As we reach the end of our time in O.L.V. some of us looked back and discussed our favourite moments or memories of primary school.

"Training for G.A.A. and playing matches with different schools" - Amber

"Going into school after the Confirmation and getting photographs with my classmates and getting to go home early" - Lauren

"All of the school shows and concerts, they were so fun to do, watch and be in!" - Millie

"When we went to the Panto (especially the last one) and all the places we have been to." - Maha

"Going into to school to get our photos after the Confirmation!" - Eabha

"Training for G.A.A. and playing matches with my classmates" - Kelsey

"I remember when we had a pyjama day in school" - Hallie

"I remember going on trips from the start of the year until now! I can't wait for our tour to Clara Lara!" - Maysan

"I will remember all the school songs we learned together as a class and I won't forget them!" - Nadine

"I will remember always having the chats with Ms. Rooney and Ms. Crowe in the yard!" - Abi

"I will remember all the conversations I've had with all of the teachers that weren't just about school!" - Niamh

"I will always remember all the great friends I had in primary school and all the teachers too!" - Katie-May

"I will always remember Louise the tennis coach!" - Aya

"I will remember when we went to Fort Lucan and how I comforted my friends on the big slide, then when I reached the top I was terrified and they had to calm me down!" - Alyssa

"I will remember laughing and talking with my friends and all the lovely teachers we had" - Ava

On June 15th on a cloudy, breezy day, we took part in our last sports day in OLV! There were morning activities and then afternoon activities in Albert College Park! 

We played basketball, ran 100m races, tried penalty shootouts, rested and hydrated, ran 400m races, leaped the long jump and played with the parachute! A busy morning! 

We we had a big rest for lunch in preparation for the afternoon activities in Albert College.


The whole school walked to the park after lunch and there was loads of activities lined up for us! We shuffled through the sack race, excelled a the egg and spoon, overcame the obstacle course, perfected our GAA points and ran the relay races! 

We are so proud proud in ourselves for taking part today. It was a great day because we focused on the fun and then the competition was a bonus! We can’t believe how fast the days and events are ticking down until our Graduation from OLV! 


​

Throughout the year, we undertook a Seasonal Tree project.
We started in Autumn in September, to Winter, to Spring and finishing with Summer.

We discussed suitable colours and features for each season and what trees would look like in each season.

We used a dabbing technique with the painted background,they were very bright and colourful. 

The pictures show personality as they're all different and have a nice personal touch as we used our hands for the silhouette of the tree. 

It was really interesting to see how we have improved with each season as we progressed through the year.

 In  October, a few girls started a group with Ms Fleming and Ms Brennan called the 'Nurturing Group'.
​
In the group, we learned how to deal with negative emotions, talked about secondary school and helped each other achieve our hopes and conquer our fears.

During the June assembly we spoke about this group to the younger classes in the school and encouraged them to participate in the group.

We enjoyed this group so much, we have grown and learned so much and will never forget the fun we had with each other and the teachers. 

As part of our Confirmation and developing Citizenship as we grow into young adults, ourselves, Ms Smith and Jo McGlynn decided to donate money to a charity. Jo  suggested donating to the Capuchin Day Centre for the homeless and we agreed as we believe that homelessness is a huge problem in our society. 

We raised €100 for the centre! We are all so glad we could help!
​

We had been working so hard preparing for the Confirmation for months. The week before the Ceremony of Light, we started the practices in the Church. We went over all the prayers and songs and worked hard to complete projects on our Confirmation Saint and our Confirmation copies. 
 
Girls that do not celebrate Confirmation or the Catholic Faith spent a month designing a special personal project on their lives. It was really nice to celebrate our diversity and support one another. 
​
The Ceremony of Light was on Monday the 23rd of April in the evening. It was a beautiful mass and a lovely experience. We received the 'light' of our faith from our parents. This was symbolised with our baptismal candles. 

Everyday the girls got more and more excited for the Confirmation. We went to the church every afternoon to practice for the big day. Some of us had readings and prayers to recite. It was a lot of fun. We had a lovely conversation with Fr. Frank about his albs and the occasions he wore them for, his special chalice and about his life. On the Friday before our Confirmation we had a half day so we could get prepared. 

On Saturday the 28th April, as we all gathered in the church in the morning. We got to show off our beautiful outfits and meet the bishop who was confirming us. 5th class girls sang in the choir for our mass. It was a lovely ceremony. 

After the mass we took our class photograph on the steps of the altar. We got to take photographs with our family, our friends and our teacher in and outside the church. 

​It was an unforgettable day! 

During the Spring months we had been preparing for Easter. In the morning Ms Smith had left little, fluffy chicks and mini eggs nestled on our desks.

Mrs. Shannon bought lots of chocolate eggs for the Easter raffle. There were lots of prizes to be won, such as books, a chocolate hamper, a stuffed yellow bunny, a unicorn phone case, a big bunny hat and much more. 

There was the Best-Dressed Egg competition and the Easter Bonnet contest. Ava made a beautiful bonnet and was rewarded a chocolate egg.

Our class was very successful with the raffle, Hannah won the big hamper and Emma and Abi won chocolate eggs.
​
We had a small party, listened to music and chatted with our classmates. The whole school had a half-day and we were all so excited to celebrate Easter with our families. 

Beannachtaí na Cásca oraibh go léir!

On the 20th February, we went on a special 6th Class mini-trip to the Hugh Lane Gallery. We left the school early in the morning and got to the gallery in a private bus! 

At the gallery, we met our tour guide who was very nice. She showed us a lot of interesting paintings and sculptures, she explained the meanings behind them. We saw the real-life studio of Francis Bacon, it was so messy and dirty!

Afterwards we ate our lunch in the Garden of Remembrance and looked at the birds. When we had finished we walked down O'Connell Street looking at the Spire and the GPO. We stopped into McDonald's and got a small treat! We got back on our private bus and returned to school. We had a great day and were exhausted by the end. 

6th Class opened up the Céilí with 'The Deer's Cry'. In the weeks leading up to the Céilí, we had worked to practice but we soon got the hang of it. We were in our tracksuits since it's a tradition wearing it for the performance. When we finished our piece we went up to our classroom to change into our green clothes.
​
We returned to the hall, sat down and watched the performances! 2nd class did some amazing poems and Irish dancing, 3rd Class sang 'Can't stop the feeling' as Gaeilge, 4th class performed 'Amhráin na gCupáin' (The Cup Song), Ms Hickey sang 'Sé Mo Laoch'. When the 5th Classes danced to 'Ballaí Luimní', we even got to get up and dance with our friends too. 

Finally, our turn had come. We started off with Droichead Átha Luain, it was so fun and we soon got in rhythm. We that had finished we got ready for the special 6th Class March. The March was one of the most bittersweet moments since it was our last Céilí. We formed a cicle and sang 'Ireland's Call' and 'Amhráin na bhFiann'. The whole school and the audience of parents and guardians sang along.
When it was over, Mrs. Shannon thanked everyone and praised us for doing such a good job. 

We were saddened that Ms Ní Ríain couldn't perform her traditional Irish dance due to injury, we will have to come back next year to see her dance again! We really enjoyed our last Céilí in OLV!

Beannachtaí na Féile Padraig oraibh go léir!