Gaeilge

This year, our school proudly worked towards achieving the Gaelbhratach award, a recognition of our commitment to promoting and celebrating the Irish language throughout our school community. From the beginning of the year, pupils and staff worked together to create a positive and welcoming environment where Irish could be heard, used and enjoyed every day. Through a variety of initiatives, we encouraged the use of Gaeilge both inside and outside the classroom and helped to foster a greater appreciation of our language and culture.

As part of the Gaelbhratach Scheme, every participating school has to choose a number of targets to focus on for the two years of the initial programme, then some new targets to continue the programme for the years that follow. Our targets were to:

1. Establish a “Welcome Team” to greet visitors to our school As Gaeilge

2. Learn Amhrán na bhFiann as a whole school Community and perform it together.

3. Focus on Storytelling and Reading As Gaeilge throughout all class levels

4. Learn some traditional Songs, Rhymes and Skipping Chants As Gaeilge

5. Introduce a Buddy Scheme between older classes and younger classes to support their Irish and learn new games – Cairde Cineálta

6. Conduct part of our Weekly Assembly through Irish with performances every week from a different class

A dedicated student committee played a key role in leading our Gaelbhratach journey. The committee met regularly throughout the year to plan activities, share ideas, judge competitions, speak at assemblies and encourage all members of the school community to participate. Irish phrases and displays were visible throughout the school, helping to increase confidence in speaking Irish and making the language a natural part of daily school life. Huge mention and appreciation for the Staff Coiste Gaeilge, including Ms. Barnes, Ms. Crosby, Ms. Kingsbury, Ms. McTigue, Ms. McCabe, Ms. Travers, Ms. Nolan, Ms. Earls, and our Student Teacher Ms. Murray, who dedicated themselves to promoting all things Irish from the start of the year to the very end – Mr Bastien even taught the girls an Irish folk Dance in PE. Thank you all for your enthusiasm and dedication.

One of the highlights of our year was the celebration of Seachtain na Gaeilge. During Irish Week, pupils and staff took part in a wide range of activities designed to promote the use of Irish in a fun and engaging way. Initiatives like Ceol sa Halla, Music Workshops, Drama Workshops, a Ceilí, quizzes, story sessions and a visit from a real-life scéalaí (storyteller), ipad interviews at yard time, daily intercom pupil segments, movement breaks, art competitions, topped off with the Lá Glas (Green Day) and the Whole School Assembly where every class performed a song or poem as Gaeilge and we sang Amhrán na bhFiann as a school community. These activities provided valuable opportunities for students to use their Irish in meaningful contexts while celebrating Irish culture, creativity and community spirit.

A particularly memorable occasion was our visit to Dublin County Council to receive our Gaelbhratach award last week. This was a proud moment for everyone involved and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication shown by our pupils and staff throughout the year. Two teachers, Ms. Barnes and Ms. Crosby, along with two pupils, Amelia and Ella, attended the ceremony on the school’s behalf. The ceremony involved singing, dancing, tik-toking, photographs, colouring, a huge game of bingo loco with prizes and of course the main event which was the presentation of the flag. The girls represented the school so beautifully. Receiving the award was a significant achievement and a fitting recognition of the efforts made by our entire school community.

Throughout the year, we worked to increase the amount of Irish spoken during the school day and to ensure that Gaeilge remained visible, accessible and enjoyable for all. The enthusiasm and commitment shown by our pupils, staff and families contributed greatly to the success of our Gaelbhratach journey. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved together and look forward to continuing to promote and celebrate the Irish language in the years ahead.

I mbliana, d’oibrigh ár scoil go bródúil i dtreo Ghradam na Gaelbhratach a bhaint amach, aitheantas ar ár dtiomantas chun an Gaeilge a chur chun cinn agus a cheiliúradh ar fud phobal na scoile. Ó thús na bliana, d’oibrigh daltaí agus foireann le chéile chun timpeallacht dhearfach agus fáilteach a chruthú inar féidir an Gaeilge a chloisteáil, a úsáid agus taitneamh a bhaint aisti gach lá. Trí réimse tionscnamh, spreagamar úsáid na Gaeilge laistigh agus lasmuigh den seomra ranga agus chuidíomar le meas níos fearr ar ár dteanga agus ar ár gcultúr a chothú.

Mar chuid den Scéim Gaelbhratach, caithfidh gach scoil rannpháirteach roinnt spriocanna a roghnú le díriú orthu don dá bhliain den chlár tosaigh, ansin roinnt spriocanna nua chun leanúint leis an gclár sna blianta ina dhiaidh sin. Ba iad seo a leanas ár spriocanna:

1. “Foireann Fáilte” a bhunú chun fáilte a chur roimh chuairteoirí chuig ár scoil as Gaeilge

2. Amhrán na bhFiann a fhoghlaim mar phobal scoile ar fad agus é a chanadh le chéile.

3. Dírigh ar Scéalaíocht agus Léitheoireacht as Gaeilge ar fud gach leibhéal ranga

4. Foghlaim roinnt Amhrán, Rímeanna agus Cantaireachta Scipeála as Gaeilge

5. Scéim Cairde a thabhairt isteach idir ranganna níos sine agus ranganna níos óige chun tacú lena nGaeilge agus cluichí nua a fhoghlaim – Cairde Cineálta

6. Reáchtáil cuid dár dTionól Seachtainiúil trí Gaeilge le léirithe gach seachtain ó rang difriúil

Bhí ról lárnach ag coiste tiomnaithe daltaí i dtreorú ár dturas Gaelbhratach. Bhuail an coiste le chéile go rialta i rith na bliana chun gníomhaíochtaí a phleanáil, smaointe a roinnt, comórtais a mheas, labhairt ag tionóil agus gach ball de phobal na scoile a spreagadh chun páirt a ghlacadh. Bhí frásaí agus taispeántais Gaeilge le feiceáil ar fud na scoile, rud a chabhraigh le muinín a mhéadú i labhairt na Gaeilge agus an teanga a dhéanamh ina cuid nádúrtha de shaol laethúil na scoile. Moltar go mór Coiste na Gaeilge, lena n-áirítear Ms. Barnes, Ms. Crosby, Ms. Kingsbury, Ms. McTigue, Ms. McCabe, Ms. Travers, Ms. Nolan, Ms. Earls, agus ár Múinteoir Mac Léinn, Ms. Murray, a dhírigh a ndícheall gach rud Gaeilge a chur chun cinn ó thús na bliana go dtí an deireadh – mhúin an tUasal Bastien damhsa tíre do na cailíní sa chorpoideachas fiú. Go raibh maith agaibh go léir as bhur ndíograis agus bhur ndúthracht.

Ceann de bhuaicphointí na bliana ná ceiliúradh Sheachtain na Gaeilge. Le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge, ghlac daltaí agus baill foirne páirt i réimse leathan gníomhaíochtaí a ceapadh chun úsáid na Gaeilge a chur chun cinn ar bhealach spraíúil agus tarraingteach. Tionscnaimh ar nós Ceol sa Halla, Ceardlanna Ceoil, Ceardlanna Drámaíochta, Céilí, tráth na gceist, seisiúin scéalaíochta agus cuairt ó scéalaí fíorshaoil, agallaimh iPad ag am clóis, míreanna laethúla daltaí ar an idirchumarsáid, sosanna gluaiseachta, comórtais ealaíne, agus mar chríoch orthu sin bhí an Lá Glas agus Tionól na Scoile Uile inar chan gach rang amhrán nó dán i nGaeilge agus inar chanamar Amhrán na bhFiann mar phobal scoile. Thug na gníomhaíochtaí seo deiseanna luachmhara do dhaltaí a gcuid Gaeilge a úsáid i gcomhthéacsanna bríocha agus cultúr, cruthaitheacht agus spiorad pobail na hÉireann á gceiliúradh acu.

Ócáid a raibh cuimhne againn uirthi go háirithe ab ea ár gcuairt ar Chomhairle Contae Bhaile Átha Cliath chun ár ngradam Gaelbhratach a fháil an tseachtain seo caite. Ba mhóimint bróid é seo do gach duine a bhí páirteach ann agus deis iontach chun an obair chrua agus an dúthracht a léirigh ár ndaltaí agus ár bhfoireann i rith na bliana a cheiliúradh. D’fhreastail beirt mhúinteoirí, Ms. Barnes agus Ms. Crosby, mar aon le beirt dhaltaí, Amelia agus Ella, ar an searmanas thar ceann na scoile. Bhí amhránaíocht, damhsa, tic-tócáil, grianghraif, dathú, cluiche mór bingo loco le duaiseanna agus ar ndóigh an phríomhócáid, cur i láthair na brataí, i gceist leis an searmanas. Rinne na cailíní ionadaíocht álainn ar an scoil. Ba éacht suntasach é an gradam a fháil agus aitheantas cuí ar na hiarrachtaí a rinne pobal na scoile ar fad.

I rith na bliana, d’oibríomar chun an méid Gaeilge a labhraítear i rith an lae scoile a mhéadú agus a chinntiú go bhfanfadh an Gaeilge le feiceáil, inrochtana agus taitneamhach do chách. Chuir an díograis agus an tiomantas a léirigh ár ndaltaí, ár bhfoireann agus ár dteaghlaigh go mór le rath ár dturas Gaelbhratach. Táimid thar a bheith bródúil as an méid atá bainte amach againn le chéile agus táimid ag tnúth le leanúint ar aghaidh ag cur chun cinn agus ag ceiliúradh na Gaeilge sna blianta amach romhainn.

Coiste Gaeilge