FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CEREMONY & PREPARATION SESSION:We would like to remind you that the preparation session for the First Communion group takes place on Monday 22nd May, at 6.30pm in the church. Each child should be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
The parish looks forward to celebrating your child’s special day with you as a family on Saturday 27th May, at 11a.m. We also remind you that the families are invited back to Sunday Mass on 28th, at 11am, and to hospitality afterwards in the Pastoral Centre.
County Photos will visIt the school on Monday 29th May to take First Communion & 2nd class photos. 2nd class will have a class party to celebrate on Monday also. The PA will order pizzas and the school will supply drinks and snacks.
ACTION TEAM PARTNERSHIP/ PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS IRELAND: PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS :
The ATP-Action Team Partnership- had its final meeting on Wednesday 24/5/2025. The ATP agreed to continue to implement & embed the two academic goals of Digital Literacy and Gaeilge through Content Language Integrated Learning. The ATP also agreed that the Behavioural Goal for 2023-2024 would be the promotion of Positive Behaviour and Wellbeing in Saint Mary's BNS. The climate of partnership goal will be the selection of new nominees for the ATP and continued targetting of the goals above. A heartfelt thank you from the Board of Management to the parent nominees, community nominees, student nominees and teacher nominees on the Action Team Partnership. Your collaboartive knowledge , commitment, investment and teamwork is very much acknowledged and appreciated by all in Saint Mary's.
INCOMING JUNIOR INFANT CLASSES INFORMATION DAY 16-6-2023: A letter will be posted out on Monday regarding an Information Day for incoming Junior Infant parents and an afternoon when Junior Infants will meet their new teacher in their new classroom. Please keep the date of Friday June 16th free. There will be a presentation from the National Parents' Council and from the Junior Infant teachers in the morning and the incoming Junior Infants may wear their new uniform and visit their new classrooms in the afternoon. All information is in the letter.
"JOKE DAY " STUDENT COUNCIL : The Student Council organised another "Joke Day" last Friday afternoon. There were belly laughs alround as each class submitted their winning joke. This left the Student Council with the very difficult decision to pick a winner. After lots of discussion and debate the winning joke , from a boy in 2nd class was , "Why does a golfer wear two pants? In case he gets a hole in one. "
MULTICULTURAL DAY: Multiculural Day will be on Friday June23rd. More details to follow in the coming weeks.
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT AGREED REPORT MAY 2023: Please see link to Board of Management Agreed Report May 2023. BOM Report May 2023
PRIMARY CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK:Please see link below to the new Primary Curriculum Framework and FAQs. The framework was recently launched in March 2023.
LOST & FOUND TROLLEY : With the good weather there has been an increase in jackets & jumpers left on the school yard and unclaimed. Many are not labelled. The Lost & Found trolley is located in the communal area accessed through Door 3. 2nd to 6th class students should be able to retrieve lost clothing independently. Parents/ guardians of Junior Infants to 1st classes can access the trolley in the afternoons when collecting their child. Can we please remind you to clearly label all your child's clothing.
DATA PROTECTION COMMISSION -GUIDES FOR PARENTS : The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has recently published four short guides for parents on children’s data protection rights under the GDPR. These guides are intended to help parents to understand their children’s rights and to answer questions that can arise in typical situations where those rights apply. The DPC has asked schools to share these guides. This will help to ensure that more parents have the opportunity to read them and learn about their children’s data protection rights. The DPC hopes that these guides will also be useful to educators and anyone interested in children’s safety and wellbeing online. More details have been forwarded via Aladdin.
The English version can be found on the DPC website by clicking on the following links. I have included more information on each of the guides below:
SUMMER PROGRAMME 2023: HOME BASED PROGRAMME: Saint Mary's is not in a position to provide the school based programme this summer. However, a home-based summer programme is available for children with complex special educational needs. The allocation of hours is 10 per week for four weeks, where a student is eligible and their school is not participating in a school-based programme or is not in a position to offer the student a place on a school-based programme. There is also a small group allocation programme, up to a maximum of 3 children.
Please see link: Summer Programme 2023 : Home Based Programme.
An email has been forwarded to all parents/ guardians via Aladdin with more details.
SAFE CROSS CODE & PARKING CARS: Can we ask all parents and children to use the pathways walking up to the school. Please remind your child when coming into Grotto Avenue that they walk across the road carefully and check that there is not traffic entering or exiting Grotto Avenue. Please remind all children to use the designated pathways entering and exiting the school grounds. Staff and neighbours need to drive up Grotto Avenue and Grotto Place in the mornings and afternoons, so please use the pathways provided.We continue to ask you not to park your cars in front of our neighbours’ driveways at any time during the school day.
COUNTY PHOTOS: FIRST COMMUNION PHOTOS:County Photos will visit Saint Marys on Monday May 29th to take First Communion Photos. An email with an attached flyer has been forwarded to 2nd class parents.
THE CHOIR OF SAINT BARTHOLOMEW’S CLYDE ROAD: is now recruiting boys aged 6-10 for their choir.If you think your child is interested please contact the Director of Music, Ben Barnes: telephone 087 782 5705 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. An email with attached flyer has already been forwarded to all parents/ guardians via Aladdin.
SOCIAL MEDIA/ GAMING SAFETY: please see link to our school website and Twitter account with advice from Webwise and Internet Matters on the following topics: Saint Marys Booterstown Website
- Social Media Tips for Parents
- Gaming: Play it safe.
- Fortnite: What Parents Need to Know.
- Minecraft: Step by Step Guide to help keep kids safe.
- Broadband and network provider internet controls
- Online Safety
GREEN SCHOOL COMMITTEE: SERIES 2. EPISODE 2. "FAIRTRADE CHOCOLATE "
As part of our application for the Green School Flag for "Global Citizenship -Energy" the Green School Committee has made two series of videos. Congratulations to the Green School Committee which has done superb creative and original work on scripting , acting, producing and recording their videos.
Series 1 looks at all the ways we can save energy in our school . Series 2 looks at Fairtrade. Over the coming weeks we will share these videos with the whole school community. Enjoy.
SAINT MARYS CLOSED FRIDAY 2nd JUNE 2023: STAFF CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Saint Marys School will be closed on Friday 2nd June 2023.This is to facilitate required staff training on the Primary Language Curriculum and the new Primary Curriculum Framework. Please note that Saint Marys is also closed on the 5th and 6th of June and will reopen on Wednesday 7th June.
FRÁSAÍ NA MÍOSA/ GAEILGE/ CONTENT LANGUAGE INTEGRATED LEARNING: Más féidir libh cabhrú le bhúr bpáiste frásaí na míosa a chleachtadh sa bhaile. 1. Sár iarracht. 2. Caith isteach. 3. Cic amach/ Cic saor. 4. Tabhair dom.........más é do thoil é.
SAVE THE DATE: PA FUNDRAISING QUIZ. THURSDAY JUNE 1st : The PA will be hosting a fundraising table quiz on Thursday evening June 1st in the Punchbowl. More details to follow near the time. Please save the date in your diary.
Kind regards,
Noel Scully.
Principal