On Friday 2nd December, Knockskeagh NS held a Centenary Commemoration for past pupil and teacher Dick Barrett. A plaque in his honour was unveiled at this commemoration. Relatives of Dick Barrett, parents and other interested parties attended the commemoration, with the 5th and 6th Class pupils dressing up in attire from that time. They also gave an amazing rendition of “Grace”.🎶
Dick Barrett was born in the parish of Enniskeane and Desertserges in December 1889. He attended Knocks National School, which has been closed for a number of years now.
At that time Knockskeagh National School provided advanced classes for pupils who intended to pursue a career in the Civil Service, teaching or such professions.
Dick finished sixth class in Knocks in 1904 and then transferred to Knockskeagh from 1904 to 1909. He was engaged in Knockskeagh as a monitor teacher during that time – they were students who were preparing for the Teaching Training College. Having completed his tenure in Knockskeagh, he secured a First Grade Scholarship for a two year course at De La Salle College, Waterford.
Dick qualified as a teacher in 1913 with a First Class Diploma and was placed in the First Division by the Board of Educaiton.
So, Knockskeagh School played a huge role in his career and educational development.
Dick was killed in 1922 in Mountjoy Prison.
A massive thank you to photographer Mark Coombes who captured the day for us. 📸 5th and 6th Class pupils completed projects which were displayed in the Halla for everyone to see after the plaque unveiling was complete.
Every month a member of each class is chosen as Mathematician of the Month. Our Mathematicians for the month of September are pictured above. Well done everybody keep up the amazing work. Latest News
On Tuesday 22nd November, 5th and 6th Classes went on a trip to Spike Island. They are currently completing projects on Dick Barret, who was killed 100years ago this year and who had a connection with Knockskeagh NS. We heard so many fascinating stories about the prison itself and about Dick Barrett, who was a prisoner there before he was killed.
The boat trip was a highlight and it was a fantastic day out. A massive thank you to Thomas O’Neill and his colleagues who told us all those informative stories!
Every month a member of each class is chosen as Mathematician of the Month. Our Mathematicians for the month of September are pictured above. Well done everybody keep up the amazing work. Latest News
We marked Science Week 2022 from Monday 14th to Friday 18th November. 👩🔬🔬
There was a variety of science activities investigated and explored in each class this year, including a range of science experiments, bug hunts, science shows, our virtual Science Showcase, and much more. 🔬🧪
Infinite Possibilities
The whole school took part in our “Infinite Possibilities” Design Competition. The pupils in each class were tasked to design something that they would like to transform with the use of Science. We are sure these designs are aiding future developments! We again linked our Science Week with Green Schools. The Green Schools committee came up with the idea that each class had to incorporate recyclable materials in to their designs. There were some very creative designs in each class and winners were awarded small prizes. All participants were presented with Science Week certificates too. Well done to all who took part! 👩🔬
The gallery below displays a snapshot of some of the other Science activities in the classes during Science Week 2022.
Science Activities around the school
In between the rain showers, the younger classes explored our pitch and garden habitat for bugs and minibeasts. 🔎
Junior Infants and Senior Infants tested what happens a Haribo jelly sweet when you place it in water over night. Let’s just say, everyone wanted to eat the giant sweet! 🍬
Senior Infants also completed the “Dancing Raisins” experiment. They watched the raisins dance up and down as they put them in a glass of sparkling water. 🧑🔬🧋
1st Class were busy with their experiments also.🧑🔬 They tested a variety of levers and they explored the chemical reaction that occurs when you mix vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. They also created plastic from milk. 🥛
2nd Class completed the “Volcano Experiment”. In this, they investigated the reaction that happens when you mix vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. 🌋
3rd and 4th Classes were using the “House of Circuits” kits. They had to connect the circuits, which were in turn connected to a house. When the circuit was running correctly, the house had electricity and a light bulb came on. 💡 They also made bubbles on their desks, using water, washing up liquid and straws. It was certainly a messy one but great fun!!
4th Class also investigated what happens when they placed Skittles on a plate and added water. 🌈
5th and 6th Class were circuit crazy too, and were figuring out how to connect the circuit correctly in order to make the light shine. Both classes were extremely lucky to have a visit from Ciarán O’Connell, who is a parent in our school. Ciarán works with Alcon Ireland as a process engineer. He gave an insight into his work and the classes made periscopes. They had a great time! 🔭 5th Class also investigated the effects certain liquids have on eggs 🥚, with the shell resembling our teeth. 🦷
6th Class completed their annual “Mad Scientist Showcase”.
6th Class Mad Scientist Showcase
6th Class completed a Virtual Mad Scientist Showcase again this year. Their experiments were recorded and the links were forwarded to each class so they could watch them.
It was an amazing show and the class did a great job explaining each experiment. The experiments demonstrated included a pencil in a bag trick, blowing a bubble within a bubble on the table, exploding apples 🍎, a walking on air experiment and they also tested their fingerprints.
Well done everybody, it was certainly a Science Week to remember! 🧑🔬👩🔬🔬🧪🔎
Every month a member of each class is chosen as Mathematician of the Month. Our Mathematicians for the month of September are pictured above. Well done everybody keep up the amazing work. Latest News
We marked ‘Maths Week’ this week, from Monday 17th October to Friday 21st October.
We have had a very busy week in Knockskeagh doing lots of different Maths activities! Each day there was a different Maths related task which kept everyone entertained.
We had Maths art challenges, quizzes, Maths games on the iPads, an orienteering Maths code-breaker challenge around the school grounds, a “Maths Eyes” trail where the younger classes had to find 2D and 3D shapes around the school, orienteering at the Long Strand for 4th and 6th classes, and Maths puzzles on display on our Maths board.
Everyone was given the chance to guess how many sweets were in a jar, with the winner getting to keep the whole jar. 🍬Looking at the photos, can you guess how many sweets were in the jar? Congrats to Laoise Hurley who was the closest guess. She was only 1 sweet off the actual number! Well done Laoise! 👏
It really was great fun discovering Maths all around our school during the week!!
Every month a member of each class is chosen as Mathematician of the Month. Our Mathematicians for the month of September are pictured above. Well done everybody keep up the amazing work. Latest News
Last year, we participated in the SuperValu Tidy Towns Save the Bees initiative, in association with the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. Not only did we get to take part in a range of bee-related activities, we were also raising awareness and gaining a greater understanding of why bees are so important and why we need to save them.
Today, on behalf of Scally’s SuperValu in Clonakilty, Emma presented some of our GreenSchools Committee with 2 gorgeous Apple Trees for our participation in the programme.
Thank you Scally’s and Emma, we cannot wait to plant them and see what they produce in the future.
Every month a member of each class is chosen as Mathematician of the Month. Our Mathematicians for the month of September are pictured above. Well done everybody keep up the amazing work. Latest News
We are very proud to belong to the Knockskeagh NS community. In the absence of shops, village churches, etc., Knockskeagh NS is the hub of the surrounding community. It includes the children, parents, Board of Management, Staff and the wider community.