Brannoxtown Community National School: A New Adventure

Visit by Peadar, the Builder.

”As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was about to happen,” said Winnie-the-Pooh. And so it was, when I first set eyes on the school in Brannockstown, writes Dr. Sarah FitzPatrick, Principal.

I think the school at Brannockstown had adventure in its bones from its first life as a Baptist School in 1885, established by the Master of Harristown Estate, John La Touche. Stone and materials from the remains of Portlester Castle (a medium-sized Norman castle) had been used in its construction. Perhaps it was inevitable that after a brief sojourn as a private residence, the school would begin its second adventure in education in 1929 as a Catholic National School. September this year marked the school’s third adventure, opening its doors to new experiences and a new identity as a Community National School, under the patronage of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). Our school is both newer than its youngest children, and yet older (and wiser) than its teachers! You might be wondering what kinds of learning happens in such a special place?

As we approached the end of our first term at Brannoxtown Community National School, children reflected on 15 weeks growing and learning in our new/old school. Here’s what children had to say, in their own words, using rhyming couplets (our poetry strategy for December):

First Term at Our School
By Brannoxtown CNS Children

Naming some favourite things in our new school?
Starting with us, a new class, that was cool.
Crafting hedgehog families from lots of old books
Baking in the kitchen like real, proper cooks.
Assembling marshmallows to make the tallest towers
Studying the weather, rainbows and showers.
Learning on the laptops with websites we know
Knowing places online we can safely go.
Using Scratch on the laptop to code and create
Making angles and shapes with lines that are straight.
Creating different conditions for bread to grow old
Studying colours and shapes created by mould.
Playing charades and games for sound of the week
Sharing how we are each special and unique.
Winning a national prize for our poetry submission
Filling Team Hope boxes, our November ambition.
Go noodling and playing outside to stay fit
Using our Maths Eyes each week, another little bit.
Designing clay tablets with old Myan glyphs
Discussing poetry endings that fall off cliffs.
Playing Halloween games – fortune telling
Planning shopping lists for buying and selling.
Celebrating Diwali, Hanukka and the Nativity
Learning values and beliefs for each festivity.
Reading books and novels, especially Holes
Choosing and assembling the new school goals.
Listening to the builder who came with lasers
Measuring distance with his (Star Wars) light sabres!
Hosting families and friends for our Winter Gathering
Serving cookies and drinks to old and young, chattering.
Name my favourite thing? I can’t think of just one…
I enjoyed every bit of the things we’ve done!

RDS Primary Science Project: Petri-Dishes of handprints.

I believe happy children make the best learners; fun is a key ingredient in our planned adventures for 2019! From from the beginning of January to the February mid-term, we’ve planned some exciting times ahead! We’re presenting our science research (Which fruit/vegetable juices are the best at cleaning hands?) at the BT Young Scientist, RDS Primary Science Fair in early January.

School Crest: Discussing designs.

Our new School Crest will take centre-stage in January; we’re inviting feedback on draft designs during a two-week consultation; details will be posted on our School Facebook page (Brannoxtown CNS). At the end of January, we’re visiting the Mountlucas Wind Farm in Co. Offaly to study Kinetic Energy-seeing, touching and hearing wind turbines at work! In February, children begin swimming lessons at the Osprey Hotel. Our School Website is scheduled for publication also in February.

Leaf Walk.

Christmas Shopping (Maths: Money).

Winter Gathering Baking.

On Wednesday February 13th, we’re hosting an Enrolment Information Evening from 7-8pm for parents who may be interested to visit the school and learn more about the enrolment process. All are very welcome.

Email: brannoxtowncns@kwetb.ie; Phone: 087-1124310; Facebook: Brannoxtown CNS

Sincere thanks to The Bridge for inviting us to provide an update in this issue. We wish all readers, many special adventures in 2019 and we look forward to sharing some more updates with you later in the year.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was prepared for inclusion in the Christmas issue of The Bridge, but due to a misunderstanding over deadlines it didn't arrive in time. We publish it here on the Diary with the permission of Dr FitzPatrick.

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