St. Brendan's Boys Primary School

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

Credit Union Quiz 2018

Thanks to Mr Cunningham for organising trials for our school team.

U-13 team was : Conor Lally Greijmans , Steven Dillon , Charlie Loughnane and Sam McAuley

U-11 team was : Harry Reynolds / Reece Swanepoele / Barry Tierney and Alex Hough

Both teams represented the school well and enjoyed the night with Mrs Kelly in attendance to support the boys–
Well done to all 😉

The school held its annual spelling Bee in the hall in February for 5th and 6th class boys. All were invited to take part with a huge participation rate of over 90% !! It was a close run competition run by Mr Cunningham and Ms Ward ( class teachers) – Winner in 5th was Eoin Hoare with winner from 6th was Conor Lally-Greijmans.
Both boys took part in a 20 spelling shoot-out the next day to find our school spelling Bee Champion.
Conor LG won out and went on to the Eason Offaly Spelling Bee in Tullamore Educate Together.
Conor came a well-placed 8th on the day and all at St Brendans PS are very proud of his spelling exploits !

The school held its annual EASON SPELLING BEE event in February. The school hall was packed as over 40 boys from 5th / 6th classes stood up to take part. Each boy was asked a spelling at the podium and all deserve great credit for having the courage and self-confidence to take part. Eventually the final few remained.

Fifth class placings:
1st – Kiefer Shalloe
2nd – Conor Lally-Greijmans
3nd – Keelan Franks

Sixth class placings
1st- Damien Delaney
2nd -Thomas Martinez
3rd – Aran Corcoran

Then after a few days we held the play off between both class champions for the school title.
10 WORDS each – Damien V Kiefer.
It was a draw at 7 / 10 each.
To a play off it went with the words VIVACIOUS / BABYLON.
Damien Delaney emerged victorious and will go on to represent the school at the EASON offaly spelling BEE in Tullamore next week. Best luck to Damien,

Good afternoon,

Congratulations on getting through to the final of our Primary Debating League 16-17. The details of the final are as follows:

Date: Thursday 9th March ’17 (please note change of date)
Venue: Laois Education Centre, Block Rd, Portlaoise
Time: Please be in the centre for 10/10.15 as the debate will commence at 10.30am sharp
Finalists: Ballyfin Ns 1 Portlaoise & St Brendan’s Primary School Birr
Adjudicator: Adjudicators will be selected by Laois Education Centre
Motion: Mixed Martial Arts should be banned Ireland
In Favour: St Brendan’s Primary School
Against: Ballyfin NS 1

Schools are encouraged to bring their classmates & family with them on the day; just please let us know the number of people that will be coming, adults and children, to ensure we have adequate seating for all.

Arguments are flying around in 6th class as Mr Cunningham prepares his team for the next round of the midland schools debating competition. The team under captain Damien Delaney have already had two great debates with Oxmantown NS and St . Cronans NS Roscrea which they narrowly won. Thanks to Mr John McArdle who officiates are independent judge. All involved in the school teams should take great pride in the high standard and no doubt we are witnessing future politicians in action ! ( Pictured St Brendans PS V Oxmantown NS)