Monthly Archives: December 2015

Junior Entrepreneur Programme..

After months of planning and brainstorming, Fifth and Sixth Class entered the Dragon’s Den on Wednesday last to pitch their ‘Mini-Company’ ideas for the Junior Entrepreneur Programme to the three ‘dragons’, Ms. Browne, Mrs. Dempsey and special guest ‘dragon’, Mr. Ray Lennihan from Bord na Móna.

Dragon’s Den comes to Kilberry N.S. in the form of the Junior Entrepreneur Programme!

Throughout the programme, the children have had to study how a business is founded, formed and run. All aspects of a business were examined and analysed, from product research and development to market research and advertising. The class were divided into groups and each group was given the opportunity to present their ideas to the ‘dragons’.
The first group on stage were Christopher, Damien and Dean with their company, Footy Football Kits. The boys had a great idea to create player and referee kits complete with gloves, gum shields and everything the busy footballer or referee might need.

Damien and Christopher pitch their ideas to the dragons!

After some tough questioning from the dragons, it was the turn of James, Cian and Julianna to pitch their idea to the group. Their ‘Healthy Helper’ idea was perfect for those trying to get active and healthy for the new year.

Cian works hard to win over the room!

Group three’s, Lee, Liam and Maeve’s Personalised Mugs impressed the judges. They had even made up some sample gifts to show the group!

Lee, Liam and Maeve wow the dragons with their personalised mugs and glasses!

4th to pitch to the dragons were Séamus, Ciarán and Emmet. Their idea of a Winter Bundle which would consist of bags with turf, logs and kindling was a great idea but special guest Ray Lennihan of Bord na Móna, appeared slightly concerned about the extra competition!!

Emmet, Séámus and Ciarán pitching their idea!

The 5th group in to the Dragon’s lair were Cora-Lee, Marcella, Emily and Megan. The girls’ product, Lumo Umo was a real hit with the dragons. The girls had come up with a fantastic idea of customising children and adults clothing and footwear with high visibility material which would enhance safety when out and about in Winter.

Lumo Umo High Visibility clothing was a great hit with the judges but they felt that the product would need more time than was allowed to complete.

Last but not least, Molly, Lila-Ann and Sarah presented their idea of Christmas Candles or coinneals. Their slogan was, Keep Calm and Light a Coinneal which went down very well in the hall. They had also brought in some sample products for the dragons to look at.

Keep Calm and Light a Coinneal!

At the end of the presentation, the dragons gave their feedback and Ray Lennihan complimented the students on the amount of work and effort that they had put into the project. It was then down to the class themselves to vote on which group’s idea would be turned into a mini company.
The children voted in favour of the Christmas Candles and the pressure is now on to create and sell their product so….
Keep Calm everybody and please buy a Coinneal!!

50th Anniversary Celebrations

On Thursday 26th and Friday 27th November last, Kilberry National School celebrated 50 years in our new school building. This was a momentous occasion for staff, pupils and past pupils alike. The school was opened up both days from noon for past pupils and members of the local community to visit. The whole school community were busy for weeks compiling artwork and displays which included photographs from school years gone by. The children entertained everybody with music, songs and poems from 1965 with ‘Echoes from the Past’, our theme.
Each class put together a selection of artwork, stories and photographs to add to our time capsule, which was formally closed on Friday.

Principal, Mrs.Dempsey and Deputy Principal, Mrs. Prendergast cut the celebratory cake!

Happy Anniversary Kilberry N.S. Here’s to another 50 years!

Our wonderful Parent’s Council were, as always, on hand to provide the refreshments, and the atmosphere was one of merriment and enjoyment as even more stories and memories from the past 50 years were shared by everyone over a cup of tea and some cake!

The children have been busy over the past few weeks researching the school’s history with help from parents and grandparents and they have put together some wonderful displays and projects for the occasion.

Junior and Senior Infants created a beautiful banner of the school building.

Junior and Senior Infants looked at school life today and created a beautiful banner of the school building for the hall as well as examining School Life as it is today, while First Class looked at school life in the past and compared it with school now. They looked at the changes in the school building, games that were played and toys that children had back in 1965.

First Class created this amazing display on the comparisons between School Life now and in the past.

Mrs. Prendergast’s class conducted a survey of their parents and grandparents and put together a lovely display of memories from the past. They found out the songs and poems that children learned back through the years, teachers that have been part of the school since 1965, as well as the many changes that have taken place.

Second and Third Class did a beautiful project entitled ‘School Memories’.

Ms. Duffy’s class looked at life in 1965, clothes that were worn, music and popular culture. These were reflected in their projects on ‘Life in 1960’s Ireland’.

Ms. Duffy’s class display on Life in Ireland in 1965.

Mr. O’Sullivan’s class were busy researching the history of the school, including the history of the school building, teachers and past principals of the school, as well as changes that have taken place in Kilberry N.S. since 1887.

Fifth and Sixth Class compiled a timeline from the opening of Kilberry N.S. in 1887 to the present day.

Ms. Browne looked at the history of Cumann na mBunscol in the school over the past 50 years and the school teams through the decades, starting with the 1981 winning team, many of whom have children attending Kilberry N.S. at present.

‘Reeling in the Years’ Kilberry’s Sporting Heroes!

We were delighted that so many members of the school and wider community could join us for our 50th anniversary celebrations. Kilberry N.S. has been, and continues to be an integral part of the local community. It has been an important part of many family histories and a place of shared memories. We take this opportunity to thank everyone for helping to make our school the wonderful place that it is.
Here is to the next 50 years……..

Talented kids!!!

Each of the classes composed a special tribute to Kilberry N.S. in honour of our 50th anniversary celebrations, and parents, grandparents and past pupils were treated to a spectacle of music, songs and poems.
Junior and Senior Infants and First Class performed, ‘HELP!’, by The Beatles which was no. 1 in 1965. Complete with actions and percussion, this arrangement completely charmed the audience.

Junior and Senior Infants under the direction of Ms. Cawley and Ms. Carter performing, ‘HELP!’

Mrs. Prendergast’s Class wowed with a wonderful medley of songs and poems, taking the audience on a journey back in time with songs and poems from their childhood, including, The School around the Corner, It’s Raining, it’s pouring, Ó ró ‘sé do Bheatha Bhaile, and a rousing rendition of I’ll tell my Ma’!!

‘Echoes from the Past’; Second and Third Class delivered a performance to remember!

Ms. Duffy’s fourth and fifth class performed The Hucklebuck which was a real crowd pleaser and had everyone in the audience clapping along to the music. The poem, ‘My Teacher took my I-Pod’ a significant reminder of how school life has changed in the past 50 years!

4th and 5th class performing, Hold Back the River…

Mr O’Sullivan’s class formed their own Céilí Band for the event and performed the Dingle Polka and O’Connor’s Polka, as well as An Dreoilín and, for the finale, An Haca Ghaelach which drew the entertainment segment of the day to a magnificent close.

5th and 6th Class and the ‘Kilberry Céilí Band’!!!

Parents, Grandparents and Past Pupils gather to reminisce.

The entire community of Kilberry and beyond gathered to celebrate and take a little trip down memory lane on Thursday and Friday last. Current pupils, staff, parents and grandparents mingled with past principals, staff and pupils, as they reminisced and recollected stories and photographs from the past 50 years. There was much laughter and merriment, as well as some mixed emotions as parents and grandparents remembered the members of their own families who have attended Kilberry N.S. over the past 50 years, and indeed, since the school first opened in 1887.
Here are a few snaps taken over the two day celebrations in the school..