From Mr McKernan (Principal, Whole School)
Dear Parents,
Teaching Assembly - Chunking
In this week's Teaching Assembly, we concluded our study of the 'Chunking' learning method, building upon the insights gained in our previous session. During the Assembly, our senior pupils enthusiastically embraced the challenge presented last week: to learn Seamus Heaney's 'Blackberry-Picking' poem using this technique The pupils' commitment to the challenge was evident as they confidently took turns reciting different parts of the poem in front of their peers. This demonstrated their readiness to tackle challenges head-on and stretch their capabilities - an essential aspect of effective learning and personal growth
We invite you to explore sound clips featuring small groups of senior pupils reciting the poem (click the yellow icons below). We appreciate their hard work and determination and hope you enjoy their recitations
The Week Ahead
Monday 25th September
Form IV Boys Basketball v Ballyroan School @ 2:30 pm
(Home) Collection times as normal
Full sports kit required
Ticket Launch for the FCP AllSchool Kids Halloween Party
Wednesday 27th September
Form VI Boys Basketball v Ballyroan School @ 2:30 pm
(Home) Collection times as normal
Full sports kit required
You
will also find photos of the Teaching Assembly in our Photo Gallery below
Not to be outdone, our younger learners in Junior Assembly were equally eager to explore the concept of ‘chunking’ Pupils from Forms I to III used the same techniques to learn paragraphs from Maya Angelou's 'Life Doesn't Frighten Me’ illustrating the versatility and effectiveness of this learning method, equipping pupils of all ages with valuable cognitive tools to enrich their learning journeys. We look forward to sharing their recordings.
School Principal’s for the Day
Next Thursday, 28th September, our designated School Principals for the day, Sonja **and Lara ** have kindly requested that all pupils wear an item representing their respective countries and bring a snack that reflects their culture This promises to be an exciting and educational experience for our pupils
E*** Sports
We are pleased to announce the introduction of a *** sports programme, offering additional opportunities for Form III–VI pupils to participate in sports before the start of the school day. Please refer to the table on the following page for information on the sports options available:
Thursday 28th September
Form V Boys Basketball v St Gerard’s School @ 2:30 pm (Home) Collection times as normal
Form V Girls Hockey v St Gerard’s School @ 2:30 pm (Home) Collection times as normal
Friday 29th September
‘Impack Gumshields’ visiting the School.
You can find details of all fixtures/events/activities on the
Calendar
Time *** *** *** ***
Seminar:
‘Smartphones & Children’s Mental Health’
Thank you to all the parents who attended last night's talk on "Smartphones & Children's Mental Health," featuring prominent speaker Joanna Fortune Ms Fortune is a highly experienced and qualified therapist, and her presentation provided invaluable insights into the various stages of childhood development, emphasising the crucial role that 'Play' plays at each stage.
Joanna emphasised the potential harm associated with excessive screen time and prolonged exposure to technology during a child's growth. Her presentation served as a powerful reminder of the importance of actively monitoring and regulating our children's use of technology to ensure a wellbalanced and healthy upbringing
For those who were unable to attend, we encourage you to visit Joanna's website, accessible through the link below You will find a wealth of valuable resources and materials on this topic there:
Website: https://solamh.com/
Ailbhe *** - National Concert Hall Performance
We're pleased to share some exciting news about one of our Form VI-P pupils, Ailbhe Sheehan, who is a valued member of the National Children's Choir, Cór na nÓg. Ailbhe and the choir are all set to perform at the National Concert Hall tonight for Culture Night We wish her a fantastic and memorable performance on this special occasion!
CLICK HERE to view the Culture Night website for more information on Culture Night 2023.
Alannah ***
Form III-C has started the new school year by learning about the Turkish Artist Fahrelnissa Zeid Inspired by her kaleidoscopic, abstract artwork, the pupils in Form III employed lines and shapes, utilising paints and coloured pencils to craft their own colourful paintings
Anti-Bullying Week
Over the past two weeks, the pupils at Castle Park have been exploring the theme of Anti-Bullying tailored to their age and understanding. I have met with children from each class this week who have enjoyed sharing their work and discussing their thoughts and ideas around this theme You can find samples of their work displayed on ‘The Street’, and there are some accompanying photos in the Photo Gallery in this newsletter.
We visit the theme of Anti-Bullying every term to ensure that pupils are wellinformed about what to do if they have any concerns about themselves or others. This ongoing effort equips pupils with the necessary skills to avoid being bullied, and as they get older, we delve into the role of bystanders as well
Last night's talk on the impact of phones and social media was very timely Recent studies in Ireland of children aged nine and older have revealed the extent of cyberbullying among primary and secondary school pupils (CLICK HERE for future information) Castle Park School is committed to continuing its work to promote the safe use of technology, and I would encourage all parents to visit Webwise ie This website offers specific resources and guidance for parents, teachers and children seeking advice and support in navigating the digital world responsibly.
(Mr Leahy has included a piece below on the ICT Curriculum and Cyberbullying)
From Ms Kennedy (Assistant Principal, Early Years)
After Care Collection
An email was sent to all parents who avail of our After Care service today regarding collection times and pick-up locations. These will come into effect from Monday, 25th September
ECCE Registration
Thank you to those parents who have already submitted their child’s PPSN numbers for ECCE registration. If you have yet to complete the ECCE form, please do so as soon as possible and return it to the School This will enable us to proceed with your child’s registration Thank you
Principal
As we welcome pupils back to school, our initial focus in ICT lessons has been on online safety We're committed to ensuring that everyone is well-informed about staying safe online, using the internet responsibly, and practising good 'netiquette'. Our senior pupils have been revisiting strategies to ensure their safety while using online platforms, games, and messaging services.
From this revision of online safety, we have integrated Cyberbullying into this week’s whole school topic of AntiBullying. I am delighted that many of the children were mindful of keeping themselves safe online and aware of the importance of only interacting with people they know in ‘real life’
With the continually changing landscape of online bullying and the anonymity often linked to it, staying informed about a child's daily internet activities can be challenging As ever, with the unified support of school and home, we can create an environment where they feel comfortable sharing any issues they may be experiencing It is important to remember that it is not the technology that is the real problem; rather, it is the people who are using it to harm others Removing or limiting access to technology and the internet should not be the focus; instead, it should be educating children on how to use online tools safely and responsibly.
While it is proving increasingly challenging to limit children’s exposure to technology, here are several strategies for how best to support a victim of cyberbullying:
Don’t Reply: Young people should never reply to messages that harass or annoy them The bully wants to know they have upset their target. If they get a response, it feeds into the problem and makes things worse.
Keep the Messages: By keeping nasty messages, your child can produce a record of the bullying, the dates and the times. This will be useful for any subsequent school or Garda investigation.
Block the Sender: No one needs to put up with someone harassing them Whether mobile phones, social networking or chat rooms, children can block contacts through online service providers
Report Problems: Ensure your child reports any instances of cyberbullying to websites or online service providers Sites like Facebook have reporting tools Using these, your child will pass important information to people who can help eradicate cyberbullying.
WebWise: Cyberbullying: What Advice Should I Give my Child?
