For the past long number of years, Scoil Mhuire has hosted a Summer Programme for our pupils in Rainbow, our children on the autism spectrum. Over the course of the four weeks of July, our Rainbow pupils continue to attend school each day, engaging in a wide range of fun learning activities. The Rainbow Summer Programme is staffed by a team of experienced teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs), many of whom work in Scoil Mhuire all year round. The work pace for pupils is gentler with lots of indoor and outdoor activities.
In 2021, with the support of Department of Education funding, Scoil Mhuire extended its Summer Programme to include pupils from mainstream classes who would enjoy and benefit from attendance at school and participation in our Busykids Camp and Whizzkids Camp. Again, these camps are staffed by experienced teachers and SNAs. Our pupils enjoy a wide variety of fun learning experiences including art & crafts, baking and outdoor games.
During this programme our pupils experienced a range of creative and exciting activities.
Maths stations included:
– shopping on the Aldi catalogue using chrome books for our class party
– construction: building structures using spaghetti and marshmallows
– multiplication maths board games (snakes and ladders, connect 4, Mathopoly)
– construction using newspaper and cellotape 
Literacy / Baking in class (procedures)
– Rice Krispie buns
– Rocky Road
– pizza wraps
Science/literacy:
– making gloop/ Oobleck
– book Creator (story creations on devices)
– oral language mini-game stations (e.g. word snap, 5 second rule, UNO, connect 4, Guess Who & Headbanz)
– A trip to the local library where we engaged in many games and activities that promoted problem solving, team work and oral communication.
Drama:
– games
– puppet shows
– Singwell with Trish Goggins
PE/outdoor fun: 
– football
– obstacle courses
– parachute
– playground time
– Yoga
– trips to the local playground
– bouncy castle
– daily track walks.
Preparing and making meals and even taking ingredients home to share the experience:
– Banana Bread
– pasta bake dishes
– smoothies
We also enjoyed a range of other activities for example:
– art activities including painting, colouring, sticking and glueing, printing etc.
– daily sensory tray experiences
– visit to Playzone
– themed learning experiences taught daily through Attention Autism, songs with actions, puzzles, and stories.
– A visitor from the local library came in to read stories to our pupils.
We had great fun with an outdoor disco and on our final day the Summer Programme pupils come together and really enjoy our barbecue and refreshments with our Principal – Mrs McKiernan, Deputy Principal – Mr McDermott, and all the staff team.
If you think that your child may benefit from participation in our Summer Programme, please contact Scoil Mhuire directly. Please note that the hosting of our Summer Programme each year is dependent on the availability of Department of Education funding and on the securing of qualified and experienced staff.
