PARENTS' ASSOCIATION AGM: The Parents' Association AGM will be held on Thursday the 19th of October at 19:30 in the school. Please pencil it into your diary. We really welcome and appreciate all your support. You may wish to look at our PA tab on our school website. Please see link to NPC-National Parents Council for more information regarding the role of the Parents’ Association. National Parents Council and a link to a document on our school website called, Working Effectively as a Parents Association.
FRIENDS OF SAINT MARYS FUNDRAISING: We thank the Parents’ Association for sharing information on Friends of St Mary’s, the PA’s main fundraising scheme and we encourage all parents/ guardian to join the Friends of Saint Mary’s fundraising draw. Please see the link for same. Friends of Saint Mary's Brochure
ADMISSIONS 2024-2025: Saint Mary's BNS will start accepting admissions for 2024-2025 on Monday 2nd October. Online admission applications will be live from that date. The closing date is Friday November 10th. Please see our Notice of Admissions, our Admissions Policy and our school Code of Behaviour on our school website for more information. Admissions 2024-2025 and the admissions form at this link. Enrol Now
SACRAMENTS 2023-2024: Please see the dates below for sacraments for 2023-2024. If you have a child receiving a sacrament can you please put the relevant dates in your diary. More details will follow nearer to the time from the parish.
Tuesday 27 February: Service of Light at 7.30 pm
Thursday 7 March: First Confession at 7 pm
Friday 26 April: Confirmation at 12 Noon
Saturday 11 May: First Holy Communion at 12 Noon
SPANISH AFTERSCHOOL CLASSES: Olé School of Languages will start Spanish classes on Thursday 19th October . An email was sent out to all parents/guardians this week. These Spanish aim to be fun,productive and promote awareness of language and culture. Through games, songs, drama, and art projects, their native and professional teachers aim to teach the basics to communicate in the chosen language, as well as awaken a curiosity to discover a new culture. They will begin Spanish classes in St Mary’s BNS on Thursday, 19th October. For any further questions, contact Cristina @ ✆ +353857884001 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
FRÁSAÍ NA MÍOSA/ GAEILGE/ CONTENT LANGUAGE INTEGRATED LEARNING: Más féidir libh cabhrú le bhúr bpáiste frásaí na míosa a chleachtadh sa bhaile. 1. Bob nó bia. 2. Iarracht Mhaith. 3. Déan do dhícheall. 4. An bhfuil tú in ndáiríre?
CLUICHÍ GAEILGE DO PHÁISTÍ PADLET: Fantastic interactive padlet with lots of Irish language games for all levels. Cluichí Gaeilge do pháisti ar fáil anseo.
CHILD SAFEGUARDING & RISK ASSESSMENT STATEMENT: In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Addendum to Children First (2019), the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools (revised 2023) and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements The Board of Management of Saint Mary’s Boys’ National School has adopted and will implement fully and without modification the Department’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools (revised (2023) as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement. Please see our revised Child Safeguarding & Risk Assessment Statement on our website.Policies: Child Safeguarding & Risk Assessment Statement.
COPYBOOK DONATIONS 11th-13th OCTOBER: Many parents have stated they have unused sets of new copybooks at home. If you wish to donate these copybooks to the school you can drop them off in reception next week on the 11th, 12th or 13th of October.
SCHOOL X-TWITTER ACCOUNT: Please continue to follow us on our school X/Twitter account at stmarysboys1. We are unable at the moment to view it directly on our school website and are trying to resolve this issue.
RETIREMENT OF MS BERNADETTE SPELMAN. Our Assistant Principal and SET Co-Ordinator Ms Bernadette Spelman will retire on Friday 27th October 2023. Ms. Spelman’s career has spanned over 37 years and she has spent 25 of these years in Saint Mary’s Boys’ National School. We have been so fortunate to have benefitted from Ms Spelman’s kindness, compassion, expertise & professionalism.
We are eternally grateful for how she so empathetically, generously and selflessly guided the children in her care. We really appreciate how she shared her wisdom and knowledge with all our staff and parents in our school community.
We thank Ms Spelman from the bottom of our hearts and we wish her well deserved blessings, health and happiness in her retirement.
USING PATHS ON GROTTO PLACE AND GROTTO AVENUE: For Health and Safety reasons please continue to ensure that all children and adults use the paths on Grotto Place and Grotto Avenue when coming to and leaving school. For health and safety reasons please avoid walking on these roads as there are cars entering and leaving the school and the neighbourhood.
ALLERGIES/ ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION: Just a reminder that we are a "Nut Free" & "Kiwi Free" School. If your child has any allergies or any other medical condition that may require the administration of medication please alert his new class teacher immediately.
ALADDIN CONNECT & ABSENCES: Thank you very much for engaging with Aladdin Connect in notifying teachers directly of your child's absences and the reason. Please continue to do so. This allows you to also keep an eye on your child's attendance. If the class teacher does not receive a notification explaining your child's absence it is recorded on Aladdin attendance records as unexplained. Attendance is recorded at 09:30 every school morning.
Kind regards,
Noel Scully.
Principal.