Gníomhaíochtaí/Activities
Réamhrá/Introduction
Déanann bord bainistíochta na scoile seo gach uile iarracht oideachas d’ard-chaighdeán a chur ar fáil do na daltaí tríd deiseanna foghlama luachmhara óna gcéad lá scoile. Ar an dtuiscint go bhfuil leibhéal cumais ar leith ag gach dalta, tá béim ar spórt, ceol agus na healaíona i nGaelscoil Bhaile Munna. Tugann na hábhair seo féinmhuinín do roinnt leanaí sa scoil nach bhfaighfidh siad sna hábhair acadúla.
The board of management of Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna strives to enrich the overall experience of children by providing valuable learning activities for all from the moment they enter our school. Mindful that all children have different levels of academic ability, we understand that sport, music and the arts play a vital role in education and can give pupils a sense of self-worth and inner achievement they may not find in other areas. The following is a list of some of the activities we engage in within our school.
Spórt/Sport
Maraon leis an gcuraclam corpoideachais, cuireann Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna ranganna iománaíochta, camógaíochta agus peile ar fáil do na leanaí scoile i gcomhpháirt leis na cumainn lúthchleas gael áitiúla. Glacann an scoil páirt i gCumann na mBunscoil gach bliain agus bíonn blitzeanna bríomhara, spraíúil ar siúl sa cheantar i rith na bliana le scoileanna eile.
Téann gach páiste ó rang 1-6 chuig ranganna snámha gach bliain ar feadh deich seachtaine.
Along with the normal primary sports curriculum, Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna run hurling, camogie and football training sessions in collaboration with local GAA clubs (Setanta & Ballymun Kickhams) within the school. We take part in Cumann na mBunscoil every year and enjoy taking part in local GAA blitzes for fun with other schools.
All children from 1st to 6th class attend swimming lessons every year for 10 weeks.
Ceol/Music
Tá ról lárnach ag an gceol sa scoil seo. Foghlaimíonn páistí trí cheol óna gcéad lá scoile agus ar aghaidh go rang a sé. Bíonn ranganna feadóg stáin ag rang 1-6. Má tá suim acu níos mó ceol a fhoghlaim, bíonn seans acu páirt a ghlacadh sa ghrúpa cheoil atá ar siúl i rang 2/3. Cuireann an scoil ranganna bosca ceoil, consairtín, fidil, feadóg mhór, giotár agus bodhrán ar fáil dóibh siúd atá suim acu ann. Tá na ranganna seo curtha ar fáil saor in aisce.
Bíonn ranganna taifeadáin (recorder) ag daltaí rang 1-3 gach seachtain le múinteoir ceoil proifisiúnta. Má bhíonn bua an cheoil ag daltaí áirithe, faigheann siad an deis páirt a ghlacadh i ranganna ceoil breise le Scoil Cheoil Bhaile Munna i rang 4-6. Faigheann said uirlisí agus ranganna ceoil saor in aisce tríd an scéim seo. Is múinteoirí ceoil den chéad scoth a thugann na ranganna seo sa scoil agus is iontach an deis í. Is iomaí dalta atá tar éis dul ar aghaidh agus ceol a ghlacadh mar ábhar scoile sa mhéan scoil. Tá roinnt iarscoláirí ag freastail ar an ‘Royal Irish Academy of Music’, áit ina mbeidh said cáilithe mar mhúinteoirí ceoil amach anseo.
Music is an integral part of our school. We expose our pupils to as varied a range of music as possible from an early age. Pupils learn through music and song from their very first day right up to 6th class. All pupils from 1st to 6th class learn the tin whistle. If they are interested in learning more, they may audition for our traditional Irish music group (grúpa cheoil) in 2nd and 3rd class. We teach accordion, concertina, fiddle, flute, guitar and bodhrán and all instruments and lessons are provided free of charge.
Pupils in 1st, 2nd and 3rd class learn the recorder with a professional music teacher. Pupils in 4th, 5th and 6th class who show a particular interest/talent in music are invited to take part in further music lessons with the Ballymun School of Music. They receive free instruments (clarinet, oboe, french horn, saxophone, flute) and are given free lessons by highly trained professional musicians every week. These musicians regularly play in the National Concert Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra and are of the highest pedigree in the country. It is an exceptional opportunity for pupils. Many have gone on to study music in secondary school and some former pupils are currently attending the Royal Irish Academy of Music where they themselves will qualify as professional musicians with a degree in music.
Teiripe Cheoil/Music Therapy
Chuireamar teiripe ceoil ar fáil sa scoil i mbliana. Glacann an teiripeoir ceoil le daltaí aonair agus grúpaí beaga. Féach ar an nasc thíos le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais.
We started providing music therapy to a number of pupils this year. A qualified music therapist takes pupils individually and in small groups. Click on the following link for more information on how this helps many children.
https://www.musictherapyireland.com
Cór Scoile/School Choir
Tá cór na scoile an-ghníomhach ag canadh ag ócáidí i rith na bliana. Canann siad ag na sacraimintí i rang 2 agus rang 6. Bíonn ceol binn na bpáistí le chloisteáil ag bronnadh na dteastais chomh maith nuair a fhágann rang 6 i mí an Mheithimh.
We have a school choir which performs at school events such as our sacraments in 2nd and 6th class, 6th class graduation ceremony and several other events throughout the year.
School Completion Programme
Is é Ballymun Anseo an SCP atá ag obair le Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna. Is í an phríomhaidhm atá ag an SCP ná cabhrú le daoine óga an leas is mó agus is féidir leo a bhaint as a scolaíocht. Glacann daltaí páirt i ranganna cócaireachta, gníomhaíochtaí neartaithe foirne agus grúpaí neartaithe féinmhuinín a thugann na scileanna dóibh a spriocanna a bhaint amach sa saol.
Ballymun Anseo is the local school completion programme which works with our school. It’s primary goal is to assist young people to achieve the very best in their education. Here in Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna pupils take part in cookery classes, team building activities and confidence enriching groups which give them the necessary skills to achieve their goals. For more information on what they do, please visit Ballymun Anseo SCP on our links page.
Content and language integrated learning (CLIL)
Tá CLIL faoi lán tseoil i nGaelscoil Bhaile Munna. Tugann an scéim seo deis do dhaltaí naíonáin mhóra Fraincís a fhoghlaim trí ealaín agus ábhair eile. Tá ilteangachas fíor-thábhachtach le haghaidh páistí na tíre seo agus a luath is a thugtar faoi, is é is fearr.
Léiríonn an taighde atá déanta ar oideachas iltheangach:
Go n-éiríonn níos fearr go hacadúil leis na páistí a théann tríd an gcóras
Go mbíonn sé níos éasca orthu teangacha eile a fhoghlaim
Go mbaineann siad marcanna níos fearr amach sa Bhéarla agus sa Mhatamaitic
Go mbíonn oscailteacht do chultúir eile acu.
Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna runs the CLIL programme which starts in senior infants. This programme introduces French in a fun and engaging manner. It is important that children embrace multilingualism and the sooner this commences, the better. Much research has been carried out in the area of language acquisition all over the world. The value of learning a second or third language cannot be over-estimated.
Research on multilingual education shows that children who learn multilingually:
Perform better academically
Find it easier to learn other languages
Achieve higher scores in English and Maths
Are open to other cultures
http://www.foras.ie/en/irish-medium-education/ilteangachas/
Aistear
Is creatchuraclam luath-óige do pháistí uile na hÉireann ó bhreith go sé blianaé Aistear. Tá faisnéis ann do dhaoine fásta chun cuidiú leo eispéiris thaitneamhacha dhúshlánacha a phleanáil agus a sholáthar, le go mbeidh gach páiste ina fhoghlaimeoir inniúil féinmhuiníneach agus caidrimh ghrámhara le daoine eile á gcothú aige. Le hAistear, déantar cur síos ar na cineálacha foghlama (meonta, luachanna agus dearcadh, scileanna, feasacht agus tuiscint) atá tábhachtach don pháiste i mblianta na luathóige, agus tá tuairimí agus moltaí ann maidir le conas an fhoghlaim seo a chothú.
Aistear is the curriculum framework for children from birth to six years in Ireland. It provides information for adults to help them plan for and provide enjoyable and challenging learning experiences, so that all children can grow and develop as competent and confident learners within loving relationships with others. Aistear describes the types of learning (dispositions, values and attitudes, skills, knowledge, and understanding) that are important for children in their early years, and offers ideas and suggestions as to how this learning might be nurtured.
Ealaíona Cruthaitheacha/Creative Arts
Tá an t-ádh lenár scoil go bhfuilimid suite siúlóid beag ón Ionad Ealaíona Axis. Bíonn an t-ionad seo ag cur na dtaibhealaíon chun cinn agus is minic a théann ranganna chun drámaí a fheiceáil agus iad ar chamchuairt ar fud na tíre. Tá páistí na scoile tar éis páirt a ghlacadh in imeachtaí ar nós potaireacht, péinteáil, dealbhóireacht, ceol/amhránaíocht, taifeadadh agus táirgeadh fuaime, rince cruthaitheach, táirgeadh cartúin agus a lán eile. Is deis iontach iad seo dul i gcleachtadh ar na healaíona cruthaitheacha agus tugann sé réimsí nua cruthaitheacha do na páistí a ghlacann páirt iontu.
We are very lucky that Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna is situated very close to the Axis Arts Centre. Our pupils often attend dramas and workshops which are touring throughout the country. Over the last few years pupils have engaged in artistic experiences such as pottery, painting, sculpture, music/song recording/production, creative dance, cartoon production and much more. These are incredible experiences for pupils and open up a whole new world of creativity for our children.
Turais Gaeltachta/Gaeltacht Trips
Gach bliain téann rang 5 & 6 ar thuras Gaeltachta. Téann rang 5 ó thuaidh go Gaeltacht Dún na nGall ar feadh seachtaine. Téann rang 6 siar go Gaillimh agus ar aghaidh go Inis Mór ar feadh 4/5 lá. Ní chaithfear dul chuig an Ghaeltacht ach moltar go láidir é mar beidh cuimhní geala acu go deo na ndeor. Rinne buachaill amháin cur síos iontach ar an dturas nuair a duirt, "chuamar siar mar chairde ach 'd'fhilleamar mar dhearthaireacha!".
Each year 5th and 6th class go on trips to the Gaeltacht. 5th class go to an Irish college in Donegal for one week. 6th class go to Inis Mór off the coast of Galway for 4/5 days. Pupils do not have to go but we highly recommend that they do as the experience is one they will rememeber and cherish for a liftime. To quote one past pupil, "we went as friends and returned as brothers!".
Sábháilteacht Rothar/Bicycle Safety
I gcomhpháirt le comhairle Bhaile Átha Cliath, glacann rang 3 páirt i ranganna sábháltacht rothaíochta agus bóithre chuile bliain. Bainfear tairbhe as seo mar ghníomhaíocht foghlama agus níl áireamh ar an líon daoine a bheidh sábháilte dá bharr.
3rd class take part in cycle safety/awareness lessons every year. In collaboration with Dublin City Council we engage a company to come to our school and teach road safety for bicycle users. This is a very valuable learning experience and one which can potentially save lives.
First Steps
First Steps is a literacy resource for teachers researched and developed in Western Australia. It comprises a range of literacy strands in the areas of Reading, Writing, Spelling, and Oral Language. It is designed for schools and jurisdictions looking for a practical resource to improve student literacy outcomes at primary level. The strands adopted here in Ireland are:
First Steps Writing
First Steps Reading
First Steps Speaking and Listening
First Steps has an in built diagnostic framework which allows teachers to assess where children are at in each if the 3 areas. Each phase of the continuum has direct links to appropriate teaching emphases and activities to support the student in moving further along the continuum. A whole school approach is central to the success of the resource where all teachers learn how to assess and monitor the literacy development of their students and to link this assessment to developmentally appropriate teaching strategies.
First Steps was chosen by the Department of Education and Science as part of the multi-faceted support provided for urban schools in Ireland designated as disadvantaged under the Delivery Equality of Opportunity In Schools (DEIS) Action Plan (DES, 2005). These schools are asked to nominate members of staff to train as First Steps tutors towards disseminating the practice throughout the school. The tutor attends a training course for which sub cover is provided and receives these resources on training. Resources are supplied to the schools according to number of class teachers and schools are asked to implement the three First Steps literacy resources in line with the objectives of the English Curriculum for Primary Schools. Ideally the three tutors collaborate at school level to develop an integrated approach to the three strands.
Cleachtadh Ceartaithe/Restorative Practice
Go bunúsach, cabhraíonn cleachtadh ceartaithe dúinn dea-chaidrimh a bhunú in ár saol. Ag baint úsáid as na scileanna seo, is féidir coimhlint a íoslaghdú agus tugtar scíleanna níos fear dúinn déileáil leis nuair is gá. Tá foireann iomlán na scoile ag glacadh páirt i ndianthreanáil don scoilbhliain 2019/20. Beidh an modheolaíocht seo i bhfeighm go forleathan againn roimh deireadh na bliana seo.
At its most basic, restorative practices improve the quality of relationships we have. Using this approach can both avoid and minimise conflict, and help us to manage it better when it does arise. We use this in every aspect of school life. All staff are taking part in intensive in-service training during the academic year 2019/20 so we fully implement this model throughout our school. Please visit the following link for more information.
http://www.restorativepracticesireland.ie
Club Obair Bhaile
Bíonn club obair bhaile ar siúl gach seachtain ó Luan go Céadaoin idir 2:10-3pm. Bíonn fáilte roimh dhaltaí ó rang 1-6 cur isteach ar. Bíonn múinteoirí scoile ar fáil chun cabhair agus tacaíocht a thabhairt leis an obair bhaile scoile in áit ciúin agus suaimhneach. Tá seo curtha ar fáil saor in aisce.
We run a homework club Monday – Wednesday every week for pupils from 1st to 6th class from 2:10-3pm. Our teachers run this club and provide a quiet, calm environment where children can ask for assistance with their work if necessary. This is provided free of charge.
Ficheall/Chess
Bíonn club fichille againn gach seachtain chun deis a thabhairt do dhaltaí snas a chur ar a scileanna fichille. Is mór an sport é agus múineann sé aird, straitéis agus foighne d’ár ndaltaí.
We run a chess club every week for any budding chess masters in our midst! It is always great fun and teaches concentration, strategy and patience to our pupils.
Dogs Trust
Tagann duine lena madra ar chuairt chugainn gach bliain ó Dogs Trust. Téann said ó rang go rang ag caint faoi na dualgaisí a bhaineann le peataí agus cé comh tiomanta is a chaithfear a bheith do chearta na hainmhithe.
We invite Dogs Trust to visit our school every year. A facilitator and their pet dog visit all classrooms and educate our pupils on dog ownership and the commitment involved in keeping pets at home.
Brain Calm
Tá roinnt mhaith baill foirne traenálta sa chlár Brain Calm. Cuirfimid é ar fáil dóibh siúd atá míchumas céadfach, ADHD, ASD nó fadhbanna iompar.
We have several staff trained in Brain Calm. We offer this to pupils with sensory issues, ADHD, ASD and behavioural difficulties. Please visit the link below for more information:
https://www.brendacassidy.com/braincalm-program/#toggle-id-1
Roots of Empathy
Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based programme which has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression among school children by raising social-emotional competence and increasing empathy.
At the heart of the programme is a baby and parent who visit the classroom every three weeks during the school year. A trained Roots of Empathy instructor coaches the children to observe the baby's development and to label the baby's feelings. The baby is the ‘teacher’ in this experiential learning, while the instructor helps the children identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others.
The Roots of Empathy instructor also visits before and after each family visit to prepare and reinforce teachings using a specialised lesson plan for each visit.
Research results from national and international evaluations of Roots of Empathy indicate significant reductions in aggression and increases in prosocial behaviours.
Friends for Life
The ‘FRIENDS for Life’ programme is a school-based positive mental health programme. The World Health Organisation cites ‘FRIENDS for Life’ as the only evidence-based programme effective at all levels of intervention for anxiety in children (WHO 2004). The programme helps students to develop effective strategies to deal with worry, stress and change and teaches the skills required to reduce anxiety and promote resilience. It is beneficial for all students, irrespective of their anxiety level. We run this programme in our school every year.
https://www.nbss.ie/interventions-and-projects/wellbeing/friends-for-life
Cúram Sóisialta/Social awareness & duty
Tá sé fíorthabhachtach dúinn go bhfuil tusicint ag na daltaí sa scoil ar an gcuram atá orthu aire a thabhairt don scoil, an timpeallacht agus an domhain mór. Tá neart imeachtaí agus gníomhaíochtaí eagraithe againn chun an sprioc sin a bhaint amach. Sa bhkliain 2019, chuireamar 181 crann i Santraibh ar Lá na gCrann (ceann le haghaidh gach dalta sa scoil). Tá rang 1 ag glacadh páirt i scéim darbh ainm ‘Litter Pickers’ faoi láthair a thugann feasacht ar bhruscar chun cinn. Bailíonn an scoil airgead cúpla uair i rith na bliana do charthanacht ar nós Ospideál Sráid Teampall.
We try to make all pupils aware of the duty we have to our own school, the environment and our planet. Activities we have engaged in which further this goal are varied and plenty. In 2019 we planted 181 trees in Santry Demesne as part of National Tree Day (one for every pupil in the school). We have taken part in several activities over the years through Dublin City Council throughout Ballymun and closer to home, in Coultry Park just beside the school. This year 1st class are involved in a scheme called 'litter pickers' which is aimed at awareness of litter in our locality. We run charity collections throughout the year for Temple Street Hospital and other worthy causes. We take great pride in these extra curricular activities and are always on the lookout for creative ways to explore our civic duty. We plan to plant lots of flowers in our new school this spring and will be asking parents to come along and help. The more 'green fingers' the better!
