Congratulations to our boy’s football team, who have qualified for the semi-finals of the Cumann na mBunscol competition.  St. Cremin’s N.S. have reached the knockout stages of the competition after beating a gallant St. Tola’s N.S. team in a play-off decider.  Both teams had the same points after the league stages with matches against Castlepollard N.S., Ballynacargy N.S., Clonmellon N.S., Sonna N.S. and had played each other already.  On a beautiful sunny evening, St. Cremin’s N.S. beat St. Tola’s N.S. on a scoreline of 2-13 to 3-5, at the Downs G.A.A. pitch.

The semi-final of the competition will take place in Gaine Park in Multyfarnham on Tuesday 12th April at 1.00 p.m. against a much fancied Tang N.S. team.  We look forward to great support for our school team on their big day.  Best of luck St. Cremin’s Football Team!

A Whole School Evaluation takes place in our school next week. Families are asked to complete questionaire in your child’s bag. Please return it to school by Friday. The school inspector will visit all classes during the week of the inspection. The WSE looks at all areas of our school life and highlights aspects of our school which show good practice. It offers recommendations regarding areas which may need to be addressed. A download is available to explain the process further. Press on the link below to describe what happens during the WSE.

Information on WSE for Parents

Congratulations to all our winners in our recent Community Games Art Competition 2011.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!

Christine Campbell from Anyone4Science came on a visit to the school during the week and held three physics workshops for all classes. Christine explained about energy and how it is used to move objects. Everyone was fascinated by the rollercoaster and the flying tea-bag. Putting a minty mentos into carbonated water caused a mini explosion. We saw how crisps and snack foods give off lots of heat energy when burnt, and did you realise that when you bounce a basketball and a tennis ball together, the basketball hardly bounces, whereas the tennis ball really takes off . . . sometimes out the classroom window! We saw electricity jumping, and we know that CFL bulbs only give off light and not heat – That’s why they use less electricity.

The day was funded by money the Green Schools Committee raised through their recent recycled clothes collection.

Our Green Schools Committee took delivery of a new raised garden bed. We got a chance during the week to put it together and to start planting some seeds. Children from junior infants up to 2nd class each got to plant some carrots, turnips and cabbages. We can’t wait for them to grow. Thanks to Mrs. Orme and her husband Eamonn for setting the garden up.

5th and 6th Class went to Mullaghmeen Forest, just outside Castlepollard, as part of National Tree Week.  Mullaghmeen is a spectacular forest, with almost 1000 acres of broad leaf trees, making it the biggest forest of its kind in Ireland.  We learned how to identify trees just by looking at branches; we saw how hurleys started off as the base of an ash tree; we found some woodland creatures and learned about food chains; we found out about canopies and mosses; and we made friends with a frog called Milly!

Pat Brady from Coillte was our guide for the day.  His good humour, excellent knowledge and enthusiasm made it a memorable day for the boys and girls in fifth and sixth class.  Everyone got to plant a tree in the Native Species Arboretum (an area set aside to grow only native trees.)  Our long walk was followed by refreshments for everyone.

Special thanks to John Connolly (Robert’s Dad) for arranging the visit for us and to the staff and management of Coillte for making our visit memorable and special.