Saint Hugh’s News
Summer 2011
Mission Week Mass
On Friday May 6th Fr. Brendan Keane, who was in the parish for Mission Week, celebrated mass in the
school. His colleague, Niamh O’Neill, provided the music on the day.
Cumann na mBunscol
The league continued with three games after Easter. Following defeats at home to Bornacoola NS
(3-03 to 3-10), away to Aughavas NS (5-09 to 4-05) and a walkover from Killanummery NS we qualified
for the 9 a-side Shield final. The match was held at the Leitrim Gaels pitch on Thursday, June 2nd.
After a brave display we lost on a score-line of 5-10 to 2-08. The Leitrim Observer wrote, ‘In a
pulsating match that was much closer than the score line suggests, the strength of Bornacoola proved
decisive against St. Hugh’s NS Dowra in an entertaining game. Two injury time goals cemented
Bornacoola’s victory but the game was level midway through the second half as the Dowra side
recovered from a nine point deficit at the opening of the game’. Well done to all involved for a year
where we constantly punched well above our weight. Thank you to Ballinaglera GAA club who
contributed €200 to the cost of the new jerseys and fed and watered the team in ‘Enda’s’ on the way
home from the final.
Digital Schools Ireland Award
Saint Hugh’s NS has become the first
school in Leitrim to win the ‘Digital
Schools Ireland Award’. The award is a
Department of Education initiative that
aims to recognise excellence in a school's
approach to the integration of ICT in
learning and teaching. From last
September the pupils prepared for the
award, using laptops, digital cameras,
Pupils from 2nd and 3rd Class display the ‘Digital Schools Ireland’ plaque
camcorders, interactive whiteboards and
various software programmes to integrate technology with the curriculum. On January 21st the school
was visited by Eileen Ward who inspected the pupils and the school’s IT resources. In May we received
word that the school had achieved the award.
The report read: ‘There is a very strong, visible ICT culture in the school. All areas of the curriculum
are covered and ICT is clearly integrated in every classroom. Many examples are evident on classroom
walls. Animation, digital storytelling and presentation software are all used very effectively for
project work. Each class has an interactive whiteboard. Shared laptops are used very effectively.
There are numerous noteworthy examples of ICT integration. These include the use of data
projectors, whiteboards to create an interactive classroom experience, the use of free software on
the internet and the use of film making to enhance history lessons. ‘
Congratulations to all the pupils on a fantastic achievement.
First Communion
Congratulations to Joseph McGovern, Dean McMorrow, Robert Crawford, Shannon Crawford and Jake
Fee who made their First Communion in St. Hugh’s Church, Ballinaglera on Saturday, May 14th.
3rd/4th class GAA blitz
The pupils of 3rd and 4th Class attended a football blitz in Drumshanbo on June 1st. The blitz involved
several other schools from the locality.
Sports Day
On Friday, June 3rd the school held its Sports Day. Great fun was had by all as the pupils competed in
all types of events from sprints to wheelbarrow races.
Páirc Seán and Hyde Park Representatives
Well done to Michael Crawford (5th) who represented the school in Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, Carrick-onShannon on Sunday, June 12th. Michael played in a game between a selection from Leitrim and Roscommon
primary schools before the senior match. Best wishes to Oisin McGourty (6th) who will be representing
the school in a similar match before the Connacht final on July 17th in Hyde Park, Roscommon.
Poultry Parade
On Thursday, June 16th, Andrew and Hazel
Riley from Ballinaglera visited the school
and displayed chicks and an Indian Runner
duck from their farm to all the classes.
Enrolment Day
An enrolment day for all new entrants in
September was held on Monday, June 20th.
School Mass
Thanks to Fr. Seán who celebrated mass in
the school on Tuesday, June 21st. to mark
the end of the school year.
Junior and Senior Infants meet an Indian Runner duck
School Tour
This year’s school tour was on Wednesday, June 22nd and
involved a trip to Lough Gara Riding Stables, which is five
miles outside Boyle. All classes from Junior Infants to
Sixth classes went on the tour. They took part in various
activities including horse riding, archery, falconry,
boating and an assault course.
(L-R) Darren (5th) and Aaron (4th) take aim at
Lough Gara Riding Centre
Farewell to Sixth Class
Best wishes to the pupils of Sixth Class (Joey Flynn, Niall
McGourty, Oisin McGourty and Dylan Sheridan) who are
leaving us. We wish them every
success in the future.
Mary McGrail
Best wishes to Mary McGrail who is retiring this year. Mary has worked as a
Learning Support and Resource teacher in the school since September
2005. Presentations were made to Mary McGrail at this year’s end-of-year
mass by the pupils and staff of the school. Mary was extremely popular
among staff and pupils and will be sorely missed.
Summer Developments
Over the summer holidays the interior of the main school building will be
painted, the electrics in the Old School revamped and a polytunnel erected
behind the tarmac pitch.
Dean McMorrow (2nd) makes a
presentation to Mary McGrail on
her retirement