We had a busy day here in the school. The boys and girls wore their Offaly jerseys (and a few KK jerseys in the mix) showing their support for our players. Not only showing support, but Midlands 103 visited the school to interview the children from 1st to 4th class about the final, their interest in sports, their favourite players and how they were going to cheer on our team on Sunday! All the children spoke so well and our past pupils, Captain Charlie Mitchell and Adam Screeney were both mentioned as favourite players by almost every child. It shows how much of an impact you are having on the children in the school and out future sports stars! 

Our children were featured on The Midlands Today show with Will Faulkner on Friday 2nd June 2023. The children spoke so well and a big thank you to Chole and Liam for visiting the school and chatting to the children. 
You can have a listen back to the interview on the Midlans103 website at the link here. We are on at the 33 minute mark.

​https://www.midlands103.com/podcasts/midlands-today-with-will-faulkner/episode/week-23-friday/ 

Junior Infants, Senior Infants and 1st Class has so much fun on their school tour to Tearaways. It was an action fun-filled day that everyone enjoyed.
When we arrived, the children go to play in the indoor play area. There were slides, a ball-pit, climbing frames and a mini-zip line. We were then given a guided tour of all the animals that lived on the far. We was cattle, rabbits, alpacas, pigs, sheep and horses. 
And to end the day the children go to play in the outside play area where they on go-carts, tractors, played on slides, climbing frames, got a train ride around the whole farm and played some large board games! 

It was a great day that everyone enjoyed so much! 

All the children from 2nd class to 6th Class has a great, fun-filled day in Lough Key Forest Activity park! The tour was a hit with everyone and the children had a blast! 

The children took part in the 'Boda Borg" which consisted of escape room type activities. The children were divided into team of 5/6 children who had to work together to complete each room. Each group was given a card that they had to stamp when they had completed each room. When they entered the two-story room, they were able to choose which rooms to do. They could complete each room as many time as they wish until they succeed in that room. Each room contained some activity where the children worked together, using their problem solving skills to figure out what to do. Some rooms were easier than others and some rooms caused so much frustration that they some gave up on it! The whole activity was so enjoyable for everyone and their competitive sides came out! 

After finishing the escape room, we were given a tour of the grounds of Lough Key. We learned about the history of the area, the family that lived there, the main house, the fire, the lake, legends of the area and how the area became what it is today. 

And the highlight of the entire tour was our stop in Supermacs and the shop on the way home. That is probably the only part of the tour the children have told you about!!! After working off their energy in the escape room we sent them home high on sugar which made for a great bus ride home!!!

​https://loughkey.ie/activities/boda-borg/

We had sporting royalty (and past pupils) in the school today. Some of the players from the Offaly U20s hurling team visited the school. Not only representing Offaly so well in hurling but also representing their secondary school in the combined schools competitions. 

The boys and girls in Coolanarney have looked up to these players and their names have ben mentioned so many times, These players are true role models for these boys and girls, not only in our school bu across the parish and county. The children asked some great questions and the lads gave some great advice to the children. Their main message was to work hard and keep practising. 

On Wednesday 17 May, a number of boys and girls represented the school in the county wide Athletics final in the Harriers in Tullamore. We had the regional competition in Ferbane last week and those children who placed in their races made their way to Tullamore today to compete against a number of other children from school across the county. 

​It was a great day and we had a number of winners in the school. Congratulations to everyone who took part and represented the school so well. 

Yesterday, all the children from 1st to 4th class travelled to Ferbane for the last of the regional Athletics competition. A number of other schools were there too and over 100 children. It was an excellent day and everyone enjoyed it. In the weeks before Easter, the children had an Athletics coach come to the school to practise various races and events in preparation for the day. 
We had children run in 50m, 100m 300m races, relay races and the shot put. We had a number of children from the school place in their races and will now move onto the finals in the Harriers in Tullamore next Wednesday 10th May. Congratulations to our winners and well done to all the children for representing the school so well. And big thank you and well done to the organisers for an enjoyable day.