Holy Family NS Twitter Account
rss

     

     

 

  Very Best of luck in Cup Final V Fossa and Shield Final V Firies.

Well done to our 5th & 6th class girls who made it through to the Shield semi final in Killarney on Wednesday night. We were defeated by Firies N.S. by one point. Well done to all involved.


Congratulations to our Hurlers who defeated Caher NS and Kenmare NS today. They qualify to play in a final in about two weeks.  

Congratulations to our three girls who won the East Kerry Schools Skills Competition today and one of the girls won the individual competition  

     

Well done to the children and families in Holy Family N.S. for raising €680 to improve a hospital in Malawi. Past pupil Maura O Connell will be visiting and working as a doctor in One of the hospitals.    

STEM of Excellence Award for Holy Family N.S.


Congratulations to all children and staff on the Discover Primary Science Award....3rd year in a row. 
 
 

In the morning of Wednesday 3rd May the First Communion class from Holy Family National School created a beautiful “Pollinator Patch” in the Nun’s Graveyard.  The children were helped by Chris Barron and Therese Higgins and Laura O’Leary and Martha Barron. Each child planted a number of different flowers which will be particularly good for providing nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies.  They also planted a Rowan tree which will produce flowers for the insects and berries to help feed the birds during the autumn and winter.
While the children were busy planting they learnt about the importance of compost and earth worms in the soil, they inspected the roots of the different plants and heard how bees and butterflies have long tongues to help them to drink the nectar from the plants.  They also learnt that bees like to feed from plants of the same kind at the one time so it is important to plant the same species of plant together in clumps to help the bees to do this.
The children also learnt how we depend on bees and other insects to pollinate some of the plants and crops that we rely on for food and why it is important to help look after the plants and animals that we share God’s earth with.
One of the last jobs of the day was given to Ms. Collins, the class teacher.  This was to erect a “Bug Hotel” which will provide a sheltered spot for insects to hibernate in during the winter time.







Gaeilgeoirí na Míosa 

                                     Dates to Remember 2017 - 2018


                                    School opens Thursday 31st August, 2017
                             Closed Monday 30th October to Friday 3rd November
                             Closed Friday 8th December  
Closing Friday 22nd December for Christmas Holidays
Closed Monday 25th December to Friday 5th January, 2018

Reopening Monday 8th January, 2018
Closed Thursday 15th and Friday 16th February
Closed Monday 19th March (St. Patrick’s Day)
Closing Friday 23rd March for Easter Holidays
Closed 26th March to Friday 6th April

Reopening Monday 9th April, 2018
Closed Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th May 
Closed Monday 4th June
Closing Wednesday 27th June for Summer Holidays

                               If during the school year there are any changes to school closure                                     dates we will let you know



Holy Family National School is in Rathmore Co. Kerry.  It is a large rural school with 207 pupils with 12 teachers and an administrative principal. 
This is our third consecutive year participating in the Discover Primary Science and Maths award. All eight classes have participated in the Science and Maths Excellence Award this year with the hope of being awarded the DPSM Plaque of Stem Excellence Award.
Staff and pupils at our school were very enthusiastic about the programme because it gave the pupils an opportunity to parttake in various science activities. The pupils were enthusiastic and a huge emphasis was on group work which motivated the children to work cooperatively. They loved the hands on aspects of all the investigations.


We completed six hands-on science experiments from the strands: Living Things, Energy and Forces, Materials and Environmental Awareness and Care.
Every class participated in a Maths Trail around the school and the children loved this aspect of the award. They were able to apply maths skills they have learnt in class to everyday activities.
4th Class also visited Liebherr Crane Factory in Killarney where they got a guided tour of the impressive engineering and technology factory. The class then prepared power point presentations and presented these to other classes during our school science show case day.
Participation in the programme has led to a more integrated approach to these subjects throughout the school with increased collaboration between classes. We enjoyed viewing the resources available on the primaryscience.ie website, particularly the short movies.
Also as part of Engineers Week we had a LEGO workshop visit our school for two days. 2nd to 6th classes had different activities to complete between programming, assorting and constructing. They all thoroughly enjoyed this day.
Being involved in the Discover Primary Science & Maths Award has allowed us to partake in some wonderful investigations and for that we thank you.

Coordinators:  Grace Fitzgerald  & Denis O Sullivan






Timetable for Science Show Case Day
 Wednesday 26-4-2017
Time
3rd
Classroom
4th
Classroom
5th
GP Room
6th
Yard

11:10 – 11: 30

Juniors

Seniors

1st

2nd

11:30 – 11:50

2nd

Juniors

Seniors

1st

11:50 – 12:10

1st

2nd

Juniors

Seniors

12:10 – 12:30

Seniors

1st

2nd

Juniors
Time
5th  
Classroom
6th
Classroom

1-1.30

3rd class

4th class

1.30-1.55

4th class

3rd class

3rd  
Classroom
4th  
Classroom

1.55 – 2:25

5th Class

6th class

2:25 – 2.50

6th class

1th class