AUTHORS OF THE FUTURE! Our entries for the Write a Book Project organised by Sligo Education Centre. The Write a Book Project enables children to become real authors as they create their own books by actively engaging in the processes of writing, composing, constructing, illustrating and presenting their work to a wide audience.

BRILLIANT BALANCING! The Senior class have been working on the fundamental movement skill of balance during their PE classes. The pupils got a chance to experiment with individual, pair and group balances from the gymnastics strand of the PE curriculum. The activities are based on the new Move Well, Move Often Resource, developed by the PDST, which focuses on developing physical literacy in children.

CO-OPERATIVE GAMES FOR PE Our Senior pupils enjoying some co-operative games during PE. Games are a valuable means of helping children to work together in a caring and co-operative way. They can raise the level of co-operative consciousness and help children to realise what they can learn from each other. Games include all children and they give children the opportunity to practice a range of skills, to be a member of a team, to raise their self-esteem and to be effective group members.

BIRDWATCH COOLBOCK We have been making great use of our new nature trail camera that was installed by our Parents Association. We set it to record the activity at our bird feeders. The still camera works on a motion sensor and picks up any activity day or night! The children get a chance to check it every few days and compile bird reports on what they have found out. So far, we have identified the blue tit, great tit, goldfinch, chaffinch, house sparrow, crow and the robin. We will be placing it at ground level next to see what kind of activity we can pick up!

COMPETITION: WIN A NIGHT FOR 2 IN OUR BUG HOTELS! The Coolbock Bug Hotels are now taking bookings! The newly built Bug Hotels provide the highest standards in insect luxury in the form of natural materials such as branches, leaves, grass and moss. Tag a Friend who could do with a night in one of our Bug Hotels, or Like and Share this post to be in with a chance of winning 😉 This is one of our actions for our Green-Schools Biodiversity theme. We are currently in the process of applying for our fifth flag, having already achieved flags for Litter and Waste, Energy, Water and Travel.

COOL CHARACTERS FOR WORLD BOOK DAY! We had a wonderful day of fun as the pupils got to dress up as their favourite book character for World Book Day. The theme of the day was "CELEBRATE STORIES. LOVE READING". We certainly got an opportunity to do this with lots of activities including a Book Hunt where the pupils split up into teams to find book covers from popular children's books hidden all around the school grounds. Can you spot any?.....

https://www.familyeducation.com/fun/outdoor-activities/top-10-wintertime-neighborhood-games

https://www.care.com/c/stories/3931/101-snow-games-and-activities-for-kids/en-gb/

All schools, colleges and third-level institutions are closed for Thursday and Friday due to Status Red Warning issued for all counties.

Well done to the Coolbock Spelling Bee Champion who represented the school at the Sligo County Final of the Easons Ireland Spelling Bee competition in Rathcormac NS on Tuesday. We're so proud of you!