5th and 6th classes had their September assembly today.

Mr Reidy welcomed Mr Farrell, Ms Mc Hugh, Ms Kelly, Mr Lydon, Mr Mc Keown and Ms O’Connor and all the boys and girls from 5th and 6th classes to assembly. A special welcome went to Cian from Room 2, Darragh from Room 4, Aidan from Room 5 and Remi from Room 6 who have joined our school this year.

Assemblies are a way of showing you are part of our school. It’s a time to come together with our teachers and principal. During assembly we…………….
We share good news at our assemblies.
Praise children who have achieved different things.
Talk about different events happening in the school.
Chat about our school rules. Try and improve on some school rules.
Each class will get a turn to do a performance at assembly during the year

Pupil of the Month Trophy
Every month at assembly we will be awarding one child from each class with a trophy. This trophy could be awarded for
Good behaviour
Being kind to others in your class
Playing nicely on yard
Listening very carefully to teacher
Doing excellent work in class
Doing really good homework………………….etc
Every month four children from each class will be picked as nominees by their teacher and one person will be awarded with a trophy. The trophy is kept at school and will be collected again the day before the next assembly. I’m really looking forward to see who will be the winners next month. I know you are all working hard already.
Best Uniform Prize This is a prize for the class who are always wearing their PE tracksuits on PE days and their uniforms on uniform days. I will be checking to see that ties are worn on uniform days, and that you all look nice and neat as you are representing St. Declan’s when you are in the uniform. The class that wins the prize will get a night off homework to be decided on by your class teacher.
Best line on yard prize This is a prize for the class who makes a huge effort to get into their line quickly and quietly when the bell rings after break times. You must stay in the line without messing until your class teacher comes to collect you. I will be walking around the yards every day and taking notes of the classes that are trying really hard. The prize for winning this award is an extra ten minutes after big day on a day chosen by your class teacher.
Best behaviour on yard prize This prize goes to the class that behave the best on yard. Your class can win this prize by being kind to others, helping each other, playing nicely together, and being good friends. The teachers on yard will report back to me any good behaviour and it will be rewarded. Your teacher can decide what the prize will be.

Reflection I want to talk today about doors. Most doors we pass through are familiar to us- our classroom door, our front door at home, our bedroom door…..we know what to expect when we walk through it. However in our lives there are often other doors that we experience. These are often called door of opportunities. For example at the start of a new school year when you get to know a new teacher. It may be that you get the chance to try a new sport, skill or activity. It may be that you get the opportunity to meet and make new friends. Each new opportunity we are given is like a door. We can choose to keep the door shut and not to walk through it. We can choose not to take the opportunity given to us. Or we can say yes to opening a door and walking through it, to experience new things. Sometimes what we find on the other side may be difficult and we may decide we don’t like it, but at least you will have tried. This coming school year will be full of new opportunities Let us all embrace the new opportunities that come our way and try different things. Trying new things takes courage, you have to be brave enough to step forward and give it a go, even when you aren’t certain what the outcome will be. I want to wish you all the very best for the coming school year.

Student’s Council
Our new Students Council for 2017-2018 was elected last week. Through our Student Council we hope to give our pupils a more active role in the organisation of our school and ensure they are listened to and respected for their ideas and concerns. It involves the students in many of the decisions that are made regarding the day-to-day running and management of St. Declan’s School. Discussions in classes and at Council meetings help to develop social and learning skills in many areas including speaking and listening, problem solving, brainstorming and the decision-making process .The following children are on the Students Council 2017-2018
Room 20- Katie O’Connell and Michael Muntean
Room 24- Liam and Abigail
Room 25 – Victoria and Alex
Room 2- Isobel and Kelvin
Room 3- Adam and Julia
Room4- Shauna and Alex
Room 5- Sam and Mayyadah
Room 6 – Ben and Emma
Room 7 – Faye and Evan

Emma spoke to assembly about the role of the Student’s Council

40th Anniversary
I want to congratulate everyone who was involved in our celebrations last week for our 40th anniversary. From all the work you prepared in school doing your art and written work for the time capsule to the excellent behaviour in the church. You were all a credit to St. Declan’s. Thank you to Eoin Room 2, Matthew Room 3, Alannah Room 3 , Louise Room 4 and Ciara Room 7who were involved in the procession for the time capsule. Well done to Nadia Room 2, Keeva Room 3, Aimee Room 5 and Jamie Room 7 who served at mass. Congratulations to Kelvin Room 2, Keeva Room 3, Scott Room 5 and Callum Room 7 who won the art poster competition. It really was a very special week for everyone in St. Declan’s.

Full Attendance 2016-2017
I want to congratulate the following children on their perfect attendance for last year. They were at school for 183 days in total. This is a super achievement and you should be all very proud.

Room 2- Kelvin, Matt, Romans , Daragh, Aoife and Sean.
Room 3 – Tom and Matthew.
Room 4-Darren and Philip.
Room 5-Fadekemi
Room 6-Amber
Room 7- Faderera and Callum.

Performance- Mr Farrell’s 5th class performed two poems for us from Seamus Heaney-Mid Term break and Digging.

Endd Prayer
Dear God, Thank you for all the opportunities we have in this world.
Please help us to have the courage always to try new things.
And to take the opportunities that come our way .Amen.