We have had a busy few weeks in PJP since our last newsletter.

A big thank you to Ms Kieran for organising our own World Book Day event! It was great to see the staff and students making such a big effort and to have so many different characters from wonderful books in our school!

Go raibh míle maith agat to Ms. Magner for coordinating our Seachtain na Gaeilge, which you can read more about below.

I hope that everyone can enjoy the next few days - Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh go léir.

Ms. Markey

The 21st March is World Down Syndrome Day! We will be marking the event at PJP by asking the children (and staff) to wear colourful/eye-catching and/or mismatched socks fun socks to school (Normal uniform applies). We are hoping to create more awareness among the school community. We will not be collecting money for this event!

Here at PJP we are taking part in the save the bees project run by Supervalu. If anyone is shopping in Supervalu and you spend €30 or more please ask for a Save the Bees card and send them into Ashleen in the office.

We are hoping that between our newly planted orchard and now wild flowers we will be able to play our part and help to make PJP a nicer place for everyone! Our Amber Flag committee will be leading the way more planting projects! It is great that our Amber Flag Committee can work with our Green Team in helping us to get hopefully get our? Green Flag.

Ms. Magner and Ms. Bradshaws' classes are also working on the Woodies Budding Gardeners Project so keep your eyes peeled for new plants, trees and gardening projects around the school!

We are building up our gardening equipment for students so if you have a spare trowel or planting pots or anything you no longer need please send them into the school office! Many thanks!

PJP Seachtain na Gaeilge took place from 7th to 16th March. During the week everyone made a very special effort to speak “as gaeilge”. We were very lucky to have a special visit from Seánchaí (storyteller) Seosamh O’Maolaí to 4th Class.

A huge thank you to Mary Grimes who also visited the school to teach all year levels some Irish dancing.

Scríofa ag Emily Goodman ~ Written by Emily Goodman

I rith Seachtain na Gaeilge, bhí “Raidió PJP” ar siúl gach lá. Ghlac buachaillí agus cailíní ó Rang a Sé páirt ann, ag obair mar láirthreoirí. Thuairiscigh siad ar go leor ábhar: nuacht agus cúrsaí spórt na scoile, an aimsir, breithlaethanta agus nushonruithe faoin mbrat glas agus an brat ómra. Rinne na daltaí cúpla cleachtadh le Ms Marron sula ndeachaigh siad ar an aer.

Chomh maith leis sin, bhí comórtas sa chlár, inár féidir le gach uile rang cur isteach ar. Chuala muid dhá cheist agus an rang a sheol na fregraí cearta is tapúla (ar Whatsapp) - fuair siad duais!

Buaiteoirí an chomórtais: Rang Ms Callely, Ms Kearns, Ms Cahill agus Ms Bradshaw!

Na láithreoirí a rinne jab iontach:

Rang Ms Marron: Phoenix Cronin, Ruben Scullion, Emily Feng, Emily Goodman, Emilia Walsh agus Aoife Kenny

Rang Mr Leahy: Conor Delaney, Hugh McNamara, Zack Laminciuc, Darci Gormley, Éabha Flynn agus Ava Doonan

Rang Ms Millar: Oliver Spillane, Finn Geoghegan, Erin Parnell, Ronan O'Connor, Finbar Causer agus Jake Whelan

Rang Ms Bradshaw: Cara McDiarmid, Grace Quinn, Zoe Fitzsimons, Rory Ó Connor, Daniel Noonan agus Michael Miller

Rang Ms Ní Chonchubhair:

Grace Doorley, Laura Kelleher, Adam Hogan, Simon Stokes, Cathal O' Sullivan, Nathamon Kaewkhumsri

Bhain gach duine an-sult as an ngníomhaíocht seo! Bhí spraoi iontach againn! 😊

Raidió PJP

Raidió PJP took place every day during Seachtain na Gaeilge (Irish Language & Culture Week), with some 6th class girls and boys working as presenters. They reported on many topics such as school news and sports news, the weather, birthdays and updates such as on the green flag and amber flag. The pupils would do a few practices with Ms Marron before going on air.

As well as that, there was a competition into which every class in the school could enter! We heard 2 questions and the class who sent the correct answers on Whatsapp the fastest- they won a prize! Competition winners: Ms Callely’s class, Ms Kearns, Ms Cahill agus Ms Bradshaw!

The presenters who did a fantastic job:

Ms Marron’s Class: Phoenix Cronin, Ruben Scullion, Emily Feng, Emily Goodman, Emilia Walsh and Aoife Kenny

Mr Leahy’s Class: Conor Delaney, Hugh McNamara, Zack Laminciuc, Darci Gormley, Éabha Flynn and Ava Doonan

Ms Millar’s Class: Oliver Spillane, Finn Geoghegan, Erin Parnell, Ronan O'Connor, Finbar Causer and Jake Whelan

Ms Bradshaw’s Class: Cara McDiarmid, Grace Quinn, Zoe Fitzsimons, Rory Ó Connor, Daniel Noonan and Michael Miller

Ms Ní Chonchubhair’s Class:

Grace Doorley, Laura Kelleher, Adam Hogan, Simon Stokes, Cathal O' Sullivan, Nathamon Kaewkhumsri

Everyone really enjoyed this ! We had great fun!

On 16/03/22, we held a very special zoom concert with representatives from all year levels who performed some Irish jigs and reels and played a few tunes on the tin whistle and fiddle!

Thank you to 6th class who co-ordinated raidió PJP and also formed a “foireann fáilte” welcoming committee at the gate every day, awarding stickers to those making a special effort to speak “as gaeilge”.

Congratulations to all the winners of our “sean fhocail” poster competition!

By Zofia Polanski

6th Class, Room 8

Ms Millar

On the 1st March, our class had a special visitor – Dale Treadwell. After we played the game, Dale told us we would be replanting the trees that grow at the side of our school. He said that the soil they were planted in was not good enough for them to grow well. He used a spade to mix some top soil into the normal soil, so that it would have lots of nutrients in order for the trees to grow well. Then he dug two holes, each about 30 centimetres deep. After that, two people held up the trees so that they would be straight, while the others put the top soil around them. It was great fun. Then Dale had to go. We all said goodbye. We learned lots about trees and we hope to see Dale in our school again soon”

By Dónal McGovern

Room 8

Ms Millar

On 1st March Ms Millar told us that a man would be coming in and talking to us about trees and nature and all of that. We were all so excited when we heard the news and couldn’t wait. His name was Dale and when he came in we were so happy.

He was talking to us about different trees and the different nutrients they needed. He was also telling us where you can find different types of trees and where he used to live is where the second tallest types of trees are in the world. He was saying that traditionally in Ireland the trees are oak, ash, hazel, birch or willow. Next he told us that some Irish names mean different types of trees, like Darragh, meaning oak and Glencullen meaning holly glen.

After that the talked to us about bats’ hearing through echolocation and bats producing ultrasonic sounds that are at a high frequency and can’t hear sometimes.

Next, we went outside with Dale and played a game where there were two people in a circle with one trying to catch the other person with their eyes closed, while the other person ran around making bat noises. It was difficult, but it was great fun and all enjoyed playing it.

The closing date for our application for our next Green Flag is fast approaching.

As part of this submission, we need to have eliminated single use plastic bottles from PJPs.

Next week the GS Committee will undertake the final survey of staff and pupils and we hope that 100% of those surveyed will be using a reusable bottle. We appreciate your help and support in reaching this goal!

At the start of the month we had Dale Treadwell from Naturally Wild pay us a visit. He spent time with several classes and spoke to the children about biodiversity. The classes also got to help Dale plant some trees in the school grounds. Thank you to Ms. Millar's class for writing up about this for our newsletter.

Alan Nolan is an author from Bray, Co. Wicklow. He has written and illustrated many books, such as “Sam Hannigan’s Rockstar Granny”, “Animal Crackers”, “Death by Chocolate”, “Fintan’s Fifteen”, “Sam Hannigan’s Woof-Week” etc.

At 9:30 we joined a zoom call with him, but we were greeted by Wexford Education Centre. When he came on camera he talked about his granny and all the crazy stories she told him. Alan is really obsessed with spooky stories. He enjoys writing as much as illustrating. The first thing he thought us to draw as a bat. In doing so he gave step by step tutorials on how to draw it and gave good tips on how to bring the bat to life.

The second thing he thought us to draw was a vampire. He mentioned how they shapeshift, so we drew bat ears. He thought us about highlights and where to put them. We all really enjoyed the webinar. The time went by very quickly. We really hope we can do another webinar with this author again.

By Mollie Hopper-Jones, Emily Goodman & Emma Fay

Room 10, Ms Marron’s 6th Class

Ms. Costello is looking after the girls sixth class soccer team. Trials were held on Monday of this week and there was a great turnout. The girls will have their first match Friday 25th March against Rush N.S. Best of luck girls!

Ms. Bradshaw and Mr. Whiting are looking after the boys sixth class soccer team. They also recently held trials and their first match will be against Holy Family Swords the week after next. Best of luck to the boys!

Well done to Pippa and Lucia from Ms. O'Brien's fourth class for their excellent work on their project on Japan.

The PA are working on an amazing new art project! All students and staff recently decorated their own unique wooden bird. The PA are working on bringing all the individual pieces together to create a very special new piece of art for the school. We are really looking forward to seeing the finished project.

Email: info@pjp.ie
Website: https://www.pjp.ie/
Location: Sea Road, Yellow Walls, Malahide, County Dublin, Ireland
Phone: 01 8450736
Twitter: @pjp_ie