In order to join in with the Halloween fun, the children of St.Brendan’s N.S. pulled out the face paints, threw on their best costumes and loaded on the fake blood! Bed sheets were ripped up and the parents of Rathcoole had an early start but the end results were simply terrifying! The children had a great time dressing up this year and even put on a little fashion show for each other. Here are some of the children at their most creepy….

There was also some amazing art done in the school for Halloween….

All of us here at Rathcoole N.S. would like to wish our past pupil Conor O’ Callaghan the very best of luck this Sunday in Croke Park as the Cork Minors take on Galway in the Minor Hurling Championship Final. We’re sure Conor will do his county proud yet again. Rebels Abú!

Here is a throwback to 2010 when the Cork footballers emerged victorious to win the All Ireland Football Championship. Conor is pictured here with Donnacha O’ Connor.

Although we try to share as much of our news as possible with you on this blog throughout the year, there may be times when things are not posted. So, here are some of the photos we didn’t get around to sharing this year 🙂

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish Cathy and Christopher Byrnes, Claire Lyons and Tomás and Ellen Cronin the best of luck in the Fleadh Cheoil in Cork this July. These children qualified in the County Fleadh in Kinsale in April and we’re sure they will do themselves proud in the next stage of the competition.

The Fifth and Sixth Class on their school tour to Jamie Knox Watersports in May

Some photos taken on the school tour to Kennedy Farm
The Boys Football Team that reached this years Rural Schools Final
Ms.Fleming running in the teachers’ race at this year’s Millstreet Sports.

Another year over and another class is saying goodbye to us here at Rathcoole N.S. We would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of the graduating class the best of luck in secondary school next year. We hope the bonds you have forged here in Rathcoole will continue to be strong and you will flourish as you move on to conquer bigger and better things!

“Never is life so exciting, as at the beginning of a journey.” 

Slán agus go n-éirí libh!

On Thursday the 22nd June, the children of Rathcoole N.S. took part in a charity Ice-Cream Day to raise funds for Down Syndrome Cork. As an extra special treat, the children put on a dance performance, led by their dance teacher, Dancing Derek. Every child in the school danced their socks off and great fun was had by all!

As well as ice-cream and dancing, there was another treat in store for all in attendance – we, at Rathcoole N.S., were raising our third Green Flag! The pupils and staff of the school, particularly Mrs.Lynch and the Green School Committee, worked very hard to achieve this flag for conserving water. Well done to all involved!

Here are a few pictures from the day…

The End of an Era

As the lights go down on another school year,

and all the work is done,

we reflect on the year that has just gone by

one full of achievement and fun!

There was football and hurling and camogie too,

And singing and quizzes galore!

Athletics and dancing and another Green Flag

And learning more and more!

However, this year, for us here in Rathcoole,

The end is bitter sweet.

For with it come goodbyes we’re not ready for,

And new people we have yet to meet.

It’s hard to lose one from a staff this small,

But to lose two just seems beyond all!

But as they move on to their next chapter,

we hope that it’s one full of love and laughter.

To Mrs. Lynch, there’s no doubt you’ll be missed.

So calm, so collected – well you get the gist.

You’ve helped shape young minds, from the very beginning

and shared with the children your passion for learning.

To Mrs O’Connor, our friend, a passionate leader,

Your contribution to our school will forever linger.

Supportive and kind in all situations

and good for a joke (without realisation!)

So to you today, we must say goodbye,

As you move on to your next endeavour.

We hope you’ll come back to see us again

This isn’t goodbye forever!

From all of the staff, children and wider school community, we would like to wish Mrs.O’Connor and Mrs.Lynch a happy and healthy retirement and a huge thank you for their combined 41 years of service to our school. 

Newmarket was the venue for the U-12 Boys Football Final on Thursday night last, the 22nd June where Dromtariffe faced a tough Boherbue team. After a tough battle in the first half, Dromtariffe were ahead by five points. But Boherbue came back strongly in the second half and when the full time whistle blew, the teams were level. The game then went to extra time for what was sure to be an exciting finish!

There was little between these two fantastic teams throughout extra time, but Dromtariffe snatched a victory in the dying seconds of the game with one final point. Dromtariffe emerged worthy winners from a hard fought battle.

Congratulations to all involved in this fantastic win, especially the three players from Rathcoole N.S. Louis, Shane and Luke. We are very proud of you all! 🙂

The annual Cork City Sports were held on Thursday last, June 1st, in Cork Institute of Technology. The sports are one of the biggest sporting events of their kind in the country for primary school children and the crowds were not put off by the continuous rainfall (or the reports of a crow terrorising the campus! :-)) Hundreds of schools all over the city and county took part, including our very own athletes from Rathcoole.

Although the day was a complete wash-out, even the dismal weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of the children. 11 boys and 11 girls from Rathcoole N.S. competed in sprints and relays and were very successful in both! With conditions less than ideal, slipping at the start line was a very real concern. But the children gave it their all and between them brought home a total of nine trophies! Although not every child won a trophie, each and every one of them ran a great race and a wonderful day out was had by all.

Here are a few snaps of these fantastic athletes in the making! 🙂

**Welcome Day**

A Welcome Day for pupils beginning in September 2017 will be held on Friday, May 26th

New pupils from 10:00 to 12:00

Chat with parents at 11.30

We here at St.Brendan’s N.S. would like to offer a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Emma Otten, one of our Junior Infants, on being a runner-up in this year’s An Post/ INTO Handwriting Competition. The standard of this national competition is always very high and we are all very proud of Emma’s amazing achievement!

As a runner-up in her category, Emma won a One4all voucher for herself, as well as €100 for her school! She also won a branded pencil for each child in her class and a post-box for use in role-play in the Junior and Senior Infant classroom.

The theme for this year’s competition was ‘Witness History – Life in Ireland in the Early 1900’s’. Take a look at Emma’s entry and I think we can all agree, her work was simply outstanding!

Well done also to all of the other children who took part in the competition. The standard within the school this year was exceptionally high and we’re sure we’ll have more winners again in the future!