It is always with a certain sadness that we come to the end of another academic year. We say a fond farewell to the children until September, and we say a more permanent farewell to our Standard 6 pupils as they head for adventures new as “First Years” in the Senior School! This year’s Standard 6 were a wonderfully talented, co-operative and fun-loving yeargroup. At their end of year Plays and Graduation, they presented the Junior School with a truly beautiful piece of art entitled “FLY”! It is a collage of paper aeroplanes with their hopes for the future wrapped inside. Look out for this amazing installation which will hang in the Arts Zone next year. Thank you Standard 6 - and may all your hopes and dreams come true in the years to come.
With Easter falling early this year, our final term was a long, happy and busy one! Sacraments of Confirmation, First Reconciliation and First Communion were celebrated.
Junior School
As always, they were most moving occasions and the children’s sense of reverence and respect was inspiring and heart-warming. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fr. Jimmy McPartland, Fr. Michael O’Kelly and Sr. Patricia for helping to make all of the ceremonies so special. I would also like to thank our In-House Committee and our Dining Hall staff who, following First Communion and Confirmation, organized a Reception in the Junior School for the children, their parents and relations. These happy gatherings help to make our celebration of the sacraments truly family and community occasions.
The last term also included many other highlights which you will read about inside this Newsletter - from sporting achievements to the Talent Show, and from our Junior School being Regional Winners for the Green Schools’ Global Citizenship award to Std. 3 winning the Gaelinn Podcast prize! We also enjoyed the Std. 6 Science Fair, many Book Club activities, Coiste na Gaeilge Lá na Stocaí Corr, and numerous events organized by our Student Council. Term ended on a high note with Sports and Prize Day which was a great success and was enjoyed by all families in our Schoolin glorious sunshine!
As always, my heartfelt thanks to you our parents for your support and encouragement
throughout the year, and to our Junior School staff who are simply an exceptional team and who ensure that the children are happily working, having fun and learning something new each day! Finally, I thank our wonderful Junior School pupils who make each day an absolute joy. Remember to take a moment during the holidays to thank your Mum and Dad for all they have done for you, and to willingly and happily help out at home, and of course to read, read, read every day during the holidays!
It is a privilege and a joy to work in such a happy and motivated School community - but now it is time for us all to relax awhile and recharge the batteries! I wish you all a safe Summertime and I hope you enjoy many happy days with your wonderful children. Cherish each precious moment!
Dr. Deirdre Farrell - Headmistress
Spo rt s Day
On May 19th 2024, our Junior and Senior schools celebrated Sports and Prizegiving Day together. It was an exciting day for everyone, we all had a great time, and many pupils earned themselves medals! There were a variety of races being held such as Sprints, Sack Race, Egg and Spoon Race, Three Legged Race and a Relay Race, which was held at the very end. Every pupil got to do four races.
There were also a lot of food stalls selling different varieties of delicious foods, such as crepes, ice-cream, candy-floss, burgers, hotdogs, pancakes and slushies. We all enjoyed these after the whole Junior School had finished all their races.
This was an amazing experience for everyone, as all the pupils, and especially Std. 6, were also looking forward to Prize Giving afterwards too!!
na Polyzois reporters Isabella Yan Rock
rt s Day
This year in Summer Games, Std. 6 have been doing tag rugby, functional moving/ ultimate frisbee, and athletics. Std.s 3-5 have also been having great fun in Summer games doing tennis, rounders and athletics. The Summer activities started at the beginning of Term 3. It has been so much fun and everyone really enjoying what we have been doing!
reporter Jemima Ellis
Lochlann, Séan, Dhruv and Sebastian – proud winners of the Delgany Schools’ Golf Competition!
Isabella, Evelyn, Holly and Lucille represent St. Gerard’s Junior School in the Delgany Schools’ Golf Competition
Gerard’s
In March 2024, two boys’ teams consisting of eight players each went to Greystones United astro turf to play in the FAI School Tournament. Unfortunately one of the teams was knocked out in the group stage but the other team made it all the way to the final and ultimately won this stage of their tournament!
This brought the winning team to the Regional competition which was held in County Laois in the middle of May. The team played three games and came in overall second place.
In parallel with the boys’ competition, two girls’ teams also went out to Greystones FC to play in the FAI School Tournament where they successfully reached the semifinals with a great display of soccer skills.
All in all, it was an exceptional competition and everyone had a brilliant time with lots of fantastic goals!
There were three managers appointed to lead the four
The players on Alan’s teams were Aidan Hopkins, Conor O’Farrell, Charlie McMorrow, Dhruv Sisodiya, Benjamin Galligan, Freddie Colley, Emerson Kane and Cathal Fitzpatrick for the boys and Isabelle Galligan, Scarlet Foley, Jemima Ellis, Holly Gillespie, Bella O’Reilly, Sophie Gleeson, Nell McDonald and Isabella DiBiasi for the girls.
The players on Vic’s team were Brian Jones, Shane Dillon, Harry Wrynn, Harry Smith, William O’Neill, Luke Gill, Matthew Deasy and Aaron Carey.
The players on Ella’s team were Evelyn Wang, Hannah Bruton, Éabha Brenann-Hobbs, Charlotte Dodd, Saoirse Smith and Annabel Focas.
All of the players have asked that we give a big thanks to Alan, Ella and Vic for taking the time and making the effort to coach each of the teams in their tournaments. It is greatly appreciated.
reporterS Charlie Moes
2023-24 has been a great year for the St. Gerard’s Greenschools Committee.
Led by Ms. Caoimhe Mellon, a lot was accomplished throughout the year. The Std. 6 classes went planting vegetables like potatoes and onions, with the Junior Infants. These veggies will be used to make delicious meals in the School Dining Hall in September.
Another incredible achievement of the Greenschools this year was getting yet another Green Flag for St. Gerard’s Junior School! This time we got the Global Citizenship and Energy Flag, and not only that, we won a Regional Award! What an amazing achievement – Dr. Farrell could not believe it! There was also a summer clean up before the end of the school year. Each class was given an area to clean up with litter pickers, bin bags and gloves. It helped to make the school a much cleaner environment.
reporter Tristan
Fleming g r e nschols
A competition also took place - to make a poster for the Green Code. There were lots of interesting and cool posters, but one stood out among the rest “Eat Local, Think Global”. An encouraging message to us all.
Overall, the 2023-24 year has been a great year for the Greenschools Committee and every member should be proud of what they have achieved.
Coiste na Gaeilge
agus Rang a Trí scéalta Gaeilge do na daltaí níos óige agus d’imir said cluiche na nathracha agus na dréimirí leis na daltaí níos sine. Chomh maith leis sin, d’eagraigh Coiste na Gaeilge lá tiomsaithe airgid, ‘Lá na Stocaí Corr,’ ar son Down Syndrome Ireland. Rinne ár mbaill de Choiste na Gaeilge sár-obair ag cur an imeachta chun cinn, ag cruthú póstaeir den scoth agus iad a chrochadh ar fud na scoile. Thug gach duine isteach dhá euro agus chaith said stocaí corr. Ansin, chomhoibrigh Coiste na Gaeilge le Comhairle na Mac Léinn agus rinne gach duine damhsa an dreolín ag caitheamh a gcuid stocaí corr!
I mí Aibreáin, tháinig Síofra agus Áine ó Gael Linn ar cuairt chugainn chun tacú linn lenár bpodchraoladh. D’éist said lenár smaointe agus thug said comhairle úsáideach dúinn. Tá an- áthas a chur in iúl daoibh gur bhuaigh Scoil Ghearóid Naofa An Chéad Áit i gComórtas Podchraoladh Gaelbhratach. Chomh maith leis sin, tá an scoil tar éis a dara Gaelbhratach a bhuachan. Comhghairdeas mór ó chroí le gach duine a bhí bainteach leis na héachtaí iontacha seo.
An tUasal Ó Duibhir
PA
A rt Co mpet i tion
Thank you to the PA who sponsored our fabulous Art Competition once again this year!
This year in Write-a-Book, we had a great year but first before I tell you the winners I will explain it. Write-a-book is a competition that St. Gerard’s Junior School has entered for a long, long number of years. Everyone in the school enters from Junior Infants right up to Std 6. As a student I believe it is done to encourage creative writing and imagination.
Everyone hands in their book to their teacher and then it is sent off to a different school for a different teacher to judge them. There is a winner from every class and three highly commended – congratulations to all of these very deserving students.
The winners of the 2024 Write a Book were Emily Mallon, Brady Stewart, Sebastian Barry, Daniel Puflea, Jack Brock, Gabriel Gibbons, Dáire King, Evelyn Wang & Zoe Boydell
reporter Brian Jones
St. Gerard’s Junior School
Daire King attends the Write a Book Award Ceremony in June
On the 21st of April, the All Ireland Hybrid Speech and Drama Feis took place in the Talbot Hotel in Stillorgan. This Feis is run by the Speech and Drama Teachers of Ireland. It is called a Hybrid Feis because the initial rounds are done via video submission and then people are selected based on their video submission to compete in the live final. There were quite a few competitors from St. Gerard’s Junior School – in different age groups, competing in different categories. Ms. Susanne had prepared us very well and it was great to see so many competitors from St. Gerard’s making it to the live final. I was performing in the age 12 boys’ poetry competition, reciting “Dear Mum” by Brian Patten. On the day I was nervous but excited.
When we arrived at the venue there were lots of people around and all the competitions were taking place in different rooms. We had to wait a little while for mine to start and then we were called into the room. The first thing the adjudicator did was congratulate us on reaching the final as they had had lots of submissions. We were all given a lovely medal to mark this. There were 12 competitors from all over Ireland. We all got up individually and recited different poems in front of the adjudicator. This was such a great experience overall as to get to this stage we had to perform for the camera first with our video submission and then on finals day we had to perform in front of a live audience and the adjudicator. I really enjoyed the experience and learned a lot.
Od Socks Day 2024
World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated globally on the twenty-fifth of March every year to educate the world on what Down Syndrome is and why people who have it are so important in their communities. For World Down Syndrome day this year we all wore odd socks, this is because chromosomes are shaped like socks and a person with Down Syndrome has an extra chromosome. All the students brought in €2 each and we raised €600 for the Down Syndrome Centre in Sandyford. A big thank you to everyone.
reporter Robyn Wilson
reporter Oliver Duffy
Monte sori WITH louis e & ANE
The Montessori class had an action packed year this year with lots of learning and fun activities filling their days. Sounds, Numbers, Continents, Planets and the Big Bang were some of the topics covered in the classroom and we finished off the year with the Montessori school tour to Newbridge Farm on a bus (a first exciting trip on a bus for many of the children!) and also a Teddy Bears Picnic in the school grounds. The children really enjoyed their weekly Movement to Music classes with Claire each week and the parents were delighted to be invited in to see the children’s display at the end of the year.
Lots of our girls and boys are moving on to pastures new in Junior Infants in September and we wish them all the best on their new adventures!
WITH MS. MCCABE
It is that time of year again where I bid a fond farewell to my students. Last September I intimated how quickly the time in Junior Infants would zoom by. June 2024 is upon us and it all flew by in the blink of an eye! But what a time we have had together. There has been a kaleidoscope of learning. We have played games and enjoyed P.E. We have readers among us now, we have budding artists, dramatists, horticulturalists, language enthusiasts, storytellers, aspiring inventors, talented footballers but most of all kind, compassionate children wherever life takes them.
Junior Infants had a full-on busy year with school plays (ridiculously cute!), school tour and Sports Day wherein they stole the show. Thank you also to Tony’s mum for the “Doctor’s Visit”.
On a personal note I thank you all for your support this year during my time of sadness. It has been a pleasure to watch characters develop and unfold. I love my job and I love that I have the opportunity to be there in the wings to witness their future school days. I wish you and your children all the happiness in the world. Look after each other and have a lovely Summer.
SENIOR IN FANTS
WITH Ms. G leson
Senior Infants have had another busy term, full of learning, exploring and playing! They’ve come to school each day full of enthusiasm and eager to learn.
Throughout this year the girls and boys have become superb little readers and writers. Each and every student put so much care, effort and pride into their books for this year’s Write A Book competition and they were all fantastic.
Senior Infants absolutely loved learning about Space this term. They enjoyed reading books about Space and creating lots of Space themed artwork!
Senior Infants are also avid nature enthusiasts and enjoyed learning about lots of different animals this term including the whale, the butterfly and the snail to name a few!
The boys and girls are also a creative bunch and have filled the walls of the Senior Infant classroom each week this year with beautiful, colourful and unique artwork.
Senior Infants had a fantastic day out at Kia Ora Farm for their school tour. They had great fun racing go-karts, playing with the mini-tractors and diggers and feeding all the farm animals. They even got to go for a ride in a fire engine!
It has been an absolute pleasure teaching these fabulous boys and girls this year. I hope they all have a wonderful and fun-filled summer.
What a busy and fruitful few months we have had in Std. 1!
We got off to a great start with our whole school assembly about St. Patrick. We dramatized his life, sang his praises and even played our bucket drums – thanks to Ms. Broxson!
We participated in many ‘in-school’ competitions. Standard 1 won the ‘bin prize’ several times – we love sorting our waste!!
Santino, Pamela and Isabelle won the Easter Egg Competition. The winners of the PA Art Competition were Pamela, Hannah Boyle, Conor and Aoife.
Liam and Ed made us very proud by representing the class in the Spelling Bee - they were amazing!
The Irish Dancers all won medals and I am told that those who entered the Speech Exams did extremely well.
We also enjoyed World Book Day – so much excitement and fun!
Many children ‘took the challenge’ and read a prepared story to the whole class – a bit scary, but they were brilliant!
Hannah Dent performed a wonderful piece for us on her violin –such talent!
We wound up the year with an energetic Sports and Prize Day –everyone participated with great enthusiasm and all received a medal. Our School Tour was packed with fun activities, a picnic and lots of animals to learn about. As usual, the bus bit was probably the highlight – always the same! All in all, the year has flown and so much has
WITH Ms. Carlos
Standa rd 1
Standa rd 2
WITH Ms. Gregory
Can you believe that we have come to the end of a super year in Std. 2?! This year has been very busy with lots of learning and fun. We have had many stand out moments this year from Halloween, Christmas Play, Write-a-Book Competition, Easter and of course celebrating our First Holy Communion.
This year we have really enjoyed learning how to use chrome books. We have embraced all things Google by using the chrome books for our write a book project as well as for practising our maths skills on Mathletics.
Art has been a huge part of our class work this year. We have enjoyed learning all about new artists as well as learning different art techniques. The excitement during art time each week is palpable and inspiring.
Sport has been a huge part of our year also. This year it was our first trip to Shoreline in Bray to hone our swimming skills. We had a wonderful time in the pool. Rugby and hockey have also been super important to us this year. Well done to all the boys and girls for all their hard work. Watch out….there are some budding sports men and women on the way up!
A huge thank you to all of the parents in Std. 2 for all your help and support this year. It has been my absolute pleasure to teach your wonderful children. It has been such a special year and I hope you and your families have a wonderful summer. To the boys and girls of Std. 2 - well what can I say but well done to each and every one of you for all your hard work this year. You are all amazing. I hope you have a wonderful summer and I wish you all the best for Std. 3.
F i r s t Holy Commu n ion
A huge part of our year in Std. 2 has been preparing for our First Holy Communion. We worked especially hard to prepare for our special day and what a wonderful day it was. Congratulations to all of the boys and girls who made their First Holy Communionyou were amazing! And a sincere thank you to Fr. Jimmy and Sr. Patricia for helping us on our First Communion journey.
Stand a rd 3
A Journey from Hieroglyphs to Podcast
As the school year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the myriad activities and projects that have filled Standard 3 with energy, learning and creativity since Christmas. January began with an exploration into Ancient Egypt, where the children collaborated to create brochures, posters and models, diving deep into the history and culture of this ancient civilization. Their engagement with hieroglyphics and the creation of digital stories added layers of understanding and appreciation. The pupils’ artistic talents also shone in their clay sarcophagi creations. In February, the literary talents within our class were exhibited in the Irish and English Write-A-Book projects. Each child crafted stories that were both imaginative and expressive, demonstrating an impressive depth of creativity.
Our scientific curiosity was put to the test as we prepared for the Science Blast, held at the RDS in March. Through an inquiry-based model, we delved into the “5-second rule,” embarking on a fascinating journey to understand bacteria. This project was not only informative but also immensely engaging for our budding scientists. Seachtain na Gaeilge was also a special time for Standard 3, as we joined forces with Coiste na Gaeilge to introduce stories and games to both junior and senior classes. In April, we channelled our creative energies into producing an Irish podcast for the Gaelbhratach Podcast Competition, and our efforts were rewarded when our school took home first place! Our participation in the AIJS Creative Writing Competition and the Parents’ Association Art Competition further displayed the diverse talents within our class.
Concluding our year in May, we embraced the inquiry-based learning approach once again to produce a FÍS Film titled “The Homework That Ate My Dog”. This endeavour was not only enjoyable but a showcase of innovative ideas and critical thinking. Our School Tour was also a wonderful experience, exploring the iconic Croke Park to learn about Ireland’s sports heritage and visiting Butler’s Chocolate Factory for a glimpse into the world of chocolate crafting. However, one of the year’s most memorable moments was the surprise pizza party for Anna’s last day, a heart-warming celebration of friendship and camaraderie. As we bid farewell to Anna and Evan, we offer our best wishes for lots of joy and great times in their new adventures. This year in Standard 3 has been a wonderful blend of academic exploration, creative expression and personal growth. Wishing everyone a fun and relaxing summer break.
Std. 3’s Scientific Inquiry at ESB Science Blast
The annual ESB Science Blast featured a standout presentation by Std. 3’s budding scientists last March. Participating among over 500 projects from across the nation, including 21 from schools in Wicklow, our pupils made a lasting impression with their exploration of a question that often sparks debate: “Is it true that food is safe to eat if picked up off the floor within five seconds?”
In pursuit of scientific truth, our pupils from Std. 3 rigorously tested the five-second rule. Guided by the pillars of inquiry-based learning - engage, explore, explain, elaborate and evaluate. This pedagogical strategy propelled them beyond academic learning, instilling a rich curiosity and an enduring passion for scientific discovery. Collaboratively working in five groups, the class explored the bacterial transfer on a variety of foods - from crackers and cakes to fruit, Maoam and chicken - dropped on floors in the school Dining Hall and playground for comparisons at five and 30-second intervals. Equipped with petri dishes and swabs, they compiled data that yielded eye-opening discussions on hygiene and food safety.
The initial brainstorming phase proved vital in forming their hypothesis, bolstered by a survey of 245 people, revealing a striking contrast: 53% considered food retrieved within five seconds as unsafe, yet 84% admitted to consuming such food. After careful experimentation and data collection, the classroom transformed into a lab for observation. The comparisons drawn from diverse food types and surfaces highlighted compelling insights into bacterial transfer. At the RDS, our Std. 3 pupils showcased their findings through detailed posters, vivid bacterial culture photographs and thoughtfully maintained journals. Interacting with attendees, they articulated their process and insights. The enthusiastic feedback from judges and onlookers was testament to our pupils’ meticulous approach and the relevancy of their research. As our young investigators returned from the Science Blast, their spirits were alight with newfound wonder and inquisitive ambition.
Reflecting on this ambitious endeavour, we see more than just a school project; we witness a transformative educational experience. The positive reinforcement received from experts in the field has bolstered our pupils’ confidence and fortified their analytical skills. The journey from hypothesis to conclusion was not just about proving or disproving a myth; it was an intricate dance of questioning, exploring and validating the world around them. The five-second rule served as a gateway for our Std. 3 pupils to delve into principles of hygiene, public health and the scientific method - a foundation upon which they will build for years to come.
Scien c e Blast
Our students learned invaluable lessons about the rigor of scientific inquiry, the nuances of data interpretation and the importance of presenting their findings to a broader audience. The success at the ESB Science Blast is a mere glimpse of the potential that resides within our Std. 3 class. It is with eager anticipation that we look forward to how they will apply their
S tandard 4
WIT H Mr. Zygmunt
Standard 4 have had a wonderful and choca-block year full of activity! It has been an immense pleasure working with such a vibrant and spirited cohort of young people and I have greatly enjoyed getting to know all of them. Students have worked well throughout the year to consolidate old and new friendships and it has been great to see how welcoming the students have been, both to the new students and to me as a new teacher!
We have had some wonderful opportunities throughout the year, from visiting Dublin Zoo, swimming lessons, Sports Day and our school tour to Hidden Valley. Standard 4 should be very proud of their conduct on these occasions. They have made St Gerard’s School and me very proud. Students have worked hard to broaden their academic knowledge too. They have completed various projects over the year, working on effective time management skills and the ability to present their work to their peers. Their work has been top-notch! In Numeracy, pupils have been lucky to have Mrs. Murphy introducing them to the new maths curriculum ready for next year. We have been learning our times tables and
enjoyed some delicious Australian Tim Tams when everyone had finished. Yum!
Students put a huge effort into their ‘Write
A Book’ stories, applying what we had been learning in English. Shout out to Jack for taking the prize!
The Talent Show was a great success too! While they had me worried at times, the Standard 4 class rose to the challenge, as I’m sure you would agree. I still get nervous watching Kacper solving his Rubix Cube before ‘Under Pressure’ finished! But he always does!
The Standard 4 boys and girls also did a great job with their sports this year! It was great watching the boys play rugby one Saturday morning and seeing the camaraderie I often heard about on Monday mornings1
Once again, this year has been such a wonderful time. A highlight for me was when the class sang ‘Ireland’s Call’ together - I couldn’t bring myself to stop them!
Thanks for a truly memorable year Standard 4. You will all go on to achieve such great things and I am glad to have known you! Have a wonderful, well earned summer break.
Go raibh maith agat.
Stand ard 5
WITH MS. B YRNE
Write a Bok
What a fabulous selection of books my class produced for this year’s Write a Book Competition - from fabulous fiction and poetry anthologies to a number of tantalising cookbooks. Congratulations to our class winner Gabriel Gibbons for his wonderful book, ‘Sammy and the City of Strays’ and to our three highly commended writers, Niamh Winter, Annabel Focas and Charlie Hegarty.
Young Artists
My incredible artists created a ‘Kaleidoscope’ of colours for this year’s Parent’s Association art competition and the winners were Aaron Carey, Carolyn Devocelle and Poppy Newton
Spelling Be
There was a great buzz(!) of excitement as we helped our 3 class representatives prepare for our annual Spelling Bee competition. Well done to Matthew C, Sophie and Olivia J who went on to represent our school in the AIJS Spelling Bee Competition.
Friendship Workshop
This term we were delighted to welcome musician Sonny to our class
for a Friendship and Anti-Bullying workshop. We thoroughly enjoyed reinforcing these important positive themes through live music, singing and thoughtful discussion.
Schol Tour
On Wednesday May 23, we set off for Hidden Valley Resort in Rathdrum. We had a ball kayaking and paddle-boating on the lake, downhill tubing, playing mini-golf and picnicking.
Reading
In our final term, my class loved reading our class novel, Wonder by R.J Palacio. What a pleasure to see a class so absorbed and invested in a character and their journey. We then had the reward of watching the movie together with some yummy treats! Well done to all my pupils who reached their Accelerated Reader Target this year!
Projects
My class were truly inspired by the amazing Std.6 Science Fair projects and look forward to the chance to produce their own projects next year. This term we had great fun creating and testing our own parachutes and kites!
Marble Championship
Every year in the final term I hold a marbles championship with my students. We had great fun and were likely heard all over the school as we struggled to contain our
excitement during some very close matches. Congratulations to our winner Luke Gill!
A Mesage to parents and pupils
I wish to thank all the Std.5 parents for your continued and much appreciated support and generosity throughout the year. It has been an absolute pleasure teaching your incredible children.
To my pupils, thank you for your hard work, uniqueness, great fun and for the opportunity to share in all your progress and achievements. I wish you all every success in Std.6 where I know you will continue to
S ta n dard 4 &
S ta ndard 5
Tale n t Show
The Talent Show was one of the highlights of the year for Std. 4 and 5 and it gave the girls and boys the opportunity to demonstrate their abundant talents and skills. Std. 5 gave a superb performance to ‘Dance the Night’ before both classes amazed the audience with their singing, dancing, animation, instrumentals and hilarious sketches. A big thank you to Ms. Aoife Broxson, Ms. Jackie Olohan, Ms. Susanne Carey and the Std. 4 and 5 Class Teachers, Ms. Byrne and Mr. Zygmunt for all their effort bringing the whole performance together.
S ta ndard 6
What a jam-packed last term it has been in Standard 6! The pupils have been so busy and their enthusiasm, energy and hard work has shone through all that they have accomplished.
Where to begin?! The month of February brought the arrival of Ms. Flanagan and preparation for the Confirmation began. The children showed great insight and maturity in their discussion of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in class and were very well prepared on the day. Fr. Jimmy made everyone feel so relaxed and, after the ceremony, we all enjoyed coming back to the school to celebrate. There was great excitement in the build up to the Std. 6 school trip to Gartan in Co. Donegal. We set off first thing in the morning and after a 4 hour journey, we arrived to blue skies and sunshine in lovely Donegal. After unpacking and having eaten a hearty lunch of beans on toast, the children met their fabulous instructors who gave them a tour of the centre and the many activities on offer. From canoeing to rock climbing, kayaking, orienteering and nightline over three full days, the children had the time of their lives! They were most definitely a tired bunch coming home!
After Gartan, it was full steam ahead to prepare for the Science Fair, summer tests and Sports and Prize day. The Science Fair proved to be an overwhelming success with every pupil in Std. 6 presenting their long awaited Science projects. There was a huge variety of projects on offer - from testing a variety of liquids on plants to researching the effects of the full moon - everyone was so interested and engaged. The boys and girls were absolutely fantastic presenting their hypotheses and findings and really enjoyed the day. Well done to everyone!
Sports and Prize Day was another huge success and the wonderful atmosphere was helped by the glorious weather. The pupils gave it their all in their sprints, relay, three-legged, potato and spoon and sack races. There were a plethora of medals given out and after that there was time for a rest and an ice-cream before heading to Prize Giving. It was very special to see all the Std 6. Pupils receive their own individual award and it is testament to the amazing talent and spirit that has pervaded our classroom this year.
Finally, we finished the year on a huge high with our end of year plays. The pupils in Titanic gave a captivating performance so much so that you almost felt like you were there, we all had goosebumps! And as for Aladdin, what a joyous, energetic and colourful performance! We were all tapping our feet and singing along. A huge thank you to Aoife, Suzanne and Mrs. Olohan for putting together such amazing shows. It was great to see each and every pupil shining brightly up on stage giving it their all. I was so proud of them all. The presenting of their certificates as each Std. 6 pupil graduated brought a tear to all our eyes. What a wonderful bunch, they have excelled this year and it has been my pleasure to teach them. Parents, thank you as always for your support and kindness and to my pupils I wish you a wonderful summer and the very best of luck to you all in the Senior School!
TH Ms. Flanagn
Ms. Byrne’s 6th Class had a fantastic year—extremely busy but very productive and lots of fun! After the Christmas holidays, we hit the ground running. The class has been busy with preparing for and celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation, creating and designing boats, completing projects, taking tests, participating in sports, producing an end-of-year drama and musical, and so much more—the list is endless!
We had an amazing group representing our class in tennis, athletics, golf and swimming teams, and we even made it to a hockey final with Ms. Byrne. We completed our “Write a Book” projects, where we wrote our own stories and created illustrations. Evelyn Yang won the overall prize, and Brooke Torpey, Jamie Fogarty and Robyn Wilson received highly commended awards. Well done to all.
This year, we read a class novel called The Boy at the Back of the Class. We loved the story and learned about the importance of inclusivity. We focused on the topic of refugees and gained a better understanding of their experiences, which tied into a history project on immigration and emigration.
In the last term, we packed our bags and headed off to Gartan in Donegal for four days and three nights. We took part in activities like nightlining, kayaking, canoeing, and orienteering, and had so much fun singing and dancing together as a class.
After Gartan, we returned to the classroom to focus on our Science Fair projects. We all created and presented different projects, such as “How to Protect Your Hair from Chlorine”, “How to Build a Biodiversity Garden”, and exploring colour theory. It was an amazing day, and we learned so much. Overall, we had an incredible year at St. Gerard’s with Ms. Byrne. We will miss her, and she will miss us!
Standa rd 6
As we close this chapter of the school year, it’s truly special to look back on the countless memories we’ve created together in Standard 6. So, let’s pause for a moment and take a stroll down memory lane, cherishing the many highlights that have made this journey unforgettable.
The Science Fair is undeniably a standout event for many of our Std. 6 students. Countless weeks of thoughtful planning, navigating through trials and errors, and quite possibly, a few late-night sessions all lead up to this momentous occasion. The hard work of the students paid off as they proudly stood beside their displays, passionately explaining their projects to everyone willing to lend a listening ear.
Our Confirmation ceremony holds a special place in the hearts of those participating. The beautiful ‘Candle of Light’ service marks the start of the church ceremonies, setting the tone for the preparations leading up to the big day. It’s a time cherished by students as they embark on this meaningful journey of faith and self-discovery. From the artwork to the prayers and responses, the students radiated a sense of pride as they received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The summer trip to Gartan in Donegal was a roaring success! As the students bid farewell to their parents, excitement filled the air, fuelled by anticipation for the adventures ahead. From the moment we arrived, we dove straight into a whirlwind of activities—canoeing, team-building exercises, and even a thrilling late-night ‘Night Line’ activity. The wideopen spaces, fresh Donegal air, and sense of freedom allowed our students to truly blossom and embrace their role as young adults.
The activities mentioned above were undeniably standout of our year together. However, it’s often the seemingly mundane days of learning, peppered with little chats and moments of laughter, that truly make our journey memorable. It’s in these everyday moments that bonds are formed, friendships deepen, and lasting memories are created. Wishing all my students a very happy Summer and every success and happiness
Std 6 Confirmation
The boys and girls from Std. 6 were preparing for their Confirmation months before it took place. The first step was the Service of Light. The Service of Light took place in St. Peter’s Church. All the pupils making their Confirmation attended the Service and we held our baptism candles. We also made a pledge during this Service. After some weeks we had the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession. Confession took place in the School Chapel on the St. Gerard’s campus. After weeks of preparing for the sacrament, all of the pupils got on a bus and went to St. Fergal’s to practise for our Confirmation Day. Then, on Thursday 21st of March we met at St. Fergal’s at 3 o’clock. The Mass was really beautiful and we all went up to Fr. Jimmy or Fr. Michael, with our sponsor and got anointed with oil and chrism. During this part of the Service each individual said their Confirmation name that we had chosen. After the Confirmation Service, we went back to the School to celebrate the Confirmation and had a party. Thank you to Dr. Farrell, Mr. Caraher, Ms. Byrne, Ms. Mellon and Ms. Flanagan and a very big thank you to Father Michael, Father Jimmy and Sister Patricia.
Keb Carroll
reporter
Std 6 To u r to G artan
At 8:00am Std. 6 pupils enthusiastically left for their very exciting school trip to Gartan Activity Centre in Co. Donegal. Everyone had a great time on the bus to Gartan. We eventually arrived in Gartan and were helped to settle into our various rooms. After we had lunch we did lots of activities such as “electric shock” and many, many more. Tired out we went straight to our dorms where we weren’t long falling asleep. The next morning we were up bright and
early to start our very exciting activities. The three days were super interesting from dawn to dusk and included canoeing, kayaking, orienteering, snakes and ladders in real life and archery. Then in the evening we would suffer through a very muddy activity called the night line! Blindfolded - you had to hold the person in front of you, make your way through obstacles, a tunnel, a very muddy track and a forked tree – all without falling down.
reporter Taylor McGillycuddy
Then you were asked questions which if you got wrong you took two steps backwards. We ended in the lake because our answers were incorrect. The instructors left us, some students peeked and realised we were abandoned. We ran for the showers!! The 4 days were amazing. We were so happy and cheerful. We were treated to McDonalds on the way back which we all really enjoyed. What a wonderful school trip we the Std. 6 year-group had.
Standar d 6
On Wednesday 8th May, Standard 6 had their Science Fair. This happens every year and is judged by Mrs. Murphy. It helps to prepare us for the BT Young Scientist and to improve our scientific knowledge and capability.
We had all been working on our project for months and along with a presentation board, we all had to keep a log book in which we recorded what we did each day and we stuck pictures of our experiments in. This year’s Science Fair was a huge success and we all put a tremendous amount of effort and hard work into our project. On Tuesday, we set up the hall and put our posters on the designated boards. The whole Junior School came in to see the Science Fair projects and everyone explained their projects to the younger children. At 1pm all the parents arrived and walked around the hall looking at all the various projects. All the Science Fair projects were wonderful but of course there had to be winners. Congratulations to the overall winners Robyn Wilson, Aidan Hopkins and Holly Gillespie.
lach reporterS Robyn Wilson
This year all of the Std. 6 students came together and put on two amazing plays - The Voices of The Titanic and Aladdin. Susanne, Ms. Broxson and Ms. Olohan helped us immensely to create these pieces of dramatic and musical art. The Titanic is a dramatic piece that retells the tragic events that took place over a century ago. And Aladdin was an uplifting tale about a good hearted thief who steals a mystical lamp that holds a magical genie. Both of these plays had everyone on the edge of their seats and they made us ecstatic for when we will do our 4th Year TY Production!
y reporterS
Aoibhin Kocikowska
A special “go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir” from Dr. Farrell to all who make our Junior School into the happy and caring community which it is :
Thank you to Alexandra and her team who clean our School to such an amazingly high standard day in and day out.
Thank you to Gerry, Sean, Tommy, Brendan Sean and Paul who are endlessly patient and who ensure that each maintenance task – big or small – is done to the highest professional standard – and is also done with a smile!
A big thank you to Brien and all the Catering Team who look after us all so well in the Dining Hall with food fit for a king!
My sincere thanks to Stephanie and Denise who quite simply ensure that the Junior School runs smoothly and seamlessly and who, even more importantly, ensure that children, parents and visitors feel welcomed - with no question ever being too small and no task too large.
And finally thank you to our super Standard 6 Newsletter team! Under Stephanie’s guidance, they have produced this Newsletter filled with interesting articles, news and photographs. You all went the extra mile and wow was it worth it. Well done!
Academic Dates Calendar
ST. GERARD’S JUNIOR SCHOOL
Friday 23rd 1st Year Introduction Day - No. 1
28th August
Monday 26th 1st Year Introduction Day - No. 2 Staff Inservice Day 1 8.45am - 3.40pm
6 Induction 10.00am to 1.00pm
29th August School re-opens 8.30am to 2.30pm Junior and Senior Infants 8.30am to 12 noon
6th Year Leadership Training Day
Tuesday 27th Staff Inservice Day 2 8.45am - 3.40pm
Monday 2nd September Games, Prep and After-Care commence Wednesday 4th September
1st Year Activity Day - No. 3 6th Year Orientation Day and Study Skills Course
5th Year Orientation & Assembly
3rd Year Orientation & Assembly
11th September
2nd Year Orientation Day & Assembly
and 6
1st Year Parent Information Evening 7.00pm Junior School Hall
Junior & Senior Infants
Wednesday 28th Full Classes Commence 8.45am
27th September
Games Programme 2.00pm 4th Year (TY) Induction Morning 8.45am - 1.25pm
DAY DAtE EvENt
25th October
Thursday 5th 6th Year Parent Information Evening 7.00pm Junior School Hall
Monday 4th November School re-opens.
Thurs-Tues 5th - 10th Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Saturday 9th November Junior School Parent-Teacher Meetings
Monday 9th Transition Year Parent Information Evening 7.00pm Junior School Hall
Monday 11th November Mass for deceased members of the School community
Wed - Fri 11th - 13th TY Camping Trip Lough Dan
Thursday 12th Student Mass for the opening of the School Year 10.00am
20th December
Thursday 12th 2nd & 3rd Year Parent Information Evening 7.00pm Junior School Hall
Monday 16th 5th Year Parent Information Evening 7.00pm Junior School Hall
Tuesday 17th 6th Year Retreat
Monday 6th January Easter Term commences
Monday 3rd February
School closed for St. Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday
Wednesday 18th Parents’ Association A.G.M. - Guest Speaker John Lonergan 7.00pm Junior School Hall
Friday 14th February Half-term commences 2.30pm
Friday 20th Debutantes Reception 6.00pm Junior School Hall
Monday 24th February
Mon - Fri 23rd - 27th Wellbeing Week
School re-opens
Wednesday 25th 5th Year Higher Options Conference 8.45am R.D.S
Week commencing March 3rd Second Parent-Teacher Meeting (times to be advised for each class)
Friday 27th School Closed
Monday 17th March School closed for St. Patrick’s Day Bank Holiday
