Scoil Mhuire an Druípseach

If anyone is interested in applying to work as a job share secretary please email your CV (with a cover letter) to principal@dripseyns.ie before 26/10/2018.
The position is for approx 16 hours a fortnight,doing 2 days one week and 3 days the next. Computer skills essential.

First and Second Classes are currently doing Literacy Lift Off with Mr. Sheehan, Ms. Murphy and Mrs. Murphy/Mrs Cullinane.

As part of LLO the children are in four group and have the following stations

1. New reading: we do pre-reading activities and predictions and talk through the story. This book is the reading homework for that night.
2. Old reading: The previous night’s book is read and discussed
3. Oral Language: Oral Language activities based on the new Primary Language Curriculum e.g. Vocabulary Development, Semantic Links etc
4. Independent Work: typically a phonics activity.

 

 

 

 

There is great excitement among the pupils from 1st to 6th class currently as Mr. Sheehan is teaching chess to these classes weekly.

We hope to attend (and host) chess tournaments annually.

Perhaps we have a future Bobby Fischer, a Garry Kasparov or a Magnus Carlsen in our ranks…

 

As parents are inquiring about how to play I will post the instructions here as we progress.

Starting

Make sure there is a white square to your right (think “white to the right”).

Shake hands with your opponent before and after each game.

White always moves first.

Play “pick a pawn” to decide who is white. (The older player hids a pawn in each hand, the younger player picks a hand.)

Pawns

•  Start: Each player has 8 pawns. They start in the second row ( in above picture pawns start in squares A2, B2, C2….H2 and squares A7, B7, C7…H7.
• Move: Pawns can only move straight up the board. The first time you move each pawn you may move it 2 or 1 squares. For each subsequent move, the pawn may only move 1 square.
• Capture: Pawns can capture other pieces by moving 1 square diagonally forward to the left or right (1 square in a V shape).

The Pawn Game

• Played with just 8 pawns.
• The first player to get a pawn to the other side wins. (You can also win by capturing all of  your opponent’s pawns-this is unlikely to happen.)
• Switch sides after the first game.
• If the score is 2-0, play 8 pawns VS 7 pawns.

 

Touch Move Rule

• If you touch one of your own pieces, you must move it (if possible).
• If you touch one of your opponent’s pieces, you must capture it (if possible).

 

The Rook (not Castle!!)

Each player has 2.

• Start: They start in the extreme corners of the board (squares A1, H1 & A8 and H8).
• Move: They move straight vertically or horizontally any number of squares. They can move forward and backwards. They can not jump or move through  pieces.
• Capture: A rook can capture any opposition piece in its way (but only one at a time!!).

The Rook Game

• Set up as the Pawn Game, add 2 Rooks to each side.
• The first player to get a pawn to the other side wins. (You can also win by capturing all of  your opponent’s pawns-again, this is unlikely to happen.)
• Switch sides after the first game.
• If the score is 2-0, play 8 pawns VS 7 pawns or with 1 rook.

The Rook Challenge (possibly an unfair challenge!!)

• 8 white Pawns against 1 black Rook.
• White moves first (as per usual).
• To win: Capture all of your opponents pieces or get a Pawn to the opposite side.

After playing a game, swap sides.

Dripsey National School is a primary school providing primary education to pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, the Board of Management of Dripsey National School has agreed the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in this document.

• The Board of Management has adopted and will implement fully and without modification the Department’s Child Protection Procedures for primary and post-primary Schools 2017 as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement.
• The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is: Bernard Sheehan
•  The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is: Sarah Lucey
•  The Board of Management recognises that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of school life and must be reflected in all of the school’s policies, procedures, practices and activities. The school will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare.
• The school will:
  •  recognise that the protection and welfare of children is of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations
  •  fully comply with its statutory obligations under the Children First Act 2015 and other relevant legislation relating to the protection and welfare of children
  •  fully co-operate with the relevant statutory authorities in relation to child protection and welfare matters
  •  adopt safe practices to minimise the possibility of harm or accidents happening to children and protect workers from the necessity to take unnecessary risks that may leave themselves open to accusations of abuse or neglect
  •  develop a practice of openness with parents and encourage parental involvement in the education of their children; and
  •  fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters
• The school will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability.
  The following procedures/measures are in place:
  •  In relation to any member of staff who is the subject of any investigation (howsoever described) in respect of any act, omission or circumstance in respect of a child attending the school, the school adheres to the relevant procedures set out in Chapter 7 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 and to the relevant agreed disciplinary procedures for school staff which are published on the DES website
  •  In relation to the selection or recruitment of staff and their suitability to work with children, the school adheres to the statutory vetting requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 and to the wider duty of care guidance set out in relevant Garda vetting and recruitment circulars published by the DES and available on the DES website
  •  In relation to the provision of information and, where necessary instruction and training to staff in respect of the identification of the occurrence of harm (as defined in the 2015 Act) the school:
    • i. Has provided each member of staff with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
    • ii. Ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
    • iii. Encourages staff to avail of relevant training
    • iv. Encourages Board of Management members to avail of relevant training
    • v. The Board of Management maintains records of all staff and Board member training.
  • • In relation to reporting of child protection concerns to Tusla, all school personnel are required to adhere to the procedures set out in the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017, including in the case of registered teachers, those in relation to mandated reporting under the Children First Act 2015
    • e In this school, the Board has appointed the above named DLP as the ‘relevant person’ (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) to be the first point of contact in respect of the school’s child safeguarding statement.
• All registered teachers employed by the school are mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015
• In accordance with the Children First Act 2015, the Board has carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while attending the school or participating in school activities. A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and the school’s procedures for managing those risks is attached as an appendix to these procedures
•  The various procedures referred to in this Statement can be accessed via the school’s website, the DES website or will be made available on request by the school
•  This statement has been published on the school’s website and has been provided to all members of school personnel, the Parents’ Association (if any) and the patron. It is readily accessible to parents and guardians on request. A copy of this Statement will be made available to Tusla and the Department if requested.
•  This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed annually or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which this statement refers

This Child Safeguarding Statement was adopted by the Board of Management on 08/02/2018
Signed: Donal Coakley (Rev.) Chairperson of BoM

Signed: Bernard Sheehan Principal/Secretary to the BoM

Date: 08/02/2018

There was great excitement amongst the pupils (and staff) when members of the Inniscarra Senior camogie team visited us recently after winning their second consecutive county senior senior title. Is the next Rena Buckley amongst our ranks?

The East Midlands Theatre group performed Wizard William for the entire school. We particularly enjoyed it when the queen was mistakenly transformed into a bag of sugar but luckily for William he was able to rectify his mistake before her birthday party.

The whole school had a great day doing science experiments with theLismore Mobile Science workshop. Infants partook in Junior Science, 1st and second class partook in Astronaut University, 3rd and 4th had C.S.I. Classroom and 5th and 6th classes tested for acids and bases in Chemistry Kids.

We are now taking enrolments for 2018.
Please ring or email the office for an enrolment form.

5th and 6th class are just after 6 very enjoyable sessions at the National Rowing Centre in Farran learning how to row. Great fun was had by all and it culminated in a trip to a rowing blitz in Neptune Arena. Thank you Dáithí (for giving Mr. Sheehan the application form) and Ellen for coaching us so well.

5th and 6th class went to Dublin on their school tour with Mr. Sheehan and Miss O’ Regan.

We visited Dublin Zoo, the Natural History Museum (aka the “Dead Zoo”) and Leinster House.

In Dublin Zoo we saw many different animals and birds. The tiger, penguins, gorilla and hippo were firm favourites.

In the Natural History Museum the skeleton of the extinct Giant Irish Deer (with an antler span of 3.5m) was the class favourite.

Finally we were taken on a tour of Leinster House by Senator Colm Burke and saw the Dáil and the Seanad in operation. We are written into the official Seanad record as the Chairperson of the Seanad welcomed us onto our tour.

We were away from school for 14 hours and everyone had a great time.