Silver Award at Xperience Engineering

At the Helix

How to stop rubbish going to Landfill

What can we do to help

§ Recycle glass, cans, and clothes at local ‘bring banks’

§ Use local authority ‘drop off’ facilities for waste oil, batteries or bigger items such as fridges or computers

§ Compost organic waste- about a third of our household rubbish is kitchen and garden waste.

§ Think carefully before buying packaged products.

§ Do not litter.

§ Reduce packaging waste.

ü Buy loose produce where possible

ü Avoid over packaged convenience food

ü Buy in bulk where possible

ü Buy concentrated products where possible

ü Choose products in recyclable materials e.g. paper, glass, aluminium

ü Buy products with recycled material in their packaging

ü Say ‘no’ to plastic bags and reuse those you take

CHOOSE PRODUCTS THAT ARE

§ DURABLE,

§ REPAIRABLE,

§ RECHARGEABLE,

§ RECYCLABE, AND

§ HAVE MINIMAL PACKAGING

What we learned

We learned that throughout history, there were always engineers. If there weren’t any engineers there would not be any phones, game consoles, planes or even boats or ships. Engineers are an important part of our lives.

We learned about the different types of engineers. There are lots of types of engineers. Mechanical engineers, structural engineers, civil engineers and aeronautical engineers.

We learned how to work with K’nex and Meccano. We had lots of fun!

We planned a City of the Future and are more aware of the work engineers do to make the world safer and better.

We learned about landfill sites and how a Mechanical Biological treatment Plant works.

We know lots about Irish inventors and how important their inventions are. We will all be watching to see if the Viking 550 team break the land speed record in 2012. We worked together to write and decorate our ‘A Drop in Time’ story.

We learned about the water cycle and we made a big chart to illustrate the water cycle. We also learn to work together. Over all we learned lots and it was lots of fun!!!

☺A Drop In time!☺

Chapter 1:

June 2020,

One warm balmy day, Barrack Obama was on his second trip to visit Ireland. He was coming to meet with the Irish Taoiseach and congratulate him on how Ireland had overcome their financial downfall, strengthened their banks and now had the strongest economy in the world!

On his long trip across the Atlantic he became thirsty. Conveniently he had a bottle of water to hand. He was about to take a sip when a member of staff bumped into him and he spilt a few drops of water into the Atlantic Ocean below.

A very adventurous drop of water travelled back in time and landed first on a private submarine built by John Philip Holland from Lahinch, Co. Clare. The drop floated onto the submarine and watched as Holland organised the first successful launch of his submarine invention in the year 1897. As the drop rose to sea level the sun started to get warmer and warmer and then the drop began to feel extremely hot.

Chapter 2: Evaporation

The drop turned into vapour and rose into the air above sea level. It was excited to pass the Wright brothers as it evaporated and rose through the warm air just over Big Kill Devil Hill. It was December 17^th 1903 and Wilber and Orville Wright were just flying in Flyer the first plane ever to successfully fly! The raindrop clung to the outside and was carried along through the air.

The drop was really amazed by this. It had never been on an invention like this, and it couldn’t explain what it felt at that moment in time. It rose higher and higher and higher. It gradually cooled as it rose higher and then felt like It was about to freeze.

Chapter 3: Condensation

It started to condense and joined a large cloud. It spotted a nearby plane. Out of nowhere a leather seat flew past it through the cloud at speed. It fleetingly noticed someone sitting in the seat. It sighed with relief because it was only a dummy. The drop had just seen the first testing of the ejector seat. It noticed James Martin jumping for joy on the ground due to the success of his invention in 1946.

Chapter 4: Precipation

Next it froze completely and turned into a snowflake in a large snow cloud. It fell slowly onto the ground. Suddenly a Viking 31 zoomed towards him at phenomenal speed. The snowflake landed on the car. When he came to a turn the snowflake flew off. He had just witnessed the Target 550 team of Marlo Treit and Les Davenport breaking the land speed record (804 km/h) in 2012 on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Snowploughs cleared the track and it was pushed into the drain.

Visit of Senior Environmental Officer from Cork City Council, Nick Bond

Yesterday the 2^nd of June we had a visit from an environmental officer from Cork County Council, Nick Bond. He came to our classroom to take a look at our project and talk to us about the M.B.T. Mr Bond said that he went to see an M.B.T in Germany and Cork County Council planned on building one in Cork but their customer numbers dropped and they sold their waste collection business.

He explained about landfill and waste management and what we can do to help our planet and reduce climate change. He was very impressed with our project. He thought it was a good idea to use our solid fuel recovery to power our drying room and heaters. We explained that after anaerobic digestion, the MBT produces Methane. This can generate electricity. After incineration the ash can be reused for cement and roads. He also told us that we import 6 billion euros worth of oil from south Arabia ever year. He suggested that by using organic materials that come from the M.B.T compost can be made and sold off to be used to cover existing landfill and to gardeners for soil for gardens.

We learnt about how the M.B.T can help with the recession by providing jobs for our fellow Irish people. It is also cheaper than bringing your rubbish to a landfill as it would only be 45 euro to treat for a tonne of rubbish. At the moment, it costs € a tonne to send rubbish to Landfill. Mr. Bond told us about the w.e.e.e ( waste electrical electronic equipment ). after that he looked at the model of the M.B.T and was amazed by the detail of the project .He also told us that brown nappies biodegrade better than white nappies. We asked him questions Like:

How can you make a landfill site into a green park? He said that a thick plastic layer is placed over the rubbish and gases. Then the grass is placed over the plastic and trees are planted.

Could you make the bottle hill site into a M.B.T? He explained that you can but with the recession that it would cost too much.

Where does all your oil from your restraunt go? He told us that a company takes it away and turn it into biodiesel.

Overall we enjoyed our visit from nick bond and have learnt a lot of facts about waste and landfill.

Skipping Workshops!

Skip-Hop will once again visit Scoil Niocláis for a series of skipping workshops from the 16th to 19th of May. Every child (from senior infants upwards) has the opportunity to take part in one of the workshops with their class group. They will learn a selection of moves which include - individual moves, double-dutch, long rope and partner skipping. The last day culminates with a demonstration of skipping skills performed by children chosen from each workshop. A selection of skipping ropes will be available to purchase during the week from the skipping coach.

Short Story Competition Winner: Fabrizio Sforza

Winner of Fifth class short story Competition: Fabrizio Sforza
PEPPINO ONE THUMB
It was towards the end of the Second World War. My Granddad, Peppino, was a ten year old boy living in the south of Italy in a small town with his Mum, Granddad and brother Antonio. Peppino’s father had gone to fight for his country so Peppino went to work in the field’s with his Granddad and his brother every day.
THE GREAT NEWS

It was five in the morning and still dark outside. There wasn’t a single noise. Peppino was lying in bed thinking about his father. I hope he is all right. Is he still alive? Where is he? He wonders. Go to sleep, says Antonio. O-K, SAYS Peppino. he closed his eyes and tried to go sleep…… bang! bang! bang! Peppino got a huge shock and fell out of his bed. “what’s going on!” shouts Antonio. “I think someone is knocking at the door”, says Peppino. Who would be knocking at the door at five in the morning? I don’t know but what else could it be? Bang! bang! bang! “Somebody answer the door!” said a voice outside. “Mum! SOMEONE IS AT THE DOOR!” SHOUTS PEPPINO. PEPPINOS MUM GOT OUT OF BED AND RAN TO THE DOOR. IT WAS LUCA, THEIR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOUR. “DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS? THE WAR IS OVER! MUSSOLINI IS DEAD! THE AMERICANS HAVE ARRIVED!” SHOUTS LUCA. PEPPINOS MUM WRAPPED HER ARMS AROUND LUCA AND THEY STARTED DANCING IN CIRCLES. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A HUGE Rumbling noise. The ground shook. Everyone stopped to listen. Peppino and Antonio ran over to the window. Zoom! zoom! zoom! zoom! Hundreds of American planes roared over their house and a long line of Sherman tanks rumbled down the road. Peppino and Antonio were so amazed that there mouths opened in the shape of an o. wow!



The Americans
At about eleven, Peppino, Antonio and their grandfather went into town to buy bread for lunch. In the town square there were 5 trucks on the road and about 25 soldiers standing talking, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. One soldier called over Peppino and Antonio and gave them each a piece of chocolate. Another soldier gave Peppino a foot- ball to play with his friends. He even learned some English from one of them and even though Peppino is 77 years old, he still remembers the little bit of English he learned when he was 10.
The shell
After buying the bread they had lunch and went to work in the fields with 3 other men. when they were walking home for dinner Peppino ran ahead. Suddenly he stopped. there was something shining on top of a wall. As he got closer he realized that it was made of metal. It was a machine gun shell. He ran over, picked it up and shoved it in his pocket. Then he had to go in for dinner and he couldn’t bring it in so he hid it in the garage. After dinner his mum wouldn’t let him outside again so he had to go to bed. Peppino was lying in bed. Tossing and turning. Wandering what was inside the shell. Be quiet! I’m trying to sleep! Said Antonio. Peppino got out of bed and went downstairs. He tried to sneak past his mum but she caught him. Where are you going? She said. I’m going to the bathroom. He said. Peppino ran into the garage, grabbed the shell and a hammer. He started hammering the shell. 1, 2, 3, bang! The shell exploded and blew Peppinos thumb off.Peppinos mum came running out screaming. She had to bring him to the doctor. Peppino had a huge bandage around his for a few weeks ant that is how he became Peppino One Thumb.

Friendship Week!

As February is International Friendship Month we held a Friendship Week in Scoil Niocláis from 31st of January to 4th of February. Throughout the week we explored the topic of friendship throughout the school in many ways.
One of the most popular activities is the "Secret Friend" for (1st class to 6th class) Each pupil received a “secret friend” for this week. Without revealing this name (to anyone!!), they made a very special effort to do something nice for this person each day for the duration of the week. On Friday (4th of Feb) each pupil “revealed” who their special friend was and accordingly brought in a small treat for them.

First and Second classes drew entered an art competition entitled "My Idea of a Healthy School", Third and Fourth classes wrote "Recipe for Friendship" whilst 5th and 6th classes composed poems entitled "A Friend is Like..."

Recipe for Friendship (winning entry from Laura 4th class)
Ingredients:
A pinch of happiness
2 handfuls of honesty
7 pinches of enjoyment
A bunch of compliments
One teaspoonful of good stories
A dash of smiles
A chunk of jokes
A sprinkling of playfulness
Method:
Fetch a colourful bowl and pour in a little bit of water.
Then put in a bunch of compliments.
After that mash in a chunk of jokes.
Then a sprinkling of playfulness.
Let them all sit together in the fridge for ten minutes.
Add a warm pinch of happiness. While you are putting that in remember all the happiness you've had with your friend.
Make sure you add your enjoyment slowly so you remember all of it.
Then add a dash of smiles in with a handful of honesty and a teaspoonful of good stories.
Mix it well with a nice whisk and there you go....
You're friendship will always be in your heart.

A Friend is Like... (by Erica in 5th Class)

A friend is like an umbrella to shield you from the rain,
A friend is like protection, a cover from the pain,
Friends are like gifts, you can keep on opening,
Friends are like blankets because they are so comforting
Friends are like laughs that stay with you forever
They will stick by you side, so you can always be together.

Choir

Scoil Nioclais choir (5th and 6th classes) are learning "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Down to the River". We have practice on Friday mornings and we are having great fun!

Well Done Laura!

Well Done to laura who won our in-class Christmas Art Competition themed Santa and his Sleigh.

Christmas Art