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NEWSLETTER/NUACHTLITIR
January/Eanair 2012

Bine Ati Venit....welcome back to the rush, regularity and routine of another school term! Can we wish you a healthy and happy new year and hope that it contains a little more prosperity that the last one!!! The schedule, as you will see from this newsletter, is going to be busy... so fasten your seatbelts and hang on as we whizz through the next couple of months.

A Big Céad Míle Fáilte (welcome) to Susan Nic Réamoinn, our new teacher. We are delighted to have Susan on board and know that she will be a hugely positive addition to our teaching staff.

Basketball Matters
The school’s senior girl’s team has resumed training under the guidance and enthusiasm of Stephanie and Yvonne. Meanwhile, the senior boy’s team will begin training on Thursday afternoons under the tutelage of Alan and Gavin. We are very grateful to all four teachers for their time (petrol) and commitment to our school teams.

Bon Chance... to the members of the New Board of Management of the school, who met for the first time on Wednesday, 18th January. The current board will hold office for 4 years and will steer the school through the many challenges and the many moments of excitement over the next 4 years. Our best wishes to Keith, Nuala, Carol, Brian, Christy, Frieda, Julie and Tomás.

Parent- Teacher Meetings
Please note that parent-teacher meetings will be held on the Monday to Friday 6th – 10th February. This is an important opportunity for you to get an update on the progress of your little scholar(s). Your child’s class teacher will inform you of details in relation to appointment times.

‘The Doc’ comes to visit
On Friday, 27th January, “the Doc” Clandillon, a special friend of Griffeen Valley ETNS, visits the school. “The Doc”, who is a true, blue, Lucanian, lives and works in Nepal providing education for among the poorest children on the planet. The Doc was the first recipient of the “Griffeen Valley International Equality and Justice Award” in 2010, and will receive a particular welcome from the children in Griffeen Valley.
Slán agat a Aideen

On Friday, 20th January
Our school said a fond farewell to one of our teachers Aideen. The school will miss Aideen’s good humour and hard work – we wish her “all the very best” for the future.

Fáilte ar ais Andrea
Meanwhile, Andrea, one of our school’s Assistant Principals, returns to school from Maternity Leave. We are delighted to welcome Andrea back. Andrea is an outstanding teacher who plays a pivotal role in the school. Andrea will work in the “Resource Teaching” area, and will receive a particular welcome from the children who benefit from this facility.

Charles Darwin’s Birthday
On February, 15th is a day of special significance to the Humanists in our school community. Charles Darwin and his ideas will have a special ‘day in the sun’ in school on Wednesday, 15th. Some interesting questions might come home afterwards – be prepared!!

Fairtrade Week (27th Feb – 1st Mar)....is another one of the highlights of the school calendar. During this week, some sensitive and controversial issues around the nature of trade between various parts of our world will be put under the microscope. Fairtrade Week culminates in a huge sale in the school on Friday, 1st March, with all proceeds going to subsidise the 6th class children’s trip to the Gaeltacht in May.
G.V.E.T Amnesty Day

As usual, our school will mark Amnesty International Day on Tuesday, 14th February. The children from the school’s Students Union will sell Friendship Bracelets’ made by street children in Guatemala for €2 on Monday to Wednesday, 13th to 15th February. The issue of human rights will loom large in the classroom discussions over the next few days.

Mid-Term breaks
The little scholars pause for a short break in the middle of February. They get to catch their collective breath on Thursday/Friday, 16th and 17th February for mid-term break.

Co-operative Teaching
On occasion, school staff are asked why a ‘different’ teacher was in a particular class teaching a lesson on some aspect of the curriculum. Questions like this give us an opportunity to refer parents to the long-standing practice in GVET whereby, teachers swap certain subjects in each other’s classes. This kind of
co-operative/team teaching is hugely beneficial, as it gives the children exposure to teachers, other than their class teacher, who may have a particular expertise in a given subject area. Many of us recall a teacher(s) from our own school days, who loved ‘their’ subject and who enthralled us as they taught it. Co-operative /team teaching is a very useful strategy that ‘taps’ into that practice of allowing teachers to teach to their strengths to the greatest extent possible. Please don’t hesitate to come and chat with us if you have any queries in relation to this aspect of our work.