Dear Parents / Guardians,
We hope you are all well. Our news is as follows:
- STEM Week: Next week, Bunscoil Bhríde will be celebrating STEM Week, a special week dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. We have a number of exciting events planned. Fifth Class will visit Mount Lucas Wind Farm in Co. Offaly on Monday, where they will learn about wind energy. On Wednesday, Third and Fourth Class will take part in a biodiversity and LEGO workshop with Jessica Farrell. Throughout the week, classes will also complete maths trails and take part in various engineering and science experiments. The week will culminate in our annual Science Fair on Friday. All of our classes will attend the Science Fair, hosted in our school hall, by Fifth and Sixth Class, and always a highlight of STEM Week. I want to thank our STEM Co-ordinators, Ms. Ryan and Ms. Gleeson for organising all of the activities for STEM Week. Photographs of the events will be available on our school website.
- Concern Primary Debating Competition: We are thrilled to announce that the Bunscoil Bhríde Debating Team won their most recent debate and have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the competition! The team will take on Scoil Mochua, Celbridge in the next round, where they will oppose the motion “Tourism does more harm than good.” The debate will take place during the week of 8th December. We wish our debaters and their teachers Ms. Costello and Ms. Dillon the very best of luck with their preparation.
- Basketball: We are delighted to share that our basketball team opened the season with two fantastic victories. Last Wednesday, the girls delivered an excellent performance in their first match against Scoil Bhríde, Kilcullen, securing a 6–0 win. They followed this with another strong showing yesterday, defeating Scoil Phadraig Naofa, Athy, with a final score of 10–4. With these two wins, we are thrilled to announce that the team has now qualified for the semi-finals, which will take place in the new year. The girls have shown tremendous skill, teamwork, and determination in both matches, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts. Our final group game will take place at home next Wednesday against St Brigid’s N.S., Kildare Town. Training will resume on Tuesday after school. I want to thank Ms. Gleeson and Ms. Flood for giving so generously of their time in coaching the girls voluntarily after school each week.
- New GAA and Basketball kits: We were delighted at Bunscoil Bhríde to recently receive our brand-new GAA and basketball kits. The teams are thrilled with the final results, and we would like to extend our gratitude to our generous local sponsors, Anam Sauna and Ryan’s Pharmacy, who covered the full cost of the kits. There was great excitement throughout the school when the delivery arrived, and it was wonderful to capture photos with our sponsors during their visit last week. We are delighted to see such strong community involvement in our school and truly appreciate the support of these local businesses. We’re hopeful that our new kits will bring us a little extra luck on the court and the pitch in the months ahead!
- Creative Rathangan workshop: Ms. Geraghty’s and Ms. Dillon’s Second Classes took part in the ‘Beyond the classroom’, Creative Rathangan Meitheal (CRM) 2025 outdoor Autumn workshop in Tannery Park and a follow-on workshop in Rathangan Library on Friday last. Ms. McEvoy’s Third Class will engage with the workshop on Friday 5th December. The workshops are facilitated by local artist, Monica de Bath and biodiversity specialist, Nuala Madigan, and involve the children observing, sketching and getting to know the little creatures who live in the trees, the ground and the water near our village.
- Christmas Craft workshop: AideenCross has very kindly volunteered to engage Ms. Dillon’s First and Second Class in a Christmas Craft Workshop on Tuesday 2nd December. We look forward to seeing their festive creations.
- Chess Club: Chess lessons for Fifth and Sixth Class have recommenced and take place on Wednesdays after school, from 2.30p.m. to 3.30p.m. These lessons are for both beginners, as well as experienced chess players. Everyone in Fifth and Sixth Class is welcome to come along and join. We are hoping to take part in a chess tournament after Christmas. I want to thank Ms. Marrinan for giving so generously of her time in running our Chess Club.
- Acceptance of Offers of places in Junior Infants 2026/27: The deadline for receipt of Acceptance of Offer forms for the 2026/27 school year is tomorrow. Acceptance forms have been sent to the parents of all children who have been offered a place in the school for the 2026/27 school year (this is only new entrants and does not apply to pupils already enrolled in the school).
- Book Club: Our new Scholastic Book Club is up and running! Go tohttps://schools.scholastic.ie/scoil-bhride-n/digital-book-club to browse the latest books and order online. For every €1 you spend on this month’s Book Club, our school will earn 20c in Scholastic rewards. Please note, there is no obligation on any family to purchase books. We are running this Book Club for families who wish to purchase books for their children, as the books retail significantly cheaper than in other bookshops.
- Annual Child Safeguarding Review: Our new draft Child Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment (relating to Child Protection), is available to view on our school website www.bunscoilbhride.ie We are currently beginning the annual process of reviewing this Child Safeguarding Statement and would welcome your feedback on these policy documents. We would be grateful if you would take a moment to complete the survey at the following link to provide us with feedback to inform our review (if you have not already done so) – https://forms.gle/9eQ6cnZ6mWP5uABN8
- Communion Enrolment Meeting: Fr Bill will host a meeting for the parents of children who wish to receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion this year, in the church at 7pm on Wednesday 3rd December. Please see letter shared with all parents of Second Class children for more information.
- Reminder re. Primary School Survey: The Department of Education isconducting an important survey on Primary Schools and is asking that all parents engage with the survey. The survey can be accessed at the following link: http://www.gov.ie/primaryschoolsurvey You will need your Eircode to complete the survey. Further information about the survey can be found at: http://www.gov.ie/primaryschoolsurvey
- The Department of Education and Youth have asked us to share information about Oíche na hÓige / Youth Night 2025, taking place this Friday, 21 November. The attached poster about Oíche na hÓige/Youth Night 2025 includes a QR code where you can find details of events happening across the country this Friday 21st November. Oíche na hÓige will see hundreds of youth clubs and services open their doors to celebrate their members, and their youth workers and volunteers, and to build awareness of youth work in your community. The Department of Education and Youth encourages everyone to find out what’s happening in their area and join in. More information is also available on gov.ie/youthnight
Kind regards,
Maria Rogerson