Morning Kilvemnon! Well here I am meeting Pooh. Pooh is a special bear who has travelled all the way from South Africa to see me! Sarietjie Musgrave from South Africa has two beautiful daughters, Emma, and Zeldi. Pooh Bear is part of their family! He is such a friendly bear. I hope that I will meet Pooh again sometime soon.
I stopped in on the LEGO stand again today! (Just couldn't keep away!) They have a new programming system fo ryounger children that would be amazing to use in the Junior Room. It is called WE DO Robotics. It uses much the same LEGO pieces but with different motors.
Here you can see me learning how to use the WE DO Robotics Programming system. I am having so much fun!
Afterwards, myself and Ms. O' Connell met a bee from a company called Brain Honey.
The best part of our trip to Washington so far has to be the trip to the Library of Congress. I got a golden ticket to attend and of course Ms. O' Connell had to come along as a chaperone!
The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, maps and manuscripts in its collections.
It is the most beautiful building I have ever seen in my short pig life!!
Learn more about the Library of Congress here.
For loads of fun activities on the Library of Congress, click here.
Below you can see some of the photos I took on Ms. O' Connell's camera.
Another fascinating day in Washington!
Today we left the hotel at 6.45am. Myself and Ms. O Connell took part in a Panel Session talk with Dan from England, Andrew from Australia, Sarietjie from South Africa and Nathan from New Zealand.
David Walddon from Microsoft was the moderator.
Here you can see all the Microsoft Innovative Teachers together before the talk. I will post up a podcast of the talk later- Ms. O Connell needs my help to edit it!
We talked to a full room of teachers and administrators about the work that we did with all of the students in Kilvemnon over the past few years. They were so impressed that you were all working away and logging on to the blog over the summer holidays. You are all so dedicated!
Afterwards we visited the exhibits downstairs and guess what? LEGO had a stand. I learned how to data log colours on the new NXT. I can't wait to show you all when we get home.
Afterwards we visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum right here in Washington. Ms. O' Connell told me that you had emailed to make sure we visited the Wright Brothers Flyer.
Above you can see me sitting on a real piece of moon rock! It is just inside the door of the Smithsonian.
Next we visited the REAL Wright Brothers Flyer. This is the actual machine used in the first flight. in 1985 they changed the canvas on the Flyer it had become damaged. It had been built in 1903 after all!
The Red Baron would love to see this! Wouldn't he?
Check out this link to see inside the Air and Space Museum and around Washington in the new Night at the Museum Film: http://www.nightatthemuseummovie.com/ The Flyer has a huge part in it!
Rockets verywhere at the Smithsonian!
Find out more about the Smithsonian here.
This is me visiting the Korean War memorial. It is a really powerful memorial. America fought in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.
Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Virginia is a military cemetery in the United States, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna (Custis) Lee, a descendant of Martha Washington. The cemetery is situated directly across the Potomac from Washington, DC and near The Pentagon.
More than 300,000 people are buried in an area of 624 acres.
What an exciting day! Is there anything else you woould like myself and Ms. O Connell to visit?
Tomorrow evening we have been invited to the Library of Congress for a reception. We are so excited. The Library of Congress is very famous and is not normally open to the public. I will wear a clean uniform for the night and will make sure to clean my trotters for the event!!
can you find out more about the Library of Congress for me before I go?
See you soon,
Piggley.
PS. Great to hear all the positive comments from Kilvemnon and beyond! Keep them coming!
Today was a very exciting day for me! Guess where I visited!! That's it- the White House! For more than 200 years, the White House has been more than just the home of the Presidents and their families. Throughout the world, it is recognized as the symbol of the President, of the President's administration, and of the United States. Learn more about the White House at this address; http://www.whitehouse.gov/
All the teachers were excited to see the White House; Andrew Douch, Australia, Nathan Kerr, New Zealand, Mariella Paz, El Salvador, Dan Roberts, England, Ms. O' Connell and myself and Ronald Ddungu, Uganda.
I met a squirrel outside the White House. It is an American Red Squirrel. They eat the seeds of pine cones and are as known Pine Squirrels and Chickarees.
When Barack Obama heard that myself and Ms. O' Connell were in town he had to come and meet us! What an honour! We told him all about your great work on aviation. He was so impressed!
Here are all teachers who are Microsoft Innovative Teacher Winners this year.
Hello everyone!
Well, I had such an interesting day today. Myself and Ms. O Connell were up early and left the hotel at 8.30am for the Microsoft Reston Campus. We had a lovely breakfast with all of our friends from Hong Kong. Here you can see me sitting up at the desk enjoying a juice.
It was hot today but the forecast for tomorrow is for it to be even hotter. It will be mostly sunny in the morning...then mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s.(F) Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 20 percent.
I don't understand the Farenheit temperature. Could someone please tell me what 80 degrees Farenheit is in Celcius? Thanks!!
Hello boys and girls, I'm off on my travels again!
This time Microsoft have invited me out to Washington to take part in the NECC (The National Education and Computing Conference.)
I left Dublin with Ms. O' Connell at 12.30pm on Friday the 26th of June on Aer Lingus Flight EI119. We flew in an Airbus A330 called the St. Colmcille.
Here you can see me on the plane relaxing and listening to music.
Ms. O' Connell lent me her sunglasses so I could get some shut eye.
We arrived in Washington at 3.30pm (local time). Who knows what the time difference is between Ireland and Washington?
We are staying at the Sheraton Reston which is on 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston. That's in the state of Virginia.
Here you can see me taking a well earned break after my long flight!
We met all of the other teachers that won at the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Forum in Hong Kong. They were all asking for you in Kilvemnon.
I went to bed early last night as we have an early start in the morning . We are visitng the local Microsoft offices at 8.30am on Saturday morning. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone there.
Stay tuned for more updates and don't forget to email me!!
Oink!
Piggley.
Today we went to the top of Carraigmoclear with Mr. Rickie Sheehan to learn about the Rebellion that happened there in 1798.
We were joined by some of our parents and two of the new Junior Infants for next year came with us too. We really enjoyed the trip!
Thank you Mr. Sheehan.
Learning about the Cross on top of Carraigmoclear
C'mon Piggley! 
Learning lots!!
Hello there!
Starting the trip!!
We recorded the Theme Tune to the series 'Monkey Magic' as part of our film, 'The Birth of the Monkey King'. Click on posts and choose 'Monkey Magic' to listen...
Subscribe Free for future posts Add this player to my Page
Director and Camera Man work with the Old Monkey
Getting ready to film
Chinese Opera Face Paint
What's that coming from the Rock?
Old Monkey gets his face on!
Monkeys everywhere!
Learning the ropes
Monkey Magic!
Click on the Player to hear our National anthem.
Amhrán na bhFiann" in Irish or "The Soldier's Song" in English is the national anthem of Ireland.
The music was composed by Peadar Kearney and Patrick Heeney, and the original English lyrics were authored (as "A Soldier's Song") by Kearney.
It is usually sung in the Irish language, translation made by Liam Ó Rinn.
The song has three verses, but the national anthem consists of the chorus only.
Subscribe Free for future posts Add this player to my Page
Irish version
Amhrán na bhFiann
Sinne Fianna Fáil,[fn 1]
atá faoi[fn 2] gheall ag Éirinn,
Buíon dár slua
thar toinn do ráinig chughainn,
Faoi mhóid bheith saor
Seantír ár sinsear feasta,
Ní fhágfar faoin tíorán ná faoin tráill.
Anocht a théam sa bhearna baoil,
Le gean ar Ghaeil, chun báis nó saoil,[fn 3]
Le gunna scréach faoi lámhach na bpiléar,
Seo libh canaig amhrán na bhFiann
English version:
The Soldier's Song
Soldiers are we,
whose lives are pledged to Ireland,
Some have come
from a land beyond the wave,
Sworn to be free,
no more our ancient sireland,
Shall shelter the despot or the slave.
Tonight we man the "bearna baoil",[fn 4]
In Erin’s cause, come woe or weal,
’Mid cannon’s roar and rifles’ peal,
We’ll chant a soldier’s song
We have recorded our own synopsis of the novel; 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' by John Boyne.
This work was undertaken by 5th and 6th class students.
Click on posts on the player and choose 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.'
Subscribe Free for future posts Add this player to my Page
Leonardo Da Vinci was an Italian polymath. Born in Florence on April 15 1452 ,Leonardo was a scientist,mathematician,engineer,inventor,anatomist, painter,sculptor,architect,botanist,musician and writer. Leonardo was famous for his drawings the "Mona Lisa" and "The last supper". He was also famous for his inventions like the "Codex of the birds" I will tell you about it......
Leonardo bought some caged birds at the market and set them free, he watched the way they flew. He thought of an invention and drew it unfortual his inventions never flew. Leonardo Da Vinci died on the 2nd of May 1519. Only 15 of his painting survived and after his death his paintings were admired.
By Smiley
Plover Hill was at the upper end of the long valley through which the black water river flowed.Old Dan Flaherty lived on Plover Hill by himself.His grandson John lived in the village of Clooney.John's father was a carpenter,he lived in the last house on the block.He worked very hard.
John and his grand father were great friends and they both loved Plover Hill.Plover Hill was'nt very BIG most of it was covered in hill's,tree's and low bush's.Blue bell's,primroses and buttercups grow in spring and in the early summer foxgloves in between the bush's.When the evenings glowed with warm light John liked these night's
the best,when Old Dan sat under the stars.
Chapter one by Eilis Dillon;
hapter one is about Tom Connolly wanting to buy Plover Hill.One day John was off shopping with his mom in Connolly's shop and he offered to buy Plover Hill.ON the way home John's mom said"was'nt kind of Tom Connolly to offer to buy Plover Hill".
When they got over to tell Old Dan about the offer he was really mad.He said"I'm not
leaving Plover Hill,I was born here so I'm going to die here".Old Dan has never lived anywere else except on his travels.
John's mom had eleven children altogether and his dad had to work very hard to look
after his family.
On May the 11th at 2:15 all the girls in the senior room in Kilvemnon played against the girls from Cloneen school. It was really sunny and a great day to play a match. We found out that the girls from Cloneen school were fairly strong. But we played our best and got a good score. In the end Cloneen school won but we were just about even. We played in football.
By Smiley.
John lives on Plover hill with old Dan. Tom Connolly wants to buy old Dan land but Dan wants to die there. Mr.Kelly wants to come up to plover in the summer to teach John and Dan because they think it`s a good idea. John always walks around the woods.Once he went down to the woods and then he saw a man. It was Tom Connolly.He had a gun.John almost swallowed his though. Dan said "what`s up". "They is a big man down in the woods. He is doing murder." OLD DAN said: "he will if we don't stop him." Old Dan ran down the hill and jumped on the hunters back and said:"stop!"
Character profile: John is very nice too! He always loved Plover Hill and he loved it even more when he went to live in it. He loved it when and had lots of healthy food from the cows, sheep, ducks and hens. He wanted to take over the farm when old Dan thought he was ready. He is very ready! He wanted to steal all Connolly's guns and break his stuff. But Old Dan would not let him.
Friday the 24th of May was the National GAA Schools Day to commemorate the 125th anniversary ofthe foundation of the GAA. Click on the player and choose GAA Schools Day to listen to a podcast created by our students that explains all they learned about the GAA on the day and how it was marked in Kilvemnon.
Subscribe Free for future posts Add this player to my Page
On the 01/04/2009 James Carroll came in to talk to us about his award.His friend Micheal always wanted for him to work at PAWS.
So when Micheal passed away he worked as memory of his friend.
He got lots of awards for it.
James worked at PAWS for four years.
James is an inspiration to us all.
Two people came to our school today. Their names were Fr.Matthew and Breda Kennedy. They were talking about Africa and I would say it would be class to go to Africa, but I would say it would be dangerous. It takes nearly 8 hours to get to Africa from Ireland. Fr. Matthew is from Tanzania and all his family got to go to school. They were very lucky because most of the children in Africa didn't get to go to school. One euro is worth about 2,000 Tanzanian shillings. Also in most places in Africa don't have electricity.
We are hoping to help Fr. Matthew by sponsoring a child from the Pallottine Mission. Fr. Matthew is in Thurles in the Pallottine college since 2007.
We learned so much from talking to him today.
Thank you Breda and Fr. Matthew.
Posts
All Comments
