06 February 2012

Friendship Day 2012

As part of our Learn Together /Ethical Education Programme our whole school celebrated Friendship Day on 3rd February this year.

After assembly the senior children buddied up with the infant children and all joined hands to form a  Human Friendship Bracelet outside in our school garden.  The whole school had learned the song ‘Friends Forever’ and the sound of over 150 children singing this song together was simply amazing.

We also planted a cherry blossom tree on the day to symbolise friendship.  Asked why a tree is a good symbol of friendship the children replied that it symbolises strength, nurturing, sharing, protection, blossoming and growth.

During the week the children participated in a ‘Friendship is…..’ art competition.  Their work is inspiring and thought provoking and shows how meaningful friendship is for the children of our school.  Each morning of the week leading up to Friendship Day some children got the opportunity to read their own friendship poems to the  whole school over the intercom.  A child also read out our friendship quote of the week ‘The only way to make a friend is to be one‘ .  Classes read many friendship stories and got involved in lots of friendship activities.

We have been learning all about human rights recently so we supported Amnesty International this year by selling friendship bracelets on Friendship Day.  This activity helped the children to become actively involved in helping Amnesty Intl to provide shelter for the street children of Guatemala.  We are very proud to say that we raised 400 euro.  Thanks to all parents and friends who supported us.

We would like to invite all parents and friends to come and admire the wonderful art work created by the children.  Well done everyone!

 

Friendship is……..

Human Friendship Bracelet

Friendship is sharing your skipping rope (Miranda, Senior Infants)

 

you gotta be a friend to make new friends

You gotta sing along with your best friends

You gotta have fun with your best friends

You have the world around you every time you smile at people

And they smile back!  (Adam, 1st Class)

 

Make new friends, keep the old,

One is silver and the other gold,

a circle is round, it has no end

that’s how long I will be your friend (Emily, 1st Class)

 

Friendship is about having fun, fun is friends and friends are the best thing in the world (Sam, 1st Class)

 

Friendship is when you have a friend that you can rely on. The best person who can cheer you up is your friend.  (Audrey 2nd Class)

 

Friendshp is fun, Friendship is caring,

It doesn’t matter if you are big or small

Or even if you and your friend are in a different class.

Without friends you would be lonely,

Smile, giggle, play if you have friendship,

Friendship is fun, Friendship is caring. (Madeleine, 2nd Class)

 

Good friends always stay until the end (Ava, 2nd Class)

 

Friendship is about being kind.

It is blue and pink

It tastes strong and sweet

It smells like flowers,

It  feels soft and fluffy

It sounds like peaceful music (Rob, 2nd Class)

 

Friendship gives you love and joy

Doesn’t matter if you’re a girl or boy

It’s Friendship – let’s work together! (Asha, 3rd Class)

 

Friendship is having someone to play with while you’re at school, or maybe feeling lonely.  A good friend will always be there for you if you are feeling sad. (Nova, 3rd Class)

 

Friendship is like a bird that flies in the air, knowing they are always there

Come over, then I’ll come over too.  When last did I play with you?

Friendship gets stronger every day like a flower in a day,

All I really want to say is that friendship is wonderful –

It makes you feel good. (Agnes, 4th Class)

 

I’ll always be beside you until the very end,

wiping all your tears away,

being your best friend.

I’ll smile when you smile, and feel the pain you feel,

and if you shed a single tear,

I promise I’ll cry too! (Evelina, 5th Class)