Today was a busy and exciting day in the senior room as the children worked together to cover their 3D leaves! The classroom was filled with energy, teamwork, and a bit of mess as the students tackled the next step of the project: covering their willow leaf frames with paper coated in PVA glue.

It was all hands on deck as the class formed a production line. Some children were in charge of preparing the paper, others coated it with PVA glue, and a team was assigned to deliver the sticky, glue-covered paper to each leaf station. From there, the paper was carefully secured onto the 3D leaves, making sure every bit of willow was covered adequately.

Though things got a little messy, the children thoroughly enjoyed the process, and their teamwork made the job much easier. It was fantastic to see everyone working together so well and having fun at the same time.

​The leaves are really starting to take shape, and we can’t wait to see how they look in the next stages of the project!

At Cloonlyon NS, we believe in starting the day on the right foot—literally! Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, when the weather is kind, our pupils take part in Mile with a Smile.

First thing in the morning, the children head outside for a brisk walk down our neighbouring country road. It's a fun and refreshing way to get moving, and it's amazing how a little fresh air and exercise can help wake up our brains and get us ready for the school day ahead!

We love seeing everyone smiling and energised as they complete their mile. It’s the perfect way to kick off a productive and happy day of learning!

Our senior room pupils continued their creative journey today as they moved on to the next stage of their 3D leaf construction. Building on the foundation they set last week, the children worked on creating the supports that would give their leaves a true 3D effect.

​In this lesson, the focus was on precision. The children crafted rectangular supports that would hold up their willow leaf outlines. To ensure uniformity across all the leaves, they used an A4 piece of paper as a guide. This helped them measure and build supports that were consistent in size and shape. The room was buzzing with concentration as everyone carefully aligned their supports and brought their 3D leaves to life.

​It’s incredible to see the progress being made, and we’re excited to watch the project evolve as the weeks go by!

Last week, all of the senior room pupils from Cloonlyon NS took part in the Cross Country competition held at Mellet's Hill, Swinford. The event was a great success, and we were lucky to have a beautiful day for it!

The track at Mellet's Hill was no easy feat, with challenging slopes and tough terrain, but our students gave it their all. We are so proud of each and every one of them for their determination and effort. Whether they sprinted to the finish or paced themselves along the way, the students showed great teamwork and perseverance.
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Well done to all our participants for representing Cloonlyon NS so well, both on and off the track!

​We are delighted to announce that music lessons have started for the senior room pupils here at Cloonlyon NS. This term, the children will be learning how to play the ukulele under the expert guidance of our wonderful music teacher, Zane.

The ukulele is a fantastic instrument for beginners, and Zane is making sure that everyone is having fun while learning the basics of chords and strumming. The children are already showing great enthusiasm, and we can’t wait to hear the lovely sounds they will be making in the weeks to come.
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We look forward to sharing more updates as the students progress on their musical journey!