INTO AND FORSA STRIKE ACTION: Saint Marys Boys' National School will be closed to all students on Wednesday 14th October and Wednesday 21st October 2026. Teachers and SNAs have been directed by their unions, the INTO and FORSA, to participate in a 24 hour strike on Wednesday 14th October and Wednesday 21st October 2026. Due to insufficient staffing levels the school will remain closed on both days.
Hot lunches will be cancelled for both these days.
There will be no after school activities on the 14th of October nor the 21st of October.
Please note on all other days when the school is open there will still be no morning yard supervision. Access to the school yard will be from 08:35 and not 08:25. Children will go to their lines at 08:35 to be collected by their teachers. Teachers will not be participating in after school staff training, nor in before or after school meetings. Core teaching and learning hours in school stay the same; 08:35-14:15.
Should these directives from the unions change we will inform you as soon as we are made aware. The Board of Management.
GRANDPARENTS DAY: We would like to invite you to take part in a very special event in our school community. On Friday October 16th, between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m we ask you to join us in celebrating grandparents and the very important link which exists between school and family life. The boys would love to share their experiences of a modern primary school with their grandparents.This will be an informal event where grandparents can visit their grandsons in their classrooms. While we hope that grandparents will enjoy experiencing the modern classroom, we would also encourage them to share with the class/classes they visit their own school and indeed life experiences. In the past, some grandparents have shared wonderful stories of growing up in a very different time. We are aware that not all grandparents are available or here to visit. Therefore any elderly relatives or friends are most welcome to come along.Light refreshments will be provided in the hall on Grotto Place for the duration of the morning. Pupils from our 6th Class will be on hand to direct our visitors to the classrooms. The schedule for the morning is below. We hope that this will be an enjoyable occasion for all and an opportunity to share with you our school community in a relaxed environment.
10:20 a.m. - 10:40 a.m Visit to Senior Infants
10:40 a.m. - 11:00 a.m Visits to 1st, 3rd & 4th Classes
11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. Visits to Lighthouse 1 and 2, Junior Infants & 2nd Class
11:20 a.m. - 11: 40 a.m. Visits to 5th and 6th Classes
BOOK FAIR FRIDAY 16th OCTOBER: We are delighted to let you know that our annual Book Fair will take place in the school hall on Thursday 15th and Friday 16th October.The boys will already have had an opportunity to browse the selection of books in advance, giving them a chance to see what is available and choose a book they would enjoy reading at home.Parents and boys are welcome to visit the Book Fair at the following times:
Thursday 15th October: 1:15pm – 2:45pm
Friday 16th October (Grandparents' Day): 10:30am – 12:00pm
Friday 16th October: 1:15pm – 2:45pm
The Book Fair is cashless, with payments available either online in advance or on the day by scanning a QR code.
The Book Fair is also a great way to support our school, as 20% of all sales revenue will go directly back to the school.We look forward to seeing lots of families at the Book Fair, particularly during our Grandparents' Day celebrations on Friday. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and to the parents who have volunteered to assist with the running of the Book Fair.
ANSEO ATTENDANCE INITIATIVE: We are delighted that St. Mary’s has been chosen as a pilot school for a new initiative called Anseo. We are one of just 210 schools in Ireland which applied for this initiative that have been selected.This is an attendance tool that is to encourage our pupils to attend school every day and to be on time every day.The school will follow the Multi-Tier model below. We actively encourage all of our pupils to aim to be a part of Tier 1 which is 95% plus school attendance. Please support us in this Anseo initiative by helping your child to attend school every day and to arrive on time every day. Please remember that classes start at 8:35. We will be in touch with any further updates regarding this Anseo initiative.Kind regards,Mr. Briggs, Ms. Hastings & Mr. Gilheaney. Our SAT Team -School Attendance Team.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION AGM THURSDAY 15TH OCTOBER AT 20:00.We would like to inform you that the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of the Parents’ Association will take place in the school on Thursday 15th October 2026 at 8pm. At the AGM we will present the financial accounts and outline the many activities that were undertaken over the past year with the funds that we raised. We have a schedule of events and planned initiatives which we are hoping will raise, at a minimum, the same level of funds as last year. We would invite you to share your suggestions on worthy projects in the school which would benefit from future funding. At the AGM the Parents’ Association Committee for the 2026/2027 academic year will be nominated and elected. New appointees will assume their roles following the AGM. The Parents’ Association is open to all parents and guardians of children enrolled in the school. Its function is to develop an active partnership with the school’s authorities and to represent parents and guardians in the decision-making processes relating to the school for the betterment of the boys’ primary school experience at St. Mary’s Boys National School. We hope that as many of you as possible can join us at the meeting.Thank you for your continued support,St. Mary’s Boys National School Parents Association.
FRÁSAÍ NA MÍOSA/ GAEILGE/ CONTENT LANGUAGE INTEGRATED LEARNING: Más 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. Bob nó Bia./Trick or Treat. 2. Oíche Shamhna atá ann/ It's Halloween Night. 3. Tá na duilleoga ag titim./ The leaves are falling. 4. Conas a fhreagraíonn tu an cheist seo?/ How do you answer this question?
"LÉIGH LIOM IRISH GRADED READING SCHEME: 1st to 6th classes will start their Irish Graded Reading Series called Léigh Liom by Folens. Children who do Irish will get one book a week(minimum) to bring home and read with their parents. There is a QR code on the inside cover of each book, that when scanned brings you to all the booklets. You select the colour coded booklet your child is reading and click on audio to hear the text. There is also advice on the inside back cover of each booklet for parents. Bain triail as agus bain sult as. Try and enjoy. Support for Parents is also at the following link: Léigh Liom Resources for Parents As the reading scheme was quite expensive and will be used by many different students, we ask you to help us ensure that the books are looked after and returned to the class teachers each week in good condition.
HAVE YOUR SAY WHOLE SCHOOL MEETING: The Board of Management wholeheartedly thanks all parents and staff for their attendance and feedback at our school meeting on Wednesday night. It was a very informative evening. As outlined in the guidance documentation sent to all schools the Board of Management will hold a meeting on Wednesday 21st October and will get back to the whole school community before the midterm break. Please see link to Department of Education guidance:Guidance On Engaging With Your Community. Link
3 SCHOOL CLOSURE DATES FOR STAFF TRAINING: We have been notified that Saint Mary's BNS will be closed for three training dates, Thursday 5th November 2026, Friday 22nd January 2027 and on Wednesday June 2nd 2027. Two closures are training days for the Primary Curriculum Framework facilitated by Oide. One is for Language Awareness Training. These training dates are decided by Oide and not the Board of Management nor the school principal. Unfortunately the November date does not coincide with the closure date for Our Lady of Mercy Convent School.A request was put in to have both on the same date and day, but this was not granted by Oide.
PATI PARENT PROGRAMME MODULES 3 & 4: Thank you again for your support with the PATI Parent Programme.The Week 1 recording is now available to registered parents and teachers. PATI will send the recording directly to them using the email address provided when registering for the programme.Parents who register can catch up on Week 1 through the recording and then join the remaining sessions live.Module 4 was postponed on Tuesday 6th October. Details of new dates will be forwarded when known. Parents can register for the full programme for €14.95: An email has already been sent to all parents / guardians with a registration link.
LOTTERY FUNDRAISING WEEKLY DRAW: Great news. Congratulations to this week's winner Tanya. Ethan is in 2nd class. There is always great excitement and rapturous applause in our school assembly as the jackpot winner is announced. Please see the fundraiser link button on our website. It would be hugely appreciated if you can contribute €5 for 3 lines, and you never know you might just win the jackpot. 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.
BÍ CINEÁLTA POLICY TO ADDRESS AND PREVENT BULLYING: Please see link to our Bí Cineálta Policy to address and prevent bullying. It is available on our school website , under the policy tab. See link Bí Cineálta Policy to Address and Prevent Bullying 2026-2027. Link. Parental & student feedback and input is always welcome and can be shared with us at
BOOTERSTOWN CHILDCARE SERVICES: Booterstown childcare service is now firming up 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.