Senior Infants were inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’. They also produced some wonderful Still Life paintings inspired by the work of Cezanne.

First Class read ‘The Magical Garden of Claude Monet’ and were inspired to paint in an impressionist style.

Second Class have done some lovely sunflowers and paintings.

Senior Infants and Third Class took part in an Art Review with a school in Poland.

Fourth Class have done some Still Life chalk pastel drawings. 

Work of some budding artists in Fifth Class.

Click here to view our Blue Star Programme Final Report

Blue Star report (Final)

We marked the end of our participation in the Blue Star programme with an Open Morning on Tuesday, May 9th, (Europe Day) to which parents, guardians and members of the local community were invited to view the children’s work and talk to our student ‘guides’ about what each of the classes have been doing as part of the programme. Displays included written work, art work and projects as well as videos of dramas enacted by the children, a specially composed Rap and some PowerPoints presenting work completed as part of the programme. Later we gathered on the playground to have an aerial photograph taken with a specially commissioned drone, which caused great excitement! 

As our special event to mark Europe Day and the 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome this year, we all dressed in blue and walked through the local housing estate, joined by parents and some local residents, making our way to the local park where we sang Happy Birthday EU and did our Handshake for Europe. 

Staff and students have enjoyed participating in the Blue Star programme, with the combination of learning new and interesting facts, creatively presenting their learning and celebration which have all been aspects of the programme. 

Euro Wave

https://vimeo.com/216723902

Handshake for Europe

https://vimeo.com/216666366

On Friday, April 28th, we were delighted to welcome to our school  Marian Harkin, one of our Irish MEPs. Marian told the children she was honoured to have been invited and she was very impressed with the work they were doing. Ciara Corcoran, chair of the Student Council, welcomed Marian to our school, then to begin her visit Marian was treated to a beautiful performance of ‘May We Never Have to Say Goodbye’ from our choir.

A number of representatives from each class gave details of what they have been learning in the Blue Star programme, culminating in a spirited rap performance from sixth class detailing the achievements of many famous Europeans they have been learning about.

Marian spoke to the children about aspects of her work as an MEP and agreed to visit each class to take questions. Assembly concluded with all the children singing the European Anthem, ‘Ode to Joy’.

During the afternoon Marian made a visit to each class, taking questions from the children, which ranged from her favourite aspect of her work to her views on the effects of Brexit and whether she thinks there should be more women in Irish politics! 

Two representatives from the Blue Star programme also attended assembly on Friday and had a tour of the school to look at the children’s work. We are now looking forward to the culmination of our year’s work, our Europe Day celebration on May 9th.

Have a look at the PowerPoints created as part of the Leaf Hunt eTwinning project. The children really enjoyed taking part in the project and would love to do some more eTwinning in the future.

Leaf Hunt by groups from 2nd and 3rd Rathfarnham Educate Together

 Leaf hunt Sicicilian Primary school

As part of our Blue Star Programme each member of Third Class  researched a folktale from the country they had picked.  

Saul made a video at home of his story. Watch it here.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB2zPmJth_M&t=8s

Blue Star Programme

The 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome was marked in RETNS on Friday 24 March by a visit by the E.U. Ambassador, Mr. David Daly, his wife Aideen and their daughter Ceola.  Mr. Daly is presently E.U. representative for South East Asia, having previously been E.U. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Prior to this he represented the E.U. in Australia.  

Mr. Daly was initially greeted by a song “as Gaeilge” from the school choir.  He then heard members of the Student Council make a presentation on the history of the E.U.  Mr. Daly then spoke about his role as EU ambassador and took questions from children from all classes.  His answers covered topics ranging from the most important thing he does in his job (thinking!) to the things he most enjoys (working with people from all cultures) to his one time (continuing!) ambition to play for Sligo Rovers!

 Ambassador Daly’s wife Aideen and his daughter Ceola spoke to the children about what life was like moving from country to country every four years, the many good points as well as some difficulties, ie. missing family events at home etc.  Aideen also spoke in Irish to the gathering and referred to her love of Irish and how useful it  is at times to be able to speak a language that not many other people worldwide recognise! 

 The assembly then watched a sample of videos created by Sixth Class students on “Inspirational Europeans”.  Ambassador Daly made particular reference to the role of the EU in ensuring that a situation such as that experienced by Anne Frank, one of those inspirational Europeans, would never happen again.  

 The visit continued with a tour of some of the school’s EU displays and a brief visit to First Class, where Mrs. Daly read a Hungarian story to the children, who have recently been learning all about Hungary.

 The visit concluded with refreshments, including EU star cookies (!) in the staffroom.

 It was a great day at RETNS.  Photos attached.

by Aileen Cronin

VISIT BY EAMON RYAN T.D.

On Friday, March 10th, we had a visit from Eamon Ryan, T.D., also as part of our Blue Star programme. Our assembly began with the Student Council making a presentation with facts about the EU.  Deputy Ryan then addressed the whole school, speaking about the EU, why it was set up, how it has evolved and its benefits for Ireland.  He then took questions from each class group and the Green Schools’ Committee.  The questions covered a range of topics from life as a T.D. to his thoughts and opinions on more complex issues such as climate change and Brexit.  Deputy Ryan  then posed for photos in our School Hall and Wildlife Garden.  To finish the visit we sang our school song “Everyone Belongs”, the theme of which corresponds to the EU motto “United in Diversity “.

Educate Together held its annual Ethical Education conference on November 25^th and 26^th. The theme of this year’s conference was Raising Student Voices and students took centre stage on Friday evening as representatives from both primary and second level Educate Together schools took part in Ireland’s first ever StudentMeet.

The conference was officially opened by Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, T.D., who said:

“I am delighted to launch Educate Together’s conference this evening. Educate Together is at the forefront of educational innovation and the movement combines excellent teaching standards with values of social justice and human rights.”

The Minister went on to say how impressed he was to hear students sharing ideas and initiatives which they have led in their schools and he spoke of how heartened he was to see students take such an active role in their schools.

During the StudentMeet representatives from a number of student councils, including Rathfarnham ETNS, gave a rundown of why their involvement in their school’s student council is important, not just to themselves but to the whole student body in their school, and outlined some of the initiatives which student councils concern themselves with. The confidence and competence with which these students spoke brought the theme of the conference to practical reality. In his later address to delegates at the conference, Paul Rowe, CEO of Educate Together, said that,

“Ethical Education is all about the primacy of creative and critical thinking, of students taking responsibility, becoming self-aware and being equipped with the skill to become active, respectful and responsible citizens in a rapidly changing world.” 

A keynote speaker at the conference was Dr. Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children.

See www.educatetogether.ie for more details of the conference.

Elections have finished, the counting is over, and our new student council members for 2016/2017 are looking forward to their important role in the school.

The student council has been a very important part of life in RETNS since the very first council was formed in 2000. A lot of work was done at the time in drawing up the Rules and Constitution for the student council and these Rules and Constitution still govern the student council today.

Each year a new student council committee is elected from among the student body, to consist of 12 children, five from sixth class (who also represent JI-2^nd), three from fifth and two each from fourth and third.

Over the years the student council in RETNS has raised the student voice in a number of ways. Members of the student council have been active in numerous projects within the school and they have also made contacts outside of school; with other Educate Together schools, by sending letters to newspapers and to public figures or by inviting visitors to the school, such as the Garda Band last year. The student council organises a fund-raising event each year and they have raised considerable amounts of money for worthy causes of their choice. Over the years members of the student council have helped to bring about many of the changes that students in the school require, they have taken on responsibilities and challenges which have helped them grow and mature, and, above all, they have succeeded in achieving their primary aim, which is to get all of the children’s voices and opinions heard.

The theme of this year’s Educate Together Ethical Education Conference, to be held on November 25^th and 26^th, is Raising Student Voices. Teachers and educationalists will discuss whole school strategies and classroom activities that will encourage students to speak up and have their voices heard. They will also consider ways to encourage schools to facilitate student-led learning.

RETNS student council has been invited to the StudentMeet part of the conference to meet student council members from other Educate Together schools and to have an opportunity to share initiatives and innovations which they have introduced into their schools. Our students are very much looking forward to this opportunity.

Membership of the student council is not the only way in which students in RETNS can have their voices heard. Over the years a number of other committees have been formed from among the student body which allow students to have a say in many different aspects of school life. The Green Schools Committee is a popular choice for those who are interested in the environment and in helping our school to maintain its Green Flag status. Interested students prepare a speech which they deliver to their classmates and some adults, who then choose the committee members for the year based on the content of the speeches. An ICT Committee is open to those with an interest and/or expertise in technology. Students are invited to apply for this committee, stating their interest and ability in this area. The committee has taken responsibility for the Kids’ Blog and members are also involved in organising polls and ICT based competitions. Our newest committee is the Sports Committee, which will appeal to those with an interest in sport, and which will involve promoting sport throughout the school. When students reach fifth and sixth class they all have the opportunity to participate in the Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Team, which gives them an opportunity to build relationships with younger children, use their initiative in organising activities and be part of a Day of Action each term. This team has been the source of great ideas for improving relationships within the school and enhancing the wellbeing of students. This term’s Day of Action will be a Partners’ Day, to be held shortly.

All our committees seek to give our students a voice in the running of the school, but outside of committees all of the students are free to suggest improvements or different ways of doing things and many of our students are delighted to put forward their ideas, either to the committee members or to staff. At the moment, due to the work of the student ICT committee, children are also getting a chance to see how and why a policy is made. The students realised that there is a need for a policy/guidelines in relation to comments posted on the Kids’ Blog. The have set about formulating a policy by issuing a survey to students, staff and parents. The committee will then devise guidelines based on the responses received. An opportunity to see democracy in action!

School committees do not appeal to all children, but all children still have a voice in the school and there are many ways in which this student voice can be encouraged. Classes frequently have whole class or group discussions on various topics, where children are encouraged to voice their opinions and hear the opinions of others. They often get an opportunity to meet people from outside the school and to ask them questions about their life and work. Learning strategies such as circle time, values line and conscience alley are used to help children reflect, clarify their thoughts and make informed decisions. And at all times throughout the day children are engaged in talking about their work, making decisions about their learning and evaluating their own performance. Hopefully, through these early experiences of expressing their opinions and having their views valued, these students will become well-rounded young people who will be confident about themselves and their choices in life and well equipped to take an active role in society.

(See also http://retns.ie/principalsblog/2013/11/14/a-short-history-of-retns-student-council/ and http://retns.ie/principalsblog/2014/11/27/the-voice-of-the-child/)

  Student Council 2016-2017

   Everyone enjoyed our Samhain celebration. See details of the ceremony below.

Samhain – A Celebration

Billy

Failte romhaibh go dtí an ceiliúradh seo.

We are celebrating the ancient Irish feast of
Samhain. Our Celtic ancestors celebrated the end of the year with dressing up, lighting bonfires and dancing to music. They were also celebrating Harvest time and a time of fullness and plenty .

The people of ancient times split the year in half and Samhain was the end of the light half and the start of darkness.

We are keeping the ancient tradition today by celebrating the fading of the light with fire and dance.  In the Wildlife garden, we  have also placed our new sun dial donated by last year’s 6th class and the sculpture of a bird house donated by  Ian Pollock (Luka’s dad).

Jessie:The bird house and sundial are symbols of our closeness to nature. Just like our ancient ancestors we are dependent on Nature. We also celebrate Samhain  by looking  at some of the fruit and nuts from our garden -apples, nuts and berries. These will sustain birds and animals during the Winter months. 

(Anne B. holds up fruit and nuts)

Go raibh maith agat, Anne. Now we will have a short dance from Saga, Crea, Annabel and Grainne.

(Dance -Mary C. and Orlaith bring on Group from 3rd class and Saga)

Jessie:The ceremony will finish with a poem by 2nd class to celebrate the modern tradition of Halloween. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir.

Bíodh Samhain Shóna agaibh!!

(Poem By 2nd Class-Brian and Petrina)