St. Brendan's Boys Primary School

Happy Birthday St Brendans PS Birr – 142 years old today ! – thanks to Brother Denis for joining Mr Crofton at school gate to acknowledge the proud heritage of Presentation Brothers who founded our lovely school back on Oct 2nd 1878 / covid safe celebrations today to acknowledge the event and please God we can create a gathering in future years – lovely photos of some of our school community this morning ❤️

Thanks to Glanmore foods for helping us celebrate school birthday with 200 individually wrapped muffins today so all the boys could enjoy the birthday in a covid safe way – 😀

St Brendan’s PS School_Response_Plan_2020

PLEASE SEE LINK TO SCHOOL PLAN ABOVE –

Whilst we feel our plan is detailed , safe and achievable- we are still aware that return to the classroom will be different this year ! 🙂

Details of camp and COVID-19 safety arrangements are enclosed in this mail.
Kind regards,
Niall C

Summer camp information for parents

The purpose of this new scheme announced by the Minister of Education in June is to assist pupils who are experiencing social or academic difficulties in language and numeracy and who would benefit from a week-long Summer Camp with a very small teacher-pupil ratio ( 12:1) The aims of the Summer Camp Programme are to:
o Support pupils in literacy and numeracy development
( Through re-establishing some learning routines each day)
o Support pupils’ social, physical and emotional wellbeing ( Through fun and games each day)
o Enable pupils to build relationships with peers, teachers and to support their reconnection
with school
• Provide a variety of rich educational experiences for pupils in a range of environments, fostering a
sense of their wellbeing, belonging and creativity, and which promotes their confidence in learning.
That each pupil would enjoy fun activities such as PE / ART / MUSIC during the day.
Support pupils who have difficulties with READING / MATH by use of technology at the programme.

• Dates- Monday 17th – Friday 21st August 2020
• Venue- St Brendan’s PS Birr
• Teachers- Ms Pilkington / Mr Cunningham / Ms Grace
• Times- 22.5 hours over 5 days: 10am-2.30pm
• COVID19- Schools are required to operate camps in accordance with the relevant public health guidelines so therefore all safety precautions will be in place to protect pupils and staff.
• Cost- Free – Funded by the DES
• No Uniforms- Casual clothes
• Great pupil teacher ratio – 1:12
• Pupils must provide their own transport to and from the camp
• Healthy and filling Lunch provided every day- Rolls / Supermacs on Friday !
• Same school rules- Code of Behaviour applies
• Excursions and activities – castle / park / library – (within health guidelines)
NOTE – We only have 36 valuable places to fill in a school of nearly 200 boys so we ask you to either accept fully or decline a place so that we may pass the offer on to another pupil- 24 hour decisions please

Another zoom milestone ! 1st ever zoom meeting for parents of junior infants starting in September 😀 Thanks to all the parents who managed to join us and thanks to Ms Hennelly and Ms Ryan for their helpful tips and advice 👍 Roll on September 😃

St Brendan’s PS Birr – Class of 2020
We were so proud to say a huge thank you and congratulations to our 24 boys from 6th class last Wednesday night as they “graduated “ primary school.
In light of NPHET recommendations we held a “ virtual Graduation “ via ZOOM which was a great success.
The boys all wore their special “ Class of 2020 “ hoodies which were purchased for them all by our generous Parents Association and BOM.

All were welcomed the large crowd who logged on with passwords and thanked for adapting to use technology for this event.
Mr Crofton then shared a video montage of their photos from the past 8 years and their great activities from this year ( See our YOU TUBE channel)
The boys and their wonderful families heard some words of wisdom from Ms Lena Grace ( class teacher ) and Mr Niall Crofton ( School Principal).
The boys were thanked for their good example and leadership especially during the COVID19 closure where 6th class boys really engaged with school learning activities through SEESAW.
Their stats for May/June were incredible with 79% engagement and 1657 activities / journal entries. Setting the standard and leading from the front !

Mr Cunningham then shared the reflective and thought provoking story of the Pencil / pencil maker.
The boys then shared some of their best and favourite memories with the virtual crowd which was lovely.
Ms Dani Dunne ( SCP) then congratulated the boys on completing a great transition programme this year and wished them well next year at their new schools.
Finally the boys decided to become the 1st ever class at St Brendan’s to create a TIKTOK movie –
We showed their contributions to great fun and laughter.
All that was left was to wish all a safe and happy summer and we will meet for part 2 of the Graduation in late August ( NPHET allowing of course).
The boys will share their traditions hero projects and speeches with the outside crowd for this long standing tradition that hopefully not even COVID19 can stop !
Best wishes to all our school community for the summer break, NC

https://youtu.be/bCpcFTtrJn0 6th class 2020 – Photo movie of their past years at St Brendans PS

https://youtu.be/1aghRIzTejQ 6th class TIKTOK movie !!!

Niall Crofton
(Principal Teacher)

My great Isolation activity pack 2020

St Brendans’s  PS were delighted to be able to create this pack over the past few weeks and deliver one to every pupil in the school. This has been in response to the continued closure of school and the fact that some of our boys may not have free access to pencils and colours. Thanks to the teacher in Dublin who designed the activity book ( containing 36 pages of fun tasks and .. learning !)  and allowed sharing of it – Lucy Harris ( Link to download below)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gasHX74OYHHH4hrrP5Y823FarA_TgnuI/view?usp=sharing

We also sent out packs to our 22 new junior infants ( September 2020) who we might not be able to meet in our usual manner but we are thinking of you all and will work something with you before the end of june.

Thanks to our local SNA / teacher team who put the packs together at home and wrote boys name and address and finally thanks to Birr GAA and Mr Dave Coffey who organised delivery to homes through his willing army of volunteers. Some packs to our pupils who live outside Birr have been posted to hope you all get delivery soon. This has been amazing for our school so thanks to all involved. Hope our boys ( young and old ) enjoy the book and materials in the packs and they help keep you busy at home during this time.

PS – The wristbands are our special way of saying we are thinking of you all- Wear the wristband next week when you are doing your reading , maths , PE lesson and send us in a photo PLEASE – we can stay strong together !!!! NC

A Chara,

Rescheduling of Sacraments of First Holy Communion and remaining Confirmations

At a Council of Priests meeting on-line yesterday it was agreed that it is impossible to give dates for Sacraments as we do not know what advice is going to be given regarding mass gatherings, post May 5^th.  We hope to be clearer at that point.  Following the Health Authority advice – rescheduling of dates for First Holy Communion and Confirmation will then be a decision made in conjunction with Parish, School and Home.  Sorry there is no more clarity at this point.  It may be a possibility to have some ceremonies before Summer, but that will totally depend on what advice is given in the coming weeks.

Confirmation Video

In the mean-time I am forwarding below a link to a Confirmation Resource Video that might be a help for students and teacher of Confirmation.  It might help in the learning process and can be shared via social media if you wish.  Many thanks to Fr. Dariusz in Ennis Parish for his kind assistance and expertise in preparing it.  Grow in Love have also opened up their resources and that also will be helpful for teachers and students.

Vimeo Platform

https://vimeo.com/410747270

YouTube Platform

https://youtu.be/AHfaZInERfI

Wishing you every good wish and blessing in these difficult and challenging times.

Sláinte agus beannachtaí agus le mór-mheas.

+Fintan

+ Fintan Monahan

Westbourne

Cusack Road

Ennis

Co. Clare

V95 W63H

Telephone: +353(0)656828638

https://www.killaloediocese.ie

https://twitter.com/BishopFintan

https://facebook.com/BishopFintanMonahan/

https://www.instagram.com/BishopFintan/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/BishopFintan

COVID 19 message to boys 2020

School meals / lunches provision
The Minister is conscious that a lot of boys and families rely on our school lunches for healthy and nutritious food each day.
Therefore GLANMORE foods are delivering FOOD BOXES to the school this WEDNESDAY morning.
The boxes this week will contain – Milk / Bread / Butter / Bananas / Yogurts / cereal bars etc. The value will be of approx €10 for each child who gets school lunches.
In order to ensure no waste we ask parents to TEXT 0866045024 OR email the school / facebook if you wish to opt in for this food box. This will continue for the 2 weeks of the easter holdays and until the school re-opens.
NOTES-
The text number is Ms Ann Hennelly HSCL- Your text will be kept private.
Collections- Please note this week collection will be at the school and Glanmore foods are looking at AN POST delivery option for next week.
Collection for MERCY PRIMARY / ST BRENDANS PS will both take place from our school yard-shed this wednesday morning – drive up yard / collect box / drive out- No contact with any staff / parents or kids.
Collection times yet to be fixed as we await final numbers involved.
The boxes will have non-perishable items going forwards also when suppliers have been set up.
These boxes are for each pupil and are FREE as your son already gets school lunches.
The lunch scheme works to ensure all boys get same lunch opportunity and so we encourage all families to take up the offer of these boxes to ensure the same high take up !
We ask as many families as possible to avail of these boxes- Spread the word to friends and family via social media. You cannot opt in after our delivery list has been created so get in quick !!!
Text the number with your sons ( daughter from Mercy Primary) name / names by 2pm today at latest.
Gardai will allow you to travel to collect. If you cannot collect due to self isolation etc please let us know as we may be able to arrange a SAFE drop to your doorstep.
Thanking you all for your support in arranging this food measure to ensure all our boys and families are supported during this crisis- Keep safe – Niall C and staff

Every school day counts
– 20/11/19 to 18/12/19 :
20 school days –
61 boys had 100% and got certs and homework vouchers !
Overall class prize with average of 94.5% attendance over 20 days was 2nd class !!
Prize a private bus trip and play session to tearaways !!
Thanks to parents for the effort with school attendance
👍👍👍👍

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