Well done to all who took part in the recent Credit Union Art Competition.  This year’s theme was ‘Happiness is ….’  Congratulations to Jamie Langan, Danika Donohoe, Fintan Cassidy, Shanna Langan and Joey McKiernan who all won prizes and whose beautiful artwork is on display in Ballyconnell Credit Union.

On 18th November we extended a special welcome to Sr Anna, our Diocesan Religious Examiner who was visiting our school to speak to the children and teachers.  We held a whole-school assembly and the theme was ‘Our little hands can make a difference’.  Some children dramatised the story of The Good Samaritan and we all reflected on how being kind to each other at school and at home can make a difference to the lives of others and to ourselves.

On Thursday 26th November Ian Patterson from the Heritage in Schools Scheme paid a return visit to our school.  The children were treated to a magnificent display of some birds of prey and learned all about owls, falcons and kestrels to name but a few.

On Monday 30th November we held our first Advent Prayer Service this year.  All pupils assembled in the General Purpose Room for the lighting of the first purple candle on the Advent Wreath.  Our beautiful Advent Wreath was made by Mrs McHugh with the help of some of the pupils.

Well done to the pupils of St. Aidan’s who competed in the Credit Union Table Quiz (Ballyconnell Area) on Monday 1st February.

Congratulations in particular to 6th Class Pupils Niamh Fitzpatrick, James Fahy. Patrick Leech and Ethan Edwards on winning First Prize in the Under 13 Category.  They now proceed to the next round of the competition and we wish them every success.

Congratulations also to the Under 11 Team Orlagh Leech, Darragh Brady, Kate McCaffrey and Danika Donohoe who finished in Second Place.
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We are very proud of you all!

What a happy day it was on Thursday 4th February for the pupils and teachers when the grandparents arrived to school to celebrate Grandparents’ Day as part of Catholic Schools Week.

After a short prayer service giving thanks for their wonderful grandparents, the pupils entertained them with singing, music and dance.

Some grandparents then visited the classrooms before enjoying a well deserved cup of tea and a chat.

Thanks to all the grandparents (and great grandparents!) who came in. 

See some photos in the slide show below taken by Isabel on the day.

We hosted our annual Sports’ Day on the 2nd June.  It was a glorious summer’s day. Thank you Derek Crowe who donated drinks to finish off our day.

Our School Trip to Dublin
by Ben Donohoe, 3rd Class
On Tuesday 12th April pupils in second to sixth classes went on an educational trip to Dublin.  We went because we were learning about the 1916 Easter Rising.  We got there on Martin’s Coaches.  It took us two and a half hours.
First we went to Glasnevin and waited for the Tour Guide.  First he showed us Daniel O’Connells grave.  The first fact I learnt was that Daniel O’Connell wore a black glove on his left hand to remind him never to fight again.  The second fact I learnt was that Daniel O’Connell was not buried in the ground.  He was in a coffin in a little room.
Then we went to Parnell’s grave and saw George the grey squirrel that ran around Parnell’s grave.  Parnell was buried with a big stone across his grave.  There was a steel fence around his grave.
Next we went to Michael Collin’s grave.  It was covered in flowers and Valentine’s Day Cards.  Sean the tour guide told us about a French woman that visits his grave four times a year and leaves flowers and cards.
Then we went to the GPO and watched a film and it was so cool.  It was like real life.
Then we went home.  The best part was the film of the Easter Rising.

My favourite part of the trip
by James Fahy, 6th Class
My favourite thing about the trip to Dublin was visiting the GPO.  It was an extraordinary feeling because we were in the very building that was the headquarters of the Rising.  When we were there we learned a lot about the building, when it was built, who built it and that they moved it.  We got to see the bullet holes in the pillars and all the things under the ground.  It was a fantastic trip.
 
My favourite part of our school trip to Dublin
by Ethan Edwards, 6th Class
My favourite part of our school trip to Dublin was visiting Glasnevin Cemetery.  There were so many famous Irish people buried there.  I learned that in retaliation for the destruction of Nelson’s Pillar a small bomb was detonated inside Daniel O’Connell’s tower in the hope of destroying it.  Luckily the bomb wasn’t strong enough and only destroyed the spiral staircase.  I really enjoyed the trip.

​Congratulations to the following children of St. Aidan’s N.S. Bawnboy who received their First Holy Communion on Saturday 30th April 2016.

Lauren Brady, Siobhán Maguire, Aoibhinn McCaffrey, Joey McKiernan, Finn Brady, Caolán McAveety, Colm Brady, Thomas Gilbride, Darragh Leech, Fintan Cassidy and Conor Fahy.