Well done to all the athletes from the Mercy School that competed in the Bree Sports on Wednesday 15th May 2013.  The boys and girls did

extremely well with most competitors qualifying for semi finals.  It was a great day, the children had a picnic on the banks of the track and even the

sun made a very brief appearance.  I am proud to report that everyone was mannerly and courteous to all and were great ambassadors for their

school.  With over one thousand athletes competing we returned home with  four medals.

Julia Dempsey 1st in U14 400m

Eve Hession 1st in U13 Long Jump

Roisin O Reilly 2nd in U12 High Jump

Sabia Doyle 3rd in U10 100m sprint

A huge thank-you to the parents that travelled on the day to help out as without them it would be impossible to attend the sports day.

Thank you to Linda Keeling, Senan O Reilly,Aileen Gunning,Elma White and  Ann Gilshinan.  We also had great support from the Penwells, Nolans, Alasdair Joss and Conor Kavanagh.

Well done everyone you should be all very proud.

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For the 4th year in a row we entered a team in the annual Wexford Schools’ Cup golf competition in Rosslare Golf Club. Many thanks to John Meyler who accompanied the girls on the day and also arranged coaching and practice in advance. The girls really enjoyed the experience and played very well. Perhaps we will see some of them continue on with this great sport after they leave the school.

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This year again we are very grateful to Richie Browne from Wexford Celtic for coaching the soccer team. We are delighted and very proud that the girls won the final of the Wexford Town tournament and then went on to the South Leinster finals in Arklow. Here they exceeded all expectations by winning all their games to reach the final. Unfortunately they were pipped at the post when their opponents scored with 8 seconds to go in the match. It was very disappointing to lose so narrowly, but Richie and the girls should be very proud of their achievements. Already we are planning for next year.

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The week of April 29-May 3rd was designated “Active Schools’ Week” and thankfully the weather improved so the school playground was a hive of activity every day. Many classes took extra PE time. We also had Jason Kehoe from the Vols in doing GAA coaching and Noel Ferguson from the Wexford Wanderers doing rugby. As if that wasn’t enough our Rounders, Camogie and Soccer teams all played matches and our golfers were preparing for the up-coming schools’ cup in Rosslare.

If the weather stays good then every week will be Active Schools’ Week in The Mercy School. 

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As part of our ongoing Bullying awareness programme, we decided to hold a friendship week in school from April 15^th-19^th 2013.

The aims for this week were very straightforward : to highlight the skills involved in forming and maintaining friendships, whilst also stressing the idea that combating bullying is a collective responsibility. The message to be passed across to our pupils was that there are no innocent bystanders when it comes to bullying. Teachers also reinforced the building of resilience and self esteem in all pupils (an ongoing skill developed through our Stay Safe and S.A.L.T.  programmes).

Prior to Friendship week, a survey was distributed to pupils from 1^st-6^th class, querying their computer and mobile phone usage. These results were used as a foundation for lessons in netiquette (appropriate internet use) throughout the week.

Accompanying the lessons on bullying and friendship , each pupil  was given a task and a thought for each day. These tasks involved activities such as doing a ROAK (random act of kindness), passing on a compliment, or Mix it Up Lunch (where a child sat beside a child they wouldn’t normally interact with).

Friendship Week culminated in an assembly where children were encouraged to identify bullying type behaviours through role play and to share their thoughts and experiences about the week. We recited the school’s Anti Bullying pledge (promising to stand up for others and against bullying. We also performed  the school’s   Friendship Week Theme song :You’ve got a friend in me. Pupils and Teachers then proceeded outside, to form a friendship spiral around the school yard.

All in all, it was a very productive, rewarding and enjoyable week for all involved. We can’t wait to put our newly learned skills to continued use.

Friendship Spiral.

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The second term seems to have flown by and Easter is almost here. Catch up with the latest news below:

1. Over the last few months the choir, with Ms Hughes and Ms. Sheridan have been rehearsing really hard for their production of “The Wizard of Oz”. All we can do now is tell them to “break a leg” on the night. We will have photos of the show up here soon.

2. Recently our mini-sevens camogie and football teams took part in the school’s Rackard League competitions.

3.In February 5 quiz teams participated in the Credit Union schools’ competition.

4. Our chess team travelled to Piercestown N.S. for a friendly tournament.  Later 2 teams played in a tournament, also in Piercestown. See http://wexfordmercy.wordpress.com/

5. Our Second class girls have already received their “First Penance” and are now looking forward to their First Communion in May.

6. Fifth and sixth class had a really interesting talk on “bio-diversity”.  Mr. Kings class had a really good seminar from transition year students from Presentation Secondary School on “Cyber-Bullying”. The other fifth and sixth classes will be getting the same talk after Easter.

7. World Book Day took place on March 7th.

8. Bhí Ceolchoirm iontach le gach rang agus ”Tráth na gCeist” mór  do ranganna 5 agus 6 againn le h-aghaidh “Seachtain na Gaeilge”.

9. Recent prizewinners: Robyn Black won an award from Wexford Lions’ Club for her excellent piece of writing on Selskar Abbey. Sinéad O Reilly and Shónagh Cuddihy won prizes in the INTO handwriting competition.

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The Mercy School Choir present,

Wednesday 20^th March @ 2.30pm

Thursday 21^st March 2013 @ 7.30pm

Adult €5            Child €3

We’re off to see the Wizard the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

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   grant aided by   

We have just completed another successful Rainbows Programme in our school. We facilitated 3 groups of children, and the overall experience was very enjoyable for all involved. Parents/guardians commented that their child loved coming to the sessions every week, and noticed a general improvement in their child’s wellbeing and/or behaviour.

Sessions, which took place after school every Tuesday, were facilitated by Audrey Mc Hugh, Geraldine Dunne and Miriam Hill.

What is Rainbows?

Rainbows offers young people who have experienced the death of a close relative, a separation in the family, or other painful changes in their family the opportunity to participate in a 14 week Peer support Programme. This already takes place in over 500 schools and parishes throughout the country.

When something significant happens in a family, the entire family is affected. If a parent dies, or parents separate, or a painful loss occurs, not only do the parents grieve, the children do also.

Grief is an expression of love and a normal human reaction to a significant loss. Children may find it difficult to verbalise their feelings of grief because of their age and inexperience. It may surface in their behaviour, schoolwork and emotional well-being.

RAINBOWS is a support group that helps children put their feelings into words, work through their grief, build a stronger sense of self-esteem, and begin to accept what has taken place in the family.

RAINBOWS is not a counselling group. It is a safe, confidential setting where children will share their grief-associated feelings with each other and with trained facilitators.

Many thanks to the dedicated facilitators for donating their time and energy into training for and running the Rainbows Programme.

We hope to continue our Programme in the next school year. Information regarding this will be circulated in September.

 Please direct all queries to Audrey O’Sullivan ( Rainbows coordinator) or email rainbowsmercyschool@gmail.com

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Ms. Mc Hugh’s and Ms. English’s classes made two beautiful panels for our school garden with Helen Mc Lean. One is based on the things that grow in our “Gairdin Glas”, and the other features creatures that live in the garden or come to visit. They will brighten up the garden even more, just as the flowers begin to blossom. The panels have marks at the side so that children can check their height by standing beside them. Thanks to Helen for all her help.  Click on the link below to see how we made them (after the document downloads it may take a minute or two to see all the photos).

Photos

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We wrote love poems for the environment. Here are two of them.

The Environment ~ by Shay

The grass is green, please keep it clean.

The trees are tall, don’t make them fall.

The water is clean, let’s keep it this way.

So look after the environment everyday.

The Environment ~ by Rachel

Recycle the rubbish, don’t throw it away.

Turn off the lights, during the day.

Save water whatever you do.

To make the environment a good place for you.

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The boys and girls in the Mercy School have been busy over the past number of

days writing their valentine poems with an environmental theme.  Here are a

sample of some of the winning verses.

Ms Shannons 6th

Roses are red, the sky is blue

Love the planet because it loves you too.

Lush greenlands, forests and lakes,

They all need protection, lets keep them safe

Look outside, see the trees,

Watch the flowers in the breeze,

Things won’t be like this in a year or two,

If polluting the land is all we do!

_______________________________________________________

Mr Kings 6th Class

The grass is green

the ocean is blue

Roses and romance

is what I’ll give you

Trees and leaves

water and fire

my love for you will never expire

We’ll walk on Wednesday

We’ll save energy and recycle

You’ll meet my mum and dad

and my brother Michael

If you’ll stay green with me

save water and trees

my love for you

will stay as strong

as the seas.

______________________________________________________

Ms Flynns Junior Infants

Roses are red

Water is blue

Push the green button

when you go to the loo!

________________________________________________________

Ms Griffins First Class

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I say to the Earth

I love you!

________________________________________________________

Ms Sheridans Second Class

Walk on Wednesday or every day

Keep the rubbish all away

but don’t forget to turn off the lights

save the power even on Valentines Day!

___________________________________________________________

Ms Englishs Second Class

Roses are red,

water is blue

our school is cool and yours could be too.

You can do this, that talk and talk

but let me tell you its better to walk.

I feel pride because I’ve did the park and stride.

I do a lot less talking and a lot more walking.

Now I’m never late

I’m always first at the school gate!

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Recycle 2000 ran a competition over the past couple of months amongst all the

Primary schools in Wexford.  Children were asked to bring in a bundle of eight

newspapers every Tuesday (Newsday Tuesday)

with their name and school clearly displayed on the front.  We had a fantastic

response every week and all the hard work paid off for three girls in the Mercy

School today.  The top prize of the X Box  went to Ellen Jones in Ms Englishs class. 

Two other prize winners were Esme McKiernan Becker in Ms Hughes

and Ruby Kavanagh in Ms McHugh who each received a €20 voucher for Tesco. 

Well done girls.

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Well done to Clíona Mc Cormack from Mrs Woodbyrnes class on winning first prize

in Wexford Co Councils recycled christmas decoration.  Clíona won the category

2nd/3rd/4th class and will attend a prize giving ceremony in Wexford Co

Council on Wednesday.  Clíona put a huge effort into the creation of her

“Gingerbread house” and had been busy collecting materials since last summer!

Well done Clíona.

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Thanks to all families who generously supported our annual raffle. At the latest count we have raised just over €5000 which is a tremendous sum of money. We will be in touch soon to let you know what we intend to do with the money. As mentioned in our recent Newsletter €1000 has been spent on upgrading the sound system in the hall. We will also probably spend some more on “sprucing-up” the hall with new blinds and some paint. In the last couple of years we have also funded the upgrading of the stage lights and the purchase of new stage curtains.

Again thanks to all for the great support for all our fundraising efforts. Click below to see a full list of all prize winners and prizes and thanks to all who contributes prizes for the draw.

Mercy Parents’ Council.

Monster Draw 2012 – Winners

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As part of our Green School we are busy making recycled Christmas cards.  We will not give cards to friends in our class.

Instead we will make one card each from recycled material and teacher will draw cards out of a hat near Christmas.

This helps reduce waste and trees being cut down to make paper and card.

Cards will be on display in the Halla from Monday 17th December.

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We had a fantastic response to our recent Recycled Christmas decoration

competition.  The children made their decorations using as much recycled material as possible.  The

results were truly amazing and well done to everyone.  Once again Helen McClean

kindly gave up her time to come in and judge the decorations last Thursday.  There

was great excitment in the school on Friday morning when Mr Gately announced

the winners over the intercom.   The winner of each category goes forward to

Wexford County Councils Recycled Christmas Decoration competition and the

runners up each received a selection box.  The results of each

category are below.  Finally please make sure to inspect the decorations if you are

in visiting your child’s christmas play, they will be on display in the Halla.

Category A – Junior/Senior Infants and First Class

1st Lewis Hession – Ms Hughes

2nd Jacob Krcznski – Ms Flynn

3rd Neil Hession – Ms Doran

Category B – Second/Third/Fourth Classes

1st Clíona McCormack – Ms Woodbyrne

2nd Patrycja Radej – Ms Woodbyrne

3rd Shonagh McCourt – Ms English

4th Victoria Ogaza – Ms Woodbyrne

4th Aoife Washington – Ms English

Category C Fifth and Sixth Class

1st Eve Hession – Ms Shannon

2nd Gia Simmons – Mr King

3rd Isobel Hudson – Ms McKiernan

Category D – Group

1st Emma O Leary, Anoushka Nolan, Karen O Reilly – Ms English

2nd Sally Bruen and Anna Cooney – Ms Shannon

Here is a photo of all the prize winners with the overall winning entries:

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Click on the link below to see some writings from our pupils with their thoughts on the meaning of Christmas:

What I like about Christmas

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Click on the link below to see news of a chess tournament attended by Senan O Reilly and some members of our chess club. Thanks again to Senan, Michael, Diarmuid, Therese, Marian and Lucia for all your help with the chess club.
 http://wexfordmercy.wordpress.com/

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On Monday November 26th 2012 we were all amazed to see a small lake had formed on our school field. Some sea-gulls and crows had come for a look also. Ms. Shannon said that it was the first time that she had ever seen this sight in our school.

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We all dressed up for a good cause today. We raised €232 for Bernardos. It was funny and a little scary. Can you recognise your friends?
Click on the link to see some photos:
 https://vimeo.com/52234225

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