A reminder that the school now has a permanent used clothes collection bank if you are doing any Spring clear-outs. This is a Parents' Association fundraiser. Bags can be dropped off at anytime that the school is open. Drop the bags anytime that school is open.

There is also an unwanted loose LEGO collection fundraiser bank in school for the Jack and Jill Foundation. 

Parents' Association meeting next Monday (19th February) in school at 7pm- new members always welcome

HFSS Parents' Association

Congrats to Ava Rock who represented the school in the Leinster Schools' Championship last weekend. Ava won a silver medal in the 400m front crawl. Well done Ava!

Post-Primary Languages Ireland, a dedicated unit of the Department of Education, is organising an information session on the Polish Leaving Certificate specification, portfolio, and sample papers. It aims to help students and parents to become familiar with the curriculum and identify suitable supports for the study, mostly for those who do not have access to the classes in school.

The information session will take place on 27th of February 2024, at 7 p.m. and will be hosted online.

To participate in the session, register using the following link here

Polish at post-primary level in Ireland. Information session for parents and students. Język polski w szkołach średnich w Irlandii. Sesja informacyjna dla rodziców i uczniów.

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 languagesconnect.ie/leaving-cert-polish-faqs/

Bishop Denis has asked that all schools would join in a Pause for Peace on February 1 (St. Brigid’s Day). This is a Global Call to Pray for Peace and HFSS will participate in this call for solidarity at this time of conflict in so many parts of our troubled world.

The Pause for Peace Ecumenical Prayer Service: ‘Celebrating St. Brigid. Brigid 1500: A Service of Thanksgiving’ will be led by Bishop Denis and Bishop Pat Storey from the Church of Ireland. This will be live-streamed from St Brigid’s Cathedral in Kildare on 1st February and can be viewed using the following link: https://brigid1500.ie/event/ecumenical-service-in-st-brigids-cathedral-kildare/. The Prayer Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on St Brigid’s Day.

St. Brigid was a renowned peacemaker and the legend of St Brigid giving away her father’s sword so that it could be bartered for food for a hungry family is a source of inspiration to many.

Our school statue of St. Brigid in the HFSS reception area reminds us every day to strive for peace and to be mindful of how we all must work together for peace to be achieved, and maintained.

For more information about St. Brigid and the 1500 commemoration celebrations 

brigid1500.ie

Wishing you all a very happy St. Brigid's Day.

The Board of Management is delighted to share with the school community that Holy Family Secondary School has been granted approval, from the Department of Education, to plan for a significant permanent school extension following the application to improve school facilities and increase student capacity.

The new build will include more Science labs, a new Home Economics Studies suite (including a Craft Room), Music Room, Graphics Room and more classrooms. Importantly, the extended build will also include a Special Education Suite and all ancilliary accommodation. 

This extension will take time to come to fruition, however, this is a very exciting new phase in our school's history and it is one that the school has been lobbying steadily for in recent years. This aim was set out as a target in our current School Plan, 'By 2026'.

www.holyfamily.ie/policy-2/

Please find attached the timetable for lunchtimes and after school activities.

As a school we are focused on developing our ‘Whole School Approach to Wellbeing’.  Engaging in sporting or extracurricular activities enables students to develop teamwork, communication, relationships, and a sense of belonging, all of which helps students to develop socially and be successful in school.  Participating in sporting or extracurricular activities helps students develop their self-esteem and helps develop life skills.  It provides students with opportunities to take a break from their studies and is proven to boost academic performance overall.  We encourage our students to participate in some activities.

A reminder, as per the school calendar, there will be NO SCHOOL for students this Thursday 25th January due to a staff JCT training day.