Activities

Cake Sale

On 24th June we had a lovely bake sale and the children were delighted with all the sweet treats! Thank you all so much for supporting the bake sale!

Graduation 2025

On Friday 20th June 2025 we bid a fond farewell to our 6th class students on their graduation. We had a lovely graduation presentation in the school with the 6th class children and their families. Congratulations to our graduates and we wish them all the very best as they start a new journey in Secondary School. Click on the photo above to see the graduates leave the school for one last time!

Graduates , don't forget us and remember to drop by and say hello!

Ice Cream Treat

On Monday 16th June 2025 the children received a lovely treat with a visit from the ice cream man.

Music Generation Performance

We thank the musicians from Music Generations who performed to the whole school on Monday 16th June 2025.

Click on the image above to see a snipit of the performance!

Everyone really enjoyed the music.

Pupil Wellbeing

Childhood marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of development and lays the foundations for positive healthy learning and well-being. Now more than ever, children are dealing with complex challenges which significantly impact their well-being. Bearing this in mind, our Student Council helped prepare and evaluate our application for the ‘Mind Me, Mind You’ annual award. If we are successful, this will be our third consecutive year to receive the award.

School Tours

Ladybirds & Butterflies

On Monday 16th June the children went to The Pillo Hotel for a great school tour. They went swimming and then enjoyed some time in the senory room followed by a delicious lunch in the hotel. The children had a fantastic day!

Junior Infants to 4th Class

The children from junior infants to 4th class set off on their school tour to The Crystal Maze on Thursday 12th June. The weather was not the best after our fabulous sports day the day before but that did not dampen their spirits. They had a great time at The Crystal Maze and the children had fun with land based and water based challenges. A great day enjoyed by all!

Active School Week

Active School week commenced on Monday 9th June, We had a great week of fun activities, the children took part in rugby and soccer thanks to Leinster Rugby and Cloghertown Utd for coming to our school and teaching the children new skills. We also had a fun time skipping with Mr. O'Neill and our sports days was great success. What a day we had for Sports Day. The weather made this day extra special, the children took park in running races, egg & spoon race, sack races, target pratice ,high jumps and a good oul tug o' war battle with the teachers and the children came out as champions! Well done to all who took part and thank you to the parents, grandparents and siblings who supported the children in their races. A fun day enjoyed by all!

Our sports day is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 11th June 2025 weather permitting.

Every class will be divided up into four coloured teams – White, Green, Blue and Red.

Please ensure that your child wears that colour t-shirt on Sports Day.

List of requirements for the day;

Team colour t – shirt or top.

Appropriate sportswear, runners, tracksuit bottoms etc.

Sunblock to be applied by parents/guardians.

Plenty of non – fizzy drinks.

School bag and books in case of poor weather.

Active School Week

ACCORD

On the 3rd June, Accord came to our school and the children in 5th & 6th class took part in the Relationship Programme. The girls from 3rd & 4th class took part in the Physical Development Programme.

Ardcath Rock Concert

St. Patrick’s N.S. played host to an evening of music, song and dance to a packed hall on Thursday, 29th June. Mrs Daly thanked the staff, students and the producer, Mr Cullen, for their work in organising the event. The night will live in the memories of everyone involved for many years to come.

Sensory Walled Garden

Our school would like to express our gratitude to Bernie and Eugene O’Sullivan for cultivating our walled garden and generously sponsoring herbs, plants and flowers for our pupils to grow. This garden will also be maintained by Bernie during the summer months in preparation for sensory experiences in the coming academic year.

Ardcath/ Clonalvy Heritage Society

Ardcath Clonalvy Heritage Society were delighted to announce that they have the Medieval Font back in place in Ardcath Church after being in storage since the church refurbishment in 2010. Ardcath Clonalvy Heritage Society are hosting the “Frances Lee Gargan Annual Talk“ on Saturday, 7th June commencing with the Pentecost Vigil Mass at 6.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Ardcath. His Grace Rev. Bishop Deenihan will be in attendance to complete the rededication of the Medieval Font. Our school choir were kindly invited to sing at the mass.

Curracha/ St. Vincents Ladies Team

Three months after forming a first ever Ladies team for either club, Curraha/St.Vincents found themselves in a League final, after a hugely successful campaign saw them reach this point with a 100% record. Their opponents Nobber, also a newly formed side, had an excellent campaign as well and promised to be tough opponents. The game took place in Ardcath, in front of a massive crowd, and the conditions could not have been better on a perfect Summer's evening. Curraha/St.Vincents were victorious on the day and the ladies paid a visit to our school to display the cup on Friday, 30th May. We were honoured to welcome back many former pupils.

A Fond Farewell

On Thursday, 29th May, we bid a heartfelt farewell to our beloved school secretary, Mrs Caroline Tuite, who has been the backbone of our school for 18 years. Her kindness, efficiency, and warm smile have brightened our days and made the school run smoothly. From organising events to supporting staff, pupils, and families, her dedication has been truly exceptional. She has been to the forefront of all that is good about our school and she will be sorely missed from her role. She leaves behind a legacy of hard work and care that will not be forgotten. She was joined, and received messages of best wishes at the event from her extended family, friends, previous clergy, Principals and Board members. A poem in her honour, penned by Mrs O'Sullivan, was recited by Mia Murphy before Mrs Tuite received presentations from pupils, staff and our Parents' Association. As she embarks on this new chapter, we wish her happiness, health, and success in all her future endeavors.

Ardcath Rock Concert

Congratulations to Michaela Collins for designing a very informative and colourful poster to advertise our upcoming night of musical extravaganza. Weeks of hard work and rehearsing by the students of St. Patrick’s N.S. will culminate in a concert on Thursday, 29th May. No doubt our school hall will be packed to the rafters with parents, pupils and guests for a hugely enjoyable two hours of music, featuring music from Oasis, Madonna, Queen, Robbie Williams and lots more!

Our annual concert has become one of the highlights of the school calendar and a much anticipated event in Ardcath village. Every year, the students, under the direction of Mr Cullen, get an opportunity to perform on stage. It promises to be a magical, memorable show. We are all very eager and the excitement is mounting as the opening night draws closer!

Book Fair 2025

We had our book fair on the week of 26^th May 2025. We would like to thank you all for supporting the book fair. We would also like to thank the parents who volunteered at the book fair, your help was very much appreciated.

5th & 6th Class School Tour- Tanagh Outdoor Education Centre

Our 5^th & 6^th class students travelled to Tanagh Outdoor Education and Training Centre in County Monaghan on 21^st May for an overnight stay. They participated in a range of water-based and land-based adventure activities and the tour was enjoyed by all.

100 Touch Challenge

Our 5th & 6th Class students participated in a 100 Touch Challenge with Caroline Butler from Meath Coaching on Thursday 15th May 2025.

Congratulations to Ross Gaffney who had the fastest time for this challenge of 1:54 mins.

Date to be confirmed for Ross to attend the semi finals which will be held in Dunganny.

First Holy Communion

On Saturday, the 17th of May, our 2nd class pupils celebrated their First Holy Communion. Their teachers, Ms Dowling and Mr O'Neill and our entire school community are incredibly proud of each and every one of them. They did our school, themselves and their families proud with their prayerful and respectful participation throughout the mass. The whole ceremony was enhanced by the beautiful singing from our school choir. It was a privilege to help these wonderful children on their journey of faith, to the sacrament of First Holy Communion. We would like to sincerely thank Fr. Steve and Fr Declan for all their support as we prepared for this special day. May God continue to guide our First Communicants in faith and protect them always with his love.

Biodiversity Garden

All pupils were invited to a local biodiversity garden by Mr Pat Brangan on 21st May to celebrate Biodiversity Week 2025. Biodiversity in the garden refers to the variety of plant and animal species that live within the garden ecosystem. A diverse and thriving garden is like having a small ecosystem. Having a diverse range of plant species, such as flowers, vegetables, shrubs, trees, fruits, and weeds, is essential for maintaining biodiversity. Each type of plant offers unique advantages and functions, such as attracting various insects and pollinators, enriching the soil, and promoting a resilient garden.

Bodhrán Workshop

Pupils participated enthusiastically in a bodhrán workshop on Tuesday, 20th May. The bodhrán’s story goes way back possibly to ancient rituals, harvest tools, or even wool dyeing. Some say it’s been around since Celtic times; others believe it rose to fame in the 1960s thanks to Irish musical legend Seán Ó Riada, who helped bring it into the spotlight.

Playing the bodhrán is a fun workshop for your mind. Every beat you play sharpens your timing, concentration, and memory. Studies have shown that drumming can improve everything from problem-solving to multitasking.

Urban Wildlife Webinar

On Tuesday, 20th May all pupils virtualy attended an urban wildlife watch webinar as part of Biodiversity Week 2025. The webinar was hosted by Dr. Heather Sander who discussed wildlife in cities, with a focus on trail cameras.

Educational Herb Seminar

To begin Biodiversity Week on the 19th May our pupils received a seminar in relation to herbs by Mrs Bernie O’Sullivan. Herbs represent more than plants; they stand as powerhouses of taste and nutrients that can ignite a lifelong passion for gardening and healthy eating. By introducing children to the realm of herbs we equip them with the knowledge of food sources, foster an appreciation for the effort put into cultivation and cultivate an understanding of stewardship.

International Pen Pal Exchange

We have organised a pen pal exchange programme with our friends at King School (USA). There are many benefits for children having a pen pal including reading, writing, and presentation skills. Not only are they writing for a real purpose but they’re physically writing for a real audience too. When children are writing to other students in an opposite hemisphere or a continent thousands of miles away, they begin to see differences in the world around them. Yet even though there are differences between them, students begin to see the similarities they have with their pen pals.

Children are naturally curious. However, an international pen pal can ignite a curiosity for the world outside of what they know. Where is the country located that their pen pal is from? What is the language or languages are spoken there? What is their history? Many inquisitive questions can come from writing to an international pen pal.

Biodiverisity Week 2025 Timetable

Monday, 19^th May	Whole school introductory seminar in relation to various herb varieties.
Tuesday, 20^th May	Wildlife Watch Webinar.
Wednesday, 21^st May	Trip to a local biodiversity garden.
Thursday, 22^nd May	Dark Skies and Nature webinar.
Friday, 23^rd May	Multi sensory forest exploration.

Gardening at our School

Our school utilises gardening to solidify learning in the classroom.

Our garden also provides various habitats for wildlife. Our pupils also benefit from discovering new tastes and expanding on their food intake; growing their own food makes them much more adventurous in discovering new fruit and vegetables.

Rounders

On Wednesday 7th May, our girls rounders team headed off to Nobber for their first match. There was excellent teamwork with everyone shouting encouragement and helping others to make good batting and fielding decisions. All the training has really paid off as our fielding has improved so much. Ardcath were victorious and celebrated with some nice orange slices courtesy of Myriam! The girls now face Boardsmill in the next round.

Anti Bullying Survey

Our school is currently reviewing our Anti-Bullying policy to ensure it fully complies with the requirements of the ‘Bí Cineálta: Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post-Primary Schools’. To date our progress is as follows:

● Our Student Council have analysed the ‘Bí Cineálta’ procedures.

● Staff were provided with the opportunity to discuss the ‘Bí Cineálta’ procedures at a recent meeting.

● Students were given questionnaires and surveys to seek their input in developing an Anti-Bullying policy in Child Friendly Format.

● Our Community Gardaí visited the school to speak about cyber bullying.

● Our Code of Behaviour was reviewed.

● A week was dedicated to Anti Bullying activities such as Random acts of Kindness, poster making competitions, slogan making, etc.

● A worry box was displayed at reception.

● Stay Safe and SPHE lessons focusing on positive behaviour formed part of curricular content in all classes.

● Class and School Charters were developed.

● A video exchange with our Artlink partner school (King School U.S.) was arranged to view their perspective on anti bullying topics.

● We are currently engaging in the whole school ‘Mind Me Mind You’ programme.

As part of our preparation for the new ‘Bí Cineálta’ Anti-Bullying Policy, which will take effect in September 2025, we kindly asked parents'guardians to complete a survey.

School Self Evaluation

Our school is currently conducting school self evaluation (SSE) in the area of ‘comprehension’. SSE involves developing a document to record the findings of our self-evaluation, create a current improvement plan, including targets and the actions we will implement to meet the targets. The main purpose of these actions is to improve our pupils’ learning in the area of ‘comprehension’.

To gauge the success of our interventions one child from each class was randomly selected to be tested in the ‘comprehension’ section of the WIAT-III for future monitoring. The comprehension subtest assesses a pupil’s ability to read passages and correctly answer questions regarding the reading. Selected pupils will be reassessed the following academic year to monitor progress in our whole school interventions.

International Views on Bullying

Our school collected views in relation to bullying from our friends at King School (USA). King School is a private school providing preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school education to over 40 communities including New Canaan, Greenwich, Rowayton, Darien and Bedford. The issues were based on a questionaire and survey our pupils recently completed. We received a video from their pupils on 1/5/25 which was based on the following questions:

Do you feel you have a sense of belonging in your school?

Do you feel your school is a positive place?

What activities in your school make it a more happy place?

Do you feel it is safe to be yourself in school?

Have you learned how to recognise bullying behaviour?

Do you know how to respond to bullying?

Do you have a child friendly anti bullying policy?

Is student voice important in your school?

Do you know who to go to if you are being bullied?

Where do you think most bullying happens?

Why do you think some children bully others?

Should you forgive someone who bullies you?

Finalists in Nationwide Upcycling Competition

Congratulations to our 1st Class pupil who was recentlly announced as a finalist in the national Bord na Móna Upcycling Competition. This competition encouraged pupils in the Republic of Ireland to show their ability to repurpose discarded materials into innovative and functional creations. She created a bug hotel from left over materials from her farm to provide a home for bugs in her locality.

Our gardens are home to a huge range of living creatures. It’s estimated that the average garden could hold 2000 insect species! Insects and other minibeasts need safe spaces to shelter, hide from predators and raise their young. They play a very important role in the garden: eating pests, pollinating plants, contributing to the ecosystem and attracting other wildlife like birds. But their numbers are dropping around the world, due to pesticide use and the loss of their natural habitats. So it’s up to us gardeners to lend them a hand.

Student Council Easter Events

Following consultation with Mrs Daly, our Council have decided on the following to celebrate Easter on Friday, 11^th April.

Easter Hunt (individualised for each class).

Hard Boiled Egg Decorating Competition (Pupils can bring in their finished product on Friday).

Egg and spoon race (individualised for each class).

Due to funds collected from a range of fundraising initiatives organised by the Council they are funding all activities.

Anti-Bullying Tree

On Wednesday 2nd April 2025 the pupils decorated the tree with anti-bullying messages.

This is displayed in the school reception area for all to see.

Girls FAI 5 A Side

On Monday 31st March 2025 our two girls teams took on the FAI five a side soccer tournament.

Both teams played extremely well, each coming home with wins.

Thanks again to Chris and Debbie for all their support and training.

The girls represented the school so well and had a brilliant day out.

Anti-Bullying Week

Anti-Bullying week will take place from Monday 31st March to Friday 4th April 2025

We will focus on a lot of different lessons throughout all streams, focusing on defining bullying and ways in which you can stop it and help someone who is being bullied.

The following is the planned schedule for the week ahead.

Community Gardaí Visit

We thank our community Gardaí from Duleek Garda station who visited our school on Friday 28th March 2025.

School Hatching Programme

On Wednesday 26th March 2025, all five chicks were moved into their new home.

On Tuesday 25th March 2025, the children got to see one of the chicks hatch.

Click on the image above to hear the children's reaction.

The Stay Safe programme commenced the week of 24^th March 2025, this personal safety education programme was introduced to all classes in our school.

The aim of the Stay Safe programme is to teach children personal safety skills so they can look after themselves in situations which could be upsetting or dangerous. It deals initially with common situations which most children will experience at some stage or other, eg. getting lost or being bullied. The programme also teaches children the safety skills necessary to protect themselves from physical or sexual abuse. Essentially the programme teaches children to tell a trusted adult about any problems they may have.

The Stay Safe programme is a joint initiative between Departments of Health and Education and has been endorsed by all the partners in Education.

Boys FAI 5 A Side

Two boys teams represented the school at the FAI 5 a side soccer in the MDL grounds in Navan on Monday 24th March 2025.

Both teams played brilliantly on the very sunny day.

One of our teams won their group and made it to the second stage which is amazing!

Well done to our team captains Sam and Brandon for supporting and leading their peers.

A huge thank you to Chris and Debbie Dunne-Carthy for training the teams and for accompanying us to the MDL on Monday.

Well done boys on great football and a great day out!

School Hatching Programme

On Monday 24th March 2025, five fertilised eggs were delivered to our school.

Over the next two weeks the students will watch the eggs hatch and the chicks grow.

We thank the Parents' Association for hosting a bake sale on Friday 21st March 2025.

A huge thank you to all who brought in baked goods and supported the Bake Sale on the day.

Total raised from this event was €602.95

Soccer Coaching

We thank Chris and Debbie Carthy for coching the FAI 5 a side soccer teams on Tuesday 18th March 2025.

All the pupils enjoyed learning new skills.

School Self Evaluation and Our Student Council

Our school is currently conducting self evaluation in the area of literacy focusing mainly on comprehension. The school evaluation document records the findings of this evaluation, and our current improvement plan, including targets and the actions we will implement to meet the targets. In March our Student Council distribited pupil questionairres and surveys to inform our planning.

Lá Glas / Green Day - Thursday 13th March 2025

The pupils wore green to school on Thursday 13th March 2025.

They celebrated the end of Seachtain na Gaeilge with a ceili in the school hall - this was enjoyed by all.

School Self Evaluation: Focus Group

School self-evaluation (SSE) is a collaborative, reflective process of internal school review focused on school improvement. The areas that we have considered as regards SSE for the academic year 2024-2025 are:

Anti-Bullying.
Comprehension.
Code of Behaviour.

One of the methods we are using for collecting information is focus groups. Focus groups are a type of qualitative research. The information gathered can be used to identify areas of existing effective practice as well as areas for improvement. Generally focus groups meet once only. Focus groups are used for the following reasons:

To elicit ideas/opinions from a selected group of people.
To understand relevant issues from the viewpoint of various stakeholders.
To remain ‘connected’ with the various stakeholders ensuring their views are heard.
To yield rich qualitative information on a topic in a relatively short period of time.
To guide future actions.

Our focus group meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 27th March at 1.30 p.m. If you could like to be a member of the group please contact the school at your earliest convenience.

Staff Training Day

On Wednesday afternoon, 12th March all staff completed Bí Cinéalta (new anti Bullying) training.

We are celebrating Seachtain na Gaeilge this week from the 10th-14th March.

This week is all about Irish and everyone is getting involved.

Some of the activities that classes are undertaking include quizzes, games like bingo and simon says, online games, talking as Gaeilge as much as possible, learning new songs and poems, making posters promoting Irish, and even trying some Irish dancing.

We will end a great week with Lá Glas on Thursday 14th March 2025.

School Incidental Inspection

We welcomed our School Inspector on Monday 10^th March 2025 who carried out an Incidental Inspection in our school.

We received an extremely positive report in planning, preparation, SET, assessment, differentiation, classroom management and collaboration.

Peer Tutoring

Third, fourth, fifth and sixth class have been engaging in some peer tutoring sessions this term.

During this time the students work in pairs to read non-fiction books.

They take turns reading to each other which is great for practising reading aloud.

They are learning lots of new vocabulary as they make a record of any new or unfamiliar words, they search for them in the dictionary and write down their definitions in their personal dictionaries.

Once a pair has finished reading for the day, they have the opportunity to test the knowledge of others by coming up with quiz questions based on their book, and these will be used for a fun quiz at the end of the peer tutoring block.

First Confession

Well done to those who made their First Confession on Friday 7^th March 2025 in St. Mary’s Church, Ardcath.

We thank Fr. Steve for the lovely ceremony.

Thanks also to Mr. O’Neil and Mrs. Daly for attending on the night and Ms. Dowling for her preparation.

Upcycling Challenge Exhibition

To celebrate the end of Engineering Week, pupils brought in creative displays on Friday 7^th March 2025.

Thanks to all the parents/guardians who visited the exhibition.

World Book Day

The pupils celebrated world book day on Friday 7^th March 2025 by dressing up as a character from a book.

Congratulations to the above winners who received a homework pass.

Six Week Dance Workshop

All pupils commenced a six-week dance workshop with Beth on Thursday 6th March 2025.

Sheep Farm Visit

The pupils walked down to Brangan's Sheep Farm on Wednesday 5th March 2025 to see all the sheep and new baby lambs.

The pupils really enjoyed this experience.

We thank Adam and Derek Brangan for facilitating this farm visit.

Wednesday 5th March 2025

We thank Fr. Steve for visiting the school on Ash Wednesday.

Ashes was provided to all who wanted them.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer, fasting, and reflection observed by many Christians worldwide.

Tuesday 4th March 2025

We thank Mrs. Daly for supplying the whole school with pancakes.

Both pupils and staff enjoyed this fabulous treat.

Monday 3rd to Friday 7th March 2025

During this week we promote engineering and the importance of the profession to children.

Bord na Móna Recycling invite entries to the ‘Schools Upcycling Competition‘, an educational challenge designed to provide students with a platform to raise awareness about upcycling as an environmentally friendly practice while fostering creativity and innovative thinking.

Children are encouraged to show their ability to repurpose discarded materials into innovative and functional creations.

The winning class will receive a guided tour of Lough Boora Discovery Park which includes entry to the sculpture park and a field study, featuring a nature walk and examination of local flora and wildlife.

This will be followed by a tour of Mountlucas Wind Farm, including entry to the interactive learning hub, a VR turbine tour and the chance to see a turbine up close!

A prize of €5,000 will also be awarded to the winning school.

Participants must use materials that would typically be considered waste or discarded items. Suggested categories include; Home Decor, Fashion and Accessories, Functional Tools or Gadgets and Artistic Creations.

Students will complete the project at home and bring it to school for Friday 7th March.

We will hold an exhibition on Friday 7th March at 1.30pm in the school hall to display all the projects.

Friday 28th February 2025

We wish to thank Fr. Steve, readers, gift bearers and the school choir for the beautiful whole school Mass to celebrate Grandparents' Day.

Following the Mass in the school hall each class performed in front of the Grandparents, songs, poems and a quiz.

We would like to thank all the Grandparents who attended on this day and for all their positive comments on the school choir and all the performances.

A special thanks to the Parents' Association for volunteering to help out with the teas/coffees.

Internet Safety Talk

We wish to thank St. Mary's National School, Garristown for inviting parents/guardians to the Internet Safety Talk on Tuesday 25th February 2025.

The speaker at this workshop was Mick Moran CEO of Hotline.

Thursday 20th and Friday 21st February 2025

We hope everyone has a lovely midterm break.

Confirmation Party

The school held an outdoor disco on Wednesday 19th February 2025 to celebrate all who made their Confirmation.

All pupils and staff had great fun dancing on the astro.

We thank the Parents' Association for supplying the cupcakes.

Ms. Heeney, Ms. Dowling, Ms. Friel, Gillian and Myriam would like to thank the parents of the Confirmation class for their beautiful bouquet of flowers which they received.

Confirmation 2025

Congratulations to all the pupils who made their Confirmation on Friday 14th February 2025 in St. Mary's Church, Ardcath.

We thank all who helped make this day so special, especially Bishop Thomas Deenihan, Fr. Michael Cahill, Fr. Steve and Fr. Declan for the lovely ceremony.

A big thank you to our school choir and their leaders Ms. Friel and Gillian.

Well done to all involved.

Happy Valentines Day

Friday 14th February 2025

We thank The Lunch Bag for supplying a little treat for everyone on Valentines Day.

Wellbeing through Physical Activity

We thank Ms. McEnroy for completing a 'Wellbeing through Physical Activity' course on Tuesday 11th February 2025.

This course was delivered by the HSE Health and Wellbeing Team.

Ms. Enroy will communicate what she has learnt from this course to all staff.

5th & 6th Class Tag Rugby Blitz - Tuesday 11th February 2025

On Tuesday 11th February, fifth and sixth class put their sporting skills to the test by taking on a new challenge, tag rugby.

Both the boys and girls team played four matches each and came out undefeated!

Thanks to our captains Sarah and Ross for keeping their teams organised and making sure we played some terrific rugby.

A huge thank you to Barbara Hughes for training us the past few weeks, we really couldn't have done it without her.

It was great to try something different and everyone had a great day!

Well done everyone.

Student Council - Cinema Afternoon Friday 7th February 2025

The cinema afternoon was a great success and resulted in a total of €1,060 being raised.

This was a wonderful social event and the children enjoyed watching Monsters Inc

Thanks to Jacqui Cromwell and Ruth Traynor for their donation which covered all the overheads (pizza, popcorn and drinks).

We also thank the school staff who helped out at the movie afternoon.

Confirmation Art

The children are busy in 5th and 6th class preparing for their Confirmation.

Confirmation will be held in St. Mary's Church, Ardcath on Friday 14th February 2025 at 3pm.

We hope all pupils who are getting confirmed enjoy their day.

Student Council - Cinema Afternoon Friday 7th February 2025

Well done to all the pupils who entered the poster competition.

The movie chosen is Monsters Inc which is rated universal.

We wish to thank Jacqui Cromwell and Ruth Traynor for their donation in which covers all the overheads (pizza, popcorn and drinks).

We also thank the school staff who have volunteered to help out at the movie afternoon.

5th & 6th Class - Wellbeing Workshop

The pupils from 5th and 6th class participated in a one day wellbeing workshop on Friday 31st January 2025.

This mental health workshop was provided by Motus Learning Ltd.

Smart Moves - Thursday 30th January 2025

The pupils enjoyed doing Smart Moves on a beautiful morning in Ardcath on Thursday 30th January 2025.

Student Council - Cinema Afternoon Friday 7th February 2025

Our Student Council have planned, coordinated and organised a cinema afternoon on Friday, 7th February from 2.40 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. in our school hall.

The Council strongly emphasise that the focus is on creating a fun, social and happy occasion for their peers and is not just monitory based.

Therefore, an optional donation of €10 per child/ €20 per family (which includes cinema ticket, pizza/ popcorn and drink) can be made through Aladdin.

As our school has decided to conduct School Self Evaluation in the area of comprehension this academic year, the proceeds will partly fund assessment and educational resources for all classes.

Council members were very busy creating surveys to gauge food and movie preferences for the evening.

They are also coordinating a poster competition to promote their fundraiser.

Monday 20th January to Friday 24th January 2025

The theme this year for Catholic Schools week is 'Alive in Christ!'.

We thank Fr. Declan who visited all classes on Monday 20th January 2025.

Unfortunatly, due to the storm on Friday 24th January, we had to re-schedule Grandparents' Day.

We will now celebrate Grandparents' Day on Friday 28th February 2025.

Drumming Workshop

Six weeks of drumming lessons commenced on Monday 13th January 2025.

These lessons are part of the music curriculum.

Éamonn Cagney is Ireland's most accomplished hand drum percussionist, he is one of Ireland’s most in-demand music workshop facilitators.

We hope all the children will enjoy it.

Swimming Lessons - Ladybirds & Butterflies

Ladybirds and Butterflies Classes commenced their six week swimming lessons on Wednesday 8th January 2025 as part of the Acquatics Physical Education Programme.

This was a wonderful experience for our pupils.

Our school uniform is a navy tracksuit which consists of navy tracksuit bottoms / shorts and navy round neck top and a light blue polo shirt.

Leggings in any colour and other active wear are not permitted as school tracksuit.

We are delighted to announce that Parents/Guardians can now order their child's crested school tracksuit directly from O'Farrell Schoolwear Ltd.

This can be done by clicking the link https://ofarrellschoolwear.com/collections/st-patricks-ns-ardcath or by visiting the shop at Unit 2, N1 Business Park, Swords, Co. Dublin.

Navy school crests will still be available to purchase directly from the school.

O'Farrell Schoolwear Ltd will be offering a 10% discount from 6th January 2025 until 25th January 2025.

Rugby Coaching

We thank Barbara Hughes, Ashbourne Rugby Club for providing rugby coaching to the pupils from 1st to 6th class.

This four week coaching session commenced on Tuesday 7th January 2025.

All pupils enjoyed this training.

Student Council Fundraising Initiatives

We are extremely proud of our Student Council Committee for initiating two fundraisers in December which came to a total of €990.

The Student Council Pyjama Day took place on Friday 6th December 2024 raised €575.

The Student Council Christmas Jumper Day took place Friday 20th December 2024 and raised €415.

A huge thank you to all who participated in these days.

St. Patrick's National School would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas and best wishes for 2025.

The whole school attended Mass in St. Mary's Church Ardcath on Friday 20th December 2024.

We would like to thank Fr. Steve for the lovely Mass, the readers and of course the lovely school choir.

Thanks to all the parents/guardians, family and friends who attended this lovely Christmas Mass.

Day 12 of our 12 Days of Kindness - 'Reflection'- 20th December 2024

Pupils engaged with various resources to encourage them to think about how to be a good friend as well as a follow up class discussion about friendship.

Pupils considered how to be a good friend at break, at lunch and in class.

Once every pupils completed the task, they shared their answers and aimed to implement them.

Day 11 of our 12 Days of Kindness - 'Kind to Ourselves'- 19th December 2024

It is sometimes easier to be kind to other people than to ourselves.

It is important that we learn to speak with kindness to ourselves just as we would to our friends.

So the golden rule is to never say something to yourself that you wouldn’t say to a friend.

Pupils made a collage outlining their positive attributes and talents.

Day 10 of our 12 Days of Kindness - 'Giving Thanks'- 18th December 2024

Our Student Council advised the school community as regards the importance of recognising kindness all around us.

They then distributed tags for our pupils to write the names of people they give thanks to for showing kindness and emapthy this year and displayed them on our Christmas tree.

Teaching children to express gratitude is a powerful way to enhance their emotional resilience.

Day 9 of our 12 Days of Kindness - 'Beauty and the Beast'- 17th December 2024

During our recent visit to the pantomine children took note of the kind deeds throughout the performance.

They discussed how the kind deeds impacted the characters.

The following questions were utilised:

How do think the character was feeling?

What would you do if you were in that situation?

How would you feel if someone made a kind gesture to you?

Christmas Panto - Tuesdy 18th December 2024

The whole school attended the Christmas Panto 'Beauty and the Beast' in the TLT Drogheda on Tuesday 18th December 2024.

Everyone enjoyed the performance and had a great day out.

Enterprise Awareness Workshop

We thank Lena from Meath Enterprise office who provided a one hour 'Enterprise Awareness' workshop to 5th & 6th class on Monday 16th December 2024.

The aim of this workshop is to show the pupils that they all have the ability to come up with a business idea.

To show how the very things they learn at school and their inherent abilities can make them a successful businessperson.

Day 8 of our 12 Days of Kindness - Thank You Letter - 16th December 2024

The art of a handwritten note to express gratitude recaptures the smile, the handshake or the hug you would give the giver in person.

It is offered instead in a form that can be read and unread.

We wish to thank the Parents' Association for their two recent donations:

€200 - 1st Prize for the Christmas Raffle

€600 - Funds from their recent bakesale.

Day 7 of our 12 Days of Kindness - Practice Gratitude - 13th December 2024

Focusing on the positive boosts body, mind and spirit.

It gives us energy and inspires us.

Being thankful is not a natural instinct, it is something we need to teach.

The easiest way to do this is to practice.

Pupils made a collage of things they were grateful for.

Thanks to everyone who supported our Christmas Extravaganza on Thursday 12th December 2024.

We are so proud of all the pupils.

It was a fantastic night.

Total raised from this event was €2,360.

Many thanks to our Sponsors for the wonderful raffle prizes:

Parents' Association

St. Patrick's National School Staff

Karen Hammond - Homemade Crumbs

Barbara Hughes (Ashbourne Rugby Club)

Emma Cunningham

Congratulations to the following raffle winners:

1st Prize - Joseph O'Brien Murray

2nd Prize - Kyle Jakubauskas

3rd Prize - Anna Allison

4th Prize - Billy & Max Wogan

5th Prize - Sandra Andrews

6th Prize - Niamh Carberry

7th Prize - Wesley Gaffney

8th Prize - Sofia Brangan

9th Prize - Edna Howey

10th - Harry Muldowney

11th - Sara Coyne

12th - Chloe Jakubauskas

13th - Craig Menon-Mooney

Day 6 of our 12 Days of Kindness - Kindness Mission - 12th December 2024

Pupils engaged in a secret mission on 12th December 2024 to plan and carry out a kindness act.

The children completed a planner to aid their mission in spreading some kindness including the topics ‘my plan’, ‘people who will help me’, ‘things I will need’ and ‘how I felt afterwards’.

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Day 5 of our 12 Days of Kindness - Kindness Stories - 11th December 2024

On the 11th December 2024 pupils read and listened to stories which demonstrated kindness in any form.

Staff facilitated a discussion about the characters' actions and the emotional outcome of the stories.

Day 4 of our 12 Days of Kindness - 10th December 2024

The Toothpaste Experiment

The purpose of the toothpaste experiment is to teach children to think about how their words affect others.

It brings about an awareness that words are not easily retracted, no matter how hard you try.

Method: Children were asked to squeeze toothpaste into a container.

Once the toothpaste had been pushed out, they were given a lollipop stick and asked to put the toothpaste in again.

Children were reminded to think before they speak:

Is it ..........

True

Helpful

Inspiring

Necessary

Kind.

Diocesan Advisor School Visit

We would like to thank Anne Phillips, Diocesan Advisor who visited our school on Monday 9th December 2024.

She said we were a wonderful school with a very strong understanding of Catholic ethos -

Prayers (public and personal), stories, songs, discussion and debate plus lots of Christmas cheer.

Day 3 of our 12 Days of Kindness - 9th December 2024

We celebrated our third day of kindness on Monday, 9th December 2024.

Representatives from our Student Council visited all classes providing suggestions for random acts of kindness that our pupils might like to engage in.

Kindness is the secret ingredient that can make a school a better place for everyone.

Even small acts of kindness can create a supportive culture and a positive space where everyone feels welcome.

Student Council - Pyjama Day

We would like to thank the Student Council for organising a Pyjama Day on Friday 6th December 2024.

Thanks to all the Parents/Guardians who supported this event.

Total raised was €560 - well done to all involved.

Day 2 of our 12 Days of Kindness - 6th December 2024

Our Student Council were busy distributing notes of positivity and kindness to our school community on our second day of kindness leading up to Christmas.

They enjoyed spreading a little cheer and watching how the activity affected everyone's mood throughout the day.

First Day of the 12 Days of Kindness

Gratitude can take the form of words—“thank you” being the most obvious and always effective.

Therefore, representatives from our Student Council distributed ‘Thank You’ note templates to the school community on the 5th of December 2024.

Gratitude costs so little, but it means so much to so many.

Video Conference with King School U.S.

Pupils from 4th Class engaged in an interactive video conference with their partner school in the US on the 4th December 2024.

King Private School provides preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school education to over 40 communities including New Canaan, Greenwich, Rowayton, Darien and Bedford.

Our pupils spoke out our traditional sports, music and food and they treated the audience in the US to Irish dancing accompanied by an Irish reel.

The Artlink programme has taught us the importance of global education and was such a meaningful experience.

Our Student Council are launching the 12 Days of Kindness for Christmas on Thursday, 5th December 2024.

This initiative is about more than just fun—it’s about fostering empathy, connection, and understanding in children during the magical season of giving.

Let’s make this Christmas a time for kindness, inclusion, and joy.

Together, we can create a ripple effect of positivity in our homes and school.

Congratulations to the following puils who were awarded an Art Certificate at assembly on Monday 2nd December 2024 for their amazing work which they completed during the month of November.

Ladybirds: John Paul Mullins

Butterfleis: Craig Menon-Mooney

Junior Infants: Oisín Goodman

Senior Infants: Joe O'Donoghue

1^st Class: Amelia Connolly

2^nd Class: Turlough Sheridan

3^rd Class: Lilie Dowley

4^th Class: Oscar Hughes

5^th Class: Alexandra Wall

6^th Class: Moya Grehan

Their art work will be displayed on our Art Gallery display in the school corridor.

We thank Mr. Carter for co-ordinating this initative.

LifeVac

We would like to thank The Lunch Bag for their donation of a LifeVac which we received on Monday 2nd December 2024.

This is a life saving device which is an anti-choking instrument.

The Lunch Bag has donated this to all schools to show their appreciation for the support they receive throughout the year.

Playground Leaders

Playground Leaders are caring children who will organise activites for other children on the playground.

The introuduction of Playground Leaders commenced on Thursday 28th November 2024 under the supervision of Ms. McEnroy.

The first group of playground leaders pictured above organised an obstacle course and also played duck duck goose.

We thank all the pupils who volunteered for this role.

Interactive Video Conference with Long Ridge School (U.S.)

Pupils from 3rd class had a very interesting video conference with their friends at Long Ridge School on 25th November 2024.

This involved a live one-hour session in which pupils shared their insights with one another face-to-face in real time.

Our pupils spoke about our traditional sporting games and traditional foods.

Our partner school were very inquisitive as regards the contents of the Full Irish Breakfast.

One of the pupils in our connecting school travelled to Ireland a number of years ago and remembered Ireland being ‘cold and green’.

We therefore advised the pupils to listen to the Johnny Cash song ‘Forty Shades of Green’.

We enjoyed building bridges with our peers in the US, promoting global competency and greater cultural understanding.

Interactive Video Conference with Long Ridge School (U.S.)

Our Interactive Video Conference with Long Ridge School is scheduled for Monday, 25th November.

The Long Ridge School have been named the ‘Best Elementary School’ for 16 years in a row.

We are delighted to be connected with such an outstanding educational faculty.

During the IVC pupils will be discussing ways in which art is an international culture than can convey cultural norms and values.

'Mind Me, Mind You'

The theme as regards the ‘Mind Me, Mind You’ programme in November 2024 was ‘Dealing with Change’.

Some lesson objectives include:

* Understand good and bad changes

* Being familiar with effective approaches to cope with change

* How to give advice to others who are struggling with change.

This child-centred programme promotes resilience and social and emotional competence, equipping children with the knowledge and skills needed to address a multitude of life situations throughout their development.

Cross Country - Wednesday 20th November 2024

Well done to the boys and girls who represented our school in the Cumann na mBunscol Athletics in Fairyhouse on Wednesday 20th Novmber 2024.

We thank Ms. Heeney for coaching these teams prior to this event.

Throughout the course of the school year, we welcome TY students, SNA's and student Teachers into our school.

All work placement students must be Garda vetted.

These students are all under the supervision of the class teacher.

Forensic Science and World War 2 Workshop - Friday 15th November 2024

We thank Gary from School Workshops who led the Forensic Science and World War 2 workshops.

In the Forensic Science workshop the children learnt about DNA, fingerprints, footprints & fibres, the class was then split into four teams where they had their own "crime scenes".

They had to tape off the area, identify and collect evidence, determine what has taken place and decide which of the 8 suspects is guilty of the theft of the Venus Diamond!!

World War II workshop was presented to the older classes, their task was to crack the secret code transmitted by the Germans, to establish where, when, and how they planned to invade. By listening to morse code transmissions, using the ‘Bombe’ machine code-breaker, and even translating German – we cracked the code and saved the day!

Great fun was had by all.

Science Week Board

This board displays lots of interesting fact sheets which includes information about Scientists.

Key words used during science week are also displayed around the board.

Each class will add their own photo to this board.

Pupils can take a crossword and wordsearches from the envelopes on the display.

Ardcath/Clonalvy First Responders

We thank Marie Craigie, Patricia Collins, Helen Gaughran-White, Chloe Mason and Darina Ryan from the First Responders who spent Wednesday 13th November 2024 teaching the children in all classes about the importance of phoning 112/999 for help and knowing their eircode.

They also taught all classes how to perform CPR on adults and babies.

FAI - Futsal Balls

We wish to thank the FAI who dropped out four new balls to be used alongside the futsal programme on Tuesday 12th November 2024.

We will celebrate Science Week from Monday 11^th November to Friday 15^th November 2024.

We thank James from Junior Einsteins Science Club who put on a one-hour science show on Monday 11^th November 2024.

The following experiments were demonstrated - slime science, elephant toothpaste bubbling exothermic reaction, plasma ball, light the lightsabre, sparks of lightning, giant smoke cannons and more.

The children really enjoyed this show.

Science Experiments

Throughout Science Week the following experiments will be completed

Dancing Raisins

Fizzy Colours Chemical Reactions

Fun with Density

Milky Rainbow Colour Mixing

Coca-Cola Fountain

Lava Lamps

Bubbling Volcano

Fruity Sweets Colour Mixing

Slime

We thank Mr. Carter and Ms. Murnaghan for co-ordinating Science Week.

Tá Gaeilgeoir na Míosa ar ais! Faigheann páistí an gaisce seo nuair a dhéanann siad a ndícheall Gaeilge a labhairt i rith an lae, atá ag glacadh páirte i gceachtanna Gaeilge, agus atá ag déanamh a ndícheall an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim! Comhghairdeachas lenár mbuaiteoirí go léir an mhí seo! Tá frása na míosa againn freisin agus an mhí seo... Tá sé am lóin!

Bí Cineálta Training

Mrs. Daly (Principal) and Ms. Friel (Deputy Principal) both attended training in Navan on Friday 8th November 2024.

This course was on Bí Cineálta which is the new anti-bullying procedures that will take effect in 2025/26.

Cycle Safety Training Course 2024/25

4th Class commenced their cycle safety training course on Thursday 7th November 2024.

This course is supported by the Department of Transport, the Road Safety Authority and Meath LSP.

Anti Bullying Week

Our Student Council held a meeting on 7/11/24 to plan for Anti Bullying Week which will commence on Monday 25th November 2024.

Anti-Bullying Week is an annual event which aims to raise awareness of bullying and to highlight ways of preventing and responding to it.

'Bí Cineálta'

Our student council were busy in November analysing the ‘Bí Cineálta’ (‘Be Kind’) procedures which were developed in collaboration with the education partners and are heavily informed by the views of children and young people, parents, school staff, board of management members and the wider education community.

The ‘Bí Cineálta’ procedures are centred on a child rights-based approach and support a partnership approach where all members of the school community work together to prevent and address bullying behaviour.

'Mind Me - Mind You' - Well Being Award

Our school was extremely proud to be awarded the ‘Mind Me – Mind You’ ambassator award for the second year running.

The programme is designed in line with the well-being curriculum to support teachers in building the foundations of good mental health education and well-being in children. It fosters the creation of healthy relationships, personal development and skills central to maintaining future health and well-being. Furthermore, aligning with the primary schools’ well-being curriculum, this child-centred programme promotes resilience and social and emotional competence, equipping children with the knowledge and skills needed to address a multitude of life situations throughout their development.

1st to 6th Class - Six Weeks Swim Academy

1st to 6th class will attend a six week swim academy in Aura Leisure Centre in Drogheda.

1st to 3rd class will commence their lessons on Tuesday 5th November 2024.

4th to 6th class will commence their lessons on Thursday 7th November 2024.

Swimming is part of the aquatics module of the physical education curriculum.

We hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween break.

School will re-open on Monday 4th November 2024.

Halloween Bake Sale

We thank the Parents' Association for hosting the Halloween Bake Sale on Friday 25th October 2024.

A huge thank you to all who brought in baked goods and supported the Bake Sale on the day.

The children dressed up in their Halloween costumes on Friday 25th October 2024.

Congratulations to the above pupils who received a Homework Pass from Mrs. Daly for their costumes at assembly on Friday 25th October 2024.

Great moves from the pupils and staff at the Halloween Disco on Friday 25th October 2024.

5th & 6th Class Library Visit

5th and 6th Class pupils attended Duleek Library on Wednesday 23rd October 2024 to celebrate Children's Book Festival.

They met the author Natasha Mac a'Bháird.

The pupils enjoyed this interactive event which was held for young readers and budding writers.

22nd October 2024

The Board of Management had their first board meeting on 22nd October 2024 and we would like to welcome Fr. Declan Kelly as Chairperson.

Mind Me Mind You - Primary Schools' Programme

‘Being a Good Friend’ is the theme of the month for October 2024 ‘Mind Me Mind You’ programme.

Teaching your child to be a good friend is a valuable life lesson that will contribute to their overall well-being.

By instilling important values and modeling positive behaviours, you can help your child navigate the complexities of friendship and foster meaningful connections.

Student Council Meeting held on Wednesday 23rd October 2024

According to Unicef ‘All children have the right to express their views on matters that affect them,

and adults should listen and take children seriously’ (Article 12).

Therefore, child participation in our school should permeate all teaching, learning, and actions.

At our Student Council meeting on 23/10/24 various matters were discussed including fundraising, school tracksuit, school materials, extra curricular activities etc.

Congratulations to the following puils who were awarded an Art Certificate at assembly on Monday 14th October 2024 for their amazing work which they completed during the month of October.

Ladybirds: Koby Dempsey

Butterfleis: Aura Adomaviciute

Junior Infants: Harley Donoghue

Senior Infants: Sadie Johnson

1^st Class: Rebecca Tallon

2^nd Class: Molly Brangan

3^rd Class: Fionn Regan

4^th Class: Mia Murphy

5^th Class: Karolina Dovzhenko

6^th Class: Ellen Paterson

Their art work will be displayed on our Art Gallery display in the school corridor.

We thank Mr. Carter for co-ordinating this initative.

Maths Week - 14th October to 18th October 2024

The theme for maths week is - using our ‘Maths Eyes’ – Maths all around us.

During the week the following will take place

- Two problems of the week - one of which is count the number of sweets in the above jar,

- 3rd to 6th class will partake with Times Tables Rock Stars,

- Maths Week TV - Juniors to 4th class will watch programmes eg loving maths, adventures and shapes, etc.,

- Maths art will be presented at assembly on Monday 21st October,

- Maths Trails and Puzzle Trails.

We thank Mrs. Collins for co-ordinating Maths Week.

Whole School Mass on Friday 11th October 2024

We thank Fr. Steve for the lovely whole school Mass on Friday 11th October 2024.

Thanks to all the readers, those who brought up gifts and the beautiful choir which was co-ordinated by Ms. Friel and Gillian.

Jersey Day - Friday 11th October 2024

Thanks to all who wore a jersey to school on Friday 11th October for Jersey Day.

Total raised from this was €254 which will go towards purchasing non fiction books which we will use for peer reading.

Cumann na mBunscol Competition

Well done to the boys and girls who played a home match against Kiltale in Materson Park on Thursday 10th October 2024.

Thanks to all the parents/guardians who came to watch the match.

Artlink Interactive Video Conferences (IVCs)

Pupils from our school engaged in an interactive video conference on the 9th October 2024 with pupils from Stamford Private School, in Stamford, Connecticut, America.

The Artlink project has recently been expanded to a more immersive experience, where both schools will participate in two IVC sessions—one at the start and another after the art exchange.

This structure allows them to build relationships, reflect on their experiences, and share the personal growth they've achieved through their art and cross-cultural interactions, creating stronger connections between participating schools.

Green School Committee and Student Council

The following pupils were selected to represent their class on the Green School Committee and the Student Council at assembly on Monday 7^th October 2024.

Jessie Brangan – Junior Infants

Senan Regan – Senior Infants

Zavier Dowley – 1^st Class

Julia Corrigan – 2^nd Class

Karla Flanagan – 3^rd Class

Victoria Popova – 4^th Class

Karolina Dovzhenko – 5^th Class

Louie Sheridan – 6^th Class.

Thanks to Ms. Friel who will oversee both the Green School Committee and Student Council.

In preparation for Communion and Confirmation Fr. Steve has organised the following dates for pupils to attend Mass.

These masses will take place in St. Mary's Church, Ardcath at 6.30pm.

Communion & Confirmation Enrolment Mass

Saturday 19th October 2024

At the end of the sermon the candidates will be asked a few simple
questions about their readiness for First Confession, First Communion and Confirmation and then, as the
Offertory hymn is being sung, they will bring up their completed
Enrolment Forms and drop them into a tray held by the priest.

Communion Preparation Masses are as follows:

Saturday 23rd November 2024

Feast of Christ the King. The candidates will do a November
themed activity to pray for deceased family members and see how
Jesus promises to bring us all into His great Kingdom one day if we
try to be good and holy.

Saturday 1st February 2025

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Focus on parents’ memories of baptism and hopes for their child.

Friday 7th March 2025 @ 7pm - First Confession

First Holy Communion - Saturday 17th May 2025 at 11am

Confirmation Preparation Masses are as follows:

Saturday 23rd November 2024

Saturday 1st February 2025

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.
Focus on parents’ memories of baptism and hopes for their child.

Confirmation date is Friday 14th February 2025.

Thursday 3rd October 2024

We thank our Teachers and SNA's for completing courses on Thursday 3rd October 2024.

Teachers completed Maths Curricular Training and the SNAs completed the following webinars:

Tusla - Children First Elearning Programme

An Introduction to Sensory Processing

Understanding the Impact of Sensory Needs on Learning

Understanding & Designing Sensory, Movement & Brain Breaks

We thank all Parents/Guardians who attended the Parents' Association AGM on Tuesday 1st October 2024.

We once again look forward to working with the Committee during this school year 2024/25.

Class Reps for 2024/25 are as follows:

Junior Infants - Aoife Deacon

Seniors Infants - Danièle Corrigan⁩

First Class - Emma Cunningham⁩

Second Class - Helen White

Third Class - Niamh Grehan

Fourth Class - Barbara Hughes

Fifth Class - Sarah Gaffney

Sixth Class - Niamh White

Ladybirds & Butterflies - Joanne Moss⁩

We thank you all in advance for your time and dedication you give to our school.

Mind Me Mind You - Primary Schools' Programme

The theme for September 2024 as regards the ‘Mind Me – Mind You’ programme is wellbeing.

Childhood marks the beginning of a lifelong journey of development and lays the foundations for positive healthy learning and well-being.

The programme features videos and full lesson plans for all class groups which embed a framework of values, attitudes, understanding and skills in the mindset of children that will inform their decisions and actions which impact social development and personal well-being.

A number of pupils benefit daily from Smart Moves programme.

This programme resumed on Tuesday 24th September 2024.

Smart moves provides children with learning opportunities through the medium of movement.

Through the Smart Moves programme, we aim to help children develop physically as well as socially, emotionally and intellectually.

At assembly on Monday 23rd September 2024, one child from every class was awarded an Art Certificate for their amazing work which they completed during the month of September.

Their art work will be displayed on our Art Gallery display in the school corridor.

Congratulations to the following:

Nelly O'Reilly

Jessie O'Sullivan

Pétehn Ludwig

Robyn Hammond

Katie Lynch-Hall

Jakub Lesniewski

Sarah Allison

John Paul Mullins

Alex Moss

We thank Mr. Carter for initiating this.

GAA Skills Coaching

We thank Caroline Butler and St. Vincent's GFC for our GAA skills coaching which commenced on Thursday 19th September 2024.

This coaching is for all classes and will continue throughout the year.

Mind Me Mind You - Primary Schools' Programme

The Primary Schools’ Programme ‘Mind Me – Mind You’ is designed in line with the well-being curriculum to support teachers in building the foundations of good mental health education and well-being in children.

It fosters the creation of healthy relationships, personal development and skills central to maintaining future health and well-being.

The topic for September 2024 is 'Wellbeing'.

Léigh sa Bhaile

1st to 6th Class use the book Léigh sa Bhaile.

The Léigh sa Bhaile series encourages daily reading practice, which is a key element in promoting literacy.

The series aims to develop not only the children’s reading and comprehension skills, but their oral language skills also. To ensure proper pronunciation and development in oral language, a free audio version of the book is available on MyCJFallon and can be used by parents, teachers and students.

Click on the link to access each class - https://my.cjfallon.ie/dashboard/student-resources

Then choose subject, click on Leigh sa Bhaile Series (new or old) and then book title.

Friday Weekly Mass

We welcome Fr. Steve Ciubotaru to our Parish.

The pupils from 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th class attended Mass on Friday 13th September 2024, they will continue to do this every Friday.

4th to 6th Class Violin Lessons

Once again we have been chosen by Music Generation to participate in their violin lessons for this school year 2024/25.

Music Generation will provide all the violins for 4th to 6th class which will be on loan to the school for the year.

Music Generation is in partnership with the Department of Education and therefore is part funded by the Department.

This commenced on Friday 13th September 2024 and will continue until Friday 9th May 2025.

Parent Information Meeting

We thank all Parents/Guardians who attended the Parents' Information Meeting on Wednesday 11th September 2024 at 7pm.

We appreciate the staff giving their time to make this meeting a success.

Cumann na mBunscoil

The boys and girls football teams are busy training at lunch times in preparation for this competition.

The captains of the boys team are Louie and Charlie.

The boys first match will be played on Tuesday 10th September 2024 at home.

The captains of the girls team are Moya and Megan.

The girls first match will be played on Thursday 12th September 2024 at home.

We wish them the best of luck in their games ahead.

The match reports can be viewed on the class page of 5th and 6th.

Online Training for SNA's

We thank our SNA's for completing a course on Tuesday 3rd September 2024.

This course is to support behaviour and building relationships through a trauma informed approach.

School Visit

We thank Fr. Declan Kelly for visiting our school on Tuesday 3rd September 2024.

He will continue to visit our school on a weekly basis.

Playtown

On hire for one week from Monday 2nd September 2024, the children have the use of a play town which is set up in our school hall.

This will implement aspects of Aistear , Síolta and the Primary Curriculum Framework.

We are sure the children will have tremendous fun playing with this.

Our teaching and support staff are the heart of our school and we thank them for their dedication and work in ensuring that all aspects of school life will be maintained to the highest standards.

Principal and Deputy Principal

Mrs. Daly – Principal

Ms. Friel – Deputy Principal

Class, SET and EAL Teachers

Junior Infants - Ms. McEnroy

Senior Infants - Ms. Murnaghan

1^st and 2^nd Class - Mr. O’Neill

3^rd Class - Ms. Crosby

4^th Class - Mrs. O’Sullivan

5^thand 6^th Class - Ms. Heeney

Ladybirds - Ms. Friel

Butterflies – Mr. Carter

SET: Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Wall, Ms. Jordan and Ms. McLoughlin

EAL: Ms. McFadden

SNA Support Team

Mrs. Sandra Murphy, Mrs. Myriam Nulty, Mrs. Alison Heraty, Mrs. Debbie O’Reilly, Mrs. Gillian Whearty and Mrs. Ruth Traynor.

School uniform this year is navy tracksuit.

Uniform is navy tracksuit bottoms / shorts and navy round neck crested top and a light blue polo shirt.

Leggings in any colour and other active wear are not permitted as school tracksuit.

Parents will receive a text if their child comes to school in anything other than navy tracksuit bottoms/shorts, navy round neck top and a light blue polo shirt.

Navy school crests can be purchased from the school at €5 each.

Earrings / jewellery are not permitted in school for health and safety reasons.

Please ensure all items are labelled.