PJP News Updates

Hello everyone,

It is a busy time of year for everyone but we wanted to share a few school updates with everyone.

Parent teacher Meeting

Thanks to everyone who attended the recent parent teacher meetings we know they can be long days and appreciate everyone's patience in allowing people the time to meet and discuss our students, your wonderful children. We have two classes that we will schedule meetings for in the new year as due to teacher changes it would have been too soon to have the meetings.

Christmas Cracker

Our second and third classes are busy working on their class songs for the PJP Christmas Cracker event. As usual it promises to be a great night. We look forward to the children preforming along with our choir and a few surprises along the way. We are hoping to buy some musical instruments including a class set of Ukuleles from the proceeds of the night so please drop in any raffle prizes you might have at home!

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal

A big thank you to the boys and girls in Ms. Farrelly's sixth class who along with their teacher are taking on organising this years SVP Christmas Appeal, under the watchful eye of Ms. Brahshaw who helps to coordinate this every year. Every class in the school will be given a family or person in need of a little help at this time of the year. Every student will be asked to bring in an item that will make a lovely hamper with food for the press, some practical items and a few Christmas treats! Staff members alongside SVP volunteers will deliver these items on Thursday the 19th December. Our 26 classes along with additional staff hampers will help to make a big difference to families in need.

Should you find yourself in difficult circumstances this year at Christmas, or at any stage throughout the year please feel free to contact me directly on principal@pjp.ie or by phoning through the office and asking to speak to me.

Feet First Friday

I look forward to seeing the boys and girls tomorrow on feet first Friday counting down to the Toyshow. Children are encouraged to walk, scoot or cycle to school.

This is a Parents Association fundraiser and the PA ask participating children to bring in €1 for a non-uniform day, which will contribute towards the transformation of the school yard.

Children can wear their pyjamas or their own clothes to school tomorrow!

The school was a hive of scientific activity last week as students conducted fantastic experiments in every classroom, and Ms. Farrelly's class was no exception! Louis Miller captivated everyone with an exciting experiment showing how to extinguish a flame using carbon dioxide. He even created a clear, step-by-step procedure so you can try it at home and join in the fun!

Invisible Extinguisher

by Louis Miller

What you will need:

§ A glass

§ Vinegar

§ A spoon

§ Bicarbonate of soda

§ A candle

§ A lighter

What to do

1. Pour 25ml of vinegar into a glass

2. Then add a big teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to the vinegar

3. Next, give it a big stir.

4. If you did it right, you should see a chemical reaction happen making bubbles. These bubbles are filled with carbon dioxide.

5. Put your hand over the glass, bring the candle beside the glass, then take your hand off the glass.

6. Now pour the carbon dioxide on the candle. Try not to get the liquid on the candle and it should extinguish the candle.

What is happening

When vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are mixed together, the reaction makes carbon dioxide and water. Carbon dioxide is much denser or heavier than air and so it will collect in the glass. When you tip your glass, you are pouring carbon dioxide on the candle, cutting off the supply of oxygen causing it to go out.

The talented students of 5th class have been exploring the enchanting world of poetry. Below are two outstanding examples of their creative work.

by Remy Lynch, 5th class

Bazzozas are predators

feared by all.

They can locate any creature

Large or small.

Here are just some of their defining features

Two glowing red eyes

that hunt their prize.

A big bushy tail

That keeps them on the trail.

Prowling, lurking, swimming

watching, chasing, running, leaping.

In the rainforest with your friends

It might be time to meet your ends!

The Toe-Nibbler

by Seán Wallace, 5th class
Once there lived a toe-nibbler

it took away kiddies toes
it nibbled and nibbled
and nibbled and nibbled
and when done gave
the kiddies some woes.
But it nibbled too much
and then its teeth did bend
and then it had to say “The End”.

But he lived on in the corners

plotting and planning revenge,

then he realized it isn’t the end.

He went to a dentist called Mr Fentist

Who fixed his terrible gnashers

So he nibbled some rashers and
rashers and rashers and the pigs
did meet their end,

but his teeth did break

and he got toothache

and then it was truly

“The End”.

Congratulations to Ms. McKenna and Mr. Murphy who were awarded Dublin Primary Hurling Coaches of the year for all their work with last years victorious PJP Cumann na mBunscoil Camogie team. There were presented with their awards at a Gala Ball in the Bonnington Hotel on Friday night last week.

Matilda from Mr. Murphy's class dances for the Mary grimes school of Irish dance. She competed at the Leinster championships on the 24th November and came 6th in her preliminary championship out of a huge number of dancers. She’ll now go on to dance at the world championships in April.

Our past pupil, Lucy Williams, returned to PJP last week for her Transition Year work experience. As part of her work experience and her Gaisce Award, Lucy led a rock-painting project with several classes under the title "Different but All the Same." She shared her experience working with Fingal County Council to make Seabury Playground more inclusive and emphasised the importance of recognising and celebrating our differences. We look forward to displaying the painted rocks in the school so that all the children can benefit from their empowering messages.