Winter
News 2 0 1 5 As the Christmas song goes - ’Tis the season to be jolly – and how easy that is to be jolly in the Junior School where the Christmas spirit is palpable on the corridors, in the classrooms and in the playground! I know you will all agree that this year our staff excelled themselves in transforming our school into a magical Winter wonderland which conjured up the Christmas spirit in all of us. A sincere thank you and congratulations to Stephanie and our Std. 6 Newsletter Team - Amy Ward, Hannah Carney, Claudia Hughes, Pierce Boyle, Larina Yu,Guy Corson, Murray Sheehan, Ciara Moroney, Jasmin Wooton and Sean Treacy. They have produced a truly fantastic Newsletter filled with photos, stories, events and news reports
e quickfir & w ie v r An inte ll
with Dr.
Farre
ire by Quickf rson & o uy C w by y Interviey Sheehan GCiara Morone a r r Mu Ward & Amy
What is your favourite part of being a principal? I simply love my job. Each
day is my favourite part – because I get to spend my time with fabulous boys and girls and a wonderful staff team. It is a joy working in St. Gerard’s.
What is your favourite memory from being a Principal? That’s a hard one
but I think it has to be moving into our fabulous new Junior School building. Before that the Junior School was housed in pre-fabs and on a lovely Autumn morning in September 2005 we walked from the pre-fabs (which were over beside the Pavilion) across the campus to our beautiful new school. There was a big red ribbon across the door and the youngest child and the oldest child in the Junior School cut the ribbon and we all entered our beautiful, light-filled new school. Everyone was sooooo excited!
Where did you work before St. Gerard's? My first job was in Christ
the King Girls’ National School in Cabra in Dublin. I absolutely loved teaching – especially the Infants! Then I worked in the National Youth Council of Ireland which was a fantastic experience. I got to travel to many different parts of the world looking at youth projects for disadvantaged young people. Happy days!
If you had a day in the life of somebody else, who would it be? Ha! Have to have two again – the Minister for Education – I could do a lot in one day! Or the Pope – wouldn’t it be simply fascinating!
which I know you will enjoy reading. Once again this year the team decided on an interview format for my cover page...children’s questions never cease to amaze me! Finally, my special thanks to our wonderful pupils who brighten up even the darkest Winter day and to you, the parents, for your support and encouragement of all school endeavours – including our Toy Appeal for St. Vincent de Paul, Christmas Movie Day for the Women’s Refuge, and the Student Council Christmas Raffle for the Five Loaves Charity in Bray. I wish you all the blessings of the season and may the spirit of the Christ Child remain in your hearts throughout the coming year.
Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Christmas Day.
What is your favourite country that you have visited? Ooooh……a hard one……
I’ll go for Brazil.
What is your favourite work of art? That’s
Turkey or Ham?
Turkey (with chestnut stuffing!)
Star or Angel? Star
an easy one! Les Parapluies by Renoir. When I was a very little girl – about 7 or 8 – my Mum told me that a beautiful painting was on display for a short time in the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin. We went into town full of excitement and I remember standing in front of that most gorgeous painting – filled with stylish Parisienne ladies with umbrellas – and Mum saying “it’s called Les Parapluies – won’t you always remember that?” Years later I saw the painting in London – and remembered that special day………. We are lucky that the painting comes regularly to the Hugh Lane Gallery. It’s there now and it will be one of my special visits during the Christmas holidays.
Jingle Bells or O Holy Night?
What is your favourite Christmas movie and song? Heidi with Shirley Temple –
Real or Artificial?
brings back happy memories; and Driving Home for Christmas by Chris Rea…..once you hear it Christmas begins!
What is your favourite book? Oh it’s
impossible to choose just one! Guess How Much I Love You is my favourite picture book for children. Little Women was my favourite book when I was young and now I guess it’s Emma by Jane Austen. But ask me again tomorrow and my answer might be completely different…….so many great books, so little time!
What is your favourite charity? Can I pick
two again?! Here in Ireland it’s St. Vincent de Paul – because they do amazing work in local communities 365 days a year; and on the international stage I would choose UNICEF because they work tirelessly for children’s rights all over the world.
O Holy Night
Christmas at Home or Away? Definitely Home.
Rudolf or Santa?
Santa Claus of course!
Pudding or Cake?
Pudding with whipped cream.....mmmm!
Roast or Mash?
I’m not really a potato girl!
Pyjamas or Onesie? Ha! PJs!
Real, real, real
Jimmy Choo or Louboutin? Mr Choo
Dog or Cat? Dog
Book or T V? Book
X Factor or Strictly? Strictly all the way
Summer or Winter? Winter
English or Maths? English
Splash or Freddie?
Who are they??? What - you seriously want me to choose between two bins in the school playground……what an important job I have!!! Splash of course!