Industrial Action Update (12/10/2026)

We wish to remind parents that members of the INTO and Fórsa Trade Unions are currently engaged in national public sector industrial action relating to the ongoing pay dispute. As part of this action, staff have been directed not to undertake certain duties outside their normal working hours.

The school gates will continue to open at 9:00am. Pupils should arrive at this time and proceed directly to their classrooms, where teaching and learning will begin immediately. We would like to reassure parents that normal teaching and learning activities will continue throughout the school day.

Trade union members have also been directed to participate in 24-hour strike action on Wednesday 14 October and Wednesday 21 October 2026. Normal school operations are expected to be significantly disrupted on these dates. Parents are advised to make contingency arrangements for childcare should they be required.

We will continue to keep parents informed of any developments and will communicate any updates regarding school arrangements as soon as further information becomes available.

 

Admissions for September 2027

Ard Rí CNS is delighted to announce the publication of our Admissions Notice and Admissions Policy for children seeking admission to Junior Infants or the Special Class (all class groups) for September 2027.

Applications for Junior Infants and the Special Class will be accepted from Thursday, 1 October 2026. The closing date for receipt of applications is 11:00am on Friday, 23 October 2026.

Applications received after this deadline will be processed as late applications in accordance with the school’s Admissions Policy.

Parents and guardians can access the Admissions Notice, Admissions Policy and application forms online at: www.ardricns.ie/enrol/

Application forms are also available in hard copy from the school office. For further information, please contact us at [email protected].

We encourage all families interested in joining our school community to submit their applications before the closing date.

 

School Bus Places Available

There are currently places available on School Bus 1. This route serves the Athlumney, Farganstown and Johnstown (Metges Road) areas.

If you are interested in securing a place for your child, please contact the school office by email at [email protected].

We encourage families who are interested in this service to get in touch as soon as possible.

 

Maths Week

This week, we are celebrating Maths Week at Ard Rí CNS. Throughout the week, pupils will take part in a range of fun mathematical activities and challenges, including inter-class games and problem-solving tasks.

The aim of Maths Week is to promote a love of maths and number while helping children to recognise that maths is an important part of everyday life. Through engaging and practical activities, pupils will have opportunities to develop their skills, confidence and enjoyment of mathematics.

You may notice a change to maths homework this week, as children will be given a variety of fun, hands-on maths challenges to complete at home with their families. We hope everyone enjoys getting involved and celebrating maths together!

 

Goodness Me, Goodness You! – Family Project

During October and November, pupils will be taking part in a Goodness Me, Goodness You! (GMGY!) Family Project based on the theme of Special Artefacts and Stories.

The purpose of the Family Project is to encourage children and their parents/guardians to explore and discuss the beliefs, traditions and values that are important within their family and community. Families play a vital role in helping children understand their own experiences and perspectives, while also supporting them to appreciate and learn from the experiences of others.

While siblings may receive different project templates, all projects focus on the theme of Special Artefacts and Stories. This allows families to have shared conversations at home while ensuring activities are age-appropriate for each class level.

In November, pupils will have opportunities to share their projects with classmates in pairs, small groups or, where appropriate, with the whole class. This helps children learn about the rich variety of beliefs, traditions and worldviews represented within our school community.

 

Girls’ Cumann na mBunscol Final

Congratulations to our girls’ football team on reaching the Cumann na mBunscol Final following a fantastic league campaign. The girls have worked incredibly hard throughout the season and have demonstrated outstanding teamwork, determination and commitment at every stage.

The final will take place in Trim GAA on Thursday, 22 October at 3:15pm. We are immensely proud of the team and their coaches for representing Ard Rí CNS so positively and wish them the very best of luck on the day.

We would love to see as many members of our school community as possible come along to support the girls in the final. Your encouragement and support would mean a great deal to the team as they take to the field for this exciting occasion.

Best of luck, girls. We’re all behind you!

 

Halloween Week at Ard Rí CNS

There will be no formal homework during Halloween Week to allow families time to prepare for our fun community events.

We’re delighted to announce the return of our Annual Halloween Family “Smashing Pumpkin” Carving Competition! Each family is invited to get creative and bring one carved pumpkin to school and leave on the Rugby Club stands on the morning of Tuesday, 20 October.

Over the years, entries have become wonderfully wild, some might say a bit monkey-nuts! This year, we encourage everyone to keep it simple and have fun together. All pumpkins should be clearly labelled with your family name. We’ll create a fantastic display on the Rugby Club stands for everyone to enjoy. Please remember to bring your pumpkin home again on Tuesday afternoon after school.

Then, on Friday, 23rd October, we’ll round off the week with our Halloween Fancy Dress Day! Children are invited to come to school in costume for a day filled with spooky fun and frolics.

We can’t wait to see all the creativity and excitement that Halloween Week brings!

 

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(04/10/2026)

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Staff at Ard Rí CNS are members of the INTO and FORSA trade unions. As part of the current national public sector industrial action relating to the pay dispute, staff have been directed not to undertake certain duties outside of their normal working hours.

While this action will result in some changes to school procedures, teaching and learning will continue as normal throughout the school day.

From Monday, the school gates will open at 9:00am. Pupils should arrive at that time and proceed directly to their classrooms, where lessons will begin immediately.

We recognise that industrial action can be disruptive and may cause concern for families. Our priority will continue to be the wellbeing, safety and education of the children in our care. We will manage these changes as smoothly as possible while respecting the industrial action being undertaken by staff.

Should any further developments arise that impact students or families, I will keep you informed as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your understanding, patience and continued support.

Kind regards,

Darragh Roe