Mc Dermott Street, (Convent Hill), St. Dymphna’s School, Ballina, Co Mayo
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The Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) suits a variety of sports including football, basketball, soccer and athletics. Beside the MUGA, an additional play space has been created with an astro surface. The artificial grass surfaces means they can be used all year round regardless of the weather.
Being part of the Digital Schools’ Programme allows our pupils to learn using the latest modern technology. Each classroom has an interactive white board, iPads, laptops and desktop computers which all pupils use.
All of our pupils learn a traditional musical instrument, starting with the tin whistle in junior infants. We facilitate this with weekly music lessons with an external teacher and a practice session each morning
Drama is an integral part of all Aistear activities in the Junior Room. In the Senior Room it is used to promote Gaeilge as a living language and to make learning the language an enjoyable, positive experience.
We know children love Art and Craft and we integrate it with all subjects. We have a timetabled day for Art where Painting, Drawing, Printing, Clay, Construction and Fabric and Fibre are taught.
Each classroom has an extensive choice of books for pupils to borrow. Storytime happens in the Junior Room immediately after Lunch Break. Novels are studied and read in the Senior Room on a four year cycle to ensure variety. All novels are included in the Book Rental fee.
Being part of the Digital schools initiative encourages our staff and pupils to use the latest technology to support and enhance learning experiences in all curriculum areas.
All classes have an IWB, and teacher’s laptop. The BOM provided over 18,000 this year so that all pupils have access to an individual device with pupils having access to Chromebooks, I- pads and laptops.
As part of our Digital learning plan, we have been creating e books.
The need for digital skills is ever-present in our daily lives. it is important that every student in our school has a positive experience of learning with technology so they can develop key skills for the digital world in which they live.
To enable all staff to develop their skills the BOM funded a 20-hour online course titled Assistive Technology for Education in 2022-23 for all teachers and SNA’s
Most of our teachers complete training courses every year in Digital Learning and the school received support from the PDST (Professional Development Service for Teachers) to develop our Digital Learning plan.
We would appreciate feedback from parents on our digital Learning plan and the results of the surveys carried out last year.
The majority of pupils in our school love music and it is a unique way for them to express their feelings and develop their listening skills.
All our pupils have at least one music lesson each week and the school has a range of wood and percussion instruments.
Post Primary pupils also have music lessons with a music tutor. A music therapist from Music Generation works with our Primary pupils on an individual or small group basis each week.
The Post Primary classes are involved once again in a project with the Whistleblast Quartet and will be collaborating with other Post Primary students in other areas of the country.
The school has recently signed up to take part in the Active Schools initiative and a whole range of activities have been going on in the school this year.
Zumba
Our pupils were put through their paces at break times and learnt a whole new range of dance moves
Watch out Johnny Sexton!!
All the pupils have had the opportunity to take part in rugby training
Simon from Connacht Rugby has been working with all the pupils each Friday and in and a trip to the local rugby club is planned so that pupils can try out their new skills!
Horsing around In Ballina!
The pupils in Class 1 had the opportunity to go horse riding last term
The development of appropriate social / life skills is a vital aspect of all curriculum areas at St. Dymphna’s School. Pupils have a social skills time each day when they have the opportunity to play/take part in games or activities with other pupils.
Trips to the shops, library or local places is encouraged so that pupils can develop life skills for daily living.
We aim as far as possible to prepare our students to be confident, independent learners who can take an active part in their local community and make choices and decisions about their own lives as far as possible.
The school has a specialist teacher for Home Economics for 10 hours a week.
All Post Primary pupils have the opportunity to attend on a weekly basis and we have purpose-built well-equipped rooms.
It is important for our pupils to develop basic life skills and to be as independent as possible. It is very important therefore that they learn to make snacks or cook meals for themselves as well as use everyday appliances like the washing machine, oven.
In Home Economics Pupils learn to:
(a) Follow instructions and recipes.
(b) Develop a range of practical skills- grating, mixing, whisking etc.
(c) Prepare and cook a range of foods.
(d) Use appliances – cooker, food processor, washing machine, air fryer
(e) Understand health and safety practices in the kitchen.
(f) Understand the importance of a balanced diet.
The school has a specialist teacher for Materials, Technology, and Wood for 5 hours a week.
The school has a specialist teacher for woodwork for 5 hours a week.
Post-Primary pupils are timetabled for woodwork on a Tuesday.
Pupils are taught
(a) A range of practical skills- sanding, sawing etc.
(b) To follow instructions and diagrams.
(c) To use a range of simple hand tools.
(d) To have confidence in their own abilities and experience a sense of achievement
Convent Hill
Ballina
Co. Mayo
F26 Y194
096 21006
info@stdymphnas.ie