It’s the final frontier for Scoil Aonghusa

IT is the third week of the new school year and all the children at Scoil Aonghusa CNS are settled in school, they have got to know their new teachers and are embarking on another fun filled year of adventure and learning.

Scoil Aonghusa pupil names are currently travelling on the NASA Insight spacecraft, due to land on Elysium Planitia, Mars on November 26. Its mission is to study the inner space of Mars (crust, mantle and core). The pupils will be following the end of Insight’s journey on the website https://mars.nasa. gov/insight/mission/overview/.

Back here on Earth, the pupils will be undertaking some exciting fun adventures of their own. The school was recently awarded the Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths School of Excellence Award. Science and Maths Education is a priority for the school as they prepare their students for second level science pathways.

The teachers recognise each child’s quest for knowledge and natural curiosity about life and the world around them. The STEM curriculum in the school aims to encourage the children’s creativity, curiosity and ability to tackle new challenges.

The STEM, Green School and Health Promotion committees who are made up of representatives from each class, are busy planning activities. The school will also be continuing computer programming with the children in small project work groups. Learning how to cope helps children learn to think outside the box and solve all sorts of problems.

Chess is being played daily at the school and the senior class are busy practicing for tournaments and also preparing for the Mallow Primary Science Fair and Science Week.

New teacher Ms Amy Buckley is teaching First and Second class this year. She has recently joined Scoil Aonghusa having previously taught in Citywest and Saggart CNS in Dublin. Ms Buckley has a particular interest in maths education and is using ICT to facilitate group work for problem solving and project work in her class this year.

Ms Sarah Buckley has also joined the school and is teaching Third and Fourth class this year. Ms Buckley is using techniques such as jigsaw reading and active learning in her classroom and she is particularly interested in science and the environment and is looking forward to Space Week on October 4.