As part of the Green Schools initiative in our school and tying in with the recent launch of the Active School campaign we participated in the National Scoot on Wednesday (SOW) Day last week. 
Lots of the children scooted to school and we had scooter races in the yard too. This is all to highlight the different healthier and greener ways to travel to school. It was great fun and we hope to do it again soon!

Our two 5th Classes recently took part in an Arts project part funded by Sligo County Council. Artist Karen Webster worked with the children to produce a mural in the 5th/6th Class courtyard. The theme was Anti-Litter and this tied in with our role as a Green School having recently achieved our 5th Green Flag. The mural itself is not just a decorative piece but will be an invaluable resource for all classes as a place to visit to discuss environmental topics such as biodiversity and recycling. We are very grateful to Mrs Smyth for organising the project and to the class teachers Ms Munnelly & Ms Hoey. We also thank Sligo County Council and off course Karen Webster, our artist, who has worked with us previously on projects such as Primary Colours. Well done to all the 5th Class pupils on this beautiful work of art!!!

It was with an open door and big smiles that Scoil Ursula’s Student Council officially welcomed Bishop Christopher Jones and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, along with many other dignitaries and invited guests our school on Monday the 7th of October 2013. There were a lot of important people in the school that day to witness the official opening and blessing of our two room extension including, Canon Tom Hever, Board of Management Members including the Chairperson Marian Moore, Mayor of Sligo, Marcella Mc Garry, Senators Marc Mc Sharry, Michael Comiskey, Imelda Henry and Susan O’Keeffe. There were also TD’s and Councillors there including Minister John Perry, Tony Mc Loughlin, Michael Colreavy, Matt Lyons, David Cawley and Rosaleen O’Grady. There were members of the Parents Association, former Principals and Deputy Principal of Scoil Ursula, Principals and a President of neighbouring schools and colleges and of course the whole staff and pupils of the school.

It was all of these very important people that the whole of the Scoil Ursula Family welcomed with open arms on Monday. Flowers festooned the steps to the school and the children’s work was displayed in the Hall for all to see and admire.

The school Principal, Mr. Gallagher, welcomed everyone to the Hall for the auspicious occasion and thanked all of the staff, parents and pupils for their hard work and dedication in helping to bring about the extension. Thanks was also expressed to the Department of Education and Skills for funding the project, Rhatigan and Co.  for their work as project planners and managers and to Castlelough Corporation Construction Company. 

Mr. Gallagher spoke of the many changes that have taken place in education over the past number of years including the many initiatives, curriculum changes and other progressive improvements in primary education. While acknowledging all of these as positives he also urged An Taoiseach to use his influence to prevent a rise in class sizes in primary education and the loss of one or more teachers in Scoil Ursula along with a loss of services for children with special educational needs. The principal spoke highly of his predecessors, past staff and indeed the founders of the Ursuline order and committed, in St. Angela’s words to:

He then invited the Mayor of Sligo to speak to the crowd. Marcella Mc Garry spoke of the high regard that Scoil Ursula is held by the people of Sligo and its achievements in sport, academics, culture and community project. Scoil Ursula, she said, had a reputation for excellence in education locally and that the extension to the school was to be welcomed in helping to place this education in modern classrooms.

In his address Bishop Jones praised the work of the Ursuline Order in founding Scoil Ursula and the staff and principals, both Sisters and lay people, down through the years that kept up the Ursuline ethos of holistic child centred education that always aimed for excellence. He also reminded all those present that while the building the school is in is important, it is the people inside that make a school what it is. Bishop Christy also spoke of how much school life has changed since he was young and of his delight to see happiness being at the centre of what takes place in school nowadays.

The Chairperson of the Board of Management also spoke welcoming and thanking all for their presence. While extolling the virtues of an Ursuline school committed to linking with the community and the wider world and the excellence in education that it provides, Mrs. Moore also compared the new modern extension to the older buildings of the school. These, she said, addressing the Taoiseach, are falling into disrepair and need proper maintenance with the finances to go along with it. She asked that

In his speech to the assembled crowd An Taoiseach thanked the school for the invitation and spoke of his pleasure being invited to perform the opening of the extension to the school. Mr. Kenny revealed how his own mother had been taught in an Ursuline School. The then echoed the views of the Mayor, speaking of the excellent work being done in the school and the long list of awards and achievement we have won and the projects we have taken part in, including our fifth Green Flag, Golden Pen Awards, singing with the National Children’s Choir, Cumann na mBunscoil trophies, the Golden Spider Award and many Cathaoirleach’s Awards too.

An Taoiseach went on to respond to the Chairperson’s speech with the hope that soon there would be some more flexibility in future budgets for school building and maintenance projects like the one outlined by Mrs. Moore for Scoil Ursula. He also noted that there was €13 billion to be spent on capital projects nationally between now and 2015 and that had to be split up between various departments. He also stated that both he and the Department of Education would work with school management to improve the buildings. He asked the Chairperson to keep in contact so that they could plot the progress together.

After this the school choir sang beautifully for all to hear. There followed an address by Bishop Jones asking God’s Blessing on the school and in particular on the extension. Children came to read Prayers of the Faithful asking God to bless the work of the school, their teachers and parents. Prayers were also said for national and world leaders and for the sick and the poor.

Following this the assembled guests were led out to the new extension where An Taoiseach officially opened it and Bishop Christy prayed for God’s Blessing on it. They were joined there by the pupils from Ms. Cogan and Ms. Mitchell’s who have their classes in the new rooms. Both An Taoiseach and the Bishop were presented with gifts and cards by the children.

It was a wonderful day for our school and we are so happy to share it with the whole school community. Thanks are due to so many people for their help and support throughout the project and in the lead up to the official opening. So to one and all we say Thanks!

We hope that this will be a stepping stone to further upgrades, improvements and successes for the school and the boys and girls of Scoil Ursula.

There was some local and national media coverage of the opening including (Click the links below)

• Ocean FM: An Taoiseach to Visit Sligo Today (including an interview with the Principal Mr. Gallagher)
  
• Sligo Today: Taoiseach for Sligo Visit Today
  
• Irish Independent: Enda Back to School After Lesson from Voters
• Sligo Champion (see below)
  
  

Scoil Ursula was presented with its 5th Green Flag for work on Biodiversity at an awards ceremony on the 28th of May in the Breaffy House hotel in Castlebar. Our Green Schools Co-ordinator, Mrs Smyth, along with our Deputy Principal, Mrs Corcoran and  committee members, Tara  and Kevin represented the school at the event. Congratulations again to all involved in achieving this prestigious honour for the school.

Last week was National Walk to School Week and as a Green School, we held two events to mark the occasion. Our traditional WOW Day which we are encouraging pupils to extend to a Walk Every Day was a big success as was our Feet First Friday where pupils walked in in quirky, funky footwear. Check out our pics below. We collect our 5th Green Flag in Castlebar next Tuesday and Committee Members, Tara Keaveney & KevinKelly from Ms Mitchell's 3rd Class will accompany Greenschools Co-ordinator, Mrs Smyth and Deputy Principal, Mrs Corcoran to the Awards Ceremony. 

Scoil Ursula has received news that it has been awarded its 5th Green Flag for its outstanding work in the area of Biodiversity. Congratulations to Mrs Smyth, Mrs Corcoran and their committee along with all the other staff members and pupils who contributed to this fantastic achievement for the school. Comhgairdeas gach duine!!!