Currently displaying the latest from
School News
Active Home Week 27th April – 3rd May
This week, children and families across Ireland will participate in #ActiveHomeWeek. Scoil Mhuire Junior is taking part and encouraging children to have a go at doing some physical activity each day this week. Click here for more information. Teachers will include some physical activities in their work suggestions this week so IF it suits your family to participate then have a go! Remember to include #activehomeweek and @scoilmhuirescmj if tweeting about your activities!
And if you would like some extra ideas for keeping active, just have a look at this word cloud:
Online books for reading at home.
There are a number of ways to access free online books during this time. It is important that children have opportunities to read at home so to help with finding books for your child to read we have put together the following information. Please get in touch with any questions you may have.
Kildare Library Services:
People can join up to the library at this time without having to present themselves with ID etc. Instructions for doing this can be found here: https://www.librariesireland.ie/news/online-services-during-coronavirus.
New members can then access all of the free online library services and resources including e-books, e-audiobooks, e-comics etc. They also have a wonderful Children’s Reading Corner. The link above also includes short guides on how to access and use these services and resources. Download the ‘BorrowBox’ app and you can download ebooks for free to read on a mobile device.
Once signed up, all of the online services can be accessed through the Kildare Library Service website:
http://kildare.ie/Library/OnlineServices/.
Other:
- We highly recommend the online programme READING EGGS. This includes reading activities, spellings, games and online books matched to your child’s reading level. They are offering a free trial at the moment and it is well worth a look.
- Raz Kids is a leveled e-book library where the books are leveled and colour-coded the same as in school. It is child-friendly and interactive. There are lots of e-books per level. Children can choose books based on the book colour they read in school. Each book includes a little comprehension quiz at the end and comes in audio format for self-correction. It also enables children to record little voice notes, type notes or highlight words. They are offering free access until the end of the school year. Go to https://www.learningaz.com/site/lp2/covid19 to register.
- Oxford Press are allowing access to all of their ebooks readers for children for free. Just go to https://home.oxfordowl.co.uk/books/free-ebooks/ and browse.
- RNIB Bookshare offers access to free online books and readers.
Information from teachers during school closure.
Click here to view the work suggestions from your child’s individual teacher.
20/04/2020
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope you and your families are well and getting used to the new lockdown norm. I have not received any indication from the Department of Education and Skills regarding any dates for the possible reopening of school buildings. Teachers will continue to update you via our website, www.scmj.ie and their individual links there; they will also make online contact you. Please contact your child’s teacher as they want to help and receiving feedback helps us plan what’s best for the children.
I will be phoning you all next week for a quick chat; if you need to contact me please email caitlin.oconnor@scmj.ie
If you are receiving this letter by post, according to our records, you never agreed to receive contact from the school by email; if you now can agree to email contact it would make things easier for the school and ensure you receive regular updates as fast as possible. Please forward your email to me, caitlin.oconnor@scmj.ie
I want to wish Ms Jessica Raymond and Ms Gemma Swords well as they begin their maternity leaves from school, our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families at this exciting time for them. A huge welcome to Ms Mary O’Halloran who is taking over from Ms Swords in Room 11 and Ms Deirdre O’Hagan who is taking over from Ms Raymond.
I continue to hold you in my prayers, St Teresa of Avila beautifully says:
‘Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing,
God never changes.’
Le gach dea ghuí,
Caitlin O’Connor.
Hi Boys and Girls,
I cannot believe the school is still closed!
Not to worry, teachers have lots of fun activities and some cool work to keep you going for another while. Check out our website, www.scmj.ie
I hope you had a lovely Easter with your family, I know I did! I have been walking my two dogs every day; I even met some of you when I was out and about! I’m also very busy trying to make sure my cat doesn’t eat the birds in my garden! Last week I saw two robins, a wagtail, a thrush, two blackbirds (collecting twigs and grass for a nest) and a goldfinch, I had to look the goldfinch up online, as I hadn’t seen one before!
Isn’t he very pretty? Maybe you could take some pictures of the birds you see, only if mam or dad have time to spare.
I know how kind and helpful you all are in school so I hope you are really helping out at home and learning new skills like cleaning and tidying.
I will keep saying a prayer for you and you keep saying a prayer for me.
Chat soon,
Ms O’Connor
Click here to view some of the recommended free digital resources available.
Resources for Home During School Closure
Parents should view the link from their child’s individual teacher for advice, tips and learning activities. This will be the most helpful resource to you in knowing how to support your child’s learning at home but there are also lots of wonderful free online resources available to parents which may further support you. Many of these resources are used regularly in our school and we have chosen the ones we feel are particularly useful and worth a look. Please also keep an eye on our Twitter feed where we are tweeting daily with ideas, tips and online activities. (Note: you don’t have to sign up to Twitter to view our feed.)
Tips:
- Here are some useful tips on helping young children to read: Click here to view.
- Here are some great tips for keeping children busy and getting them moving: Click here to view.
- Here are some tips on how to count with young children. Click here to view..
- Paula Conlan, who teaches Wellness Drama in the school, has kindly shared these videos for the children to view.
Free online resources available:
- Twinkl has offered free access to all parents for the upcoming month. This will allow parents unlimited access to every single resource for every subject. Go to www.twinkl.ie/offer and enter the code IRLTWINKLHELPS.
- Starfall: visit the website or download the app. Lots of games and stories to support the learning of phonics and reading. Particularly useful for Junior Infants to 1st Class.
- Teach Your Monster to Read: this is a highly recommended website and app which supports your child in learning to read.
- topmarks.co.uk: this website has lots of games and activities in all subjects and for all levels.
- gonoodle.com: this is a great website full of dances, exercises and physical activities. It is used in school on a daily basis to keep the children active.
- Worldbookonline: All students in the Republic of Ireland have open and free home access to World Book Online. World Book is a trusted encyclopedia containing thousands of informational articles with stunning illustrations, videos, interactive maps, research help, and activities.
- Grow in Love online program: This program is used to teach religion in school. There are stories, songs, videos and activities for each topic. Use these details to sign up: Email: trial@growinlove.ie, Password: growinlove
- Kildare Library and Arts online services offer a wide range of services including ebooks, eccomics and the Children’s Reading Corner.
- NCSE online resources: resources for children with special educational needs.
- Folens have given free access to all of their ebooks and resources. Go to folensonline.ie and enter Prim20 as the roll number. Planet Maths and Abair Liom are both used to support teaching in the school and this site will give access to all of the games, interactive resources and ebooks.
- CJ Fallon is offering free access to all of its online textbooks. Click on the year and subject to view titles.
- The Educational Company of Ireland are offering free access to all of their ebooks and digital resources. Use the login primaryedcobooks and the password edco2020.
- RNIB Bookshare: free online books and readers.
- Worldebook have made 3,000 ebooks and audiobooks available for children to access at home
- Kandle.ie will be regularly posting resources for key liturgical dates.
- Scoilnet.ie: resources and activities to support students and teachers for every subject.
Emergency School Closure
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I am confirming the school is closed tomorrow 13/03/20 and will reopen on 30/03/2020. I will update you of any further developments by text, email and the school website, www.scmj.ie
Over the next number of weeks please read to your children, listen to your children reading, keep them active and minimise screen time.
The online learning resource company, Twinkl, used regularly by teachers in our school, has offered free access to all parents for the upcoming month. This will allow parents unlimited access to every single resource for every single curriculum subject from junior infants to sixth class.
Setting this up is really easy to do – go to www.twinkl.ie/offer and enter the code IRLTWINKLHELPS.
I am also attaching an advice sheet from the Department of Education and Skills, offering advice to parents on how to reassure children during this worrying time.
On behalf of the staff, Board of Management and myself, I wish you and your family well for the coming weeks.
Le gach dea ghuí,
Caitlin O’Connor
Principal
Talking to children about Covid 19.