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.

Click the link below to access information for parents & families regarding Making the Transition from Pre-School to Primary School.

https://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/work/information-parents/resources-parents/going-big-school-leaflet/

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?

 

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.

 

The school no longer has a land line.

We will now have a mobile number for all school calls.

Our new number is 0867855932.

This number has no text facility-texts to this number will not be read or responded to.

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/

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

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.

Congratulations to both the Under-11 and Under-13 teams on our double victory at the football County Finals in Semple Stadium, 22-11-2018.

Thank you to all those who helped and supported the teams in any way.

 

 

Deputy Michael Lowry arranges meeting of New Minister for Education , Joe Mc Hugh with Tipp Town Principals .

The ongoing saga of the need and demand for extra resources for the 5 Primary Schools in Tipperary Town has been raised recently in government headquarters by Michael Lowry TD.
Mr. Lowry has held numerous meetings with the Tipp Town Principals and is fully briefed of the need for educational supports in the town’s Primary Schools.
Mr. Lowry saw at first hand the thousands of parents, families and children who marched in the recent MARCH4TIPP along with their schools.
At the request of Mr. Lowry a meeting was held last week with Minister for Education Joe Mc Hugh and DES officials with Principals Louise Tobin and Siobhan Verdon representing the 5 Principals of the town.
At this meeting the Principals outlined to the Minister the levels of deprivation in the town and the urgent need for supports for the children of the town.
The Minister was aware of this issue and was delighted to have the opportunity to hear at first hand the gaps in the children’s education. The DES official accepted the levels of disadvantage in Tipp Town but stated that any further roll-out of the DEIS scheme would not be until Spring 2019.
The Minister said he would have a look and see what he could do in terms of some input to help in the interim.
Mr. Lowry reiterated that we need supports now, as parents were feeling the educational needs of their children were being overlooked with each passing year.
Mr. Lowry will continue to work on behalf of the children of Tipperary Town til this issue is resolved.
Pictured at a meeting last week with Minister for Education Mr. Joe McHugh are left to right
Louise Tobin, Principal, St. Joseph’s Primary, Tipperary Town; Minister for Education Mr. Joe McHugh; Siobhan Verdon, Principal, St. Michael’s Junior Boys School and Michael Lowry TD.

On Friday 19^th October, our Nature Trail was officially opened by Councillor Mary Hanna. Earlier this year, Ms. Tobin, our school principal, applied to Tipperary County Council for a grant under the RAPID funding programme. When we were lucky enough to receive the grant, Ms. Tobin formed a committee involving our caretaker Pat, and our Ebony’s dad, Graham Hunt, who designed the garden.

Our Nature Trail starts with an Entrance Arch and includes a Wishing Bench, a Wishing Well, a Gnome Garden, labelled trees and flowers, a Fairy Grove, painted fences, birds taking a bath, stepping stones, a Community Garden, a Nature Trail Mural, a living Willow Wall, a vegetable garden, and ends with the Peace Garden. As you walk around, watch out for some frogs and squirrels. The present 6^th class did a lovely job of painting the fence in the Junior Yard last summer when they were in 5^th class. They were also excellent at presenting their speeches on the day.

Councillor Mary Hanna then cut the ribbon to declare the Nature Trail open. To finish the occasion, we all took a stroll around the wonderful Nature Trail. Look at our photos and join us on our Nature Trail.