Applications for Transition Year 2024/25 at St. Mary’s CBS Portlaoise  are now open! 

To secure a place, please complete the application form via the link below:
  https://forms.office.com/e/wH24XKqwP0

We encourage you to submit the form as soon as possible to ensure consideration. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the school.

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to an exciting year ahead for our future TY students! 

Dear parents 

Can you please double check with your sons if they have had any correspondence  from the CAO. Final completion of the online HEAR and DARE forms must be done tomorrow, March 1st at 5pm.
For example anyone applying for DARE must complete section A ( Questions 1-5) on their CAO profile.

https://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=dare
https://www.cao.ie/index.php?page=hear

Thank you. 

Dear Staff, Students, and Parents,

We are thrilled to announce that our highly anticipated TY Musical – Grease is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for April 1st, 2nd & 3rd, when our talented students will take to the stage to bring this classic musical to life.

 Tickets are selling fast!  
There are very few seats remaining  for some performances, so if you haven’t secured your tickets yet, don’t miss out!

 Book your tickets now:
Click here to purchase tickets

Join us for an unforgettable night of music, dance, and fun as we transport you back to the rockin’ 1950s with the iconic story of Danny, Sandy, and the Rydell High gang.

We can’t wait to see you there for an electrifying performance!

Supporting Children With Anxiety on February 24th at 6.30-7.30pm

Supporting Children with Anxiety

Live Online Webinar for Parents, Teachers and Professionals

We invite you to join our live webinar - Supporting Children with Anxiety - designed to help parents, teachers and professionals better understand and support children struggling with anxiety.

Anxiety can significantly impact a child’s daily life, learning and emotional well-being. Children experiencing anxiety may face:

• Difficulty concentrating in class due to racing thoughts and excessive worry
• Avoidance of certain activities or social situations, fearing judgment or failure
• Physical symptoms like headaches, stomach-aches or dizziness, often mistaken for medical conditions
• Struggles with transitions and unexpected changes in routine, leading to distress
• Sleep disturbances due to overthinking or night-time fears
• Emotional outbursts or withdrawal when feeling overwhelmed
• Perfectionism and excessive self-criticism, leading to frustration and burnout

This webinar will provide practical, research-based strategies for recognizing anxiety in children and offering meaningful support. Whether you’re a parent, teacher or professional, you will gain valuable tools to help children manage anxiety, build resilience and thrive in their daily lives.

Date & Time: Tuesday Feb 24th at 6.30-7.30pm
Location: Online (link provided upon registration)
️ Register here: Click here to register

We hope you can join us for this informative session. Please feel free to share this with colleagues or parents who may find it helpful.

Best regards,

Dr Lorraine
 

• Being caught up in the ‘shoulds’ & ‘what-ifs’ of motherhood
• Teetering on the edge, afraid of what comes next
• Letting their early years pass you by and
• Isolating yourself from meaningful connections & experiences

• Reconnecting with the things you love without guilt or shame
• Taking control of your life & finding a balance that works for you and
• Connecting with mothers who have been through the same struggles as you

Understanding how trauma impacts children, how this presents and how professionals can support children who have been impacted

Go to Working With Children Who Have Experienced Trauma »

Understand how Anxiety presents itself, the impact on the whole child & strategies that be implemented in the classroom

Go to Working With Children With Anxiety »

Learn about the physical, emotional, social and educational impact of Dyspraxia or DCD on the whole child

Go to Working With Children With Dyspraxia »

Press reset and breathe - learn how to mind your mind and embody your body

Go to Mind Your Mind, Teacher »

Learn how to manage behaviour through communication and relationships

Go to Understanding Restorative Practice »

Learn about what exactly Anxiety is and how it manifests in our children's bodies and brains

Go to Understanding Anxiety in Schoolchildren »

• St. Mary's CBS, Portlaoise
• Scoil Chriost Ri, Portlaoise
• Portlaoise College, Portlaoise
• Athy College, Portlaoise
• Heywood Community School, Abbeyleix
• Dunamase College, Portlaoise
• Ardscoil na Triodnoide, Athy.

• Applicants must be active members of People First Credit Union and meet AML compliance requirements (valid Photo ID and Proof of Address).
• Only one application per student will be included in the draw.
• Applicants must be entering (for the first time) into a third-level course or a similar Level 5 course in September 2025 with a minimum duration of one year.
• People First Credit Union reserves the right to assess and confirm whether a course qualifies for the award.
• Upon request, applicants must provide proof of acceptance and attendance for the first year of the eligible course.

• Rian Maher- St. Mary's CBS
• Sorina Stratu- Portlaoise College
• Tara Ring- Scoil Chriost Ri
• Sadhbh Bergin- Dunamase College
• Ava Churchouse- Heywood CS
• Oisin O'Donohue- Ardscoil na Trionoide
• Elizabeth Byrne-  Athy College

Dear T.Y and 3rd year parents

When your son returns from the break we are straight into Senior Cycle Subject Choice. This is an important decision for any incoming 5th year to make.

The guidance department will be holding subject choice workshops for third years ( Wednesday 26th)  and transition year students ( Monday 24th of February) on the week we come back.

There will be a parents information evening to look at Subject Options for Senior Cycle and Transition Year on Thursday the 27th of February at 7pm. 

The following week on Tuesday the 4th of March we will be inviting all incoming 5th year students to engage in a taster day on all subject options on offer.

In advance of all this preparation, we encourage your sons to look at the resources below and begin to think about and discuss with your son their senior cycle subject options.

Helpful Resources

Link to Our School Subject booklet
Senior Cycle Subject Options Booklet CBS Portlaoise 2025.pdf

Link to careers portal information on Senior cycle subjects
https://careersportal.ie/school/subject_explorer_more.php?parent=2034&ed_sub_cat_id=393&menu_parent_id=

Link to video on how to use careers portal to research courses
https://youtu.be/GVOqSEDHrTM?si=o6ncB14OF37tvMb8

Link to a video which advises on picking your Leaving Certificate
https://youtu.be/DSoSkx6l4qc?si=lUbKKOvIaXchrux-