INTO AND FÓRSA STRIKE ACTION: The unions, INTO and FORSA, have agreed with other public sector unions to withdraw labour during a 24 hour strike action on Thursday 12th November. The unions' industrial action which commenced on 5th of October will continue until further notice, but will be escalated from Monday November 16th. Currently, union members have been advised to continue non-co-operation with Croke Park Hours and refrain from attending staff meetings and formal parent/teacher meetings outside of school hours.Please note under continued industrial action 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.
SAINT MARYS BNS SCHOOL CLOSED THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER: Just to let you know that Saint Mary's BNS will be closed on Thursday 12th November due to the planned Public Sector Strike Action. In the event that the strike is called off Saint Mary's BNS will still be closed for a staff training day a on the New Primary Curriculum scheduled and facilitated by Oide.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION: 2nd class parents are invited to attend a parent information evening on Thursday the 12th of Nov at 7.00 pm in the Parish Centre. The meeting should last approximately 45 minutes when we will explain in greater detail all about our role in the preparation of your children, how you can help them at home and the link between the church, home and school in the preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.We look forward to meeting you all on Thursday the 12th Nov and thereafter at the various events and celebrations to mark this special year in their lives.Fiona Henry and Noel Scully, Shared Catechists, Booterstown Parish. An email has already been sent via Aladdin with more details.
CONFIRMATION: Thnak you for the great turn out at the Confirmation evening on Tuesday 3rd November. A registration email has been sent out to all 6th class parents and a list of dates to put in your diary regarding Confirmation enrolment , Know Your Church guided visit, The Service of Light dates and Confirmation dates. Please note that the deadline for registration for Confirmation is Monday 30th November 2026. The registration details have been shared with 6th class parents via Aladdin.
HEALTH & SAFETY CONCERN : We ask all parents and grandparents not to drive their cars up Grotto Place & Grotto Avenue at drop off and collection times during the school day. There are many children and parents on Grotto Place and Avenue at these very very busy times. We do not want an accident to happen. In the interest of safety for all, please park your car on the Rock Road or at the DART station and collect your child from the school gates.
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 regularly discussed in class
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.
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. Log on to their website for more details.
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. Cuir ort do chóta/ Put on your coat. 2. Tá an aimsir an fhuar./ The weather is very cold. 3. Is maith liom seacláid the a ól. / I like to drink hot chocolate. 4. Tá sé níos dorcha níos luaithe. / It's darker earlier.
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.
LOTTERY FUNDRAISING WEEKLY DRAW: Great news. Congratulations to last week's winner Janet C. and this week's winner Ms O Dea. 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 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. 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.