We’re settling into 2017 really well and enjoying getting back into the swing of things. Welcome back to all the Early Learning Schools’ children in Glen, Letterkenny and Ray and a big welcome to all the new children who have just started their ECCE place.
It’s an exciting time for children and parents and we’re looking forward to helping them create some very special memories.
We’ve lots of exciting learning planned for this term as well as plenty of games, art and crafts and outdoor fun.
Here are some pics of the children in action on their first few weeks back.
September marks the start of a new term and we’re delighted to welcome everyone back to Early Learning Schools. We’re very excited to meet all our new friends and it’s great to see some familiar faces back for the year.
The objective at each of our Early Learning Schools is to ensure that each child has a happy, fun and enjoyable experience. We encourage children’s creativity and social interaction and while we spend 80% of our day outdoors, we follow the national early childhood curriculum framework, Aistear, to ensure our children are prepared for primary school.
It’s going to be a very exciting first term with lots of outdoor fun and learning, arts and crafts and much, much more. Keep an eye on our blog for lots of photos!
We’re holding a registration evening in Ray Outdoor School on Monday, 21st March from 6.00-7.00pm.
Parents/guardian’s will be able to book their child’s free ECCE place for September 2016.
Remember to bring your child’s birth certificate and PPS number and if you can’t make it along on Monday, 21st, give us a call on 086 410 7974 to arrange another visit.
A lack of sunshine didn’t dampen our fun this summer and we really enjoyed hosting a series of week long summer camps throughout June, July and August. Each of the summer camps had a different theme combining the magic of the outdoors with science experiments, natural arts and crafts, drama and music, water fun, baking and getting fit. The children had a ball. Check out the pictures below…
We really enjoyed our night at the Early Childhood Ireland ‘Play on the Brain Conference’ in Dublin last weekend. It was great to meet so many other childcare professionals around Ireland and it was lovely to catch up with old friends.
We were thrilled that the Glen Outdoor School won two learning stories’ awards, as well as an overall award on the night. It really was the icing on the cake.
The conference was also very useful in terms of discussing key issues affecting our profession including commercial rates and VAT, ECCE issues, inspection processes, support for children with additional needs, as well as issues around recognising the childcare sector as a profession with appropriate pay and conditions.
Congratulations to all our staff and to the parents and children who support us. We couldn’t do it without everyone’s help and it really is a great team effort.
We’re very excited about the upcoming Early Childhood Ireland ‘Play on the Brain’ conference which is being held this weekend, Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April at the Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin. The two day event will involve over 40 inspirational early years’ practitioners and practices from around the country and will recognise the positive impact they have on children and families. The awards will be presented by Nóirín Hayes, visiting Professor at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin and our very own Glen Outdoor School team will receive two ‘Learning Stories’ awards. We are also in the running to receive an ‘Overall’ award at the conference.
The first award is in recognition of The Glen Outdoor School “Enormous Turnip” activity. The activity takes places in autumn, the same time as harvest season and the children re-enacted The Enormous Turnip story so they could harvest their own pumpkin. The children put so much effort into it and they had to pull and transport the pumpkin. Parents often ask, how will we do all this and we reply, the Glenswilly way….
The second award, which has been shortlisted for the overall award, is in recognition of “Our Christmas Play”. The children gathered their ideas of what they’d like their Christmas play to look like and then went around and gathered up all natural, outdoor materials to create their stage and setting. It was truly wonderful to watch children use their imagination and create something brilliant from the materials that surrounded them. They’re hoping to have something very special for next year too.
Early Childhood Ireland represents over 3,500 childcare professional members who support over 100,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool and full day-care provision nationwide. We’re honoured to be recognised in this way and we look forward to a great night on Friday. For more information on the awards and Early Childhood Ireland contact Carmel Doyle 087 247 3537.
We were delighted to join members of Letterkenny’s Cathedral Quarter committee in Sentry Hill last week for a tree planting ceremony. The tree was part of our entry into the White Winter Garden Competition in the Church Lane last December. We donated it to the committee as a symbol of the re-growth and regeneration currently taking place in Letterkenny’s Cathedral Quarter.
Committee members Donnan Harvey and Mary Hegarty were present at the replanting of the Green Beech tree. The Cathedral Quarter originally began as the Save the Church Lane campaign. Since its formation last year, the project has gathered significant momentum in its efforts to regenerate the historical Church Lane. The long term goal is to create a hidden treasure in the heart of Letterkenny for locals and tourists to enjoy.
With Paddy’s Day fast approaching, there will be a series of outdoor concerts in Letterkenny’s Cathedral Quarter on Saint Patrick’s Day, this Tuesday, 17th March 2015. Parade spectators will be kept entertained by a variety of traditional music and dance performances on Letterkenny’s Church Lane. The Cathedral Quarter committee will also be participating in the Letterkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade. There promises to be lots of colour and a great atmosphere and organisers are hoping for a large turnout to celebrate our national holiday.
For more information log onto www.facebook.com/SaveTheChurchLane.
We’re hosting a series of information evenings for parents on the benefits of outdoor play in childhood. It’s a great opportunity to find out more about our schools and there’s no obligation to register. Come along, have a chat and get answers to any questions you might have. You can also meet some of our parents who’d be happy to tell you why outdoor schooling is right for their children. Here are the details (double click on the image to enlarge it) and please feel free to spread the word….
And here’s an article on our schools from The Letterkenny Post…
