Archives
(A selection of former posts from our website.)
Embedded Files
INTO President's Visit
8th April 2024
It was an honour to welcome the President of the INTO, Carmel Browne, to our school today.
Carmel has been a member of the INTO since she started her teaching career in 1980 and has worked with all classes from Infants to Sixth Class and as a special education teacher.
She is a keen sportsperson and an advocate of physical activity for children and its immense benefits. Having won an All-Ireland Senior Football medal with Roscommon Ladies, it was fantastic that she took the time to meet with our Schoolgirls team.
We have no doubt that Carmel will continue to advocate for adequate supports for children with additional needs and those from disadvantaged communities along with reducing classroom sizes.
Comhghairdeas mór agus go n-éirí an t-ádh leat a hUachtarán!
North Midlands Credit Union Quiz 2024
Massive congratulations to our Under 13 and Under 11 quiz teams who achieved the remarkable feat of winning both age grades of the Credit Union Quiz in Longford on the 26th January!
Thank you to Mrs Casey, Ms Halligan and Mr Fitzpatrick for preparing and guiding both teams.
School Re-opening
School Re-opening
2020
2020
"Ar ais le chéile"
"Ar ais le chéile"
A lot of changes will be made in school so our twenty-one classes will be phased back to school for the first week as follows:
Monday, 31st August
Junior Infants (in small groups)
Tuesday, 1st September
Suaimhneas Mhuire + Junior & Senior Infants
Wednesday, 2nd September
Above classes + 1st and 2nd Class
Thursday, 3rd September
Above classes + 3rd and 4th Class
Friday, 4th September
Above classes + 5th and 6th Class
(More details will follow)
Summer Provision 2020
July Provision
The Department of Education have informed us that we can go ahead with July Provision this year for our children in Suaimhneas Mhuire. We haven't much time to organise it but it will be great to have the children back in school again.
Summer Camp
The Department of Education have also sanctioned a one-week Summer Camp for a maximum of 36 children. The Department have issued guidelines for selecting children which we have to follow. We are really looking forward to having these children in school too. Hopefully this camp will be offered to our school each year going forward.
Alan Conroy
Principal
Tuesday, 30th June 2020
As we come to the end of our school year, I would like to share the following with you all – parents, children and staff who make up our wonderful school community in St Mary’s N.S., Edgeworthstown.
I can only describe the period of time, since the 12th March, as being the most bizarre I have ever experienced since I started teaching. On that day, we began what was to be a two-week school closure. And here we are 65 school days later, still closed. Although the building closed, school had to continue. And, continue it did although in a different form.
This situation came with no instructions, no guidebook for anyone – parents, children or us. Having almost 400 children in the school, remote schooling for the children presented many challenges. Did we meet every one of their individual needs? Could we have done better? Should we have done things differently? These are questions we ask ourselves when in school. And even now with this period of closure coming to an end, we will still ask them. However, we tried our hardest and we did our best just like all the parents and especially the children. During this closure, it was only possible to carry on with the invaluable help and support of many people. So, a few ‘thank yous’ are in order!
To Betty, Brigid, Mick and Gerry for being there. Always being there. You are such an integral part of our school. To Mary, our Deputy-Principal. As always, her support and commitment was unwavering. She was there at any time – morning, noon or night, Monday to Sunday. To our staff for their dedication, creativity and ability to step-up in a situation that can only be described as challenging but not insurmountable. I am privileged to work with you all. As I said before, they were not working from home but at home trying to work and in many cases, their partners were instrumental in helping them to work from home. Thank you all.
To you the parents, there honestly are no words that can adequately convey my gratitude to you. Your understanding, your appreciation, your positivity and support was incredible. It carried us and sustained us through this most unusual of times. Thank you so very much.
At the very beginning of this, I said that we did not expect homes to become schools or parents to become teachers. I was speaking, of course, from a traditional school perspective. Your homes are schools and you are teachers. If there is one positive to take from all of this, it’s that I am convinced that your child will have learned a great deal from you and I’m sure there were many times when you learned from them. Those learning experiences will have been this times greatest success with many things being achieved and accomplished that may not have been in a school setting.
Lastly, but absolutely by no means least. Thank you to your children, our children. How fantastic are they? It has not been an easy time for some of them. Many of them will never forget this whole experience and some will have no memory of it at all and will rely solely on what they hear from other people or in future history classes! They have been, as always, the most incredible bunch of young people that any teacher, SNA or principal would wish to work with. Thank you very much to all the classes of the 2019 – 2020 school year from all of us in St Mary’s N.S.
Until we are all back together in our school, look after yourselves. I sincerely hope that you all stay well. Tabhair aire agus míle buíochas daoibh go léir!
Alan Conroy
Principal
Monday, 22nd June 2020
Dear Parents,
Traditionally, our 6th class organise a fundraiser each year and donate monies raised to a local or national charity. This week, Mr Noonan and Mr Ward are asking 6th class to help raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease Research.
Mr Noonan and Mr Ward have challenged the children to walk, run or cycle as many kms as they possibly can between Monday and Friday. The children should record the distance they cover each day using their phone or watch and both teachers would like you, their parents, to email them each night to tell them the distance covered that day. They would also appreciate it if you could send them some pictures of the children in action which we can share on our school's Facebook page.
The link to the fundraising page is below. By default, the donation amount is set to €50. This can be changed to donate an amount of your choice (minimum €3). As with many research projects, Motor Neurone Disease Research is quite underfunded so we would really appreciate any support you can offer for this very worthy cause. Please share this link with family and friends and make them aware of our fundraising campaign.
https://give.everydayhero.com/ie/6th-class-get-motoring
Please 'like' and 'share' on our Facebook page. Thanks in advance for your support.
Alan Conroy
Principal
Saturday, 30th May 2020
Dear Confirmandi of 2020,
The Ceremony of Light is an important event in preparing you for Confirmation. This evening, the eve of Pentecost Sunday, a unique on-line Ceremony of Light will take place at 7p.m.
Bishop Francis will hold this ceremony in St Mel's Cathedral for all the children in our diocese who have been preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Please join, via the cathedral's webcam, at the following link: http://www.longfordparish.com/stmelstv.htm
We very much appreciate Bishop Francis providing us, this evening, with an opportunity to be able to pray together while being physically apart. May he, along with all of you, remain well as we look forward to being together to celebrate this important milestone in your life when it is safe to do so.
Alan Conroy
Principal
Saturday, 30th May 2020
A special message to our wonderful communion classes.
Dear Boys and Girls,
We know that you were all looking forward to your special day today. We had been working so hard in school, learning new prayers and songs and talking about how you were going to celebrate your First Communion with your families and friends.
Many of you had bought new Communion outfits that you were looking forward to wearing today. Some of you have family who had planned to travel from across the world to be there to see you on this hugely important day.
We are all so proud of how hard you have been working at home during this time and for accepting that, right now, things have to be a little different.
Although your celebration is on ‘pause’ for now, remember that you will get to have your special day in the future and we can’t wait to share it with you.
Ms Casserley & Mrs Rhatigan
Second Class Teachers
Friday, 22nd May 2020
Dear Parents,
The following is the timetable for collecting books / copybooks etc. from school next week. Your child’s teacher will send you a text with your day and time. You will only have to make one visit if you have more than one child in the school. Please use the front door and exit through the side door and remember that current physical distancing advice applies. If you cannot collect on the day below, we will make alternative arrangements.
Alan Conroy
Principal
Monday - 25th May
Ms Esler’s class - 10:00 to 10:30
Mrs Casey’s class - 11:00 to 11:30
Ms Berry’s class - 12:00 to 12:30
Mrs Geoghegan’s class - 1:00 to 1:30
Mrs Masterson’s class - 2:00 to 2:30
Mrs Quinn’s class - 3:00 to 3:30
Tuesday - 26th May
Mrs Shannon’s class - 10:00 to 11:00
Mrs Noonan’s class - 11:30 to 12:30
Ms Farrell’s class - 1:00 to 2:00
Wednesday - 27th May
Mr Christie’s class - 10:00 to 11:00
Ms Casserley’s class - 11:30 to 12:30
Mrs Rhatigan’s class - 1:00 to 2:00
Thursday - 28th May
Mrs Molloy’s class - 10:00 to 11:00
Ms Kelly’s class - 11:30 to 12:30
Mrs Williams’ class - 1:00 to 2:00
Ms Hitchen’s class - 2:30 to 3:30
Friday - 29th May
Mr Fitzpatrick’s class - 10:00 to 11:00
Ms Halligan’s class - 11:30 to 12:30
Mr Noonan’s class - 1:00 to 2:00
Mr Ward’s class - 2:30 to 3:30
Friday, 15th May 2020
Dear Confirmation Class of 2020,
Today was meant to have been your Confirmation Day. We know how much you were all looking forward to what would have been such a special day for you and your families.
In the past, being confirmed was seen as being accepted into an army. You became a ‘soldier for Christ’. Right now you are part of another army fighting a very different war against a dangerous and invisible enemy. We are extremely proud of your efforts to date in this battle, knowing that you have made huge sacrifices by staying at home and not meeting your friends in order to protect all of our loved ones. In doing so, you are carrying out God’s work and adhering to his message to ‘love one another’.
Preparation had been ongoing in school throughout the year as you learned about the meaning of the Sacrament which you were going to receive today. Some of you had already gone shopping for new outfits for the big day. While we still don’t know when the big day will take place, we look forward to sharing this special day with you when you will become an adult in the eyes of the church. Hopefully those lovely new outfits will still fit!
As Bishop Francis stated in his recent letter to you all, for now, it is important to keep safe and pray for all those who are working in hospitals and nursing homes, and all who are working in essential services.
Mr Noonan and Mr Ward
Sixth Class Teachers
Monday, 11th May 2020
Dear Parents,
All of us here in St Mary's N.S. hope you and your children are well and that the work from school is going well. We know it can be hard going so please don't put yourselves or your children under pressure. The engagement from you and your children has been overwhelmingly positive and we appreciate this so very much.
We are very aware that you know your child best and know better than us how they can work from home. So, please feel free to support your child by supplementing or differentiating the activities you receive.
I'm in the process of making contact with all of you by phone. It's taking longer than I would've thought but I will get to you in time.
I'll be sending a survey to you this week. The survey will take less than five minutes to complete and it will help us to look at how everything is going.
In the meantime, look after yourselves and your children. Take care and stay safe.
Alan Conroy
Principal
Monday, 4th May 2020
Dear Parents,
The delivery of Fresh Today boxes has been problematic. At this stage, 2 deliveries should have taken place. The 1st and 2nd delivery was not fully completed as Fresh Today and the courier company could not find many addresses. Over 120 boxes from the 2nd delivery were sent to the school on Friday last.
Mick, as always, was first to offer help to sort out and finish the 2nd delivery. His help was hugely appreciated. Today, we delivered in excess of 100 boxes. Brigid's help with this was incredible as she put the addresses in order for us which made it so much easier. I will sort out the remainder of the boxes tomorrow and contact An Post for help with this.
I have told Fresh Today that the 3rd delivery is not to begin until the first two deliveries have been completed. Your Eircode will be needed for the 3rd delivery. We have worked very hard in the school to help Fresh Today with this and I am very sorry that there has been such a delay.
It was great to see many of you, and your children, today and I would like to say a sincere thanks to all of you that I spoke to for your understanding.
Alan Conroy
Principal
Monday, 27th April 2020
Dear Parents,
This week is ‘Active Home Week’! The aim of this initiative is to motivate the children to keep active at home by trying out new activities, taking on challenges and having fun with family activities.
To complete the challenge, the children must find 4 different ways of being active each day, making sure that this adds up to 60 minutes, or more, of physical activity.
Children can choose their favourite activities from the ideas word cloud, they can complete the activities assigned by their teachers or they can even create their own activities!
The Longford Sports Partnership are supporting this initiative and our local sports hub co-ordinator Laura Doyle will be posting daily activities to the Edgeworthstown Sports Hub’s Facebook page so please keep an eye on this also! There are also many ideas available through the Active School’s Twitter page, @activeflag.
Please complete the challenge chart each day and send this back to your child’s teacher at the end of the week! Also, please send photos/videos of your child partaking in some of their activities to their teacher at any stage during the week! We will share some of these on our Facebook page throughout the week!
All members of the family are encouraged, together, to take on the challenge! Let’s get active!!
Mr Noonan
Active School Coordinator
Monday, 20th April 2020
Dear Parents,
I hope you and your children are well and you all had a lovely Easter. When schools were closed in March, we certainly never thought that we would begin Term 3 in this manner. Going forward, our teachers will continue to keep in touch by email. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions or queries. To further support those of you who may wish to get in contact by phone, please call our school’s new mobile phone on 087 1719989. Betty will have this phone and will deal with any queries or pass them on, if necessary.
We are awaiting guidelines from both the Department and INTO in relation to using some online tools / apps etc. Prior to Easter our local Education Centre advised, and rightly so, that now was not the time to be introducing some of these. You may have read or heard that there has been a number of issues surrounding various forms of online contact e.g. Zoom, Facetiming, WhatsApp etc. So, for the moment, we will be keeping it simple, making ourselves available for you and continuing to work for your child.
I have spoken to many of you over the past few weeks and it’s been incredible to hear how conscientious you and your children have been in relation to completing schoolwork at home. I’m speaking from personal experience when I say that I know it’s not easy. I see this first-hand with my own children at home. Being at home is not the same as being in school so keep up the tremendous work that you’ve been doing. Please remember also, as I said before, that we do not expect nor want you to put yourself or your child under any pressure when completing schoolwork. Doing a little and doing it as well as they can is all we should expect from the children.
We are, as has been said on many occasions, in unprecedented and difficult times. Sadly, I’ve had two relatives pass away over the Easter as a result of this terrible virus. That certainly puts things into perspective. On a brighter note, I sincerely hope that you all remain well and that all of us together continue to do the best that we can in this current situation. In the conversations I’ve had with many of you, your appreciation for what our teachers have been doing is humbling. I certainly could not ask any more of them. Each of them is wholly committed to doing their best for your child. You, as parents, have been so understanding and considerate and that has been very much appreciated by myself and our teachers. I would like to sincerely thank you all for that. Hopefully, a return to school will be sooner rather than later!
Alan Conroy
Principal
Monday, 6th April 2020
Re: School Transport for 2020-2021 School Year
Dear Parents,
Bus Éireann are accepting applications for school transport for both primary and post-primary schools for the coming school year. Pupils already registered will automatically roll-over. Closing date is the 24th April. Please see notices uploaded to our school's Facebook page for further information. You may contact school transport at 09064-73277 or email schools.athlone@buseireann.ie if you need any help.
Alan Conroy
Principal
Friday, 3rd April 2020
Dear Parents,
Like you, our teachers and myself have been learning how best to provide for the children in our school. I hope that the work / activities sent to you have been easy to access and that your child is doing the best they can considering our new situation. I'd like to thank you all for engaging with us and helping us. As I’ve said before, this is a challenging time. We do not expect you to put yourself or your child under any undue pressure. Everyone together - you, your child and our teachers can only do our best in the circumstances we have found ourselves in.
At this point in time, school closures are in place until Monday, 20th April. However, I don’t see re-opening on that date as being realistic. Our teachers have been working through the week on compiling a plan of work / activities for your child for after Easter and they will be in touch if school does not resume on that date. Until then, you and your child should take a well-earned break from the extra challenge of completing schoolwork at home.
We are all hoping that the recent government measures are effective and that these measures will reduce the possibility of any of us being exposed to this virus.
Together with our staff and our Board of Management, I would like to wish you all a very Happy Easter and I hope that you, your children and extended families remain well and stay Covid-19 free particularly those of you who are working in our frontline services – healthcare, emergency and essential retail. Hopefully we will all see a return to normal life soon.
Alan Conroy
Principal
P.S. The letter below is for the children
Friday, 3rd April 2020
Dear children,
We all hope that you are well. This is such a strange time. When we're in school, we all think that if the school closed it would be great! Some of you might still think that! We all know that some of you are missing school, especially seeing your friends and cousins that may be here, even your teacher!
Well I know that your teachers are missing you as I've been talking to them a lot. Our S.N.A.s are missing the children they work with too. It's so strange not seeing you all in school. It's very strange for you having to do so much schoolwork at home too. We want you to remember that it's not the same at home as being in school. So, if you find something hard, or if you cannot do something. Don't worry. Your Mam or Dad can email teacher and explain that to them. All you can do is do your best. Do a little every day and do it well. Read as much as you can and don't forget to help out at home. This is not an easy time for your Mams and Dads either.
We all hope you have a lovely Easter and that you enjoy any Easter Eggs you may get. Don't eat too many and hopefully we will see you all soon!
from Mr Conroy and all the teachers, all the S.N.A.s, Betty, Brigid and Mick
Monday, 30th March 2020
Dear Parents,
I hope you and your children are all well and remain well. The restricted movement measures are a challenge but they are for our own good. Just a couple of matters to keep you updated. Please continue to check our website daily for any new messages that may be posted as messages by text are costly.
School Lunches
The Department of Education has decided that the provision of school lunches is to continue throughout the period of school closure. Our provider, Fresh Today, will post non-perishable food items once a fortnight to you. They are working hard to have deliveries in place this week.
Teacher emails
I’ve been informed that a few parents did not receive an email from their child’s teacher. Please check your junk / spam as emails may be there. If you have yet to contact your child’s teacher, please do so as soon as possible. If you have emailed your child’s teacher and haven’t received a reply, email the relevant teacher again. Please double check each teacher’s email address which is listed below. Thank you for your patience while we work to provide your child with schoolwork / activities.
Alan Conroy
Principal
Friday, 27th March 2020
Dear Parents / Guardians,
Our teachers have sent you a text requesting that you contact them by email. Going forward, they will email you with an outline of work / activities for your child.
The following is a list of our teacher's emails. Please make contact as soon as possible.
Ms Esler msesler.stmarys@outlook.com
Mrs Casey mrscasey.stmarys@outlook.com
Ms Berry msberry.stmarys@outlook.com
Mrs Geoghegan mrsgeoghegan.stmarys@outlook.com
Ms Boyle msboyle.stmarys@outlook.com
Mrs Quinn mrsquinn.stmary@outlook.com
Mrs Noonan mrsnoonan.stmarys@outlook.com
Mrs Shannon mrsshannon.stmarys@outlook.com
Ms Farrell msfarrell.stmarys@outlook.com
Mr Christie mrchristie.stmarys@outlook.com
Ms Casserley mscasserley.stmarys@outlook.com
Mr Madden mrcmadden.stmarys@outlook.com
Ms Kelly mskelly.stmarys@outlook.com
Mrs Molloy mrsmolloy.stmarys@outlook.com
Mrs Williams mrswilliams.stmarys@outlook.com
Ms Hitchen mshitchen.stmarys@outlook.com
Mr Fitzpatrick mrfitzpatrick.stmarys@outlook.com
Ms Halligan mshalligan.stmarys@outlook.ie
Mr Noonan mrnoonan.stmarys@outlook.com
Mr Ward mrward.stmarys@outlook.com
Monday, 23rd March 2020
Dear Parents / Guardians,
I sincerely hope that you, your children and your extended families are all well.
I know that you have suddenly found yourselves in a very challenging time, juggling work and / or other commitments with children at home.
The recent announcement to close schools on Thursday, 12th March took everyone by surprise. Our teachers set about, in the limited time that they had, compiling work for each child to take home that day. At that time, we were of the opinion that our school would re-open on Monday, 30th March. However, this is looking extremely unlikely now.
Our teachers are currently working together to provide some further activities that your child may complete at home. We fully understand that the completion of these activities may not always be possible or easy. We will be in touch with you during the week with these activities.
I would suggest that you try, if possible, to set aside one hour a day for children to engage with the activities provided. Any more time than this, outside of the school environment, may not be realistic.
Reading is one activity that we cannot endorse enough. The material does not always have to be ‘academic’ nor is a book always required. On-line material, newspapers or magazines will enable your child to develop and improve their fluency and comprehension skills.
R.T.É. 2 will have a programme called ‘Home School Hub’ on air, from Monday 30th March each day from 11a.m. until 12 noon and a shorter programme called 'Home School Extra' on air from 4:10p.m. until 4:30p.m. These programmes will be aimed at children from 1st to 6th Class. I would certainly recommend that your child engages with them.
Understandably, many of you, and indeed your children, may be feeling quite anxious as information about Covid-19 becomes known and circumstances develop throughout our country. Having to stay away from family members - grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins is particularly hard and adds stress in this difficult time. We know that your child’s well-being is your priority, not the completion of schoolwork, during this very uncertain time so please do not put yourself or your child under any undue pressure.
Above all, please understand that we do not expect parents to become teachers overnight nor do we expect that homes will become schools. The suggested activities are to be used to guide you and your child. I intend to be in school every day if you need to make contact so please do not hesitate to call on 043-6671750.
In the meantime, my sincere wish for you all, together with our staff and our Board of Management, is that you stay well and stay safe.
Alan Conroy
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