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!
Chairperson
Ms Joana Nunes has been appointed as the new Chairperson of St Brigid's GNS. Joana has worked on the Board as a parent representative and is well informed on all negotation processes and new policy formations that the school are currently involved in. We welcome this decision by our patron and we are most grateful to Joana for accepting this position.
Staff
Welcome back to Ms Flynn, Ms Kenny and Ms Furey who have returned from leave. Welcome also to our many new staff members: Ms Sinéad Stack (junior infants), Ms Anna Grainger (senior infants), Mr Darragh Kitt (third class), Ms Eileen Roe (fifth class) and Mr Pablo Higuera (SET)
Condolences
We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the O'Meara family on the recent passing of our esteemed colleague Irene O'Meara. Irene was a wonderful asset to the Brigid's community for many years where she worked as our cleaning lady and as our "Master of Keeping All Things in Order!" She had a wonderful sense of humour and kept us all on our toes! Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
Open Day
This year we will host our first Open Day for prospective students who would like to enrol in our school for the academic year 2026 2027. This will be an opportunity for families in the local community to visit our school on a working day and to get a sense of our wonderful atmosphere and progressive culture. Further information on the date and time of our open day will be shared in the coming weeks.
Important Info
Mobility Survey
To inform the design of our new special class build, we are collecting data on how our students come to school. We would be most grateful if you could take a moment to complete our mobility survey by clicking the button below if you have not already filled it in on aladdin.
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 have introduced a "wellie day" initiative. One day per week students from junior infants to 1st class play on the grass at yard time at both breaks. Students are asked to wear wellies on their grass/wellie day. See timetable below:
PE Days
Communication
Parents wishing to communicate with the class teacher can do so in the following ways:
If you want to simply pass on a message to your child or the teacher e.g. Can you let Sarah know Granny is collecting her, please email the message to info@stbrigidsgns.ie with FAO: The Teacher's Name as the subject. This message will be passed on straight away to the teacher. Alternatively phone the office and Paula will pass on the message.
If you wish to discuss something with the class teacher, provide personal context for your child or address any issues please email info@stbrigidsgns.ie requesting a phone call or a meeting with the class teacher. It is our school policy that some context be provided as to the nature of the phone-call/meeting so please give a brief description of the context in your email. For example:
- to address concern with academic progress/social interaction/wellbeing
- to discuss personal matter
- to query an incident
- to provide updated information on my child
- to clarify homework/parental involvement in../event details etc.
There will be a 48hour window for teachers to respond. If you have an Urgent request to meet/speak to the teacher please phone the office on 01 8315138.
Parents' Evening
Wednesday 17th 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 Shiels 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 17th September.
Spanish
We are delighted to take part in the PPLI scheme this year funded by the Department of Education. Brady Languages will facilitate weekly hour long lessons in Spanish with our fifth and sixth classes. This exposure to a third language is a fantastic opportunity for our senior students! Esperamos escuchar español en los pasillos de la escuela!
New Sports Equipment
Our Green School Committee led the way in organising the Re-Turn bottles and cans initiative during the last term. Thanks to the support from pupils and their families, we raised €242. This money has been used to buy some new P.E. equipment for the school, including skipping ropes, hula hoops and GAA footballs. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed!
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
- Confirmation- 21st May 2025
- Communion- 23rd May 2025
Lunches
Due to a departmental delay in releasing procurement procedures our hot meals service will be delayed until the new year. The Lunch Bag will continue their service in the school.
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.
Choir
Choir will start next Tuesday 9th September at 8am. Students from 4th-6th classes who wish to be part of the choir are invited to attend. Rehearsals are every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings before school.
Upcoming Events
Wake Up Shake Up
Wake Up Shake Up will take place Friday 26th September, weather permitting. Wake Up Shake Up will take place once per month (the last Friday) for this academic year. All parents and family members are welcome to attend- and join in!
Flu Vaccine
This year our school will take part in the Flu Vaccinations Season 2025 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