St. Brendan's Boys Primary School

5th class had their first writing workshop today with author Shane Hegarty. Huge thanks to Shane for travelling all the way down from Dublin to share his skills with us. The boys had some great ideas for their stories and we are looking forward to the next 2 workshops! ✏️📝📚
Offaly Libraries

Our school debating team were presented with their certificates received from Laois Education centre today – well done to all involved and we look forward to future leaders and politicians from this group ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dear Parents / Guardians,

Please note that there will be NO SCHOOL for pupils on Monday 27th February 2023.

The latest newsletter had incorrect month so apologies for that.

Both Mercy primary and St Brendans PS will have staff in service day on implementation of the Primary Language Curriculum.

Kind regards,

Niall Crofton ( Principal)

School debating team
We have a talented and hardworking group of boys who are representing the school this year in the Midlands school debating competition. The competition is via zoom and Round 1 is against Shinrone with the title—Billionaires should not travel to space. We wish the team well in the debate.
Team—Shane Dillon / Charlie Hoctor / Robert Landy / Leeland Delaney / Michael Kelly and Peter Spain. Thanks to Ms Grace and Mr Crofton for their preparation with the team. ( Pictured)

The boys in third class designed art for the Luminaries Project. Their art work coincided with a short tale from years ago and the final product was displayed on the wall of St. Brendan’s school. The boys really enjoyed their animations coming to life.  I want to wish all the boys and their families a very happy, peaceful and safe Christmas this year. See you all in the New Year. 

Well done to our 6th class storytellers who created some lovely ” scary stories this halloween ” – They can be viewed on the schools YOU TUBE CHANNEL-
Enjoy !

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

Well done Darragh Hand from 3rd class on an amazing project – Distance learning and home-schooling at its best !

Click to see and learn

Peru by Darragh Hand

Winner in Laois / Offaly Heritage Project 2018
Four boys from 6th Class, Sam McAulay, Steven Dillon, Kealan Franks and Conor Lally represented our school by competing in the Living Heritage in Schools Project run by Laois Ed. Centre.  The boys submitted a group essay.  “Ireland 1918, A Snapshot in Time.”  They researched life in Birr and nationally in 1918 & this research earned them 3rd place out of 22 competitors.  Also, the boys presented and talked about their project at a judging ceremony held in Portlaoise.  For this they created a snapshot of their essay using plasticine.  These models are on display in the hall for all to admire.  In this category they won Best Cultural Heritage Project.  Thanks to Ms Hogan for organising the project and assisting the boys in both essay and project where they displayed great literacy , research and presentation skills- Well done boys