GRANDPARENTS DAY: It was wonderful to see so many grandparents on Grandparents' Day. The boys loved sharing their experiences of learning in a modern primary school classroom. The boys loved sharing all their classroom, their work , their chromebooks, their interactive boards, their digital literacy skills and asking you questions. We hope that all grandparents enjoyed experiencing the modern classroom. It was fascinating for the boys when grandparents shared their stories of growing up in Ireland during very different times and what their school experience was like. Your feedback to the boys and teachers was so warm, heartfelt and joyous. It made our day. We hope you all had as an enjoyable Grandparents' Day as we all did.
CHILD SAFEGUARDING & RISK ASSESSMENT DRAFT. PARENT FEEDBACK SOUGHT: The first draft of our Child Safeguarding and Risk Assessment Policy was sent to all parents via email on the 15th October. We would love your feedback. Our Child Friendly Safeguarding poster was also shared. The Student Council has placed a copy of this poster in every classroom & SET room in the school. The poster and the child safeguarding DLP-Designated Liaison Person and DDLP-Deputy Designated Liaison person are regulary discussed in class assemblies. Please submit all feedback by Wednesday November 4th 2026.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION, FIRST RECONCILIATION AND CONFIRMATION: An email has been sent with a letter from Monsignor Ciarán O Carroll to all parents/ guardians in 2nd class and 6th class with the complete details regarding meeting dates, sacrament dates, preparation dates and registration details and deadlines for Confirmation, First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation. Please read carefully and put the relevant dates for your child in your diary. Please note that the deadline for registration for Confirmation and First Holy Communion is Monday 30th November 2026.
INTO AND FÓRSA STRIKE ACTION: Saint Marys Boys' National School will be closed 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 21st October 2026. Hot lunches have been cancelled for the 21st of October. There will be no after school activities. 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.
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. Please see below an outline of last night's AGM. The presentations and the minutes of the AGM have been forwarded to all via Aladdin. The principal outlined the role of the PA, establishing a PA, the need for the PA to have a constitution, to join the National Parents Council and also the need for the PA to have insurance. The principal also outlined that it is important that the PA voice & the voice of parents is heard regarding school policies such as Child Safeguarding and Risk Assessment, Bi Cineálta Anti Bullying. The principal also outlined the fundraising role the PA has and that the PA should have 2 persons looking after the PA account and that a copy of their annual income and expenditure is sent to the BOM. The treasurer for 2025-2026, outlined the income and expenditure for 2025 and 2026, where the money came from and how it was spent and the final balance. A second PA member outlined what our PA is all about, its main income streams for 2025-2026 ,other PA activities during 2025-2026, ways parents can help the PA and PA planned initiatives for 2026-2027. A new chairperson, secretary and treasurer were elected. The next meeting is Thursday 5th November at 20:00. The main focus of the meeting will be the Christmas Fair.
CTYI DCU: CENTRE FOR TALENTED YOUTH: CTYI provides courses for primary school students between the ages of 6-12, with availability varying by location. These courses are designed to stand outside the mainstream school curriculum but also provide enrichment of this curriculum. Courses have a strong academic element, with a faster pace which gifted and talented students feel more comfortable moving at and with content students are unlikely to have accessed via school before. Our courses are delivered by lecturers, researchers, practitioners and highly able postgraduate students in the relevant fields, they feature highly interactive environments and our tutors utilise a broad range of teaching techniques to engage students' curiosity, motivation and understanding of the subject material.EligibilityStudents wishing to participate in our Primary School Programme must first demonstrate high academic ability. This can be achieved through either the Young Student Assessment or by submission of an Educational Psychologist's report. For further info, please click CTYI Link
FRÁSAÍ NA MÍOSA/ GAEILGE/ CONTENT LANGUAGE INTEGRATED LEARNING: Más féidir libh cabhrú le bhúr bpáiste frásaí na míosa a cleachtadh 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 Engagaing With Your Community.
3 SCHOOL CLOSURE DATES FOR STAFF TRAINING: We have been notified that Saint Mary's BNS will be closed for three training dates, Thursday 12th 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 : An additional date for the PATI programme has been confirmed for Tuesday 3 November at 7.00pm, following the postponement earlier this month. Already registered? Your existing Zoom registration covers this additional session, so there's no need to register again. Webinars 1 and 2 recordings were shared via Aladdin.
LOTTERY FUNDRAISING WEEKLY DRAW: Great news. Congratulations to this week's winner Caroline.. Niall 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.