Notices
Easter Holidays
School will close tomorrow at 11.35 for junior and senior infants and at 11.45 for 1st-6th classes. School will reopen on Monday 28th April.
Easter Bonnet Competition
Our Easter Bonnet Competition takes place tomorrow. Students are invited to design and create an Easter Bonnet/Hairstyle if they wish. There will be two winners per class and they will be announced on Friday. We will have a parade around the school to show off all the wonderful creations!
Summer Uniform
Students are permitted to wear their summer uniform during May and June- school shorts & white polo shirt. On sunny days please make sure your child has suncream applied before coming to school. Black cycling shorts are not part of the school uniform and will not be permitted in school.
Dates for the Diary
Sponsored Walk
Our Parents Association are organising a "Sponsored Walk" for Friday 2nd May to raise much needed funds for our school. Sponsorship cards will be distributed to students before the Easter break.
LightHouse Cinema
Students from 5th and 6th class have been exploring the history of World War I and World War II as part of their SESE curriculum, delving into the causes, key events, and the impact of the wars on people around the world. To deepen their understanding and bring history to life, the students will be attending a special screening of War Horse at the Lighthouse Cinema after the Easter holidays. We are looking forward to it!
Secondary School Workshops
- Manor House: 6th class prospective students of Manor House Secondary School are invited to attend their fun day between 9am and 12pm on Friday 2nd May.
- Chanel College: will host an open day for 5th class students on Wednesday 21st May.
- St Mary's Holy Faith Killester: Our 4th class students were recently invited to St Mary's 2nd Year Sciecne Fest where a number of our past pupils demonstrated their science projects. The girls found the experience super informative and were treated to juice and brownies!
Active Week
Active Week will be taking place the week after the Easter holidays - from Monday, April 28th to Friday, May 2nd. Throughout the week, children will be getting involved in a mix of activities including tag rugby, athletics, cricket, camogie, hockey, yoga and more! Students are welcome to wear their school tracksuit every day that week. We’re really looking forward to a fun, energetic week!
Sacraments
- 8th May: Confirmation-Students from 6th class have been busy preparing for their Confirmation. As part of their journey, they have been learning about the Fruits and Gifts of the Holy Spirit, exploring how these can guide them in their lives. We wish them the very best of luck on their special day.
- 10th May: Communion-Second class are busy preparing songs and prayers for their First Holy Communion.We look forward to celebrating this special day with them and their families.
Grandparents Lunchtime Concert
Our wonderful orchestra and choir will be performing during a lunchtime concert on Tuesday 20th May at 1pm. We are extending a special invitation to grandparents but parents, family members are also welcome to attend- tea & coffee provided! The concert will last approximately 35 minutes. Please enter through the hall door.
Standardised Tests
As part of our assessment of learning (AOL) we will be administering standardised tests in literacy, numeracy and spelling during the month of May. It is important to note that standardised tests are one of the many assessment strategies we use as part of our assessment policy and provide us with a snapshot of specific abilities across the school.
Curriculum & Policies
New Primary Maths Curriculum
Our staff recently engaged in training in the New Primary Maths Curriculum which provides children with playful and engaging learning experiences that promote mathematical thinking. The maths curriculum provides opportunities for children to collaborate, communicate mathematical thinking and express their understanding in multiple ways and in various contexts.
Points of particular interest were:
- How purposeful the curriculum is and it's focus on playful and practical learning experiences which are applicable in the child's everyday life.
- The continuity between this primary maths curriculum and the junior cert. cycle and the promise of reform at leaving cert.
- It is premised on a vision of children as unique in learning styles and therefore we welcome future reforms to standardised testing.
Anti-Bullying-Bí Cineálta Policy
Thank you to all of the parents who recently took part in our anti-bullying survey. Please find the results of the parents survey below. Following input from parents, staff and students our Board of Management have ratified our new Anti-Bullying Bí Cineálta Policy which will be made available on our website also. Our fantastic student council have created a child friendly anti-bullying policy and graphic for display in school- well done girls!
Homework Policy
Following three cycles of School Self-Evaluation on Homework, we have put together our school's Homework Policy. This policy was informed by consultations with parents through our parents assocation, through conversations with our Student Council, taking on board advice from the inspectorate, in review of our SSE processes and in consultation with staff. Sincere thank you to all involved.
School News
Clean Air Research
We are involved with a piece of research called the TwinAir project in collaboration with UCD. This is a research initiative focusing on real-time indoor air quality monitoring in primary and secondary schools across Dublin.
We currently have air monitors installed in 2 of our classrooms and links have been shared with us so that our students can montior our air quality with and without hepa filters, with/without windows open, during school holidays etc. Please find links to both of our purple air devices below!
SEAI
Students from 4th to 6th class took part in an engaging Sustainable Energy workshop led by Alex Reilly from SEAI. They learned about the importance of using renewable energy sources and the environmental impact of fossil fuels. A highlight of the session was the “cookie mining experiment,” where students tried to extract chocolate chips (representing fossil fuels) from cookies. This hands-on activity cleverly demonstrated how difficult and damaging it can be to remove fossil fuels from the earth, helping students understand the need for cleaner, more sustainable energy alternatives. Thank you to the SEAI for facilitating this.
Recycling Fundraiser
After the Easter break, we’re launching a recycling fundraiser to raise funds for our school. We will be collecting undamaged plastic bottles and aluminium or steel cans that have the Re-turn logo on them. We’d be grateful for your support in donating your recyclables!
We’re also looking for a few parent volunteers to help with the disposal of the bottles and cans as we go along. If you’re interested in lending a hand, please email us at parents@stbrigidsgns.ie Thank you for your support!
Autism Awareness Day
Our students enjoyed a number of sensory stations as a part of our autism awareness day on Wednesday 2nd April. Our girls engaged in a number of activities aimed at creating a sense of understanding of sensory differences. The students learned a lot about autism, challenged any misconceptions and developed a greater respect and understanding of individual differences and neurodivergence. We celebrated the fact that everyone has different talents and skills which makes us all unique in our own way!
Junior Achievement
Mrs Delany's fourth class have just finished six wonderful weeks of Junior Achievement led by Rae Pugh from CPL. Watch out for these budding entrepreneurs in the future. Their enthusiasm and commitment to the programme was absolutely fantastic. Well done, everyone!
"Mathematics is the study of the relationships, connections and patterns that surround us, and is thus intrinsic to our concept of the world"
Credits:
Created with an image by wirakorn - "Happy Easter with colorful eggs at paintbrush for do it yourself on the grass with close up from top view"