This month, we began Aistear. This is a curriculum for early years development and learning, with play as the main focus.  Aistear includes daily structured play at four different stations.
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This month our theme was Autumn and we set up a ‘Farm Shop’ in our role play area. We learned the names of many different fruits and vegetables and had great fun writing shopping lists.
 In our ‘Small World’ and ‘Construction’ areas we built animals homes and talked about all the work the farmer must do to get ready for winter. In our creative area, we created different hibernators such as the bat, the hedgehog and the bear. Take a look at our photos to see what we got up to! 

We had great fun on the Witchety Walk. Our costumes were fantastic! We had witches, skeletons, princesses and fairies, army men, ghosts, clowns, animals, a farmer and even Spiderman! We walked around the school twice, singing songs and reciting chants. Here are some photos of us enjoying our last day before the Midterm break. 

​September has been a very busy month in Senior Infants. We have all settled back into school really quickly and are learning lots of new things.
In art, we created self-portraits and designed monsters based on the storybook ‘Monsters Not Allowed’ by Tracey Hammett.
In P.E. we have been having great fun in Zumba with Patricia Murphy. Take a look at our photos to see what we got up to!
In History, we were learning all about old toys. We learned to play some games that our parents and grandparents used to play, such as; hopscotch, marbles, spinning tops and board games. We also conducted a short interview with our grandparents about their favourite toys. 

This week the new Junior Infants spent their first full week in 'big' school. They had great fun getting know all the children in their classes and learning lots of new things. They have also visited most of their brothers and sisters throughout the school and introduced themselves to the teachers. 

Here are some photos of the Junior Infants learning how to make the letter s: 

Congratulations to the Dublin team (in blue bibs) who won the Tom Hannafin Cup today after weeks of enjoyable and competitive matches. Well done to all 5th and 6th class participants who played their hearts out and developed their football and teamwork skills. Thanks to Patsy Barrett for refereeing and to Scoil Chonglais for the use of their hall. Here are some of Ms. Casey's photos taken mid way during the competition. 

The staff of Scoil Naomh Iósaf had a child protection training day on March 9th 2018. The purpose of the training was for the staff to become familiar with the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017, published by the Department of Education and Skills. These new procedures take account of the Children First Act 2015 and the 'Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children' published by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in 2017. These procedures came into effect from the 11th December 2017, except for those relating to the school safeguarding statement. From the 11th March 2018, all schools are required to have a Child Safeguarding Statement. This replaces the previous requirement to have a child protection policy. Please note that the Child Safeguarding Statement (CSS) below is a first draft and is subject to revision and approval by the Board of Management on Wednesday 21st March. ​

Scoil Naomh Iósaf is closed today, Wednesday 28th February as a result of the red weather warning in
place in Co. Wicklow. Stay safe and warm everyone. Enjoy the snow. 

Scoil Naomh Iósaf will remain closed on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd of March. The Department of Education has recommended that the schools close in interest of pupil and teacher safety. 

School will re-open on Monday 5th of March. Please take care on your journey to school. ​

Irish Traditional Music Classes are held in Scoil Naomh Iósaf every Tuesday after school. Children from 2nd class and up are welcome. Children begin on the tin-whistle and if they wish, may progress to another instrument eg. fiddle, mandolin, banjo, flute, concertina or accordion after a year on the whistle. 
Here are some photos taken over the last few years of the musicians in their lessons, or in various performances in school. This year's summer school concert is a chance to hear the musicians play along with the school choir. The concert takes place on Monday 26th June at 7.30pm. ​

Sixth classes with their teachers Ms. Hannafin and Mr. Walsh presented their excellent science project at the RDS Young Scientist Exhibition. The project was entitled "Does Regular Exercise Contribute to a Healthier and Happier Child". The judges were highly impressed with the quality of the project and the children's excellent communication skills and the pupils were delighted with their trophy and the positive feedback.
Details of the project and photos and videos will be displayed on the School Activities Page on Friday. 

Congratulations to Scoil Naomh Iosaf Junior and Senior Quiz teams who competed in the local round of the annual Credit Union Quiz. The Senior Team - Orlaith O'Toole, Cadhla Moran, Evin Fleming and Ava Foley - came second after two rounds of tie-breakers. A fantastic result by a very talented and hard-working team. Our second team - Erton Ferizi, Finn Moran, Matthew Fisher and Seamus Doyle - came fourth in the Under 11 Junior Quiz. Another great result from this super quiz team. 
Watch this space!! More pictures to follow....​

On February 1st 2017 Pupils from first to sixth classes at Scoil Naomh Iósaf will attend a Prayer Service to Celebrate Catholic Schools Week. All family members, parents and friends are welcome to join our celebration. The Service will be in St. Joseph's Church at 11.15. Junior and Senior Infants will have their Spring Celebration in their classroom.

If you wish to view the Prayer Service from home you can access Baltinglass Parish Webcam at  http://www.baltinglassparish.ie/webcam/ at 11.15

Theme: Caring for our Common Home. 

1. School Band: Selection of Traditional Irish Music.
2. Welcome: Sr. Eileen
3. Spring Poems: Sixth class pupils.
4. Opening Song: Sing a Song to Brigid sung by all children. Actions by second class on the Altar.
5. Spring Poems: Sixth class
6. Building up the Sacred Space on the Altar. Symbols of Spring presented by third and fourth classes. Commentary read by sixth class pupils.
7. Leader Prayer: Sr. Eileen
8. Prayer: Fr. Tommy
9. Reading from the Book of Genesis: Principal Mairead
10. Weaving of St. Brigid’s Cross. Input from pupils on building up a good happy school and caring for our environment.
11. Prayers of Intercession: Read by third class.
12. St. Brigid – a selection of stories read and dramatized by fifth class.
13. Closing Prayer: Fr. Tommy
14. Presentation of Flowers to Sr. Brigid: First class pupils.
15. School Band present a medley of Irish Traditional Music
16. Closing Song: Grace Before and After Play.

Please note that this while this service is to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, children of other/non faiths are welcome to attend the service. Feel free to write a note in your child's journal if you would like your child to remain in the school for the duration of the Service. Pupils will be provided with suitable work and supervised by another teacher.

December was a very busy month for all the boys and girls in Ms. Beirne's Junior Infants. We had lots of visitors to our classroom and really enjoyed learning all about the Arctic.

Our Aistear theme for December was The Arctic. We learned all about Arctic animals and had lots of fun pretending to be elves in Santa's workshop!

We were also lucky enough to have a special visitor from the North Pole. Santa sent a special elf called Buddy to make sure all the children were being good in the run up to Christmas. He did all sorts of silly things and we all enjoyed finding his new hiding place each morning.

We had lots of fun preparing for our Christmas play 'The Nursery Rhyme Nativity' with Ms. Dempsey's and Ms, Owens' Junior Infants during December. Everybody had a line to say and we dressed up as angels, shepherds, innkeepers, Mary and Joseph and the three wise men. Here are some photos pf us all dressed up!

Some senior classes are currently participating in a cycling safety course for 6 weeks. With more and more people cycling on our roads this initiative is very welcome. It will no doubt ensure that the children are more aware of bike safety and indeed safety on the roads in general. Here are some images of Mr. Walshe's 6th class enjoying the course recently.

More photos from our day dressing up in school before Halloween....