At 10 minutes past 10 on Friday, 10th February, we took part in the Operation Transportation Physical Activity Challenge, which encouraged all primary schools to simultaneously spend 10 minutes being active. At Ballagh School, we thoroughly enjoyed an action packed 10 minutes, by taking part in lots of fun activities.
We are learning about Microbiology. This is the study of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes that are invisible to the eye. These tiny creatures are everywhere, even on you and in you! Don’t worry, most microbes are harmless to humans.
Less than 500 years ago, people believed that illnesses were caused by evil spirits or poisonous gases. Today, we know that many illnesses are caused by germs and microscopic viruses and bacteria that we cannot see. This is possible because of the microscope.
The first microscope was probably invented by Hans and Zacharias Jansen in the 1600s. These early microscopes had compound lenses, which means they used two pieces of glass. The microscopes were not very powerful. They could magnify something only 20 times.
In the late 1660s, Antony van Leeuwenhoek made his own powerful microscope from one lens. His microscope could magnify things up to 200 times. He discovered cells in blood, animal tissue and plant tissue. He even discovered bacteria by looking at plaque from his own teeth.
Today, people still use compound microscopes, but they are much improved.
There are trillions of mini-animals and microbes that you cannot see. The microscopic world includes viruses, bacteria, protists, microscopic fungi and mini-animals.
Today’s compound microscopes use light to illuminate organisms. Light microscopes are so powerful that they can magnify something by 1,000 times.
A micrograph is a photograph of something seen in a microscope.
We are integrating mindfulness into our teaching and learning. The practice of focusing your awareness on the present moment while observing your thoughts and feelings in a non-judgmental way – is now being used in our class as part of our SPHE (Social Personal Health Education) Curriculum to build positive mental health and self-esteem.
Studies suggest that for schools to engage in mindfulness it is likely to have beneficial results on the emotional wellbeing, mental health, ability to learn and even the physical health of their students. We’re teaching our future generations to be emotionally intelligent throughout their lives.
Oh dear, the doctors and nurses in the Junior Classes have been very busy this week! Our theme for the month is the Doctor’s Surgery. Here in the socio-dramatic group the waiting room has been full of patients waiting patiently for their turn to see the doctor or nurse.
Enrolment Evening Wednesday, February 1st, 2017 from 6 – 7pm
If you are considering enrolling your child in Ballagh National School for September 2017 or 2018,
we invite you to come along with your child, to view the school and meet the teachers.
We look forward to welcoming you on Wednesday, February 1st, 2017 from 6 – 7pm
If you have any queries please feel free to call Ms. Audrey Nolan on (090) 662 5884
Email: ballaghns1.ias@eircom.net Website: www.ballaghns.ie
In Ballagh School, we pride ourselves on our interest in the STEM subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
This term our school will be collaborating with the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) and National University of Ireland Galway in a Science programme in which they will be providing us with microscope activity kits. Our school children will benefit from this fun and engaging programme and will get to experience working in our own school laboratory, enabling all children from 4-12 of all ability levels the chance to do some experiments like ‘real life’ scientists. Keep checking this website as pictures of our young Scientists will be appearing in the coming weeks.
Operation Transformation has devised Health and Fitness plans for Primary schools with the idea being to incorporate extra physical activity into the school day. Once again, in Ballagh NS, we have decided to take on the Operation Transformation challenge. During the week we will take part in a keep fit routine. We are also going to implement Operation Healthy Lunchbox in Ballagh NS. We are currently carrying out Phase 2 of Food Dudes and we would encourage every child to use the food dudes lunch box to bring their own fruit and vegetables to school on a regular basis.
Swimming lessons for all classes will commence on Monday, 27th February at 10am and will run for seven weeks. Children will be placed in a class relevant to their ability and they will be tested at the end of the session and awarded a certificate. It is a great chance for the children to learn valuable life-skills and to develop other social skills and practice self-responsibility.
A massive thank you to everybody who donated clothes to our recent Cash for Clobber Clothing Collection. It was a fantastic success and it raised €390 for the school. With this donation, we are now very hopeful that we will soon be able to purchase goalposts for our new astro turf pitch.
We would like to thank everybody for their help and support throughout the year. We wish you all a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and all the best in 2017. We return to school on Monday, 9th January 2017.