Summer Holidays
School closed on Friday 21st of June for the summer holidays and will re-open on Wednesday 28th of August for the new school year.
Comhghairdeachas!
Congratulations to our pupils, Emily, Grace and Dylan, who celebrated their First Holy Communion on Sunday 12th May. We enjoyed a beautiful ceremony and had a lovely party afterwards in the school hall. Thank you to Fr. Ray, Fr. Michael, members of the Parents Association and school staff for making it a special celebration for the children.
Breakfast Club & Afterschool Club
The addition of Breakfast Club was a big success this year and we are delighted with our tutor, Teresa Nally. We thank you all for your co-operation and continued support of both excellent services. Breakfast and Afterschool clubs will recommence on Monday 2nd of September 2024.
Discover Primary Science and Maths Award
Congratulations to all the pupils and co-ordinator, Ms. Watson as Rahara N.S. was awarded another SFI Curious Minds Award. Our Log of Evidence was evaluated, and we have met all the criteria for the Gold Award. Ms Watson provided evidence of children's engagement with STEM in the areas of: Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths as well as a STEM Showcase. Well done on a tremendous achievement and for adding another plaque to our wall! On Friday June 14th our pupils were very excited to attend a virtual SFI curious minds STEM awards ceremony where our award was announced!
Sports Day
Our sports day took place on Monday 17th June. We had a fantastic day. Tommie Costello from Cuckoo Hill Bootcamp facilitated sports day in our school and it was a big success.
Fun Day
We had a wonderful day on Tuesday 18th of June. The children enjoyed face painting, hair highlights, digging for treasure, playing with slime, making Oobleck, baking, Lucky Dip and tie-dying t-shirts. We ended the day with a delicious take away from Supermac’s!
Hot School Meals
Our school was included in the Hot School Meals Programme, which commenced on Monday 22nd of April. This is a free service for all children attending our school. ‘The Lunch Bag’ has been awarded the contract for our school. We have applied for the School Meals Scheme for the 24/25 school year, which will be provided by The Lunch Bag if the funding is granted.
Food Dudes and Healthy Food Webinar
All children took part in Food Dudes Week in the last week of April. Each pupil received 5 days of complementary fresh fruit and vegetables delivered in compostable packaging to our school. Pupils also attended a Healthy Food Webinar and were amazed by the amount of sugar in foods as well as showing off their knowledge of the Food Pyramid.
Agri Aware
Children took part in the Agri Aware Farming through the seasons programme. They learned about the life of Dairy Farming with Donal Kavanagh in Co. Kildare and Sheep Farming with local farmer, Aoife Coyle.
French Lessons
French lessons took place in Term 3 for pupils in 2nd - 6th class with our tutor Lesa Rice through the Primary Languages Initiative. The children are getting a fantastic opportunity to sample a new language & culture. We are delighted that we have once again been selected to take part in the ‘Say Yes to Languages’ initiative. Lesa will return in February 2025 and will teach the children French for 10 weeks.
Standardised Tests
Standardised tests were administered to all pupils from 1st-6th class at the end of May. The results of these were recorded in your child’s school report and were sent home.
Sports
· The Senior girls had a super day out in Ballyforan for their Cumann na mBunscol 5 a side Camogie Blitz on 25th of April. They joined with Feevagh N.S. on the day and won 3 out of their 4 matches.
· Active Week took place in the last week of April.
· The Senior Room took part in a 5 a side Gaelic Blitz in St. Brigid’s GAA on 29th April. We won 2 out of 3 games and there was a show of fantastic skills on the day.
· All pupils took part in Athletics in Athlone TUS for 6 weeks.
· Bernice Kelly was our soccer coach and training took place every Wednesday morning for all pupils.
·Ollie Lennon was our Gaelic coach and training took place every Friday afternoon.
·The Senior Room took part in the Cumann na mBunscol 5 a side Hurling competition on Thursday 2nd May.
·All pupils went orienteering before athletics on Tuesday 9th of May at Athlone Regional Sports Centre.
·A huge congratulations to our school Camogie team who represented Rahara in the 5-a-side Cumann na mBunscol Ros Comáin County final on May 28th. There was a fantastic show of skill, passion and enthusiasm on show on the pitch! Unfortunately, the girls came out second best on the day, but we are so proud of their brilliant teamwork, commitment and pride in wearing the Rahara jerseys.
·5th Class had a great day out in Naomh Dominic on May 12th for a Gaelic blitz with all the schools in the parish.
School Tour
Pupils from Junior Infants to 6th class had an amazing day on our school tour in Lilliput Adventure Centre. The children enjoyed the fabulous weather and there were lots of outdoor activities including.
STEM Grant
We were one of the lucky schools to be awarded a €10,000 STEM Grant from the Department of Education. With the funds received we purchased new Chromebooks for the school, a charging station, Vex Robotics for various class levels, ‘Meggoblocks” (large building blocks) and Geomag Masterbox bundle of engineering magnets.
Roscommon Arts Centre
The junior room were thrilled to attend Roscommon Arts Centre 23rd of May to watch An Ant Called Amy by Roscommon writer and actor Julie Sharkey. The one person show gently dealt with the issue of sibling loss. A charming and moving story that told the tale of an ant who learns to slow down & embrace her brother’s memory every day.
Garda John O Connor visited our school on June 5th to discuss internet safety with the senior room pupils.
New School Transport Pilot Project.
We are delighted to be part of the School Transport Pilot Project. Pupils living outside 1km or more from Rahara N.S. are eligible to participate in the Primary School Transport Services. The closing date was June 7th and the Bus Éireann family portal closed from 8 June 2024 for a 3-week period to allow Bus Éireann time to plan for the new school year. Please check their website over the holidays if you missed the deadline.
Diamond Jubilee
Our school was thrilled to be invited to celebrate Fr. Michael’s Diamond Jubilee of his ordination with him on June 19th. Fr. Michael celebrated at 11:00 mass in Rahara church. Fr. Michael treated us to a mini history lesson, while wearing his original garments that he wore when he joined the priesthood, by telling us about Rahara Old Church and what it looked like in 1964. The sun was shining and there was a great turn out on the day. We were delighted that the community, Fr. Ray, the Sisters and Fr. Michaels many family and friends were able to celebrate with him afterwards in our school hall. A great day was had by all.
Cash for Clobber
We will have a cash for clobber collection in the new academic year. A date has yet to be confirmed.
Staff for 2023-24
Aoife Mc Gowan – Principal and Junior Room teacher
Niamh Watson – Deputy Principal and Senior room teacher
Kathy Dolan – Shared Special Education Teacher (SET)
Olliver Connaughton – Principal Release cover
Ms. Lynda Pearce – Secretary
Mr. Padraig Lohan – School Cleaner
Ms. Teresa Nally - Morning and Afterschool facilitator
*Mrs. Mc Gowan will take her Principal Release Days every Tuesday in the new academic year.
* Mrs. Dolan will visit our school every Monday & Wednesday.
Free Primary Schoolbooks Scheme
Schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks will be provided to very child free by the school. However, there will still be a requirement for parents to buy some additional items for children to use at school. Parents received an email with the list of items that your child will need on their return to school on Wednesday 28th of August. Further information is available at Primary Schoolbooks Scheme
Communication
Please check out our website www.rahara.com for updates as well as our Facebook page.
If you need to contact the school please email: raharans@gmail.com or principalraharans@gmail.com
Note from Principal
I wish to express our appreciation to all the parents who have helped and suported us all year. I am especially grateful to the parents and the PA for all their hard work on promoting our school and organising fundraisers.
I wish to thank the Board of Management for their loyalty, dedication and hard work.
Finally I would like to express my appreciation to all the staff, both teaching and non-teaching, for all their work and dedication. I know they work tirelessly for the happiness, safety & education of all the pupils in Rahara NS.
We wish you all a safe & happy Summer Holidays!
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