Summer Newsletter 2023

It’s the end of another academic year and what a year it has been!

We’ve had some really great times, so much so, we could fill a whole book with all that’s been happening, but a quick snapshot will have to suffice! I hope you enjoy reading what we have been up to, in our end of term Newsletter

Unfortunately, this year we’ve also had some sad times. I would like to take this opportunity to remember those who have passed away, especially our much-loved pupil Maxine. and the loved ones of staff, who have been laid to rest. You and your families are in my thoughts and prayers.

I wish all students, staff and your families a very happy Summer break. I look forward to welcoming you back at the end of August.. Enjoy!

It’s been a busy year with lots of events, excursions and opportunities to capture the students enjoying school life…..Their beautiful smiles say it all!

Spring-Time in The Purple Class

Creativity in The Red Class

The Purple Class were very busy in Spring.

Iarlaith is pictured here showing the love on Valentines Day.

Samy and Kate enjoyed exploring the rushes and helping make St. Brigid’s Day crosses.

Johnathan and Rebecca loved helping mix the pancake mixture for pancake

Tuesday, as did the rest of the class.

Iarlaith sampled the finished product and as you can see – they looked delish!

It was a busy Spring in the Red Class too.

Tiernan, Harper and Louie enjoyed getting creative with their beautiful green Saint Partick’s Day art projects

Aoibheann, Tiernan and Luke worked on their culinary skills, prepping pizzas and chocolate dipped marshmallows …yum!

World Book Day

The students made a great effort for World Book Day.

Pictured here are Rebecca dressed up as Disney princess Belle, Kate dressed up as Minnie Mouse and Iarlaith dressed up as the scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. They paid a visit to a local book shop to buy new books for the class. Johnathan is pictured reading a new monster book and Christy interacting with an animal book.

Sowing Seeds

Tullamore Credit Union kindly donated seeds to the students in our school.

The children enjoyed potting them and placing them in their colourful pots in our vertical garden.

They have been busy watering them and keeping a keen eye on them.

They are waiting patiently for them to bloom.

Graduates

This year two of our students are graduating from Offaly School of Special Education - Rachel and Jamie. Both students have been with us since 2017 and it has been a privilege to see them progress over the years to become the wonderful young people that they are today. We wish them both the very best for their futures.

We will miss them so much. XX

Snapshot of The School Tours

Snapshot of The Ice-cream Party

The Sacraments

Two of our students were confirmed in March and seven students got their First Holy Communion in May. Both sacraments were wonderful occasions celebrated by Fr Joseph Gallagher. We held parties afterwards in the local Parish Centre for the children and their friends and families. Here are some photographs of our VIPS.

FIRST COMMUNION 5TH OF MAY 2023

Jack Jimmy Lexi Louie

Creative Clusters

Our school is participating in an initiative called Creative Clusters. Working in partnership with three other schools in our locality, the purpose of Creative Clusters is to demonstrate how creative practices can support clusters of schools to work together to address common learning challenges. The title of the project is ‘Inspiring sensory integration and environmental awareness’. There will be two parts, and these will be rolled out next year…

Part 1: Reviving the sensory boxes/trays on the patio. Barry is pictured here preparing the boxes for new sensory resources such as fidget toys, sand, musical instruments, figurines, animals, cars, tractors etc. to create mini worlds to spark the imagination

Part 2: We will be introducing Judo Assist to our school next September. This will be facilitated by Judo Assist Ireland who operate a Special Needs/Autism activity and inclusion programme specifically designed to encourage physical activity, inclusion, competitiveness and wellbeing to a wide selection of people with a wide range of abilities and disabilities.

Green Schools

We are delighted to announce that Offaly School of Special Education has completed our first application for The Green Flag Schools Programme. A Green School Committee has been set up involving teachers, SNA’s and students who will oversee and implement The Green School Programme.

The aim of the Green School’s initiative is to promote long-term whole school action for the environment. The first task our school will undertake is to reduce waste created in the school.

Staff and students will be encouraged to bring home their own waste therefore we will be sending home any lunch packaging with the children to be appropriately disposed of at home. Pictured below are members of The Green School Committee…

Black Tie Ball

We are thrilled to share the great news that our recent BlackTie Ball fundraiser was a resounding success. The organising committee made up of both staff and community representatives, presented a cheque to us for the enormous sum of €40,600. Since then, we have received further donations, taking the total to over €42,000. We are overwhelmed by this outcome and the level of support we have received has been outstanding.

We know that you will share with us in expressing our gratitude to the committee: Michael Kidney, Stephen Callan, Ger Kidney, Brenda Dunphy, Stephen Kidney, Karen Flanagan, Caroline Kelly, Eugene Kelly and Triona Hanley for all their hard work.

We recorded a video which was shown on the night of the ball, outlining why we were fundraising and how the money raised would be used. You will find it on our website. We think you will agree that is well worth watching.

Because of fundraising we have been able 100% finance the following and more for our students:

• School Tours for all classes

• Surprise Ice-cream party

• Family Fun Day & Soccer Tournament – Insurance, Coffee Truck, Ice-Cream Truck, Magician, Mascots, Medals, Treats

• Purchase of Giant Games – Jenga, Connect 4 & Lego

• Repairs to our Sensory Room equipment

• Purchase of a variety of sports day equipment

• Purchase of Judo mats for upcoming Judo Assist classes

• Trips to the Swimming Pool

• Gymboree Classes

• Horse Riding Lessons

• Confirmation, First Communion and Graduation parties

• Trips to the cafe and fast-food outlets

Family Fun Day & Annual Soccer Tournament

What a day! We held our second annual 5-a side Soccer Tournament last Saturday and this year we decided to coincide the tournament with a Family Fun Day.

There was a fantastic turnout and as you will see from the pictures, the sun shone all day, and everyone had a brilliant time.

It was a wonderful occasion bringing together students, staff and their families.

We enjoyed live entertainment by John Gorman, who is big brother to our pupil Luke. We were also treated to beautiful signing by Shane Lynam of Ruaile Buaile fame, who also happens to be an SNA sub in our school.

The highlight of the live entertainment was brought to us by the students and staff with a little help from Tullamore Musical society, when they treated us to the song ‘This Is Me’ from The Greatest Showman film, not just by signing it but also using sign language. It was a truly memorable performance.

In addition to the above everyone enjoyed the many treats on offer, an ice-cream truck, a coffee truck, a magician, giant mascots, giant games, face painting, bubbles, a play area, the soccer tournament, a seemingly endless array of savoury and sweet food kindly prepared by the staff for the occasion.

We hope to make this an annual addition to our very busy school calendar.