CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU Firstly, we want to begin by congratulating all the boys on their wonderful participation at last night's Confirmation celebration. They were just fantastic and we were so proud of each and every one of them as, no doubt, you were too. From the moment the ceremony began to the very last words spoken with sincerity by Monsignor Ciarán, the boys were so reverent and so engaged in all aspects of the liturgy. Special thanks to Mr O’Keeffe for all his hard work and commitment in preparing the boys at school for last night's celebration and to the choir, under the direction of Ms Smith, supported by Mr Gilheaney for their fantastic singing. We also want to thank you most sincerely, not only for the beautiful bouquets of flowers presented to us at the end of the ceremony, but the most generous vouchers. We are both genuinely humbled by your generosity and thoughtfulness in doing so. Thank you, boys, for your kind words written on the cards.
It was a real pleasure for us to work so closely with the boys and indeed with you as well. As we said at the last preparation meeting, the celebration of Confirmation marks the beginning of the next stage of each of your son’s Faith Journey and one we hope will be strengthened and nurtured with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.We look forward to meeting you all again on Sat the 23rd May at the 6pm vigil Mass back in Booterstown Church when the parish will have an opportunity to celebrate with those confirmed at Mass and afterwards over light refreshments in the Parish Centre.
With renewed thanks and kind regards. Coo and Fiona.
P.S. A huge thank you from all the school community to Coo and Fiona for their incredible dedication, guidance and expertise in overseeing this very very special family and parish occasion.
RETIREMENT OF MRS. BALLANCE It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Mrs. Ballance will be retiring at the end of this academic school year. Mrs. Ballance has worked as a teacher for 40 years in Ireland and England. We have been extremely fortunate in Saint Mary's that Mrs. Ballance worked here for 24 years. She has been a caring, kind, creative, highly dedicated, hardworking, knowledgeable and outstanding teacher throughout mainstream classes and SET. She has been a wonderful Deputy Principal for 10 years, sharing her wisdom and giving steadfast professional and personal support to both Robert O' Connor and Noel Scully, Mrs. Ballance has been a highly supportive, experienced, pragmatic and considered mentor to new teachers. During her tenure in Saint Mary's, she has been an extremely warm, supportive and good-humoured colleague to all our teachers, SNAs, secretaries and caretakers. Mrs. Ballance will be missed by all the boys and parents in Saint Mary's. She is very much appreciated and remembered fondly by all the boys she taught over her 24 years in Saint Mary’s. We also thank her for her 3 years working as co-catechist in the parish of Booterstown. We wish Mrs. Ballance a relaxing, healthy and well deserved retirement with her husband, children, all her family and friends. Comhghairdeachas mór leí. Ádh mór uirthi sa todchaí. Ni bheidh a leithéid arís ann. Míle míle buíochas Mrs. Ballance. The Board of Management and staff of Saint Mary's Boys' National School, Booterstown.
FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATORY MEETING We are looking forward to your son’s First Holy Communion Day which will be celebrated on Saturday the 16th of May, at 12:30 pm in the Church of the Assumption, Booterstown. With that in mind, we want to remind you that the preparatory evening for this celebration will take place on Wednesday next, the 13th of May, at 6pm in the Church. As with the preparation session for First Reconciliation, we ask for one parent/guardian to accompany each of the boys to the session. We look forward to seeing you
NUTTY SCIENTIST SUMMER CAMP July 13th-17th 2026 This summer do not let your kids miss all the fun at the Nutty Scientists Summer Camps. Our summer camps are specially designed “Science Art Workshops” and “Cool Inventions Projects” so kids can learn science-related concepts in a fun and unique way! Let them Step into the shoes of different types of scientists! Every day in this summer camp children will learn science related concepts while pretending to be science professionals. Nutrition, Germs, DNA, Smoke signals, Space Rockets, Ecology, Vacuum Effect, Chemical Reactions, Elephant toothpaste, State of matter, Dry Ice, learn how to make soap & cream, playing with density, Static electricity, how robots work & much more! See link to registration. July 13th-17th 2027 Summer Camp.
SUMMER ART CAMP (29th June - 3rd July) Limited places available to all boys and girls (Junior Infants - 6th class)
FRÁSAÍ NA MÍOSA/ GAEILGE/ CONTENT LANGUAGE INTEGRATED LEARNINGMás féidir libh cabhrú le bhúr bpáiste frásaí na míosa a chleachtadh sa bhaile. / If you can please help your child practise these four Irish phrases of the month. 1.Lá Fhéile Pádraig/ Happy Saint Patrick's Day. 2. Éire Abú. / Victory to Ireland. 3. Beannachtaí na Cásca ort / Happy Easter 4. Buafaidh Eire an Triple Crown,
FUNDRAISING WEEKLY DRAW The winner of this week’s draw was Izabela. Mikey is in 6th and Bradley is om Senior Infants. There is always great excitement and rapturous applause in our school assembly as the winners are announced. Please see the fundraiser link button on our website. Our Fundraiser Link. It would be hugely appreciated if you can contribute €5 for 3 lines, and you never know you might just win! Please pass the word on and invite friends and family. Remember, if you are not in you cannot win. Thank you for your support. The Parents' Association.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2026-2027 An email has been sent out to all parents/ guardians with the school holidays attached. The holiday dates are also available at this link. School Holidays 2026-2027.
TESCO COMMUNITY FUND Saint Mary's BNS has been chosen by Tesco Merrion for inclusion in the store’s Tesco Ireland Community Fund campaign. Members of the Student Council visited the store and had a chance to put a handful of blue tokens towards Saint Mary's BNS. If you are doing your shopping in Tesco Merrion please gave a handful of blue tokens in our box. Please encourage your family, friends and neighbours to do the same. All support is greatly appreciated. We hope that the Community Fund donation we receive will go a long way towards supporting our school.
BOOTERSTOWN CHILDCARE SERVICES Booterstown childcare service is now finalising the bookings for September 2026.Please contact Najwa Mc Guinn on the details below. Very limited places available. Contact 087 3446188.
Kind regards, Noel Scully. Principal.
AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS
All our afterschool activities are up and running. Please note that these afterschool activities are not run by the school, but by independent organisers who are responsible for your child during these lessons. Please liaise directly with the afterschool organiser if you have any concerns regarding times, dates, costs, health & safety, child safeguarding, lesson cancellations etc.
GAELIC FOOTBALL/ HURLING & SOCCER: Junior and Senior teams will be notified of training days and match days and locations by their teacher coaches .
SCIENCE CLUB: Thursdays.13:15-14:10- Junior & Senior Infants. 14:15-15:10. There is a new booking system in place on the We Love Science website: If you have any queries at all, please
Homework Club: Monday to Thursday 2:15pm to 3:15pm - (3rd to 6th Class only) Contact Sam Briggs on
After School Sports: Mondays 2:15pm to 3:15pm (1st -6th class only) Aoife Cartwright. CONTACT
Spanish: Thursdays. 1st to 6th classes from 2:15 to 3:10. Please contact
Johnny's After School Club: Johnny’s After School Sports for Junior and Senior Infants https://signup.com/go/otqbDQv. After School Sports for 1st - 6th class. Thursdays You can click on the link below to sign up .1st - 6th class. https://signup.com/go/qfaMxde
Alto School of Music: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays. Piano, violin, ukulele and guitar. Contact Anna on
Art: Tuesdays . For Junior & Senior Infants please contact
Chess: An email has been sent out to all parents via Aladdin with more details and the registration link.