Please read the HSE letter about the free flu vaccine for young people and how important it is that as many as possible receive it this winter. Thank you.

TY Activities for the upcoming week:

Hi all, 

Monday 11th    – Christmas Fair

The Christmas Fair will take place after school today.

Tuesday 12th   –  Work Experience

TY students are on work experience all day.

Wednesday 13th –  TY JIGSAW Workshops

Workshop 1

TYA – RF36 – 9.30-11.00

TYB – Room TBC - 9.30-11.00  

Workshop 2

TYC – RF36 – 11.15-12.45

TYD – Room TBC - 11.15-12.45   

(Supervision will be provided and students will be in class from 12.45-1.00)

TYC & TYD will return to timetabled class as normal for 1.00pm and take lunch from 1.15-2.00pm.

Thursday 14th – 

Friday 15th  – 

⁠Transition Year 2023/24

Good evening. This is not a topic I wish to raise, however it is necessary. I am aware that everyone in the country is feeling the rising cost of fuel, energy, insurance, mortgages etc. And so are schools. 

We have always had a very reasonable way of charging students going on a bus - it has been €5 euros per trip whether they went to Newbridge or Longford. We have maintained this price up to now, while we are aware that other schools have asked their students/parents for larger payment. Some primary schools even divide the full cost of the bus between everyone going and add it to the cost of the trip. Others ask for a flat rate of €12 or more. We have looked at it from every angle, should it be class trips which are curricular, or should it be sports - or should it be both? To be fair, we are charging everyone the same amount. The price of most buses which leave here on any morning are €600. You can do the maths and see how much the school is adding to that to cover the full cost - approximately €300- €350 per bus. This is not sustainable.  

From next week, all students who go on a bus trip for a match or a school trip or an extra-curricular activity will be asked for 10 euros in the morning before they go. We are finalising the set up of a SumUp card machine which will allow Revolut and other cards to be tapped.

This pains me to ask families for this, especially from those students who are representing the school and may be on more than one team. However, the extra 'cost of living grant' which the Department of Education sent to us before and after Christmas has only covered our bus fees since September. Nothing else, no heating, gas, electricity, etc. 

All I can say is thank you all for the good will and the support which we receive from our school community, it makes our job a very positive one. 

St. Mary’s CBS 8-16 Heywood CS 3-11

Our Junior footballers got their South Leinster campaign off to a good start against Heywood CS on Friday last. With CBS captain Darren Brennen wining the toss and choosing to play with the wind, we took a commanding lead in the first 15 minutes of the game, notching up 2-4 without reply. With the strong wind, the game was effectively over at half time, with CBS having a great spread of scorers from Darren Brennan, Oran Darcy, Conor O’Callaghan, Joe Larkin, Josh Finn and Sean Tuohy to name a few.

The 2nd half was much more challenging against the wind but midfielders Dan Downey and Cormac Deegan defended heroically, led by centre back Sean Powders.

Our next game is at home against Naas CC on Monday, December 11th at 12.30pm.

Any parent who wishes their 1st year son to receive his vaccination in school tomorrow, Wed 7th February, must complete and send into school the Form given out some weeks ago. The HSE are finished here in school tomorrow. It will be far more awkward to receive vaccinations once they move to a clinic or GPs office. Thank you.