1st Class School Tour

1st Class School Tour 2019

We had a super day on our school tour to Aillwee Caves. The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. While the weather wasn’t as lovely as previous weeks we only faced one shower during the Birds of Prey Flying Display.

The bus journey was a little bumpy heading to County Clare but we survived! On arrival we had a Guided Tour of the cave given by Liz, our tour guide. We learned that there is a constant temperature of 10 degrees celcius inside and this is why the Brown Bear would have chosen to hibernate here many, many winters ago. The bones of the Brown Bear were found over 40 years ago. See http://clareherald.com/2018/07/aillwee-cave-bear-skull-is-10400-years-old-19767/ for more information.

The cave was discovered in the 1940s, when a farmer named Jack McGann followed his dog, who was chasing a rabbit. Some children were very concerned that Jack died in the cave but we were reassured by Liz that he lived to be 90 years of age and enjoyed several explorations of the cave.

We saw stalagmites (grow upwards) and stalactites (fall down), which are formed from calcium deposits not ice as some guessed! We passed over a few narrow bridges inside the cave, saw a waterfall, got our hair wet running under dripping water & enjoyed when the lights were turned off in full. It was very dark & we realised what it would have been like for the Brown Bears. Scary!!

We ate a snack and some treats at 11 a.m., walked in the Woodland Area with Conal leading the way and visited the Birds of Prey Centre. We walked through the aviary, meeting eagles, falcons, hawks, owls and vultures. It was a truly magnificent flying display. Guided by experienced Falconers we met Jess, Batty and Milly as they swooped over our heads in the high winds. Isabelle and Sam, both wearing bright colours were chosen to stand in the middle of the ring while beautiful birds landed on their arms! One bird wore a hood to keep him calm. The children taught he looked like a secret agent up close!

We learned all about Aillwee’s award winning Burren Gold Cheese. The children asked interesting questions about the colour of the wax, why didn’t they make blue cheese & how heavy were the wheels of cheese. Dylan lifted one and attested to its weight.  We tasted some samples also. We visited the Gift Shop and learned how 5 euro cannot buy everything. The children chose pencils, erasers, small teddies of the birds of prey and/or a sweet treat.

Despite the road closure at Oranmore rail crossing our great bus driver from Costello Bus Hire had us back in school by 3 p.m. While exhausted we had a fabulous day and the children were very well-behaved, curious and interested throughout. Well done First Class!

To see all the pictures from the tour, please go to classes tab and select your child’s class grouping.

Helen, Hilary and Karen

Senior Infants School Tour

We had a wonderful day on our school tour! Super weather, super venues and super children. They were a joy to accompany!

We left school shortly after 9.10am and arrived at the Burren Nature Sanctuary at 10am. We were met by our guide, Caroline who let us play in the indoor play area for half an hour before we ate a snack. The indoor area has a slide, soft play area and climbing frames. We had the entire indoor space to ourselves! Next, we headed off to the barn to hold the Guinea Pigs, feed the goat and outdoors we fed Dyson the pig and the lambs. Following that we went for a walk through the Fairy Wood where we saw the homes of the Fitness Fairy, the Tooth Fairy and many more. Caroline told us all about the mischievous fairies who cause lots of trouble and we made wishes at the Wishing Well. We visited the Gypsy Fairy's wagon and the Tree House before returning indoors for a snack. We finished our trip to the Burren Nature Sanctuary by playing outdoors in the sandpit, on the swings, slides and climbing frames.

Our next stop was Dunguaire Castle. Martin, our bus driver with Costello's Bus Hire kindly accompanied us across the road to the beautiful fort of King Guaire. We toured the castle and it's spiral staircase, watched Alan make jewellery from powdered glass and played tag on the green inside the castle walls. Emily and Grofu led the group in a fine rendition of Galway Bay by Francis Fahy. The tourists loved this and were a great audience! It was a really lovely day! We were tired but happy by the time we returned to school for the 3pm pick up. Suzanne and Helen told Terri that our 20 Senior Infants are certainly ready for 1st Class! They are a truly wonderful, happy bunch.

To see all the pictures from the tour, please go to classes tab and select your child’s class grouping.

Congratulations to our 3rd Class pupil, Lucy Concannon

Congratulations to our 3rd Class pupil, Lucy Concannon who played her first game for Galway camogie on Saturday evening in Parnell Park.  

Cumann na mBunscol organised the game between Galway and Dublin primary school girls. Maura Murphy oversaw the Galway girls. We were asked to nominate one girl who plays with a club and school.

The match was played during the half time interval in the Leinster Championship hurling clash between Galway and Dublin. Stella and Declan reported that it was a very well organised event.

Lucy plays club camogie with Carnmore CC and with our school team here in CET NS. She played in goals on Saturday evening. They beat a very strong opposing team.

Terri was delighted to hear Lucy's name called out on Galway Bay FM during the hurling match coverage. While it was not televised Stella took some photos which we have attached.

No Energy Day-June 14th 2019

On Friday 14th 2019, we had a “No Energy Day” at CETNS. We didn’t turn on the lights or use technology or electricity all day long. Different classes along with the Green Committee took the meter readings at various stages of the day. We are in the process of comparing results with a “normal energy” day where we turn on the lights, use IWB’s (Interactive Whiteboards), i-pads, chrome books, photocopiers and laminators in our daily lives at school. It will be interesting to see how much electricity and money we saved on our “No Energy Day”.

On Friday, we had a day of fun where we embraced the outdoors, played board games, hockey, hurling, Cluichi Gaeilge (Irish word games), jigsaws, listened to stories, did some gardening, Free Writing, Free Drawing, “Stretch and Grow” in the castle field, old fashioned games like hopscotch and elastics. Remember “ England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales…”

Well done to all the parents, staff and students who got up that bit earlier to walk, cycle, scoot, car-pool or Park and Stride at the Arches on Friday to help save energy and look after our environment. Please try and keep it up for the rest of the term and next year also.

Junior Infants School Tour to Glendeer Pet Farm followed by "Jump for Joy"

The Junior Infants had a fabulous school tour to Glendeer Pet Farm near Athlone. They traveled by bus to Glendeer Pet Farm. First they had a little snack to give them energy for their tour. Then they had a lovely walk around the farm where they got to meet parrots, emus, monkeys, goats, , rabbits, puppies, lizards, wallabies to name a few. Our tour guide for the day was Charlotte and she was really impressed with how well the Junior Infants listened to her when she was teaching them about the animals. During the tour, they had an opportunity to explore an old house that had lots of old household items in it. eg an old iron, stove, radio, butter churn, bicycle etc. After the tour, the children had some free time in the playground and then they were well ready for their lunch. After that, we got back on to the bus to continue our day out at “ Jump for Joy” an indoor playground. The children had a ball there.

Then it was back on the bus . Some children had a lovely sleep on the way home . Others sang and chatted. It was a wonderful day. Everybody was in great humour. Many thanks to Martin our bus driver who got us there and home safely. Also thank you to Karen, Hilary and Michaela for their help on the day. I hope the Junior Infants will remember their first school tour of Primary School.

The Green School Committee, Junior Infants and the chidren in Damien's classroom visited " Green Earth Organics" to learn all about organic farming from owner Kenneth Keavey

We had a wonderful outing to Green Earth Organics and thank you so much Kenneth Keavey for the very informative and educational tour. He brought us to the cold room, the shop , the poly tunnels and the fields. Kenneth showed them how to grow vegetables without using chemicals. It was great fun. The children even got the opportunity to pull up their own vegetables and bring some home. They had a great time rolling around in the fields at the end of the tour having some good “old fashioned fun” in the fresh air.

Thank you so much Kenneth!

New Sports Gear

Claregalway Educate Together were delighted to receive support for their sports teams recently. 
Costello Bus Hire Ltd and Raftery’s Centra kindly sponsored a set of gear bags for the school’s hurling, camogie, volleyball and soccer teams. We wish to acknowledge these local businesses and look forward to continued cooperation with them in the community of Claregalway in the coming years. Here’s to lots more enjoyable sporting school events! Scoil Oideachas Le Chéile Bhaile Chláir abú!

CETNS got involved in the April National Spring Clean

Every year, the staff and children love to get involved in the April National Spring Clean. We always pick litter all around the Abbey, the Abbey car park, Cloonbiggen Rd,. and our school grounds.

The children really look forward to this event and love using the gardening gloves and litter pickers. Thank you to Caitriona Cunningham for sharing her high viz vests, litter pickers and gloves with us.

Making sundials today with 1st & 2nd.

Busy learning about the movement of the sun today with 1st and 2nd class.

We all made our own sundials.

St Patrick's Day Celebrations

A big thank you to all the students and families that turned out today to represent the school at the Claregalway St Patrick’s festivities. Here are two videos Terri took earlier. A big thanks to Daniel, Niamh and Siobhán for all their work getting it all together for today’s performance.

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