Welcome Back!
A special welcome to our new Junior Infant & Special Class students and to their families! Welcome to the St Brigid's GNS community- we hope starting school is a wonderful experience for you! Welcome also to our many new students entering different year groups throughout the school- go n-éirí libh i bhur ranganna nua!
Staff
Welcome back to Ms Reilly and Ms Costello who have returned from leave. Welcome also to our many new staff members: Ms Orla Burgoyne (senior infants), Ms Rebecca Thomas (SET), Mr Ben Conway (SET), Ms Lauren Hughes (SET), Ms Eimear Conally (SET), Karen May (Bus Escort), Claire O'Connor (SNA), Emer Cleary (SNA) and Lorna Brady (SNA)
Well Wishes
We would like to wish Ms Lisa Hayes the very best of luck as she leaves our teaching staff and embarks on her new career in design with her fantastic company Fabric. We also say goodbye to Ms Eva Furey and wish her well in her exciting career in special education in Australia.
Developments
Special Class
We are so proud and excited to open our first special class in St Brigid's GNS which caters to the needs of students with autism. We have currently re-purposed room 23 as our special class. A special word of thanks to Paula, Noel and Ms Dempsey for their time spent over the summer holidays in preparation for the opening of this class.
Today was a......
........day at school.
Co-Education (Mixed School)
A request for information from the Board of Management
We would like to ask parents of our school community to share your thoughts on becoming a mixed school (enrolling both boys and girls) by clicking the Co. Education button below. Please submit your answer before 12pm this Friday 6th September. This is purely for information gathering purposes for our Board of Management. It bears no influence in any formal processes that may take place in the future. Nor is this survey an indication of possible changes. It is solely so that we (the Board of Management) may be best informed in upcoming talks with our patrons when discussing the future of St Brigid's Girls National School.
Wellies
Our junior yard consists of 2 spaces- the grass and the astro. The grass area has a lot of play equipment like our newly installed nest swing, the yellow bus, the mud kitchen, the climbing pod and much more. In an effort to enable smoother running and supervision of the junior yard we are going to introduce a "wellie day" initiative. One day per week students from junior infants to 1st class will get to play on the grass at yard time at both breaks. Students are asked to wear wellies on their grass/wellie day. See timetable below:
Quiet Space
In response to the needs of many of our students, we have re-purposed room 18 as a calm/quiet room. This will provide a space for students who need somewhere quiet to regulate or be still for a few moments during the school day.
Parents' Evening
Wednesday 18th September
We would like to invite you to our beginning of the year information meeting (20-30mins). Parents are invited to the school hall where our principal, Ms Wickham and deputy principal, Ms Howard will briefly welcome you and share some whole school information for the new academic year. Parents will then be invited to visit their daughter's classroom and meet their teacher. Teachers will go through expectations for their class for the year. This is an opportunity to visit the school and learn about the day to day on goings in school. Please note this will not be an opportunity for individual meetings. Individual parent teacher meetings will take place in January. We look forward to seeing you on the 18th September.
School Improvement Plan
Details of how we will be progressing our School Improvement Plan this year will be shared at our parents evening. However, it is important to note two changes/procedures for the coming year:
- Parent Teacher Meetings will take place at the end of January- January 29th & 30th
- As part of our assessment improvement plan, all students will have an online SeeSaw portfolio set up. Details will be shared by class teachers in the coming weeks.
Notices
Calendars
Our shared parents school calendar (Aladdin Connect) is a super way to keep informed of upcoming events. It is frequently updated and contains dates for holidays, Sacraments, thematic weeks e.g. maths week, wellbeing week etc, school tours, inservice planning days and all other relevant information.
Sacrament Dates
- First Confession- 11th March 2025 @1pm
- Confirmation- 8th May 2025
- Communion- 10th May 2025
Milk & Fruit
Milk & fruit will be offered to students for those who wish to take it at lunchtimes. Please note that unfinished milk cartons will be brought home at the end of the day.
After-schools Activities
Roll up, roll up!! Our afterschools activities will be commencing in the coming weeks. You will receive notification on Aladdin regarding activities available for your daughter(s) year groups.
Upcoming Events
Wake Up Shake Up
Wake Up Shake Up will take place this Friday 6th September, weather permitting. Wake Up Shake Up will take place once per month (the last Friday) for this academic year, except in September (twice-beginning & end) and June (every Friday). All parents and family members welcome to attend- and join in!
Flu Vaccine
This year our school will take part in the Flu Vaccinations Season 2024 in partnership with McKee pharmacy. Preparations are underway to provide a free flu vaccination service in school for any student who wants it. Details on parental consent and management will be shared in coming weeks.
Website & Instagram
Keep an eye on our school website and instagram account for school news and events.
"The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”
W.B. Yeats