Children and Young People’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss
One of our students is taking part in the Children's and Young People's Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. In support of him, we are learning about the amazing diversity of wildlife on our island. You can see some beautiful artwork from the Robins class. They are learning about land mammals.
Children from the Starlings class spent Maths week engaging in fun activities inside and outside the classroom!
Maths week in the Starlings Class
Children from the Wren's class submitted very thoughtful entries to the Someone like me art competition. The theme for this year's work is 'Hidden Disabilities.'
World Book Day was celebrated in style as always at Riverview. We had VIP readers from children's families, whole school buddy reading and DEAR time in the sunny school yard!
Green schools week of action
It's been a busy week here at the school with the children participating in events organised for our Green Schools Week of Action.
We had visits from Michelle from Crumlin Community Cleanup, who spoke to the children about the importance of caring for our local area, Flossie and the Beach Cleaners, and composting workshops with Aaron, permaculture specialist who works in our school garden.
The children also made posters to encourage care for the environment, and even composed their own song!
Hygiene Drive
Well done to all the children and families who got involved with our hygiene drive in November. Your kindness was very evident in the 130kg of products we collected for The Hygiene Bank Dublin.
Children from the Sparrows Class have been learning about the Irish Artist Jack B. Yeats. There is an exhibition of his work on display in the National Gallery at the moment, and the children attended an online workshop. As was the case with Jack B. Yeats, the children's work is inspired by where they live. You can read more about the exhibition here.
Lichens need clean air to flourish so are a good indicator of the air quality of the surrounding areas. For this project, students in the Robin's Class used their powers of observation, attention and creativity to explore lichens in their surroundings through poems and photographs. Art has a way of shining a light on issues around climate change and biodiversity and engaging the community in a different way from books and news reports. The student's images and poems were collated into digital collages, so that they could be displayed in their school, or brought home and shared with friends and family. From far away the posters look like abstract images, but when you get closer you notice the details from individual students and their discoveries and learn something new - like when you get closer you see the qualities and learn something about your environment.
As always, the children are doing work from project menus each month. These projects allow the children to work on topics being covered in class and also whole school topics. We are always so impressed with the amazing work the children bring in, and how they present it with such pride!
Sponsored Walk
The children and staff of Riverview took part in a sponsored walk earlier this month to raise money for basketball hoops and equipment. We even had some swans come out to support us! Thank you very much to everyone who sponsored us, the new hoops and equipment are being used daily and are a huge hit with the children.
The Lichen Art Citizen Science Project
In October, the Robin's Class took part in a research project on the observation of Lichens - a bioindicator of air pollution, to monitor the local air quality in the area and assist Trinity College in a larger scale project. The children became very knowledgeable about all things Lichen and are now keen observers of lichen and air quality when out and about!
The Riverview Library
Our Library is well and truly up and running this year, with children from all classes having access to books from our beautiful collection.
Our little shed was made possible by donations to the Tour le Chéile fund raiser, and our core collection of books are our Robert Dunbar Memorial Library, which came from Children's Books Ireland. Many thanks to parents and other book enthusiasts for the further donations of books to keep our avid readers well supplied!
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Tour le Chéile
The Tour le Chéile cycling challenge exceded all of our expectations!
Together we cycled an incredible 6,897kms!
By our visibility on the roads around our school we are also raising awareness of the importance of safe cycling infrastructure for children.
A huge achievement and a big thank you to all involved!
We passed Westport ETNS on our way around the coast. Children from the Blackbirds class sent these wonderful letters to our friends in the West!
Children from the Wrens class are currently reading some very exciting and beautiful books which have been shortlisted for Children's Books Ireland annual book award, as part of their Junior Juries programme. The shortlisted books - listed below - are all written by authors who are citizens of Ireland or permanently resident in Ireland. We are excited to see what our readers verdict will be!
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Hope against Hope written by Sheena Wilkinson
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Míp written by MáireZepf and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly
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Savage Her Reply written by Deirdre Sullivan and illustrated by Karen Vaughan
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The Boldness of Betty written by Anna Carey
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The Falling in Love Montage written by Ciara Smyth
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The Haunted Lake written and illustrated by P.J. Lynch
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The Monsters of Rookhaven written by Pádraig Kenny illustrated by Edward Bettison
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Why the Moon Travels written by Oein DeBhairduin illustrated by Leanne McDonagh
Riverview Ducklings
It's become an annual Riverview event, but that doesn't take away from the pure joy that they bring! Last week, Maverick, Squeak, Lugg, Harry the Hatcher, Sponge & Charlie hatched into the world and have become the newest members of our school community. They will however have to return to their home on the farm in a couple of weeks. Until then, we will be enjoying every minute of them!
Tour le Chéile, Riverview
We are hosting our very first co-operative cycling challenge this year. The challenge is to cycle the length of the coast of the island of Ireland - 3,171km!
We couldn't do it alone, but we are very excited to work together towards this goal!
Funds raised will be used to provide a library for our new books - see below about Robert Dunbar Memorial Library - as well as to replenish graded reading schemes for all of our classes. If you would like to support the Tour le Chéile, Riverview, please click below!
Click here to support our cycling challenge!
Our geodome is under construction
Way back at the start of September, as the children returned to school after the first school closure, the Riverview community of parents, staff, children, family and friends, was inspired to get together to fundraise for a garden classroom space. After much thought, research and deliberation, the construction of our geodome has begun. The glazing is due to arrive in the next couple of weeks, and staff are eagerly planning for it's best use.
We would like to extend a massive thank you to you all for your huge generosity in making our geodome a reality!
We got some very exciting news at the the school this week. Our application wsa successful and Riverview ETNS is now the proud recipient of a Robert Dunbar Memorial Library.
This is a huge honour. It includes a donation to the school of 300 books, workshops for the children with a book creator, and help in the establishment of our school library. It is an initiative of Children's Books Ireland. Robert was a a pioneer in the study of children's literature and towering figure in the world of children's books in Ireland. Four primary schools have received a library every year, in his memory, since 2017, and now Riverview has been added to the list.
Home learning is being supported by school staff at Riverview.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to families for all of their support during this very challenging time.
At school we celebrate exceptional work in our weekly assemblies, with Obair Álainn. During the school closure, Obair Álainn is shared on a special padlet. See some great examples below!
A new year in the forest
Children from the Sparrows, Blackbirds, Robins and Wrens classes have all been visiting Tymon Park - breathing fresh air and watching for signs of the changing seasons.
We are all so happy to be back in the park!
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Back to school preparations....
We can't wait to see you all!
Staff at Riverview are busily preparing for the long awaited return to school.
There have been big changes inside and outside - new bathroom facilities around the building, as well as some exciting additions outside.
We are also raising money for an outdoor learning space.
See coverage in the Irish independent.
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Parents and staff at Riverview are continuing to lobby for improved safe cycling infrastructure in the environs of the school.
Government advice is that families should choose active means of travel to school, such as cycling, scooting and walking.
In the absence of good infrastructure, however, this is not always possible.
The D12 Bike Bus got some coverage in the Irish Times last week, and have had very positive engagement with local public representatives.
We are delighted that funding has been secured for bike parking at the school, and we are hopeful that more good news will follow!
If you are interested in helping with this campaign click here.
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Congratulations SAM!
We are delighted to announce that Sam Collins from the Sparrows has won FIRST PRIZE in the INTO 'Different Families, Same Love, Art competition.
His Lego project is really amazing, we are all so proud of him.
Nina simone
The children and families of Riverview were inspired by the song 'I wish I knew how to be free' which Margaret shared at our online Friday assembly one week. Here is a beautiful video montage made by Múinteoir Andrew of their videos and photos about feeling free.
