It’s not every week you have a French theatre troupe AND a magician arrive in the school, but that’s how it happened this month, with visits from ‘French Theatre for Schools’ and Leon Andersen, maths magician to the JCSP library.
Leon demonstrated card trickery to all 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students; they really thought he had mind-reading abilities! Afterwards he revealed the numeracy reasoning and patterns behind the tricks… but we’ll never tell J
A few days later a gaggle of all-singing, all dancing French actors arrived to perform ‘Le Porte-Bonheur’. This was a short play for Junior cycle students, covering curriculum topics such as countries, colours, counting etc, all wrapped up in a comical storyline about good and bad luck. 9 students performed with the actors ‘onstage’, evidence below!
We also had 2 visits from our new CDETB writer-in-residence Kevin McDermott. Kevin produced a very popular short novel ‘In Pieces’, with a group of 2nd year Ballymun students a few years ago, so we are really excited to work with him! There are 22 girls in our new writing club, along with myself, Ms Leahy and Postgrad student Ms McNamara.
2nd year French students are also taking part in a letter writing project with Marino College and we began by making and sending them Christmas cards. We await their response!
Our first Reading Challenge of the year is wrapping up for class Iris. They have been challenged to each read 5 book in 5 weeks. These books are reviewed and parent/guardian signs the completed journal. Certs will be given at the Xmas award ceremonies.
The lunchtime library is open to all students – we have bookclubs going on for 1st years and seniors and in the New Year we start another one for 2nd years and TY. Lunch is provided! We have also begun an occasional ‘comhra agus caca’ lunch club, where students listen to Rihanna and Shaun Mendes as Gaeilge, play games and eat cake! On other days we have open access, for chat, reading, and homework.
And finally we have the winners of our Roald Dahl ‘Gobblefunk’ contest! To celebrate Roald Dahl’s 100 years, 1st and 2nd years were challenged to create a new word and meaning, in the way Dahl did with words like Oompa-Loompa and Snozzcumber!
1st year winner: Karina Kavatsyuk (Olive) for: Umpachumpa Pansmasher – a chef.
2nd year winner: Christina Mitchell (Iris) for the word: Tillywiggler – a creature that smells like a flower, is fluffy and pink and wiggles when it moves.
So wrap up warm and cosy with a good book over the holidays. Don’t forget all staff and students can log into the JCSP Library Project Digital Library too http://jcsp.libraryreserve.com Please see the librarian if you have forgotten your login.
Wishing everyone a Very Happy Christmas from the JCSP Library!
French Theatre Visit
First Term at MACC jcsp Library - a busy few months!!!!
French Penpals
Leon Anderson - Maths Magician
