobin, St. Joseph’s Primary and Eoghan Breathnach, Gaelscoil Thiobraid Arann.
Photo-story from 6th class End-of-year assembly
Look back at the 6th Class journey through St Josephs-25th June 2019
If you want to play the music chosen by 6th class, click on the link under the title and the song will play if you are connected to the internet.
Best wishes to 6th Class!
Summary of our School Self Evaluation(SSE) and School Improvement Plan(SIP) 2018/2019
Summary of SSE and SIP in St. Joseph’s Primary School, 2018/2019
Literacy/ Numeracy
- Each month in Literacy we focus on particular comprehension strategies, oral language themes and writing genres.
- In Numeracy, we focus on Maths language topics. We also have a Number of the month, with numbers appropriate to class levels.
- These topics are displayed in the school environment and relayed to parents on the Textaparent app.
Oral Language
- Our school plan includes an emphasis on chosen Irish phrases for each class at break time.
Child Protection
- All staff have familiarised themselves with the Child Protection and Safeguarding Document.
Digital Learning Framework
- This year we have purchased 6 laptops for pupil access, 7 iPads, 10 sets of motorised Lego and a set of 6 Bee-Bots and accessories for junior classes.
- All classes have had access to the laptops, iPads and Lego.
- All classes have had access to a computer coding class.
- Laptops and iPads have been used in various classes for Literacy, Numeracy, project research and inspiration in Art classes.
- All classes have created Lego constructions and coded them to make them move.
Plans for 2019/2020
- Pupils in some classes will begin to use laptops and iPads to create an ePortfolio, which is an online file with work samples and photographs/ videos of school activities.
- Further coding classes will be organised and part-funded by the school.
- We will continue to expand children’s knowledge and use of iPads, laptops, Lego and Bee-Bots.
- Our Literacy, Numeracy and Oral Language plans are an ongoing work in progress.
Spring Clean Up
Soccer and Basketball
Making the Transition from Pre-School to Primary School
Green Schools – W.O.W. Day
Next Wednesday, 15th of May, all pupils in St. Joseph’s are encouraged to take part in our W.O.W. Day as part of our Green Schools initiatives under the theme of Global Citizenship Travel.
At last week’s assembly, members of the Green Schools Committee explained some of the environmentally friendly ways of coming to school- walking, cycling, scooters, car-pooling and park and stride.
Safety on the road is very important, so the committee wore high-viz jackets to remind us, and we sang the Safe Cross Code.
Our Green Schools notice board has posters to remind us all about W.O.W. day.
How will you travel to school next week?
Helping your children learn
Parents can find suggested activities, general information and useful tips to help their children to develop their literacy and numeracy on www.helpmykidlearn.ie
www.cogg.ie also provides help in Irish.
NALA(The National Adult Literacy Agency) offers help and advice for parents who have difficulty with reading, writing, spelling and Maths. Their freephone number is 1800 20 20 65. Their website is www.takethefirststep.ie
All services are free.
Our phone number has changed.
Winners in Lyric FM Choir for Christmas Competition
We are delighted to announce that we won the under 13 category in the Lyric FM Choirs for Christmas Competition.
Congratulations to everyone involved.
Read about it here on Tipp FM.
http://tippfm.com/news/tipp-town-school-scoops-top-choral-award-second-year-running/
Choir enters Lyric FM competition
St. Joseph’s Primary School
This entry will feature on our Lyric FM Choirs for Christmas programme on Tuesday (Dec 18th) which broadcasts between 1 and 1.30pm that afternoon. The programme will also be available afterwards on the RTÉ lyric fm Soundcloud page.
RTE Lyric FM- Choirs for Christmas Competition 2018
Entry:
3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th class choir
Song: Candy Covered Ginger Bread House
Choir Biography
St. Joseph’s School Choir was formed in 1998 and has, in the current school year, approx. 100 students from classes 3rd to 6th with 3rd being the newcomers this September. The choir rehearses every Tuesday from 1.30 p.m. – 2.30 p.m.
St. Joseph’s School Choir performs for the school community regularly and at many local events to include the turning on of the Christmas Lights in Tipperary Town, Carol Singing downtown in aid of the St. Vincent de Paul and by invitation to other local events.
The School Choirs at St. Josephs have made many CDs over recent years to include 2 Christmas CDs and 2 Springtime CDs and indeed were featured on the Lyric FM Christmas CD in 2012 with the RTE Concert Orchestra.
This is the choir’s 8th time entering the ‘Lyric FM Choirs for Christmas Competition’ and we were thrilled and delighted to be runners up in our section in Dec. 2011, winners in 2014 and 2017.
Our most recent Claim to Fame was on November the 14th when we were invited to sing at the Launch of the St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal in Dublin in the company of Ryan Tubridy. We had a fantastic time.
Our choir teacher is Ms. Helen Colbert.
We hope you enjoy our song for this year; it’s called Candy Covered Gingerbread House, and you can hear us singing here.
Song Details:
Title: Candy Covered Gingerbread House
Lyrics: Andy Beck & Brian Fisher
Composer: Andy Beck
Accompaniment: Backing track
Choir Director: Helen Colbert
Road Safety Assembly
On Wednesday, we had a road safety assembly. The girls from Room 7 showed us how to make ourselves more visible with hi-viz jackets and arm-bands.
The girls from Room 11 sang The Safe Cross Code to remind us how to cross the road safely. They also carried bags on their backs that were reflective. We need to remember that sometimes drivers might not see us even though we can see them, so we should wear something to help drivers notice us, whether we are walking, cycling or running.
The girls from 6th class put a lot of effort into designing road safety posters with great messages for all of us.
More photos of their posters to follow soon.