Welcome to Mrs. Nolan’s class!
We are very fortunate to have a bright spacious room with a computer area, playroom and a calm room where the students do OT and love to relax. We have an exciting year ahead full of fun and challenges. We also look forward to some of our students making their first holy communion. Please login each month to see all we get up to.
June
As we wrap up an exciting and eventful school year, June was packed full of fun, learning, and celebration in our class.
The children enjoyed getting their hands dirty as we planted and cared for our very own cress and parsley. It was wonderful to see their curiosity and excitement as the plants began to grow, teaching us all about nature and responsibility.
During Wellbeing Week, the students focused on relaxation and mindfulness. They created a sensory basket for the calm corner, practiced meditation, took regular brain breaks, followed Joe Wicks 5-minute workouts, enjoyed some chair yoga, and had a great time dancing to music with the whole school.
We celebrated Rhys and Conor’s birthdays with a fantastic pizza party. Everyone enjoyed the delicious food and the chance to celebrate together — it was a lovely way to mark their special day.
We had a fantastic Active Schools Week filled with energy and smiles. The children took part in basketball and tennis, showing great teamwork and enthusiasm. We also celebrated Sports Day, with lots of fun games and races. One of the highlights of the week was a surprise visit from an ice-cream truck — a well-deserved treat that brought huge smiles to everyone’s faces.
Our school tour to Leisure Max was a big hit. The children had a great time exploring all the fun activities, and it was a wonderful day out filled with laughter and adventure.
We held a beautiful Graduation Mass for all the 6th class students to mark the end of their time in Clonegal Nation School. We also said a heartfelt goodbye and best wishes to Conor and Rhys, who graduated this month. We are so proud of them and wish them all the best in their next steps.
Thank you to all the children and families for an amazing year. We hope you have a safe, happy, and sunny summer break. See you in the new school year.
May
May was a joyful and busy month at school.
We celebrated a very special occasion as one of our students made their First Holy Communion on May 17th. The sun shone brightly that day, making it even more memorable for everyone involved.
Sports were in full swing this month with basketball training led by Ita. The students showed great energy and enthusiasm during each session.
Creativity was also flowing as we began working on our entries for the Tullow Show Art Competition. The students put a lot of thought and imagination into their artwork, and we’re excited to see the final results.
In the classroom, handwriting was a big focus. Everyone made a strong effort to improve their penmanship, and the progress has been fantastic. We also explored the topic of pen pals, learning how to write letters and connect with others in a meaningful way.
Well done to all our students for their hard work and dedication throughout the month.
April
April was a fun month for our class. We explored the theme of shopping, now and in the past and were fascinated to discover just how much things have changed over the years. From examining local markets to learning about Moore Street in Dublin, the children enjoyed comparing modern shopping experiences with those of the past.
To bring our learning to life, we took a closer look at our own local markets and discussed how shopping has evolved in our community. This hands-on approach really helped the children connect their learning to real-world experiences. The students even designed their own stalls.
One of the highlights of the month was when the entire school came together to cheer on the students from the FCJ School Bunclody as they took part in a Tractor Run. It was a wonderful moment of community spirit and excitement.
We were also lucky to have mysongtales.ie come to our school and perform for us. The students thoroughly enjoyed it and loved being part of something so fun.
March
What a busy and exciting month it has been in our school! We kicked things off with Pancake Tuesday, where students enjoyed making and eating delicious American-style pancakes. It was a fun and tasty way to start the month!
Next, we celebrated Lá Glas, bringing a burst of Irish spirit to the school. Everyone got into the festive mood by dressing in green, dancing traditional Irish jigs, and enjoying live traditional music. It was a wonderful celebration of Irish culture and heritage. The students performed brilliantly, and it was heart warming to see the local community come together to enjoy the event.
Finally, to mark the arrival of Spring, students created beautiful paper floral wreaths. This colourful and creative activity brought a fresh, seasonal feel to our classrooms and hallways.
We’re proud of all the enthusiasm and creativity our students showed this month—here’s to another great one ahead!
February
February was a busy month in our classroom, filled with special celebrations and meaningful learning experiences.
We began the month by celebrating St. Brigid’s Day. We learned about St. Brigid’s life and her contributions to Irish history. A highlight of the day was making St. Brigid’s crosses using pipe cleaners. Everyone enjoyed the hands-on experience, and our beautiful crosses now decorate our classroom.
Another special event this month was Grandparents’ Day. We were delighted to welcome our grandparents into our classroom, where they shared stories about their childhood and school days. It was a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the wisdom and experiences of our grandparents. We also sang songs and created special poems to show our appreciation for them.
As Valentine’s Day approached, we explored the history of Valentine’s Day and its traditions. We enjoyed making our own Valentine’s cards, crafting heartfelt messages for our loved ones. It was a lovely way to express gratitude and kindness.
February was a month full of learning, creativity, and appreciation for those around us. We look forward to more exciting activities in the coming months!
January
As we stepped into the new year, January was filled with enthusiasm and creativity at our class. Students and staff returned from the holiday break refreshed and eager to embrace new learning opportunities and challenges in 2025.
One of the highlights of the month was celebrating the success of two of our talented students, Rhys and Lucas, who won the Credit Union Art Competition. Their outstanding artwork demonstrated great creativity and skill, and we are incredibly proud of their achievement!
In the classroom, students explored the famous Irish legend, The Salmon of Knowledge. They enjoyed learning about the tale’s themes of wisdom and perseverance and were inspired to create their own beautiful artwork depicting the legendary salmon. The imaginative pieces reflected their artistic talents and understanding of the story.
January has set a wonderful tone for the rest of the year, and we look forward to many more exciting moments ahead!
December
December was a fun and festive month filled with exciting learning experiences and Christmas cheer! As we wrapped up the year, our students engaged in a variety of creative and educational activities.
To embrace the holiday spirit, we enjoyed making beautiful Christmas art, filling our classrooms with colourful decorations and festive crafts. The children loved expressing their creativity through drawings, paintings, and handmade ornaments.
In science, we explored an important topic—dental health! We learned about tooth decay, how to care for our teeth properly, and why it’s important to brush and floss regularly. To bring our learning to life, we conducted an engaging experiment using eggs to represent our teeth. We observed the effects of different liquids—water, coffee, and fizzy drinks—on the eggshells, and discovered how toothpaste helps protect our teeth from damage.
A highlight of the month was a special visit from Santa! The excitement in the air was contagious as students had the chance to meet him and share their Christmas wishes.
With the holidays just around the corner, we are all looking forward to a well-deserved break and time with our families. December has been a fantastic month, and we can’t wait for all the learning and adventures that the new year will bring!
November
November was a busy and exciting month for our students, filled with creativity, generosity, and festive preparations!
One of the highlights was our participation in the Shoe Box Appeal, where students and families came together to donate gifts for those in need. It was heart-warming to see the kindness and generosity from everyone involved.
As we approached the festive season, students eagerly took part in decorating the classrooms for Christmas. From twinkling lights to handcrafted decorations, the classroom was transformed into magical winter wonderlands, building excitement for the upcoming holidays.
In Art, students explored printmaking, creating unique and colourful prints. They experimented with different techniques and materials, producing some fantastic designs that showcased their creativity and artistic skills.
It has been a fantastic month, and we look forward to an equally exciting December!
October
What a spooktacular month October has been. The children learned a Halloween poem with lámh signs called ‘Halloween’.
We painted amazing Halloween silhouettes and cut out spooky castles. Each student completed a colourful entry for the credit union art competition.
This month in history and geography we looked at different types of homes and the materials used to construct them. We then compared Irish homes to those designed by Antoni Gaudi the Spanish architect and designer.
During the month of October the students enjoyed learning about data and number. For maths week they solved the problem of the day. If their name was pick in the draw they won a prize.
We were also very lucky to have Mr Fitzharris working in our class for 2 weeks. He helped us create Halloween games and taught us how to stay safe during the celebrations. We enjoyed working with him and hope he will return for a visit in the future.
However on October 25th no children came to school. Instead Clonegal NS was filled with goblins and gools who played games, haunted Huntington Castle and ate treats until it was time for them to return home!
September
It was wonderful to greet all the students after their summer break. They greeted old and new friends. This month there has been a lot of activity. We had a musical start to the year. Music generation has begun where the students are learning to play the ukulele and guitar. We are also luck to have GAA training this term. Kevin has been teaching the students how to play football. In class we are learning about autumn, maps, where we live and the history of the GAA. We also started swimming lessons this term. It has been action packed month!
