Important Message from Lisdowney Parish
As a result of restrictions which are being imposed on people due to the Coronavirus (Covid – 19), there will be no Masses in Lisdowney Parish this coming weekend or weekday until 29th March. There will be a review after that date. Our Parish Priest, Fr. Pat O’ Farrell, will keep the situation under review, in line with guidance from the HSE on religious and social gatherings.
Please note that Mass will be broadcast on both Local Radio Stations this Sunday as follows:
(a) Bishop Dermot Farrell will celebrate Mass at 9.30am to be broadcast on KCLR 96FM.
(b) Community Radio Kilkenny City will broadcast mass live at 10.00am from St. Canices Church.
Apologies for the inconvenience – but we, as a parish and community, must do all in our power to remove the threat of the Coronavirus (Covid 19) from our parish community, protecting especially the most vulnerable.
God’s Grace, Blessing and Protection Upon our Community.
Work You Can Do At Home! Have a Go!
At the following link you will find some activities that you can do at home during the school closure. Remember it is OK if you are not able to do all activities, just try your best! Thank you.
Please click here for more details.
Covid 19 (Coronavirus)
We would like to direct your attention to updated guidance issued, by the Department of Education, on talking to children and young people about Covid-19. Please click here for more details.
The Department of Education and Skills has received an updated letter for all schools from the Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health, Dr Tony Holohan, addressing the recent school closure as a result of the confirmed Covid-19 case. Please click here for more details.
Open Night
Scoil Naomh Fiachra will hold an Open Evening for all current and prospective Parents and Students on Thursday 27th February 2020 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Please pass on this information to anyone that may be interested. Please click here for more details. Thank you.
AED/Defibrillator
Well done to the Clontubrid Community Group who received a grant from the Kilkenny Local Development Committee to purchase a new Automated External Defibrillator. This is now installed on the external wall of Scoil Naomh Fiachra!
Tin Whistle
Thanks very much to Paula Dowling, who has completed 10 weeks of Tin Whistle Lessons with all students in the school. Well done to all students who worked very hard and have yet again made great progress. We give a special congratulations to the Junior Infant Class (pictured) who have only just started playing. Well done all!
Friendship Week
In Scoil Naomh Fiachra we value our school as a kind, caring and inclusive community of learning. With this in mind, our school celebrated Friendship Week in early November 2019. Throughout this week, students were actively engaged in lessons about the importance of Friendship. Activities included: Random Acts of Kindness, Making Friendship Bracelets, Compliment Boxes etc. The Senior Room students were given buddies from the Middle and Junior Rooms. We are very proud of how all students engaged in fun friendship activities with one another. Many thanks to our hard-working Parents’ Council who arranged an Anti-Bullying Talk for parents on the 27th November 2019.
Lisdowney Under 21 Hurling Success
Congratulations to the Lisdowney Under 21 Hurling Team who triumphed in the Kilkenny Under 21 Hurling Championship Roinn B Final on Sunday 15th December. Thanks to the team members who visited Scoil Naomh Fiachra with the Cup on Monday 16th December. We are very proud of all of our past pupils who are on the panel. Congratulations to all.
Christmas Plays
Our school was truly buzzing with Music and Drama on the 17th December 2019 as all students participated in their Christmas Plays. The Junior Room put on a truly entertaining and dazzling display with their production of It’s A Party. We met some familiar faces as students from the Middle Room took on the roles of the school’s teachers in their hilarious production of Tinsel and Tea Towels. Our Senior Room’s production of The Peace Child certainly impressed the audience. They transported those watching to the Mystical Land of Mambica where two tribes were at war until the birth of a very special child. Well done to all teachers and children for their hard work in preparing for the plays, practise really does make perfect! A special thanks to all parents for their help with costumes and learning lines at home, during what is already a very busy time of year.
Team Hope Christmas Shoe Box Appeal
Congratulations and thank you to all of the students and their families who generously created and filled Christmas Shoe-Boxes which were donated to the Team Hope Christmas Shoe Box Appeal. These boxes were collected by volunteers from Team Hope on Friday 15th November.
Math’s Week Quiz Winners
Math’s Week Quiz Runners Up
Math’s Week Quiz
Halloween Dress Up Day
Fossil Fuel Workshop
Today Chiara Hanrahan from An Taisce came to our school to give a workshop on fossil fuels. She explained that when fossil fuels (oil, turf, coal, gas) are burned, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which in turn trap heat in our atmosphere, making them primary contributors to global warming and climate change. She discussed how fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources. The formation of oil has taken millions of years and scientists think that we have used up over half of this in the last 150 years. Therefore, she explained how we need to slow down in our use of oil. Most of the oil supply is used to keep all the planes, cars, jets, jeeps etc. moving! She suggested how we can use alternatives – wind energy, solar power and marine energy. These are all renewable energy sources and have less negative impact on the environment. Finally, she asked the children how they could make a difference. They suggested that we could look at how we travel and encourage more people to walk, cycle, use the bus/train and carpool. The workshop was very informative and the children were very enthusiastic with their questions and contributions.
Bike and Safety Skills Workshop
Chiara Hanrahan, Education Officer, An Taisce visited our school again on 10th June to run some Bike Safety and Skills workshops. The students were taken out to the yard in small groups and practised some basic skills including helmet fitting, balance, indicating and emergency stops. Some of the children played travel related games in the yard. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day and learned a great life skill at the same time!
Our Green Schools Committee on Bike Training Day
Having fun and learning a very important life skill!
Playing a travel themed game
Poster/Slogan Competition
We recently held a poster/slogan competition to raise the children’s awareness of Green-Schools Travel. We were amazed by the standard of the posters and it was very hard to pick the winners! The children received some lovely prizes for their efforts including a bicycle helmet, bicycle bells and lights. Congratulations to everyone for their lovely art-work and especially to our four overall winners!
Junior and Middle Room
Senior Room
Green-Schools Programme
Chiara from An Taisce visited our school today, 28th May to conduct a Walkability Audit of the area around the school. A few members of the Green Schools Committee made notes on the hazards and safety features currently in place on the school route. Based on the information gathered by the children Chiara will write up a report. Details of this report will then be shared with all the staff and students in the school.
Green-Schools Programme
Chiara from An Taisce visited our school again on 9th May to speak to all classes about the Green-Schools programme in relation to travel. She spoke about the damaging impact that burning fossil fuels has on the health of our environment. She explained how the extra carbon dioxide that goes up into the atmosphere acts like a heavy blanket resulting in the whole planet getting hotter and hotter i.e. global warming. She discussed the advantages of sustainable modes of transport (e.g. cycling, walking, public transport, car-pooling) and the disadvantages of unsustainable modes of transport (e.g. using the car for short journeys, air travel, travelling alone in the car). Chiara was very informative and the children had lots of questions for her.
Seachtain na Gaeilge
Bhí an-spóirt ag gach duine i Scoil Naomh Fiachra i rith Seachtain na Gaeilge. Bhí a lán rudaí ar siúl mar shampla comórtas ealaíne, ceolchoirm, ticéidí agus crannchur, tráth na gceist, cluiche Kim agus Jenga le Briathra! Bhaineamar an-taitneamh as an tseachtain.
SPAR Soccer
The best of luck to students from Scoil Naomh Fiachra who will compete in the upcoming SPAR five a side soccer competition later this month. Some serious practice sessions under way!! Thanks to our parents for lending their support.
Comórtas Scríobh Leabhar
Students from Scoil Naomh Fiachra received their medals at the Scríobh Leabhar Awards held in the Watershed, Kilkenny on 12th March. Comhghairdeas do na daltaí agus na múinteoirí ón obair go léir a rinne siad ar na leabhair a scríobh siad don chomórtas seo.
ESB Science Blast – RDS Dublin
Having a blast! Incredible Day at the ESB Science Blast in the RDS Dublin on the 6th of March. We’re very proud of our students who took home a trophy for their magnificent project on “The relationship between levels of fitness and our ability to react to different stimuli”. The feedback from the judges was superb. Well done to all involved and thanks to our parents who travelled with us to help out on the day. Well done also to Evan Perry on his interview with RTE News. If you’d like to take a look just click on this link or copy and insert into your internet browser: http://www.rte.ie/news/player/news2day/2019/0306/
Opening of New Facilities and Raising Our Third Green Flag
The official opening of the All-Weather Pitch and the Multi-Use Games Area at Scoil Naomh Fiachra took place on Sunday 3rd March and the raising of the school’s 3rd Green Flag for Water Conservation. A significant day in the history of our school. Thanks to all for attending and to those that helped in any way to reach this day.
Volleyball, Badminton & Tennis
The school recently purchased equipment for volleyball, badminton and tennis which will allow our students to experience these three new sports. The main piece of equipment was the extendable net which can be used for all three sports. Our new Multi-Use Games Area had been designed in a way to accommodate these activities. The children are really enjoying the wide range of sports which this area can now facilitate. Thanks to our Parent’s Council for purchasing the extendable nets.
Credit Union Quiz
Well done to our under 11 and under 13 teams who did brilliantly in the Kilkenny Credit Union quiz finishing in 5th place. Thanks to all the parents who supervised on the night.
Grandparent’s / VIP Day
On Wednesday 30th of January we celebrated Grandparent’s / VIP Day with mass in St. Fiachra’s Church followed by activities in the school. The children interviewed their Grandparents and played some board games. We also had a brilliant Question and Answer session with two past pupils Sean and Dick who attended the school in the 40’s and 50’s and also with our chairperson Paddy. Thanks to our wonderful Parent’s Council for providing all the refreshments, Fr. O’Farrell who celebrated mass with us and our teachers for organising the event.
ESB Science Blast Project – RDS Dublin
The Senior Room are in full swing as preparations continue for our entry into the ESB Science Blast on the 6th of March in the RDS Dublin. So far the children have undergone three different fitness tests and also three reaction tests using sound, sight and touch stimuli. We must now analyse our data and figure out if there is a relation between levels of fitness and our ability to react to different stimuli.
New LED Interactive Touchscreens
The school purchased and installed new LED Interactive Touchscreen units into all of our classrooms after the Christmas holidays. The new devices are proving to be hugely beneficial resources for teaching and learning.
Opening of All-Weather Pitch and M.U.G.A. + Raising Green Flag + Ball Wall Challenge
On Sunday the 3rd of March (weather permitting), the school plans to host a number of events after 9:30am mass in St. Fiachra’s Church. All families (past and present) and wider members of the community are invited to attend. The planned events are as follows:
1. Raising of the School’s Fourth Green Flag for Water.
2. Opening of our new All-Weather Pitch and our new Multi-Use Games Area. Dick Blanchfield who attended the school himself and who is the only All-Ireland Senior Medal holder in the parish presently will cut the ribbon. Fr. O’Farrell will also bless both of the new facilities.
3. We will host the finals of our Ball Wall Challenge on our MUGA and the Final of our Inter-Class Spring Hurling League on the pitch. Children from Gathabawn and Lisdowney National School’s are welcome to take part in the Ball Wall Challenge. So get practicing! Click here for rules.
Early Christmas Present
Scoil Naomh Fiachra has just received great news. We have been successful in our application for summer works. This project worth between 35 – 40K will deliver upgrades to the existing older parts of the school building. The work will include insulation, flooring, window upgrades, replastering and much more. We hope to complete this work over the summer break 2019.
Our New Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and Sports Wall
After great anticipation, the children in Scoil Naomh Fiachra finally got their first chance to play in our new MUGA. This area will be used for volleyball, tennis, badminton, hurling, Gaelic Football, handball, soccer and many more games. We hope to purchase the tennis net and paint targets on the sports wall in the coming weeks. Thanks to everyone for their patience and support while the work was being completed. We hope everyone has many years of sporting fun on our MUGA and on our new all weather sand based pitch which was completed last year also. A special thanks to Diarmuid Bergin (Lodgepark Landscapes) and Mick McCarthy (Local County Counsellor) for all of their work with this project. Well done to all involved.
New All-Weather Pitch
After a lot of anticipation, our pupils finally began using our brand new all-weather pitch this week. We have been looking forward to this all year long and are now finally getting to enjoy this wonderful new facility which will benefit the children of our school for many years to come. Thanks to everyone for being so patient!
Coding and Robotics
We delved even further into the world of coding and robotics this week with a very worthwhile visit from PDST who spent a full day in our school working on Scratch Coding with 2nd/3rd Classes and Mindstorms Programming and Robotics with 4th/5th/6th Classes. Thanks to Ann and Michelle who made the experience so enjoyable. They will be back in the new year to see how we are progressing with our projects.
Christmas Plays 2018
On Tuesday 18th of December we held our Christmas Plays. A brilliant day of entertainment was had by all. A huge thanks to all our teachers, parents and of course our children who were the stars of the show. Everyone worked extremely hard to ensure that everything ran smoothly. Thanks to Paul Phelan who built our stage again this year and to the Parent’s Council who organised the Christmas Trolley raffle and DVDs. From everyone in Scoil Naomh Fiachra, we wish you all a Happy Christmas.
Christmas Shoebox Appeal
Thanks to everyone who supported our Christmas Shoebox Appeal 2018. Our school donated 60 shoeboxes. Well done to everyone who contributed to this very worthwhile cause.
Monster Mile
Well done to all of our students who participated in the Monster Mile Walk on Friday 26th of October. Thanks to all of our wonderful parents for their help with the costumes!
Visit From The Mounted Gardaí
On the 10th of October, ten members of An Garda Síochána visited our school with two very special members of their team, Oscar and Donnadh who are two of only twelve Garda horses in our country. The children had a great time listening to the mounted unit talking about their special work. Thanks to An Garda Síochána for visiting our school.
School Calendar September 2018 – June 2019
Please click here to view school calendar September 2018 – June 2019.
Cooling Down After Active Week!
Thanks to our wonderful Parent’s Council who organised for the ice cream van to visit the school after our very busy Active Week.
Our Top Attenders 2018
The children below were awarded for their regular attendance this year.
The children below were awarded for their unbroken attendance this year.
Graduation 2018
Congratulations and fair well to our twelve wonderful 6th class students who graduated this year. Thanks also to all of our wonderful families who leave us this year after many years of involvement in the school.
Active Week 2018
Thanks to everyone who helped to organise our biggest Active Week yet. We had a brilliant week. See below for some of the activities and photographs.
Outdoor Activity Day in Jenkinstown Woods
School Tour to Adventure World
Sports Day
Swimming Gala Medalists
Confirmation 2018
Congratulations to all of our wonderful Confirmation candidates who received the sacrament on Sunday. Well done to everyone involved and thanks to all of our parents who helped with all of the preparations. We hope everyone had a great day!
