A Positive Start to School Life
Our Junior Infants have made a wonderful start to their school journey. They are settling well into classroom routines, making new friends and engaging enthusiastically in all aspects of school life. We are very proud of the progress they have made during their first weeks in Ard Rí.
To support our learning activities, we ask that each child brings in a pair of wellington boots, an old oversized t-shirt to wear during painting and messy play activities, and a family photograph. Family photographs are an important resource in the classroom, helping to support language development, communication skills and a sense of belonging. Please ensure that all items brought to school, including coats, lunch boxes, water bottles, wellies and clothing, are clearly labelled with your child’s name. This makes it much easier to return misplaced items promptly and helps children to become more independent in managing their belongings.
From next week, Junior Infant children will finish school at 1.40pm each day. This is another significant milestone for them as they move into the full school day routine. While many children will be excited by this new step, it is perfectly normal for them to be more tired than usual in the evenings. Plenty of rest and consistent routines at home will help them to adjust over the coming weeks.
We are also delighted that our Hot Lunch service from The Lunch Bag will begin next week. Please take some time to familiarise yourself with the Lunch Bag App and coordinate your child’s lunch choices. We recommend sending water (in a reusable bottle) a small, healthy snack for morning break, ideally including fruit and a source of protein, so that children have an appetite for their hot lunch later in the day. Any lunch that is not eaten will be returned home in a designated lunch box, helping you to monitor your child’s eating habits. The food packaging and all leftover food are fully compostable. We encourage parents to speak positively about the Hot Lunch programme, as children are much more likely to try and enjoy new foods when they hear positive messages from home.
A reminder that tracksuit days for Junior Infants are Tuesday and Thursday. If you have not already done so, please make payment of school fees (Student Direct Costs) through our Way2Pay application at your earliest convenience.
Finally, we would like to thank all Junior Infant parents for the respectful manner in which you have engaged with our staff and for your cooperation with our school procedures and systems. Your support helps us to maintain a well-organised, positive and welcoming school environment for all members of our community.
Once again, welcome to the Ard Rí community. We look forward to working in partnership with you over the years ahead and wish your children many happy, successful and memorable years in Ard Rí National School.
Dear Parents,
One more sleep!
We hope all the children are looking forward to starting school at Ard Rí Community National School tomorrow.
We know this is a huge step for our little ones. Please be cool, calm and relaxed. We’ve got you! Here’s the plan:
- Junior Infants start at 10:00am. Please park in the Rugby Club car park and walk up the avenue with your child. Our team will be at the main gate to welcome you.
- Darragh will address the gathering and introduce Múinteoir Laura and Múinteoir Rachel. The children will then line up with their teachers and walk into school together.Please note that separation will take place at the main gate. The classroom is simply too small to accommodate 25 children and up to 50 adults. If your child becomes overly upset in the classroom, we will contact you immediately. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
- We will take photographs throughout the school day and share these with you digitally.
- Once the children have gone to class, Darragh will speak with parents again and there will be an opportunity to ask any questions.
- Parents should return to the school at 12:00pm sharp. Our team will guide you through the simple home-time routine.
- On Friday at 12:00pm, we will be delighted to welcome you into your child’s classroom so you can see their learning space.
We are very excited to welcome your children tomorrow and look forward to beginning this journey together.
Kind regards,
Darragh and all the team at Ard Rí CNS
Hello to everyone joining us in September,
Each child has reached a very important milestone in their lives. Our team understand the importance of a successful transition from pre-school to the primary classroom. Healthy home school links are the cornerstone of our school’s success. Parents and teachers must work closely together for children to reach their full potential.
It was lovely to meet many of you last week at our open house. If you were unable to attend, please find information provided on the morning: click here
We want to know your child’s story/scéal… We have created a short parent questionnaire to give you the chance to share any information you think will be important to set your child up for success in Ard Rí. If you have not completed this already, please click on the link below. The information you share will allow us to best support your child from day one. We want your child to be happy in school. We will have two Junior Infant classes, if your child has a friend also starting with us you can let us know in the survey which we will consider during class allocation.
Mo Scéal (My Story)- Parent Survey
We are looking forward to welcoming all our new pupils to Ard Rí Community National School for their first day of big school on Tuesday, 1st September 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
School times for Infants:
- Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd, Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th September: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Monday 7th September to Friday 11th September: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Monday 14th September and on: 9:00 a.m. to 1:40 p.m.
School Calendar:
Our school calendar for 2026/27 is now available on our website: click here
School Uniform:
Our school uniform supplier is Geoghegans, Trimgate Street, Navan. Do not wait until August to order the uniform. For full information on our uniforms: click here
Our Parent Association also makes pre-loved (second-hand) uniforms available. You’ll be able to pick one up during the Summer Camp.
Summer Camp:
Places are still available in summer camp from Monday 22nd to Friday 26th June. It provides a great opportunity for your child to meet new classmates, school staff and get used to the school ahead of September. More information available here.
Label Everything:
Clearly label all belongings with your child’s name, preferably on the inside collar. Regularly check that labels remain legible.
Lunches:
We are delighted to be a part of the Hot School Meals scheme. At Ard Rí CNS every child has access to a hot dinner and fruit (apples and oranges) every day. Please visit our hot meals provider website for more info: www.thelunchbag.ie
Children will need a morning snack. Ard Rí CNS Adheres to a Healthy Lunch Policy: no sweets, biscuits, chocolate, cereal bars, fizzy drinks, diluting juice, lollipops, chewing gum, crisps or popcorn. To view our Healthy Eating Policy click here. As a ‘Green School,’ single-use plastics like foils and cling film are discouraged. Please provide a reusable water bottle.
Nut Free School:
Strictly no nuts, nut products, or chocolate spreads are allowed due to severe allergies.
School Bags:
Choose a bag large enough for an A4 zippy folder and a lunchbox. Ensure your child can easily open and close the bag independently.
Free School Books & Student Costs 2026/27:
As part of the Free School Books Scheme, all schoolbooks, workbooks, copybooks, classroom resources, shared books, photocopying and Art & Craft materials will be provided free of charge to every child in Irish primary schools.
However, there are some additional costs not covered by the grant.
The total cost to parents for the 2026/27 school year will be €52 per child, which covers:
• €6.32 – Irish Public Bodies (IPB) Student Personal Accident Insurance (more info)
• €10 – Text-a-Parent & Aladdin communication tools
• €35.68 – School Tour*
*The €35.68 school tour fee covers the cost of the annual school tour in May. Due to significant increases in bus transport costs, we are including this amount in the yearly Student Direct Costs to allow for early planning and booking. Thank you for your continued support in helping us provide a rich and well-organised school experience for all our pupils.
A Way2Pay bill for the €52 Student Direct Costs will be raised on your account in the coming days. Please remember, there is an option to pay in instalments. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support.
Stationery:
To help children to navigate starting school, libraries have put together a bag with a book just for them that can be collected at any library. For more info: click here
After-School – Primary Pals and Primary Pals Plus
We understand childcare is a huge challenge for families in our community. Primary Pals is a club for pupils in Junior and Senior Infants which runs daily from 1:40-2:40 p.m. Primary Pals Plus runs from 2:40-3:30 p.m. each day. If you are interested in this service please contact Jana on 0863445115 to discuss.
We will be back in touch shortly with more information. If you have any questions please get in touch. You can give us a call on 087 1341007 or drop an email to [email protected].
Places for Junior Infants 2026 are now full. If for any reason your child will not be joining us for September please pick up the phone, call 0871341007, and let us know immediately so we can release the place to other children on our waiting list.
May 2026
Hello and welcome to all families of Junior Infants joining us in September 2026
We’re so excited to begin this journey with you. Over the coming months, we’ll share everything you need to know right here on this thread. We’ll let you know each time new information is added.
Each child starting school has reached a very important milestone, and we understand how crucial a smooth transition from pre-school to primary school is. Our team is here to support you every step of the way.
We’re delighted to invite you to our first orientation event; an Open House on Thursday, May 28th, between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 midday. You’re welcome to pop in at any stage during that window of time. This short visit will give your child a chance to see their new classroom and have a look around. Parents stay with their child for the duration of the short visit.
Term 1 Begins
We are looking forward to welcoming all our new pupils to Ard Rí Community National School for their first day of big school on Tuesday 1st of September at 10:00 a.m.
School Uniforms
Our school uniform supplier is Geoghegans, Trimgate Street, Navan. Please don’t wait until August to place your order. Our Parent Association also makes pre-loved (second-hand) uniforms available. You’ll be able to pick one up during the Summer Camp. For full details on our uniforms, [click here].
Stay Connected
Follow us on Instagram @letsgoardri to get a glimpse into the daily life of our school community.
Important Note
Places for Junior Infants September 2026 are now full. If, for any reason, your child will not be joining us in September, please phone us right away so we can offer the place to another child on our waiting list.
We’ll be back in touch soon with more information. In the meantime, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch:
087 1341007
[email protected]
Happy days ahead,
Darragh and all the team at Ard Rí CNS
FULL INFO CLICK HERE