Hello everyone!

We had a great start to the new year with 18 new students joining the ranks of self directed learners in Sligo. The first few weeks back at school are always exciting and a lot of fun as we reconnect with each other and with the spaces at school, and enjoy the many changes that have happened over the summer … most of us are taller and stronger, some of us have lost teeth, and many of us have new interests, skills and experiences to share.

We held a coffee morning fundraiser in aid of North West Hospice with home made and school made baked goods on sale, raising over €900 for North West Hospice. Thanks to everyone who supported this initiative by providing cakes and attending the morning. It was a very enjoyable gathering in the sunshine.

We also raised €770 for our school campaign through the Global Giving Little by Little Campaign. Thanks to everyone who donated and shared our posts. If you missed your chance to get matched, don’t worry Global Giving offer year-round matching for all new recurring donors.

  • New monthly donations (up to $200 per unique donor) will have their first donation matched at 100% after four (4) total payments  DONATE HERE
  • Tax payers in UK and US can claim tax relief on donations through Global Giving. 

New clubs and projects have kept us busy in these early weeks of school. 10 students have registered to work towards the Gaisce Bronze and Silver Awards this year, focusing on community, personal skills, and physical fitness goals.

Although football is played every day at school, a new weekly session led by a student coach has been very popular, supporting younger players in developing their skills and confidence, while giving older more experienced players a chance to inspire and lead.  Of course football is not the only sporting activity. There has been plenty of yoga, gymnastics, cycling, handball, table tennis, cops and robbers, and parkour.

Indoors we have enjoyed a lot of  art & craft such as embroidery, crochet, knitting, and painting. Older students have taken the lead in the kitchen with cooking and baking taking place daily. We are very lucky indeed. There’s almost always a cookie, or brownie, or a vegetarian meal to be had.

Groups of students who want to take their interest in a particular area a little further often form clubs to share resources and schedule workshops together. A number of clubs have been formed this past month. Art Club and Cooking Club are old favourites that have been reconfirmed. Drama Club also has regrouped, expanding its ranks and planning some new productions, possibly including some Shakespeare this year. Watch this space. A new Coding Club for juniors and seniors using Scratch and Microsoft Dreamspace has got off to a flying start. Book Club and Movie Club have a whole term of cultural activities planned to inspire and amuse.

Exciting news on the podcasting front too. Students, parents and staff have recently enjoyed being podcast guests with the School of Empowering Education and Don Berg’s podcast Agentic Schools which will be published next month. We will also launch Sligo Sudbury School’s very own podcast in October. Entitled “A self directed life” it will explore the many faces of self directed living and learning in school and in the world outside of school. The podcast will be hosted by students and aims to fearlessly examine the challenges and the satisfaction of the self directed life.

We look forward to bringing you more updates on the day to day realities of self directed living and learning at Sligo Sudbury School.