We were delighted to welcome the girls back to school in January after the Christmas holidays, refreshed and ready to settle back into their routines. The past two months have been busy and enjoyable, with a range of activities, celebrations, and special events across the school. From wellbeing talks and faith celebrations to creative art and class projects, pupils have shown great enthusiasm, kindness, and engagement.

New Year

At the beginning of January, pupils returned to school refreshed and ready to settle back into their routines after the Christmas holidays. During the first week of term, classes spent time reflecting on the year ahead and creating thoughtful New Year’s resolutions, considering both their academic goals and personal development. From aiming to improve reading and maths skills to building confidence, resilience and kindness, the children approached this activity with thoughtfulness and enthusiasm.

Attendance

Regular school attendance is essential for children’s learning, wellbeing and sense of belonging. Being in school every day helps children build routines, make friends and engage fully with their learning. Even occasional absences and partial absences (including late arrival) can add up and make it harder for children to keep up.

Since Covid, school attendance has declined nationally and our own school attendance records show a similar pattern. At St. Brigid’s Girls’ School, we want to encourage the best possible attendance for all pupils, while understanding that families sometimes face genuine challenges.

The Department of Education and Tusla Education Support Service have launched the TESS School Attendance Campaign to highlight the importance of regular attendance. Parents may find the guidance helpful. The NEPS resource focuses on school reluctance and can support families who notice early signs of difficulty, while the HSE guidance helps parents make informed decisions about when a child is well enough to attend school. These resources are available at www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/campaigns/school-attendance/

We value the partnership we have with parents and appreciate your support in promoting good attendance. If you have any concerns or need support, please contact the school. Together, we can help every child learn, grow and thrive.

A massive thank you to those who supported the Christmas raffle. This fundraiser collected €15,000 for our school!

Wellbeing Talk 3rd-6th Class

Pupils in 3rd to 6th Class recently took part in a very engaging and informative wellbeing talk with Fiona Forman. Fiona spoke to the children about the importance of positive mental health, nurturing self-belief, building resilience, and developing practical strategies to manage worries and challenges. Through interactive discussion and relatable examples, she encouraged pupils to recognise their strengths, practise gratitude, understand that it is okay to ask for help when needed, and explore the idea of a Growth Mindset, the understanding that their abilities can develop with effort and persistence. The session was both inspiring and empowering, providing valuable tools to support our pupils’ wellbeing in school and beyond.

Grandparents' Day- 5th Class

On 14th January, the girls in Mr Spain’s and Ms Gavin/Ms McCarthy’s 5th Classes were delighted to welcome their grandparents to school for a very special Grandparents Day celebration. The classroom was filled with excitement as the girls proudly showed their grandparents their wonderful work, including projects, copies and artwork they had completed. It was lovely to see the grandparents admiring all the hard work and effort on display.

The girls also performed a selection of songs, singing beautifully and confidently for their special guests, which made the occasion even more memorable. Afterwards, the girls and their grandparents enjoyed spending time together playing board games, bringing plenty of fun and laughter to the room. To finish off the visit, the grandparents relaxed with a cup of tea and some biscuits while chatting and catching up. It was a heart-warming day that will be fondly remembered by all.

Catholic Schools Week

During Catholic Schools Week 2026, our school celebrated the theme “Catholic Schools: Normal Lives, Called to Holiness”, emphasising that holiness is not about extraordinary feats, but about carrying out ordinary actions with love, faith, and kindness in daily life. Pupils engaged in prayer and classroom activities that encouraged reflection on how they can live out these values every day. It was a meaningful and uplifting week, celebrating faith, togetherness, and the positive impact of small, everyday acts of kindness.

St Brigid’s Day

On Friday, 30th January, just before the bank holiday weekend, our school came together to celebrate our patron saint, St Brigid. We held a whole-school assembly where pupils joyfully sang “We Sing a Song to Brigid” and shared the beautiful St Brigid’s crosses they had made in their classes. Some of these crosses were created in collaboration with buddy classes, making the activity even more special. The celebration was completed with our whole-school display of St Brigid’s Cloak, a colourful and creative project that involved children from all different classes, showcasing our school’s sense of community and celebration of St Brigid’s legacy.

ACCORD

Pupils in 5th and 6th Class recently took part in an informative talk with ACCORD on body changes, hormone changes, and growing up, helping them understand the physical and emotional changes that come with adolescence. We would also like to thank the parents who attended the online session, supporting their children and engaging with the important information shared during the programme

6th Class Service of Light

On 10th February, our 6th Class pupils celebrated their Service of Light, a special evening marking an important milestone in their faith journey. The ceremony was a beautiful and memorable occasion, with heartfelt preparation and support from their teachers, Mr Cronin, Ms Kelly and Ms O’Malley helping the pupils feel confident and ready for this meaningful event.

Fyffes Fit Kids

Margadh Gaeilge i Rang a Cúig

Lent

Although the school was on midterm for Ash Wednesday, classes took time before the break to learn about Lent and its significance. Pupils explored the themes of reflection, prayer, and giving, considering how small acts of kindness and thoughtfulness can make a difference in their daily lives. This helped pupils approach the season of Lent with understanding and a sense of purpose

Rare Disease Day Fundraiser

We were delighted to support Rare Disease Day this February by taking part in the “Wear Your Stripes” campaign in aid of Rare Ireland. Pupils were invited to wear anything with stripes and bring in a small donation to help families across Ireland living with rare diseases.

It was wonderful to see so many bright and cheerful stripes throughout the school as we came together for this worthwhile cause. We also had some special visitors to 3rd class classrooms, and their stories were shared, giving classmates an inspiring insight into life with rare conditions. Thank you to Sophie and Reina!

Our total money raised was €988. A fantastic contribution to Rare Ireland charity. Thank you.

Value of the Month

Dates for your Diary

Dates for Your Diary
2nd-6th March	Engineers Week for 4th Class
5th March	School Book Fair
6th March	Parents’ Association Spring Lunch
16th-20th March	Seachtain na Gaeilge
17th March	School Closed- St Patrick’s Day
23rd March	2nd Class First Penance
27th March	School Closing for Easter Holidays @11.40am

Gentle Reminders

Thank you to everyone who has already sent in a hand towel for your daughter to use for drying her hands. If you haven’t had a chance to do so yet, this is a gentle reminder to please send one in. We’re working together to help our school be more environmentally friendly.
We’ve noticed that after extra-curricular activities, some parents and visitors have been using the school carpark when collecting children. Please remember that the carpark is for staff vehicles only. Keeping it clear helps ensure the safety of all children during pick-up.
For everyone’s safety, we kindly remind families that children must not climb on gates, play with sticks, or run around the yard at collection time. This includes younger siblings. The yard can become very busy in the afternoons, and these behaviours can be dangerous.