As part of the effort to help children to become more comfortable with the "Language of Maths" all classrooms will have posters which try to help children read problems more clearly such as those attached

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/76823292/mathlanguage.pdf

Food Dudes

Scoil Niocláis, along with a number of other schools in the Douglas area, has been invited to take part in the “Food Dudes” Programme. Food Dudes is a programme developed by the University of Wales, Bangor, to encourage children to eat more fruit and vegetables both in school and at home. It is based on positive role models (the Food Dudes characters), repeated tasting of fruit and veg and rewards. In large-scale studies in schools in England and Wales and pilot studies in schools in Ireland, the Programme has been shown to be effective and results long lasting. Ultimately, it is designed to enable children to enjoy eating healthy diets, and to create a healthy eating culture within schools.
There are two main phases to the Programme:
Phase 1 (which began on Tuesday the 26th of February): is an intensive intervention which lasts 16 days. During this time, children are given fruit and vegetables while they are read a letter and/or watch a specially designed video of the Food Dudes. These super-heroes save the life force from a gang of baddies whose objective is to take away the energy of the world by depriving it of nutritious fruit and veg. Each day the children are rewarded with small prizes for successfully eating the fruit and veg. This phase is primarily school based, although children keep a diary of fruit and veg they have eaten at home.
Phase 2 extends the home element of the Food Dudes Programme by encouraging the children to bring their own fruit and veg to school everyday in special Food Dudes containers. Classroom wall charts are used to record progress, and children receive Food Dudes certificates and further rewards upon reaching goals. This phase maintains fruit and veg consumption in the longer term.
How you can help your children at home?:
As well as eating fruit and vegetables at school, it is important that children eat them at home too. Parents can help by encouraging children to eat and enjoy a healthy amount of fruit and vegetables, and set an example by eating them too. For more information on the programme along with some helpful tips for parents please visit www.fooddudes.ie

Respectful Online Communication Programme: An Garda Síochána

 

This new Garda initiative forms part of the overall Garda Primary Schools Programme which is a comprehensive education programme for pupils in Primary Schools throughout the country. It promotes sensible and responsible behaviour and fosters a positive attitude towards the Gardaí. It achieves this through visiting the class room and engaging in discussion with the students.

The new initiative addresses the personal safety issues that arise through communicating using new media. It recognises the challenges that children and young people face in modern society, particularly when using new technologies. It aims to foster a sense of care and respect for others online or when using mobile phones and to equip children with the skills to deal effectively with cyber bullying. It aims to enhance the social skills of communication, cooperation and conflict resolution.

Two local guards, Garda Dan and Garda Jane spoke to all 4^th class children in Scoil Niocláis yesterday about these topics.

Please note: All 5^th and 6^th class children will take part in a workshop with Dr. Maureen Griffin on March 4^th 2013. Dr. Griffin will address the areas of online safety and cyberbullying.

Dr. Griffin will also address the staff of Scoil Niocláis at a staff meeting after school on that day.

 All parents are invited to a talk by Dr. Griffin on the night of March 4^th 2013 at a time to be decided. More information to follow.

Healthy Eating Week

Next week (January 21st to 25th) is Healthy Eating Week in Scoil Niocláis. Throughout the week pupils will participate in many activities to promote healthy eating. Caoimhe O'Shea (dentist at Elmwood Medical Centre) will be visiting the school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. During this time she will visit all classes to provide pupils with a brief talk about brushing, maintaining healthy teeth etc. She will also be giving a talk specifically for parents on Tuesday the 22nd of January at 9am to 9:30am in Naomh Bríd:16. All parents are welcome to attend. More news regarding Healthy Eating Week to follow!

Fáilte to the Maths area of the Scoil Niocláis Blog. As the maths coordinator for the school I will be posting some of the activities, ideas and mathematical practices currently happening in our school. Feel free to contact me about any issue to do with Maths in Scoil Nioclais at desmoynihan@gmail.com

Please find attached as brief outline of the Maths curriculum in the primary school system
http://www.mindmeister.com/219463265