St. Brendan's Boys Primary School

Great event for the boys again this year.

Trials were held in 3rd / 4th / 5th / 6th classes to find a team of 4 boys from each class.

Boys traveled to Tullamore Harriers on Friday 6th October 2017 to compete.

All boys ran well with medals winner in individual runs from Ruairi and Danny- Also 5th class boys cam 2nd in team event.

Thanks to Mr Crofton and Mr Cunningham for taking them.

St Brendan’s PS

Dear Parents,                                                                           4^th  October 2017

There will be no school on Wednesday 11^th October 2017 due to a full day professional development seminar for the new Primary Language Curriculum for English and Irish. This closure is under the direction of the Department of Education and Skills.

We have co – ordinated our closure with Mercy Primary School, who will also be closed on the day.

Kind regards,

__________________

Niall Crofton

(School Principal)

St.Brendan’s PS                   School Calendar 2017/ 2018

School reopens                                                                           Thursday  31^st August 2017

Mid Term Break                                      Closing                      Friday 27^th   October 2017

Re-opening               Monday 6^th    November 2017

Christmas Holidays                               Closing                        Friday  22^nd December 2017                                                                                                                                                                            Re-opening                 Monday 8^th January 2018

Mid Term Break                                    Closed                         Thursday 15^th  February 2018

Closed                         Friday 16^th February 2018

St. Patricks day                                     Closed                         Monday 19^th March

* Easter Holidays                                  Closing                       Friday 23^rd March  2018

Re-opening                Monday 9^th  April 2018

May Bank Holiday weekend                  Closed                         Monday  7^th   May 2018

Closed                         Tuesday  8^th    May 2018

June Bank Holiday weekend                 Closed                         Friday 1^st   June 2018

Closed                         Monday 4^th   June 2018

Closed                         Tuesday 5^th  June 2018

Summer Holidays                                   Closing                                    Thursday 28^th  June 2018

* The Department of Education and skills has informed all schools that they may stay open for up to 3 days (During Easter Holidays) to make up for any time lost due to unforeseen closures if these occur during the school year 2016/2017. Eg: Weather

Kind regards,

____________

Niall Crofton (Principal)

We raised the Green flag for Bio-diversity at the end of June also. The committee spoke about all the work that had been carried out by pupils and teachers. The flag was raised by Mrs Lonergan and then all the boys got to get some ice-cream from the van. Thanks to our fantastic Parents Association for sponsoring the ice- creams which were very popular on the day!

School reopens for pupils on Thursday 31st August and we wish pupils and families a happy and safe summer.

End of year awards hold a special place in our hearts as they celebrate our young peoples achievements at school while remembering those from our school community who have sadly passed away. Special trophies and awards have been created over the years and June is a special time where we invite members of the various families back to St Brendans to present these awards to the next generations.

The Brother Finian Cup for the 6th class long race was won by Ben Miller
The McManus Cup ( Special Achievement Award) was won by Nanghal Khan
The Derek Maher Trophy (Student of the year) was won by Damien Delaney
The Aidan Rosney Cup (Snr Hurler of the year) was won by Darragh McNamara
The Kenneth Fox cup (Winning Capt of Senior Hurling league) was won by Ailbe Watkins.
The St.Brendans Cup (Winning Capt.Of Junior Hurling League) was won by Ruairi Mooney.
The Junior Hurler of the year went to James Carroll.
The Johnny Cleary Cup( Most Improved Hurler) was won by Canice Stevenson (6th).
Annual spelling bee champion Damien Delaney.

St Brendan’s PS Birr past and present came together on Friday 23rd June 2017 to celebrate the teaching career of its Deputy Principal Mr Niall Kelly. Niall began his teaching career back on 1st September 1981 when he walked through the gates of St Brendan’s Boys Primary school and has taught the boys of Birr with passion and commitment each year for 36 years. The school celebrated this achievement and thanked him for his service at our end of year mass in our wonderfully decorated school hall. The theme of the mass was “ Light and sunshine” which was celebrated by Fr David Carroll. A candle was lit in memory of our dear friend Tommy at the beginning accompanied by a medley of special songs by the boys. The current pupils of the school did themselves proud with beautiful song ,music and reading during the mass.

The school surprised Mr Kelly by organising some of his former teaching colleagues from the Presentation Brothers to attend. We were delighted to welcome Brother Andrew, Brother Ultan, Brother Vincent and Brother DePaul who was principal of the school when Niall was teaching. At the end of the mass some presentations were made to Niall and his wife Assumpta from the Parents Association ( Caroline Boyd) and the Board of Management ( Fiona Ward and Adrian Sheils). Indeed it was fitting that Adrian and Luke Sheils made presentations on the day with Adrian being a pupil in Niall’s first class in the school and his son Luke being in Niall’s school guitar band during his final year this year. The boys then all sang a song composed by the amazing Majella Killeen about Niall’s life and teaching which did bring a tear to the eye. Then Niall spoke and thanked all involved in his wonderful journey over the past 36 years. He was looking forward to retirement but can look back proudly and fondly at his teaching career in Birr. He wished all associated with St Brendan’s PS well into the future.

Wednesday 14th June – 5th and 6th class boys with Offaly sports partnership

Jersey day—June 2017
Thanks to all for your donations to Jersey day last Friday. The total raised was €177.05 A cheque for €100 was sent to Faithful Fields GAA through Cumann na mbunscoil with €77.05 being donated to the Birr U14 Feile team fund.

We were delighted to link up with Birr responders again this year to upskill in the area of CPR and First Aid. The staff of the school did after-school sessions with David McEvoy and all agreed that it was an excellent course to do and a great skill to have in life.
David then organized Ross and Christina to do a day course with our 6th class pupils and their parents. The boys really got stuck and we were delighted to have so many parents attend. Thanks to Ms.Treacy, Rose Harte and Carambola for the tea and sandwiches. Sincere thanks to Birr Responder group for being so generous with their time and expertise. David McEvoy pledged to try train 1000 people this year and I believe our school brought him near 700 so that’s fantastic going to all concerned.