Junior Class

We have had a fantastic first term in the Juniors, filled with lots of learning, hard work and fun filled adventures. We have loved getting to know our amazing intelligent new students; Annie, Molly and Michael and our 3 junior boys OisIn, Darragh and Jacob gave them the warmest of welcomes. Each child has made such significant gains this term through their hard work, determination and admirable efforts. We have been constantly amazed by how brave and strong this bunch are; how they face their challenges and always come out smiling and full of positive energy. We have really gelled as a class this term and are all getting really good at engaging in group learning activities such as morning circle, fine motor group, yoga, relaxation, sensory and art activities. We celebrated a special birthday this term; the lovely Miss Molly was 7 and had the most beautiful Peppa Pig cake which was enjoyed by all her buddies in the whole school at her birthday party. We have loved getting out in the fresh air each day for our walks to the fountain, it is a lovely time for us all to practice some mindfulness and soak up the peaceful surroundings of the estate listening to the wind rustling in the trees and the autumn leaves crunching beneath our feet and the sight of the still water of the fountain. It is always a very regulating activity for all, staff and students alike=) We have been busy little beavers out and about in the community utilising the Ábalta School Bus to head off on adventures with Mary our bus driver. We have been on numerous trips to Busy Bees in Oranmore, Kidsplace in Ballybrit and the Ballybane Library. The class especially loved the interactive floors in both Busy Bees and Ballybane Library. We also enjoyed our trip to the Barboro play Hermit in Nuns Island Theatre where we loved the amazing lighting and music and the silliness of the man trapped inside the box making lots of funny noises. We were so privileged to have our very own in school performance of the interactive play – The Camping Trip by the Barboro production company Phillida Eves Creative. It was such a magical sensory adventure where all the children were so engaged and engrossed in the mystical music of Michael Chang and the enchanting storytelling of Phillida Eve. We have ended the term on a huge high culminating in our most recent visit to Keane’s Garden Centre Pumpkin Patch which was our best yet! It was amazing to see the wonderful Halloween displays and wade through the pumpkin patch in our wellies. We finished off the trip with a lovely visit to the café where the wonderful wood burning stove kept us all nice and toasty as we munched on our tea cakes. We finished the term with Trick or Treating with all our neighbours in the estate and come back to school to loot our lot and then dance all the sugar off at our Halloween Disco. On behalf of all the staff in the Juniors we cannot thank our students enough for giving us such a fabulous first term. Molly, Darragh, Oisín, Annie, Jacob and Michael, you are all our heroes! Hope everyone enjoys the midterm!