days out e ’s m o r e


education, celebrating Catholic schools throughout Ireland. Resources for schools are available to download online at www.catholicbishops.ie/ catholicschoolsweek


SAINT BRIGID’S DAY Wed 1st Feb


In the Christian tradition the feast of St. Brigid ushers in springtime. Step by step instructions to make St Brigid’s cross at www.ireland. iol.ie/~scphadr/makecross.


SAFER INTERNET DAY 2017 Tues 7th Feb


Safer Internet Day is an EU wide initiative which is organised to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people. It is promoted in Ireland by the PDST Technology in Education and Webwise. The theme for 2017 is ‘Be the change: Unite for a better internet’. Register your school at www. saferinternetday.ie to receive information, materials and resources.


MID TERM BREAK Thurs 23rd – Fri 24th Feb


All primary schools will close on Thurs 23rd and Fri 24th February 2017, with option to extend to 5 day break (20th – 24th February), unless changes are needed to make up for time lost due to unforeseen school closures.


SHROVE TUESDAY Tues 28th Feb


Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day is the last day of feasting before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. What will you put on yours?


MARCH Signs of Spring Twitter Project It’s time for another Twitter project to get your class organised to look about and observe the signs of Spring in their environment. www. seomraranga.com.


Weds 1st March ASH WEDNESDAY


INTERNATIONAL SHARE A COMPLIMENT DAY


Weds 1st March The most positive day in the world! Send a wave of positivity around your school today... anyone ever tell you you’re wonderful? www. worldcomplimentday.info


SEACHTAIN NA GAEILGE 2017 Weds 1st – Fri 17th March


The biggest Irish language festival in Ireland and around the world with thousands of events and hundreds of thousands of people taking part – see www. snag.ie for full list of events.


ALOHA Mental Arithmetic Ireland - Improving your child’s mental development using an abacus.


Many parents will understand how important it is for their children to grow physically and healthy, but just as important is their mental development. Children are constantly absorbing everything around them, developing their cognitive abilities such as concentration, creativity, listening, memory and observation skills. Making tremendous leaps in how they process, store and use information.


WORLD BOOK DAY FEST 2017 Thurs 2nd March


Join the national festival of the imagination that turns millions of kids worldwide into millions of readers, celebrating 20 years of World Book Day in 2017. WIN a world of stories with £5,000 of Walker Booksyou’re your school library! School resource packs, display material and World Book Day tokens for children with authors including Walliams, End Blyton, Jacqueline Wilson and more! www.worldbookday


Sat 4th – Fri 10th March


ENGINEERS WEEK 2017 Take the engineering challenge this week with FREE events and activities nationwide, involving students, teachers, engineers, parents and the general public. Request a school visit, book an event – win a prize, and download schools resources, posters and stickers from www. engineersweek.ie. and visit www. steps.ie. www.steps.ie


PARENTS!


ALOHA Mental Arithmetic is an afterschool educational programme which improves your child’s mental development, by using both the left and right hemisphere of the brain. The programme, which is currently taught in 38 countries worldwide, uses the abacus and other methods to aid children’s mental development The word ALOHA is an acronym for Abacus Learning of Higher Arithmetic. ALOHA Mental Arithmetic is a mental development programme which enhances the brain development of students through the use and visualisation of the abacus. In 1993, Mr Loh Mun Sung decided to create a programme which, based on the use of the abacus, would go beyond and would enhance the co-ordination and development of both cerebral hemispheres.


Today, research has shown that using the abacus improves children’s ability to calculate mental equations and develop cognitive abilities such as attention, concentration, creativity, imagination, spatial orientation, listening, analytical ability, photographic memory and observation. ALOHA Students develop the ability to visualise a math problem by regular practise of the abacus and eventually the student will learn to solve the problem without the aid. Much more than a math class, ALOHA Mental Arithmetic classes include fun didactic games and group activities for children to develop mentally and enjoy learning Maths.


ALOHA Mental Arithmetic are recruiting new teachers. Or if you would like to register for the NEW term in February, please email into info@alohaireland.ie or 01 559 0050


Event information is correct at time of going to press but before making a long journey (or a promise!) we’d advise you phone the organiser to check all details.


Visit www.alohaireland.ie or follow us on Facebook.com/alohaireland


Primary Times WINTER ISSUE 19


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