As you know, all of the teachers have added work to Aladdin for everybody. It would really bother us though if you felt you have to do every bit of it. 
​
A lot of you are already in very good routines. We know that from feedback we are getting from parents. 

You have a nice mix of written work, reading, Irish and Maths going. 

Some of you are doing amazing Science experiments. Some of you are writing books. Some of you are working on projects about your favourite teams or players or heroes.

We know this is a very challenging time for all of you. And in a variety of different ways. So we don't want to add to that stress! Just do what works for you and your Mam and Dad.

Your parents are the bosses that you are working for right now!

So....

• Get a good routine going.
• Help your parents with jobs around the house.
• Be kind to your brother/sister -even when they can be annoying!
• Wash your hands properly.
• And don't worry if you cannot get everything done!(Unless it's hand washing of course!)

Get 'school' set up for earlier in the morning. And just get done whatever your parents think you can manage. 

It's not all about books either. This young chap is growing seeds. And he also made this salt dough plaque. You could make one too. Then bake it and paint it. It will remind you of this special time for as long as you keep it! Or could be a nice gift for Mam or Dad!

Baking is a great learning activity. And here's another nice idea: Why not enjoy a Zoom or Facetime lunch with your grandparents?  Or send them a card or a letter or a ring them? 

Can't get out to play with your friends? Set up your bike on blocks and pedal while you keep up your hurling skills!

Or explore history with a visit to Mornington Tower. This is only recommended of course if you live within a two kilometre radius of it. You can check the 2km radius from your home here.

And that marvellous wood work and willow weaving project we saw yesterday? I forgot to mention what it is!  It's a crannóg-an ancient Irish settlement located in a lake which were numerous in Ireland over a thousand years ago.  

​This really can be a special time to work on a project that you will keep forever. Your mam or dad may have time to work on a special project with you. Or they may have no time at all! Please try to understand that if you can!


Very many of our Mams and Dads and families are working in our hospitals and care homes at this time. They are under a lot of pressure. We really appreciate all they are doing for us!

Or you might like to read some of the magazines in this free site.

RTE have started broadcasting their primary school hub every morning at 11 am

But learning through play is something we all can do. Keep it simple-water and a few containers can teach you about capacity. Or about sinking and swimming. Or about using your imagination and creativity.

Great to see your pics here! And to hear how you are getting along in this challenging time. Maybe you are working on a special project that you would like us to see? Or have a story that you have written that you would like to share?

Send it on to officedonacarneyboys@gmail.com

Wow! Some of you boys and your parents are sharing some really great ideas with us for today's blog.

I love this one: two boys tucked up in bed listening to their Granny telling them a story via Facetime! So good for the grandparents to be with their grandchildren in this way. And what could be better than a nice story before you go to bed?

Here's another idea. This chap's mam outlined shapes for him to fill in with paint on his window. It must have kept him busy for hours.

And here's another great idea from another Mam...

Time To Come In Bear: A story about social distancing on youtube

There are some very skillful families in our community who can work a jigsaw and also weave. We will be calling on your skills when the school reopens again! Lovely for your children to watch that handiwork in action-and to enjoy the finished results.

It's also great to see families enjoying boardgames and construction kits together.

And who doesn't love this time to sort out all the things we have been meaning to get to but don't? LIke our great big football card collection! Now is a golden opportunity to sort out those Match Attax or GAA cards!

Or something as simple as a scrap book. Or-if you cannot get to the shops-a few pages stapled together, can be the start of a project for your favourite band or team. Or anything you want.

.And the written work and reading continues. Maybe get that done first before you play with your favourite toys?
Our Teachers have given work in the Aladdin app today for every class. These are suggestions-your parents will decide what works best for you for learning at home. This chap has free worksheets from Twinkl.

Don't forget to keep reading! Roald Dahl is a particular favourite for lots of you and here's a link to some indoor activities from the Roald Dahl website.

Help around the house as much as you can. And take this time too to have fun with your family!

 We know you miss your classmates and play mates. And that birthdays are quieter affairs during these challenging times. But maybe we are learning too that our families are very precious and create some very special memories for our memory box during this unique time.

When all the work is done, get out there, keep your social distance. And keep sharing your great ideas and pics on offficedonacarneyboys@gmail.com

Great to see familiar faces here today and some new ones too!

That was some weekend, wasn't it? Leo fairly took the fun out of it with all the new restrictions imposed on us. 

Still, as your Mam and Dad no doubt have said to you before "It's all for your own good!"

So yes, let's manage to get a good balance of work and exercise and a good routine for the week ahead. And flattening the curve!

Good to see you enjoying the fresh air, and the start of Spring. The outdoors can be a great adventure land. Some of you are lucky enough to live within 2km of the beach. And there are lots of adventures to be had within a 2km radius of every home.

You can have lots of fun with your family and on your own. But remember, you have to stay away from your friends just so we can all help people to stay healthy.

We have LOTS of Mams and Dads working very hard at the frontline for our community: workers in care homes, in hospitals, in the food industry and in other essential services. We are truly grateful for all they are doing right now.

And the best way we can show our appreciation is to obey the rules: keep our social distance, wash our hands properly, stay at home.

You don't have to go far to get exercise either. Go out to the back garden with a ball. Or catch an indoor exercise session with Joe Wicks.

The back garden is a perfect place to be! And these two brothers have the added advantage of having a beehive in their garden. Bees are incredible creatures, This would be a very good time to plant seeds and watch them grow, Or even just encourage a wildlife patch in your garden.

And here we go.... this chap is getting stuck into some gardening. 

Start small. You don't need to go out and buy seeds. You have seeds already at home! You can start an orange or lemon tree off from the pips inside an orange or lemon. That would be a great project for any of you this week.
Or how about planting garlic or pepper in a pot on your kitchen windowsill?

Gardening is a wonderful activity so help out your Mam and Dad to tidy up your garden. Or even watch the weeds grow-remember, the weeds and wildflowers are REALLY important for our bees and for other wildlife.

So, Monday is coming around again and like the boys in the photos here, it's time to get some of your school work out again. Lots of the parents have already downloaded  worksheets from twinkl. That's something your Mam or Dad might like to check out-the School Closure Activity packs on twinkl are free. There are lots of other pages on that website that parents will find useful.

And our teachers have been busy too. If Mam or Dad log on to the Aladdin app from Monday 30th March they'll see lots of suggested assignments and activities for each individual class.

Here's to the routine for the week. It doesn't have to be the same as last week's one. Make out a timetable. Put it up on the fridge where you can see it. Or in your homework journal. Or somewhere you can see it.

And don't forget to add three great rules:

• Wash your hands
• Practise social distancing.
• Stay at Home

I bet all of you are looking forward to the weekend and a break from the week's routine? Right?
You've worked hard this week, setting up a routine, getting a good balance of exercise, and learning in lots of ways.

It's been good to see more of you than ever taking exercise indoors and out.

And to see how creative you have been about your learning.

This Make-a-Book activity is super for anyone of any age.
You could start your own novel. Or a diary about your life?
​Or write something factual-a biography of your favourite musician or actor or sports' star perhaps? 

And lots of you have been practising your maths everyday too. It could be in your school book, in your copy. Or how about using a white board or blackboard if you have one? Or rolling two or three dice to make your own sums?

my.cjfallon.ie/dashboard/student-resources/?levels=0&classes=0&subjects=0&serieses=0&booktitles=0&types%5B0%5D=Book+Sample
​You can get access to free books here from CJ Fallon and also from Folens

I love that these lads are learning new skills AND helping Mam and Dad around the place.

And it's great to see you outdoors with your family. (But don't visit friends for another while please. We really have to get out social distancing right to help save people from getting sick)

Daffodil Day was very quiet this year. But this chap remembered it anyway with his lovely drawing. 


Keep it light for the weekend boys. We've seen lots of you working really well this week.

• Help out at home
• Do at least one kind act every day.
• Wash your hands lots of times.
• And don't forget to practise social distancing....

                                                                                  ....just like County Mayo and the Sam Maguire Cup!

...and here is a very very important message for the Mams and Dads themselves

A lot of you are really setting up some GREAT daily routines.
​

Get up early in the morning, catch some exercise, a good breakfast-yes, maybe even on the beach and then...

...workout with Joe at 9 am!

Of course you don't have to wait for Joe Wicks to get started! You can make up your own exercise regime at home. Yoga, stretches, squats...there's lots you can do to make your body stronger and fitter.

And then....

down to work. You've all got copies in your bags to write in. You can write a story, copy some writing from a book or use your handwriting book to practise writing your letters.

Don't worry about moving on to the next page. Just try to take your time and think about how you're doing it. Your teachers will be delighted to see that you are really making an effort!

And enjoy writing your own story. You can write about what you did today. Or write a letter to your friend. Or look for more ideas here!

Or find some free maths sheets here! (Mam and Dad, you can find the answer sheets here too! Shhhh!!!!)

It's really important to read every day...

Find a book you like-even if you have read it lots of times before. Or listen to your Dad or Mam reading to you. Or read for your younger brother or sister. Or your dog! 

Your Mam or Dad might like to try some Paired Reading with you.

Or you might get a chance to listen to David Waillams reading every day at 11 am.

Read comics, newspapers, the side of the cereal packet, the instructions for following a recipe.

Now is a great time to become a bookworm!

Art is just brilliant for your heart, your soul and your mind! 
Maybe it's time to practise drawing Easter bunnies?

Pick up a new hobby now and you could find a passion that stays with you for life!

 And remember learning happens indoors and out...

Get outside every day-after lunch time might suit your family best. 

It's great to see so many of your hobbies-walking, horse riding, art, gardening and board games are all great for you in so many different ways. And great to see you keeping your social and physical distance! 

                                                  Yes, Learning Can Happy Anywhere!

And, at the end of a long day, if you cannot get out to your favourite restaurant....

Why not have your Italian restaurant come to you?

If you can dream it, you can do it!

Have fun learning all!

Our teachers will send more suggested work assignments via the Aladdin app for the week ahead. You will have them on time to get your Monday morning off to a great start.

Mams and Dads a huge THANK YOU! for all the great pics, and for your feedback on what is working for you. Your photos here are inspiring for all our staff and our school community. And a welcome distraction from other news going on in the world.

I'm delighted to hear how the learning is going, the challenges and joys involved. More pics always welcome too!
officedonacarneyboys@gmail.com

Okay let's talk about the really serious business first, everybody.

In a letter sent to all schools this evening, the General Secretary of the Department of Education stressed the absolute need for all of us to 

 "to practise social and physical distancing, and to minimise physical contact with each other, to help avoid the spread of Covid-19. This should include advice to avoid meeting up and in all circumstances to adhere to HSE guidelines. As part of your school community, parents and guardians should also be urged to support their children to maintain the restrictions on congregating for the safety of all in their community".

The HSE Covid 19 resources are in different languages-just click on the link below

https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/partner-resources/covid-19-translated-resources/

Our first activity of the day shows this chap making a very healthy fruit smoothie for his breakfast. He's got two messages for us:

• Keep up the healthy diet everyone!
  
• Wash your hands!

And exercise is important too. Remember our Run A Mile footprints in our school yard? Well, I love that this family are keeping that great habit up and running a mile around their green! 

Great going, guys!

Don't forget to write and read every day boys. You'll find lots of ideas for activities at the end of this page.

You also have work assigned from each class teacher in your homework journals. And the good news is all teachers will be sending you on more work via your parents' Aladdin app for next week! 

No pressure for the Mams and Dads though! Just do whatever you can. The boys will learn a lot themselves by following their own interests. Take a look at the photo of the buildings. This boys in sixth class has a big interest in architecture and has been recording information and sketching some famous ones. Great to see!

Writing cards and letter to Granny is a good writing exercise for everyone. Grandparents enjoy it too!

Art is really important for developing creativity, fine motor skills, observation and our appreciation for line, form and colour. The family above are following artist and birding enthusiast Don Conroy on TV for his inspiring art lessons!

Lego and Jigsaws are also GREAT for developing eye hand co-ordination, creativity, and thinking skills. And they're FUN!

Baking is fun too! Or just putting together a snack for you and your family!

Don't forget to get outside! Keep your physical distance. And listen to your Mam and Dad!

They're your very best teachers!

Mams, Dads, Guardians, we love to hear how you are getting on with home learning. And we especially delighted to get pics of the boys. But if they just want to show pictures of a project they are working on, or examples of their writing, maths or art for instance, that's great too!

Contact officedonacarneyboys@gmail.com with your ideas, photos or feedback.

Pic Credits: To our Super Parents and their Families!

Remember the Rules:

Wash Your Hands

Cover your cough or Sneeze

Keep Your Social and Physical Distance

Patricia, Pat, Claire and Brian have been busy inside and outside our school in the past couple of days, keeping it nice and clean for us all on our return but it's a sad place without all our boys, their energy, their enthusiasm and their zest for life. And sadder to think that we might not get back there for another while.

It really does keep us all going to stay in touch and show each other what we've been up to during this strange time.

Don't forget-and especially for those of you who have asked today-there are lots of activities that you can do from our list of resources. Set up a timetable that suits you and your family.  Try to read, write, do maths, Gaeilge, every day. Then make sure you find some learning activity that you really enjoy and get stuck in!

You might need to stick at it for a little while to get better. The more you stick at it, the better you will get! I promise!!

Lots of art and geography going on in this young man's life. You'll see what's inspiring him in another picture further down. I love it!

Excellent writing skills on display here. And such an adorable picture! It's amazing what you can do with one blank sheet of paper! Great work!

This young man is a fan of Harry Potter. He's going to reading the book with his family. And then they're going to watch the movie afterwards.
Nice idea! And good family bonding time too!

This is a perfect time for sowing seeds. And so interesting for all age groups! Maybe keep some plants for our school garden for our return? Brian is sowing potatoes and onions in our garden this week.

And who doesn't love chocolate cookies? Baking involved reading and maths. And the rewards are appreciated by all!

Its always a good idea to get your reading, maths, phonics and writing done early in the morning, before you go outside.

And the learning can continue outside too. Look closely at the writing on these whiteboards-it will give you some ideas for making your own treasure trail for someone in your family.

Ah! I love this! This young man is standing at the estuary. Do you know what the river is? What sea does it run into? And where is that ship coming from? Such a lot of learning on our doorstep in Mornington. We are so lucky!

And here he is again. He's learning a lot about his environment-all while getting some exercise in.

Yes, exercise is important. Get out and get moving as much as you can! But keep your social distance!

And maybe it's time to take up a new hobby!

Don't forget to take regular breaks in between all those learning activities!  
More resources, activities and books available for free in the websites below.

 Maths: https://www.mangahigh.com/en-gb/

Reading: https://www.vooks.com/ 

Reading:https://www.getepic.com/promo

Gaeilige: https://www.cula4.com/en/

Lots of Primary School Resources https://www.scoilnet.ie/

Lots of resources here https://www.twinkl.ie/

​6pm Reading Time here. https://www.oliverjeffers.com/

Free Ukelele Tutorials https://rockjam.ie/


Thanks for all the suggested activities everyone. And the pics! They inspire us all. Please note that I will not post any pics that might identify a child to the broader general public, or their address to anyone. Great to get your feedback and pics on officedonacarneyboys@gmail.com

​

Thanks to all the Mams, Dads and guardians who sent in pics of the children at work today. Great to see the learning continuing! 

PE with Joe at 9 am this morning. I hear he runs another session at noon each day. So, no excuses!

Lots of activity in gardens today too. Such great learning in watching seeds grow!

Watching the leaves burst forth from the buds. Which buds will open first?

Try to get some writing and some maths done every day boys. Remember you are not on your holidays. You're learning to work from home, just like a lot of your parents. And every bit of work you do makes all the difference!

You all have work assigned from last week and will have more work next week. But NO PRESSURE on Mam and Dad! And be kind and patient with them please-they are all doing their best for you!

The Visual Arts are very important. There's some great creativity going on here-it keeps us thinking and active along with being good fun. I love the big long Mother's Day banner! Someone will be very happy when all that's done!

Household ingredients can be just great for science experiments. Here, the scientist in question is finding out how soap destroys germs. You can click here to see how it's done!

Baking and cooking are all brilliant activities for encouraging us to eat well and for developing independent living skills.

Don`t forget to help Mam and Dad around the house with those important chores. And not just the ones you like doing! :-)

Enjoy the outdoor classroom too! But don't forget you really shouldn't be mixing with other children right now. It's not holiday time. It's time for social distancing.

We can learn so much from boardgames-and they're great for fun times with the family!

But we must keep our distance to help people like Nana stay safe. And it will help you and your family too!

Why not write a letter to Nana instead? She will just love it-and you will learn so much from doing it!

The SNAs and Teachers are all following your work on this blog and we are just so very proud of all of the efforts you are making to keep up your learning. There are lots of activities here for you to work on.

We'll also add more suggestions and more pics of all your work tomorrow! So keep sending them in please!


If you have some writing you are proud of, a story you have written or a project you are working on at the moment, have Mam or Dad email it to officedonacarneyboys@gmail.com so we can all see it.

Right, now time to WASH YOUR HANDS! 

Pic Credits: To all our GREAT mams and dads! Thank you!

Thanks to parents and guardians who sent in pics of their activities on Thursday and Friday. As we head into another week of school closures, these pics are inspiring, fun and help us all stay connected.

Great to get feedback too from parents on how their families are managing the sudden change in the circumstances that have been brought to everyone and in such a variety of ways.  We all have to deal with the stress, anxiety and apprehension as best we can and help one another through these challenging times.

I cannot stress enough that establishing a routine-one to suit your set of circumstances-will be helpful to everyone in your family. What we have suggested here in the blog is just that-a suggestion.  Feel free to work out your routine your way.

Over the coming week, we will add more suggestions, resources, activities and structured work for you to work from. Parents are the bosses though! You choose what activities and work best suits your situation.

I'd really like to feature the boys' work here so pics and feedback from parents are guardians are welcome to officedonacarneyboys@gmail.com.

This might be a good time to acquire important skills for independence.

Make an extra special effort to look after your brothers and sisters at this time. Mam and Dad have a lot to think about right now-they need to see you all getting along well together and being Thankful for all that you have and especially thankful for your family.

We hope you have found some of the suggestions from the last blog post helpful.

Perhaps the most important thing for everyone is establishing a routine. A routine is important for adults working from home too. And we are all adapting to each others' routines at home-a unique situation for most of us. This takes time and lots of patience.

So boys, be kind to your parents and your brothers and sisters as we all get used to new routines!

​

One of the most important aspects of your routine is exercise! But please, please, please boys, exercise alone or with your family. Some children and adults will get very sick from the Covid-19 virus. And it spreads so easily!

So exercise at home. Or in your garden. Keep away from playgrounds, and other children in your area. 

Social distancing can save lives!

Here's some great exercise ideas!

We have had yoga classes with Emma in our school for the last few years. Here's a great way to continue that and improve fitness and flexibility with Cosmic Yoga on youtube

Joe Wicks has PE every morning on youtube at 9 am

Don't forget Gran! Our older relatives are really finding these weeks quite difficult. Facetime them, ring them but please practise social distancing! That's not for some people. it's for ALL of us!  Keep in touch with them though-your kindness and care towards others will make a BIG difference at this time.

THIS is the time to indulge your favourite activity-or find a new one!  Maybe you will take up painting. Or practise your ukelele/tin whistle/guitar/instrument.  Or finally take out that model airplane you've always meant to make and do it now! 

It's been a great time for all of us to spend time at home and relaxing with our families. That can be tricky to get used to at first. Find as many activities as you would like to do indoors and add them to your schedule. 

Dream up all the things you would like to do and write them down. You may not get to do all of them, but if you write them down you will certainly get to do some of them. 

​Here's some more suggestions to work through.

Or just get together with your family and bake something! It's the perfect activity for Maths, Reading, and....Eating!

And here's LOTS of free sites if you and your parents want to print off worksheets or access school books and other resources

CJ Fallon: 
Busy at Maths books JI- 6th, Master your Maths 2nd & 3rd, Table Toppers 2nd & 3rd, My Read at Home 2nd & 3rd  & Leigh sa Bhaile 3rd- 6th

Folens: 
Go to FolensOnline.ie and click register
Select Teacher
Fill in a username, email and password
For Roll Number use the code:  Prim20
English reading books (Reading Zone) - Jn r& Snr Infants & 3rd - 6th, Sounds Make Words SI

EDCO:
www.edcolearning.ie
Gaeilge: Bua na Cainte JI - 2nd , Beal Beo 3rd -6th 

Gill Education:
Simply go to http://gillexplore.ie/products & find your resource or for further support contact digitalsupport@gill.ie  
English: Over the Moon reading books for 1st & 2nd Class, Word Wizard 3rd Class

Educate: 
www.educateplus.ie/homestudy
Just phonics - 1st Class

Finally..... these days will be looked back on as a really interesting and challenging time in Ireland's history.

And we can all pull together to these days easier for everyone if we practise the following habits:

• Be Kind
  
• Be Patient
  
• Help your Parents
  
• Stay At Home
  
• Wash Your Hands

CREDITS: Pics and Ideas from all of the Staff of Donacarney Boys School: We are all missing our boys and are looking forward to seeing you all again soon!!