Fourth Year of ‘Say Yes to Languages’ Programme at Cloneyhurke NS

Say Yes to Languages is currently in its fourth year, funded by The Department of Education and we have taken part each year. Children from 3rd to 6th class are given an opportunity to explore from a range of 16 Modern Foreign Languages or Sign Language. 

To date, children have sampled French, German and Spanish over the last 3 years. In this current school year, children will be given the opportunity to learn Sign Language. 

Throughout the 10 hours of learning, children explore the language, the country, sing songs and learn phrases they would use in everyday life. We have also purchased books for the children in the languages they have studied to date to enable them to develop their studies in the languages of interest to them. 

We are looking forward to exploring Sign Language after learning Silent Night for our Christmas Carol Service. Children enjoyed performing this at Oakdale Nursing Home, Portarlington.

As soon as I read about the Say Yes to Languages initiative, I applied for our school, knowing that children, particularly in 6th class would benefit from getting an opportunity to spend 6 weeks learning a language prior to attending secondary school. This in turn would let them know if they wanted to further their studies in the chosen language. I always believed one day teaching a language would be introduced at primary level and this will be the case in the new school year in 2025. I feel now having taken part for 4 years, children have had the opportunity to make decisions on what languages they might like to study further. The programme has also moved from initially being 6 weeks to 8 weeks & is now running this year for 10 weeks! – Mary Coss, Cloneyhurke NS Deputy Principal and Senior Room Class Teacher

Cloneyhurke National School: A Community of Growth, Inclusion, and Excellence

At Cloneyhurke National School, we pride ourselves on fostering a warm and welcoming environment where every child is encouraged to thrive. As Principal, I see first-hand how our school ethos that is centred around friendship, student voice, well-being, and active participation creates a place where children feel valued and inspired to learn.

Student Council: Giving Pupils a Voice

We believe it’s important for pupils to have a say in school life. Our Student Council is a brilliant example of this, allowing students to take on leadership roles and contribute positively to our school community. Last year, they organised fantastic events like Jersey Day and the 100km Challenge, raising funds for the Irish Red Cross and new playground sports equipment. They also treated the whole school to a Pizza Party to celebrate the end of the term which was very well received!

Well-being and Inclusion: A School for Everyone

The well-being of our pupils is at the heart of what we do. This year, we took part in the #SomeoneLikeMe Project, which promotes disability awareness in schools. One of the highlights was a visit from Ailish Dunne, who shared her inspiring journey of overcoming challenges after losing her sight. Activities like this help our pupils develop empathy and a deeper understanding of inclusion.

Friendship and kindness are also a big part of our school culture. Our annual Friendship Week, is a fantastic way for pupils to bond across different year groups through games, challenges, and creative activities. Each child is assigned a ‘secret friend’ to carry out acts of kindness throughout the week, which helps to build a really supportive atmosphere.

Keeping Active: Sport and Outdoor Learning

We know that physical activity is key to a child’s development, which is why we encourage participation in a variety of sports. Our pupils love representing the school in Cumann na mBunscol, demonstrating teamwork and determination. We’re also extremely grateful to Brian Walsh Car Sales, who kindly sponsor our school kits.

Our Sports Day is a highlight of the school calendar, packed with fun and teamwork. Plus, during Active Schools Week, pupils enjoy extra PE lessons, friendly competitions, and even a teacher challenge! The Student Council plays a huge part in organising games like tag rugby, dodgeball, and Olympic handball during break times, ensuring there’s something for everyone. We are also enjoying our swimming lessons in Portarlington Leisure Centre. 

STEM and Creativity: Learning Through Experience

We embrace hands-on learning through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Maths). During Maths Week, pupils take part in outdoor maths trails, interactive games, and even coding challenges using Beebots and Scratch. Our older pupils competed in the All Ireland TT Rockstars Challenge, honing their maths skills in a fun and engaging way.

A Place to Belong

At Cloneyhurke National School, we’re more than just a school. We’re a community. Every pupil is encouraged to find their passion, develop confidence, and build lifelong friendships. Whether it’s through sport, student leadership, environmental initiatives, or creative projects, we strive to provide an environment where children feel supported, challenged, and inspired to achieve their best. Cloneyhurke National School is a place where every child belongs, and where memories are made that will last a lifetime. – Ciarán Cunniffe, Principal

“Since joining Cloneyhurke NS, S has been so much happier. They treat him as an individual and give him the 1-1 support he needs when required. He has recently been diagnosed with DCD (dyspraxia) and they have been so helpful, filling in forms and following recommendations. I can see S has grown so much both academically and socially since joining Cloneyhurke NS” – Parent testimonial

From Murals to Music: Creativity Thrives at Cloneyhurke National School

At Cloneyhurke National School, creativity is more than just an activity—it is at the very core of our learning experience. Through initiatives such as the Creative Schools Programme and the Teacher Artist Partnership (TAP), students have been immersed in a range of artistic endeavours that not only foster their skills but also boost their confidence and enjoyment of learning. Here’s a closer look at how creativity flourishes in our school.

Creative Schools Programme 

The Creative Schools initiative, part of the Creative Ireland Programme, aims to nurture creativity among young learners. This national programme has enabled our students to participate in various artistic projects, enhancing their self-expression, motivation, and academic achievement.

Students have taken part in a wide array of activities, including:

• Animation workshops

• Music Generation (where students learned to play the ukulele)

• A seven-week drama and music workshop

• Investment in LEGO through the Jack and Jill Foundation, allowing for weekly creative sessions

• An outdoor art installation to further enrich our school’s vibrant atmosphere

BLAST Residency Programme 

As part of the BLAST Residency Programme, Cloneyhurke National School was thrilled to welcome local artist Mary Slevin. Under her guidance, students worked collaboratively on a whole-school mural, adding a striking and colourful artistic feature to our learning environment. This project has provided students with a hands-on opportunity to create a lasting legacy within our school.

Teacher Artist Partnership (TAP) 

The TAP programme has further enriched our students’ artistic journey, thanks to our collaboration with artist Kate Heffernan. This initiative has focused on photography as a creative medium. These experiences have given our students a fresh way to express themselves artistically, encouraging them to see the world through a different lens—both literally and figuratively.

Our Commitment to Creativity 

At Cloneyhurke National School, we remain dedicated to fostering creativity across all aspects of learning. Whether through music, drama, photography, or visual arts, our students continue to thrive in an environment that celebrates self-expression and imagination. We eagerly anticipate more creative adventures in the years ahead! 

– Ciarán Cunniffe, Principal

“For such a small school, the children have had ample opportunities to try new things, take trips, and meet some wonderful people along the way. On a day-to-day basis, they are exposed to art, music, language, and even some gardening. No two days are the same, and they love it. Our kids have excelled in all areas of the curriculum, and are constantly challenged to do more. We couldn’t be happier we chose this school.” – Parent testimonial  

Say Yes to Languages is currently in its fourth year, funded by The Department of Education and we have taken part each year. 

Children from 3rd to 6th class are given an opportunity to explore from a range of 16 Modern Foreign Languages or Sign Language. To date, children have sampled French, German and Spanish over the last 3 years. In this current school year, children will be given the opportunity to learn Sign Language. 

Throughout the 10 hours of learning, children explore the language, the country, sing songs and learn phrases they would use in everyday life. We have also purchased books for the children in the languages they have studied to date to enable them to develop their studies in the languages of interest to them. 

We are looking forward to exploring Sign Language after learning Silent Night for our Christmas Carol Service. Children enjoyed performing this at Oakdale Nursing Home, Portarlington.

Thank you to our local councillor Eddie Fitzpatrick for calling in to visit.

Eddie is a past pupil of Cloneyhurke NS and the children enjoyed listening to stories about his time in school here. 

Eddie also answered questions about the upcoming elections and the issues facing schools. 

We would like to thank Eddie for helping us to get our road safety signage updated. We wish him the best of luck in the upcoming elections. 

The Senior room students thoroughly enjoyed a trip to Mountmellick Community School to experience exciting experiments hosted by Transition Year students.

Following this, children attended the Ógra Live Well Expo, where they enjoyed workshops to support Health and Wellbeing in school. 

Congratulations to the Senior Room and Ms. Coss on a successful Cumann na mBunscol campaign. 

Thank you to those who brought the children to and from the away games, and to all those who came to support the team at our home games. 

Thank you to our generous neighbours and sponsors at 'Brian Walsh Car Sales' Cloneyhurke for our jerseys.

Well done to our Student Council for organising a lovely end of year treat for the whole school. We enjoyed a Pizza party, movie, and popcorn on the last Friday of the term. Thank you to Bradbury's, our hot meals provider, for generously supplying the pizzas. 

This year’s school tour was to Lilliput Adventure Centre at Lough Ennell, Mullingar. We had a great day doing fun activities like climbing walls, forest adventures and of course the mucky bog run! Thank you to our Parents’ Council for funding a great day of memories for the students. It is greatly appreciated. 

On Monday 22nd April, we celebrated Earth Day.

As part of our Green Schools work and our Picker Pals Programme, we took part in a whole school litter pick. We collected 2 large bags of litter around our school. 

We read a nice story about taking care of the Earth. Thank you to Ms. Delaney for leading the Green Schools Committee. 

We hope to get out for another litter pick around our local area in the coming weeks.

We are continuing our Gaelbhratach work this year, and are enjoying practicing our conversational Gaeilge during our weekly 'Cómhrá agus Cluichí' sessions. 

During our Monday sessions the students from both classrooms meet in mixed groups and get to play games, chat, and have fun as Gaeilge. 

We are very lucky to have been selected to take part in the 'Sports Hall Athletics Programme' hosted by Laois Sports Partnership. This is a great way to get exercise, have fun, and learn new skills.

 Thank you to our Parents' Council for supporting this programme.

We would like to thank the Committee of St. Brigid's Community Centre for the use of their fantastic facilities.