Mother of Divine Grace Primary School

Happy New Year to all our pupils, staff and their families.
We hope that 2012 will be a happy, healthy year for you all.

MDG CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
Mother of Divine Grace celebrates 50 years this year. Planning and preparation will take place over the coming months to mark this very special event.

Contributions from pupils past and present will be warmly welcomed.

Further information will be made available in forthcoming newsletters and on the school website.

View photos from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s.

Santa Visits MDG

We were very lucky to have a visit from Santa Claus on Monday. He gave presents to all classes and classes sang songs for him. He had to dash away back to The North Pole to prepare for Christmas Eve. Thanks Santa and the Parents’ Association for organising the visit!

Better Reading Partnership

Ten pupils received their Better Reading Partnership certificates in a ceremony attended by their parents on December 7th.

Better Reading Partnership is a programme where parents trained in paired reading come to school and read with individual pupils. In this way the pupils improve fluency and confidence in reading.

Better Reading Partnership is sponsored by the Tolka Area Partnership and we would like to thank Colm Downes from that organisation for his support. A big thank you also to our dedicated and enthusiastic parents, Linda Geraghty, Catherine Kenny, Marion O'Reilly and Denise Smith and to all the teachers involved.

MDG's Presidential Election

The Presidential election was held in Ireland on October 27th. We held our own presidential election in school. Mr. Burke's fifth class were in charge of our election.

We had been discussing the election in school for a number of weeks. We picked seven people to be the candidates and different people were allocated different election jobs like canvassers, counting staff and returning officer. Teacher made the ballot papers with pictures of the seven real candidates and 4th, 5th and 6th class were allowed to vote. Before the election the candidates had to make a speech to the classes that were voting. Then each class voted by putting the numbers 1 to 7 beside the candidates. The votes were counted by the counting staff and the returning officer announced the result to the whole school. Our winner on the day was Michael D. Higgins. Article by Adam

Sam Maguire Visits MDG

Thank you to Aileen Brodigan (Parents Association) and Ken Keoghan (Erin's Isle) for organising the visit of members of the Dublin Team with the Sam Maguire Cup. We had a great celebration on the day with all 439 pupils and teachers gathered in the school hall.

Safe Internet Browsing

Are you using the Internet and other technology like your mobile phone safely and wisely. Webwise is an Irish Internet site that has some good tips about Internet Safety. Click the picture above to link to the site.

Planting Bulbs

Fourth class planted daffodil bulbs in the school grounds. They planted the bulbs in the grass in a double spiral pattern. First they dug the soil and then planted the bulbs with the roots down. They saw lots of earthworms on the day and can’t wait for spring to see the daffodils blooming.

Dubs Day for St. Francis Hospice

A great buzz of excitement filled the classrooms and corridors of Mother of Divine Grace on Friday 16th of September in anticipation of the Senior Football All Ireland Final against Kerry.

Staff and children made a HUGE effort to take part in ‘dubs day’ and in turn raised money for St. Francis Hospice. Thank you to everyone for your kind donations, a fun day has had by all!

Welcome back to school.
Tá fáilte romhaibh go léir ar ais ar scoil.
A special welcome to all our new pupils and teachers.

Start of School Year Reflection
Bless us as we start this new year
with our friends and teachers
Help us to make the most of every chance we have to start afresh.
May we show love to one another and to all.
May the new beginning of this school year
remind us that you give us chances to start over again and again.
Help us to forgive others
as we receive your forgiveness.
Help us to learn and to work together.
Help us to listen when we should
and to know the best words when we speak
and when it is better not to speak.
We thank you for our friends
Help us to be good friends this year.
Help us to be patient
with ourselves and with others.
Bless our school and keep us safe.
Be with us as we travel each day.
Help us to be aware of your love
shown to us in the people around us.
Bless all those who care for us
In school and at home.
Help us show our care for them
and to say sorry when we need to.
May the Blessed Mother Mary protect us
And help us to live as well as we can
Giving thanks and glory to God as she did.