Due to Staff Training tomorrow, Solas students should remain at home all day tomorrow. They can return as normal on Thursday. We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause you, but you understand how important staff training is to the quality of care which your sons receive in Solas. Thank you.

Reminder to all that classes will end at 3.45pm on Wednesday 12th October. The 6th year PTM will begin at 4.15 until 6.45 pm. This is an important opportunity to meet with your son's teachers and our first opportunity to do it in person for this group since before March 2019. Thank you.

All past pupils, their families and anyone who has had an interest or connection with St Mary's CBS Portlaoise in the past or present is invited to our planned activities over the course of 3 days:

On Thursday, at 12 noon, Bishop Denis Nulty will celebrate Mass in the Parish Church for all our students and staff. We welcome anyone who wishes to join us in that celebration.

On Friday morning, the GPA in our school will have a photographic display of the past - both in the recent past and those photos taken in the earlier part of the 1900's. Past students have been invited to return and speak to our current students about their time in school and treats will be provided for all. All our students in the Borris Road will be able to view the photos on display - hundreds of them taken during the 12 years we have spent in the Borris Road campus. They can also get a taste of what Portlaoise was like in 1847 when the Christian Brothers came to Portlaoise to educate the poor and destitute, the mission of Edmund Rice himself, their founder.

That evening, we will hold an event from 5-7.30 pm, again in the GPA. The display of photos will be there for those who possibly remember the times past. We will have a few short words from various people relevant to our school, beginning at 6.30 along with finger food and refreshments. After 7.30 we will make our way to Kavanagh's Pub on Main Street for some craic agus ceol which several bands providing the music.

We are taking this opportunity to launch our new school Crest, which you can view on this app. It is the first crest which Portlaoise CBS has ever had which is our own unique design - with images chosen to represent our origins on Tower Hill, the hands of friendship clasping, the book representing our academic studies, the community of different people who come together to make St Mary's what it is and of course the various sports our students represent us in. 

Finally on Saturday morning, there will be a Golf Classic in Mountrath Golf Course. The details for this will be put up on the App tomorrow, Tuesday. 

We really look forward to greeting familiar faces, old friends and renewing old connections. It should be a great weekend.