Issue 11, 28 November 2013
now available [email protected]
THE WEEK AHEAD
NOTE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Question Time
You will remember the recent
Irish Times advertisement
with the catch­phrase ‘The
story of why’.
That ‘Why?’ is the opening
word in many an Infants’
query – as many Willow
Mums and Dads will know!
Research suggests that the
average pre­school child, aged
4 or 5 years, asks some 274
questions per day! Now guess
how many questions ’Junior’
asks after a term at formal
school? 27.
Why (sic) might that be?
Because school has opened up
his world and provides all the
answers? School relationships
are different? Other pupils are
vying for teacher’s attention?
The questions are sublimated
internally as the child grows?
Whatever the reason­ such
research suggests we should
keep the classroom a
questioning zone ­ a place of
curiosity, a place of
exploration.
And no, I don’t want teacher
bombarded with incessant
questions! But I do want
Willow boys to cultivate their
natural curiosity ­ to question
themselves, their classmates
(when working in groups),
their natural world (as they
did during our recent Science
Week) ­ and authority, as they
mature.
The 21st century is more about
asking the Right Question than
providing the ‘pat’ (and
memorised) ‘Right Answer’.
The latter will manifest itself ­
if the right question is posed!
Jim Casey, Principal
A Willow Winter Wonderland
Winter is certainly here with Advent just around the corner. Throughout the
school there is excitement and anticipation. First Form has been marking the
season with pictures and poems. J1 composed acrostic poems:
Winter is a fun time of the year
In winter we can go ice skating
November is in winter
The snow in winter is very cold and soft
Everyone likes winter because Christmas
comes
Rudolf is Santa’s best helper
By Robert Kennedy
When we play outside it is very cold
In winter we celebrate Christmas
Near the fire to keep warm
The snow is fun to play with
Every Christmas Santa comes
Rudolf is Santa’s reindeer
By Sam Mooney
I was born in America and my
family celebrates Thanks­
giving. Thanksgiving is
important to me because we
give thanks for all the things
we have and remember it is
important to always help each
other. The pilgrims came over
CÚPLA FOCAL
I rith an Sár-Tiofúin Haiyan san
cathar Taclocan sna na nOileán
Filipíneach… [During the SuperTyphoon Haiyan the city of
Tacloban in the Philippines]
bhí gaoithe le luas suas go
150mph, [níos tapaidh ná carr
rasaíocht… [there were winds of
150mph (faster than a racingcar)],
tonnta thar 40ft, níos airde ná
foirgneamh trí-úrlar… [waves of
over 40ft (bigger than a threestorey building)]
Ní iontais é go raibh gach
foirgneamh leagtha agus gach
crainn dífhréamhaithe – [It is a
small wonder that every building
was knocked down and every
tree uprooted].
THOUGHT FOR
THE WEEK
The boys of J1 (and Mrs McKeon) in front of their winter artwork, Robert
and Sam are holding up their poems.
What Thanksgiving means to me
By Brennan MacGregor K4
Saturday 30th -Willow Wheelers' Cake
Sale, 9am, Fun Run for Philippines, see
page over for details
Thursday Dec 5th - 6th Form Parental
Confirmation meeting, 7pm
Saturday Dec 7th - 4th Form Christmas
Family Mass @ 6pm in gym
Sunday Dec 8th - 3rd Form Christmas
Family Mass @ 10:30 am in gym
from England to start a new
life in America and it was hard
for them and many died so the
Native Americans helped them
by teaching them skills and
grow crops. The pilgrims were
happy to survive and wanted to
thank the Native Americans so
they had a big feast. It lasted
three days and they ate the
food they grew. I like
Thanksgiving because it is a
very fun day with my family
and I get to eat at a big table
and say what I am thankful for
this year. We have a big turkey
and lots of other types of foods
that the pilgrims had long ago.
So I say to you: ask and it will be
given to you; search, and you will
find; knock, and the door will be
opened for you.
Jesus
SPORT IN WILLOW
FUN RUN FOR THE PHILIPPINES
TENNIS NEWS
RUGBY NEWS
Saturday 30th
November:
3rd Form: 4 matches.
3 teams away in St Mary's
school pitch, kick­off 9am,
meet 8.45am.
1 team home in Willow v St
Gerard's, kick­off 9am, meet
8.45am.
'Fun run' in Willow at 9am.
Boys playing matches in St
Mary's can do their
Fun Run at 10.15am
in Willow.
4th Form: 5
matches
4 teams home in
Willow v St Mary's. Kick­off
9am, meet 8.45am.
1 team home in Willow v St
Gerard's. Kick­off 9am, meet
8.45am.
Training for the rest 9­10am.
'Fun run' for those training at
9am and for those playing
matches 9.50am.
5th Form: 4 matches
3 teams home in Willow v St
Mary's. Kick­off 9am, meet
8.45am
1 team home in Willow v St
Gerard's. Kick­off 9am, meet
8.45am.
Training for the rest 10­11am.
Congratulations to (from left to right) Will Fitzgerald (4th Form),
Andrew Doyle (6th Form) and Patrick Guest (5th Form) who have
qualified to play in the Leinster Provincial match plays that will
take place this Friday 27th Nov to Sunday 1st of December.
'Fun run' for all 5th Form
10am.
6th Form: 1 match
1 team home in Willow v
St Gerard's. Kick­off 9am,
meet 8.45am.
Training for the rest 10­
11am.
'Fun run' for all 6th Form
10am.
Please support the P6
charity initiative for the
victims of Typhoon
Haiyan and enjoy the
run!
NO BLADES
Blades on rugby boots are
espressly forbidden in
Willow Park. Boys' boots
will be checked from now
on as blades can cause
injuries.
CAKE SALE
The Willow Wheelers
Cake Sale will take place
on Saturday from 9AM.
The Wheelers will be
making teas and coffees
at rugby on Saturday to
raise additional funds.
New library section for Willow website
The Willow Park website is being updated
this week with a new library section (go to
the Academic tab). We hope to develop
this as time goes by, but initially we have
included some Recommended Reading
Lists for 2nd – 6th class, as well as some
useful websites which are updated
regularly. Hopefully, you will find some
great reading ideas to get the boys started
or to continue on their reading journey. If
you have any suggestions for
improvements to the library or to the
library webpages, I would be delighted to
hear them. I'm in the library every
morning from 8am.
By Cian Colville
On Saturday the
30th November,
Sixth Form (P6)
will be hosting a
sponsored Fun
Run to raise money
for charities supporting the
extremely unfortunate people affected
by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
The run will take place in Willow Park
and the aim is to run as many laps of the
pitches as possible and raise money for
charity. Each child will receive a treat
and drink after the race.
Junior infants to Second Form will do
their sponsored run during P.E. Third
and Fourth class will run at 9.05am and
9.50am on Saturday the 30th with Fifth
and Sixth Class running at 10.05am
It is for a fantastic cause so please join
us for the Fun Run!
NOVEMBER IN NUMBERS
16 – school-days left from Thurs 28th until the
start of the Christmas holidays
5,100 – amount in euros raised at 5th Form
cake sale in aid of St Vincent de Paul
12,000,000 - Families affected by Typhoon
Haiyan in the Philippines that will need help
from countries around the world including
Ireland.
Mairead Bermingham,
Library Co­ordinator
SUDOKU
THE MONTH AHEAD
Thurs 5th 6th Form Parental Confirmation evening, 7pm
Sat. 7th 4th Form Christmas Family Mass @ 6pm in gym
Sun. 8th 3rd Form Christmas Family Mass @ 10:30 in gym
Thurs 12th Carol Service, School Hall @ 7 pm
Fri. 13th Staff Eucharist (6:30pm)
Tues 17th - Infants' & 1st Form Christmas performances
Wed 18th Christmas Concert
Thurs 19th - Stars, Choirs and Carols
Fri. 20th End of Christmas Term - classes end @12:30pm
Wed. 25th Christmas Day, Nativity of The Lord
Willow Park Junior School, Rock Road, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Ph: +35312881651 www.willowparkjuniorschool.ie