Peace and Love
Our Peace and Love project is underway. The dove carrying an olive branch has been a symbol of peace and innocence for thousands of years in many different cultures. Today, the pupils of Ard Rí Community NS posted over 300 envelopes with homemade cards sharing messages of Peace with family and loved ones all over the world. Our doves will be flying to every corner of Ireland and every continent on the planet. We must send extra best wishes to the very brave Sgt. Derek Landy and the 123 Infantry Battalion and all the Irish Defense Forces working hard to keep peace in the Middle East this...Attention, Parents of children in 2nd & 3rd Class
November ’24 Dear parents, I would like to update you on our progress, re-arranging the 2nd and 3rd Classes. A partition wall has been built and electrics are installed. We are waiting for final-fix carpentry and paint. Furniture is being delivered in the next few days. It will be a lovely room. Most importantly, we are delighted Múinteoir Ailis has been appointed to teach the class. Ailis has been working with the children in 2nd and 3rd Class for the last few weeks. The children will know her well. We will open the new learning space as soon as it is ready. We have reviewed your feedback, the feedback of class teachers and the special education team. We have come up with a plan to make minimum impact and have greatest benefit to the children. Here is an outline of the next steps: Maria and Edel’s 2nd & 3rd multi-grade class will be divided Maria and Edel will teach their current 3rd Class plus 8 children who will move from Jack’s class Ailis will teach in the new room. Ailis will teach the children currently in Maria and Edel’s 2nd Class plus 8 children who will move from Ruth’s 2nd class Tomorrow, I will call the parents of the 16 children who will be moving class. We will announce next steps to the children and bring them together in their new cohort. Some children will be happy and excited about the move and some children will be anxious and sad. These are all natural reactions to change. We know the change is for the greater good and we must...Smashing Pumpkins Festival 2023
It has been another great year at the Annual Ard Rí CNS Pumpkin Carving Festival. We had a bumper crop of over 170 pumpkins and the theme of categories was broader than ever. We had Day of the Dead, Mexican Style, Minions, Monsters Inc., Star Wars, Sesame Street, Pokemon, Multi-Sports, Classic Carving, Farmyard, Skyscrapers and Country Landscapes, Harry Potter, ‘Spa Day’ Pumpkins and plenty of other very scary and very pretty designs. Well done everyone! We hope you all had fun taking part in this family-based challenge. While this competition is not about the winning; 6 merits have been selected. We will formally announce these awards tomorrow. Happy Halloween everyone! Enjoy the...Election of Parent Nominees to the Board of Management
Dear Parents/Guardians, Further to invitation in October Newsletter, I would like to formally invite all parents to attend the Parent Association Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 24th of October at 7pm in the school. During the AGM there will be an election held where two parents will be selected to join the school Board of Management for the next 4 year term- from December 2023- November 2027. No expertise or experience is required – all you need is the desire to do the best for our school. The process will be as follows: Darragh Roe, as Secretary to the Board, will act as the patron’s representative. At the meeting nominations shall be invited for both a mothers’ panel and a fathers’ panel. Parents may self-nominate and each nominee must be seconded by a person in attendance at the meeting. If there is only one nominee for either panel, the nominee shall be deemed to be elected. If more than one nomination is received for either of the panels, a secret ballot shall be held at the meeting. Two tellers shall be appointed. Each person voting shall have one, non-transferable vote for each panel. The votes shall be counted in public. The election shall be determined on the highest number of votes (i.e. the first past the post system). In the event of a tied vote between nominees the election of the nominee(s) shall be determined by the drawing of lots. However, where the ballot has been conducted at a meeting and where agreed by the majority of voters present and voting therein, the election of the nominee(s) shall be...Sacramental Preparation
Ard Rí CNS is a multi-denominational school. There is no sacramental preparation at Ard Rí CNS during the school day. Roughly half of our pupils receive the Catholic Sacraments of Penance, Communion and Confirmation. These children attend after-school classes in St Oliver’s Church, Blackcastle. We work in co-operation with Fr Sebi, the Catechetical Volunteers in St Mary’s Parish and our own Catholic parents to support our Catholic children receive their sacraments. The Parish Catechetical Programme (PCP) will begin in the coming month. PCP prepares children in schools, which are not under the patronage of the Bishop of Meath for the Sacraments. It is a 2-year programme to prepare for the Sacraments of First Penance and First Holy Communion or for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Parents of children in 2nd Class or above are welcome to register their children for Year 1 of the programme to prepare for the sacraments of First Penance and First Holy Communion. Children in 4th Class or above may apply now for Year 1 of the programme to prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation. Enrolment forms can be collected from the parish office or the school office. If you return the form to us we will pass them on to Fr Sebi directly. If your child has completed the Year 1 of either programme you can now register for the year 2 of the Programme to prepare for the Sacraments of First Penance & First Holy Communion or for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Those wishing to join Year II of either programme must apply for admission. Enrolment forms can be collected from the parish office or the school office. If you...