Never a dull moment, is there? January has been fast and furious, making sure we don’t get too comfortable after the jolly Christmas season. No easing into the new year here— we just dive straight into the deep end!
New Students
We’re delighted to have welcomed two new students to our community this January. They’ve been settling in well, finding their rhythm, and getting to know everyone. It’s always a pleasure to see fresh energy and perspectives joining us, and we look forward to seeing them grow and thrive here.
Storm Eowyn
Well, we survived Storm Eowyn—just about! The biggest loss was our beloved climbing tree, which sadly didn’t make it through the winds. And of course, we were without electricity for a few days, so we had to close temporarily. The silver lining is that there was no damage to the buildings, and we were back to normal pretty quickly. So we can be grateful for that. Certainly all of our students were delighted to be able to return to school on Thursday.
The Fate of the Climbing Tree
The loss of The Climbing Tree has been a bit of a shock—it’s been such a big part of school life for so long. But, as always, we adapt. The big question now is: what do we do next? Some ideas have already been thrown around—can we prop it back up and encourage the roots to regenerate? Could we turn it into some kind of playground feature? Maybe a sculpture? The jury (aka the School Meeting) is still out on this one, but we’ll figure it out. Watch this space…..
On the topic of trees, there’s a chance to apply for free trees—either for yourself or for the school. If you’re interested, apply online on Saturday, February 1st, from 10 AM. https://freetrees.ie/next.
Céilí Dancing
In happier news, August has kicked off weekly dance sessions, and they’ve been a huge hit! We’re exploring all sorts of dance styles, but céilí dancing is taking centre stage—it’s lively, social, and a huge part of our Irish heritage.
We’re also on the lookout for musicians and dancers in the community to get involved in our Intergenerational Céilí Dancing Project. If you’re interested (or know someone who might be), drop us an email at info@sligosudburyschool.com—we’d love to hear from you!
Ardvoltas Art Project & Bríd Festival Sligo
Keeping with the heritage theme, a small group of students recently spent a day at Ardvoltas Art Space in Ballisodare as part of @bridfestivalsligo. They had the change to try weaving with rush and willow (thanks to Bridget O’Connell) and to sculpt copper leaves with Rob Ireson. It was a great way to mark the shift in seasons and an experience that will stay with us.
Staff Recruitment
Our search for a new staff member (or maybe two) is in full swing, and we’ve got a strong shortlist of candidates. Interviews are happening soon, and we’re looking forward to finding the right person to join our team.
Fun and Games
All the usual fun and games continue and some new ones introduced this January. The Original Musical is developing with commitment from the students and a little help from Bob Kelly, one of our parent volunteers. Gaisce participants are entering the final phase of their journey, and we will begin planning the Adventure Journey in the coming weeks. There are also a number of very creative film and writing projects underway, alongside ingenious costume making, mechanical inventions, sporting exhilaration, dungeons and dragons, chess, sewing, interior decorating, cooking, reading, climbing, muddy play, den building, just chatting with friends, and generally enjoying life.