2nd September 2025
Hi everyone,
We’re still putting the finishing touches on our September Newsletter and will share it with you shortly. In the meantime, I want to share the PE timetable with you.
On the days specified below, children may wear their PE tracksuit along with a plain white t-shirt. Please note that sports jerseys or other trendy gear is not part of the school uniform.
A reminder to label all of your child’s clothes clearly. We already have brand new jumpers without names left around the school. We know every child in the school. Labelled clothes can be returned to their owners within seconds.
If your child’s PE day was on Monday or Tuesday this week, they may take their second tracksuit day on Friday.
Thank you,
Darragh
| Class | PE Days |
| Junior Infants | Monday and Thursday |
| Senior Infants | Monday and Wednesday |
| 1st Class | Tuesday (Swimming) and Thursday |
| 2nd Class | Monday and Wednesday (Swimming) |
| 3rd Class | Wednesday (Swimming) and Friday |
| 4th Class | Tuesday (Swimming) and Friday |
| 5th Class | Tuesday (Swimming) and Friday |
| 6th Class | Wednesday (Swimming) and Friday |
25th August 2025
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all feeling ready and excited for the return to school on Wednesday. Pupils Senior Infants to 6th start at 9am and Junior Infants start at 10am. We’ve had a few phone calls and emails over the past week, so I thought it would be helpful to share some of the most frequently asked questions here for your information.
Uniform
On Wednesday and Thursday, all children should wear the grey formal uniform. If the weather allows, some children may prefer to wear plain navy shorts, which is absolutely fine. On Friday, all children can wear their school tracksuit. Your child’s teacher will confirm each class’ designated tracksuit days in due course. If there has been any problem getting the uniform, please don’t worry, we have spares!
Books and Supplies
All school books and copies are already in your child’s classroom, labelled and ready to go. Your child only needs to bring a suitably sized school bag, a well-stocked pencil case, and a packed lunch.
School Lunches
We are still in the process of setting everyone up on The Lunch Bag app. For the first few days, each child (Senior Infants to Sixth Class) will receive a cold lunch combo (sandwiches, fruit, etc.). All new pupils will be given unique instructions on how to set up the app. We will let you all know as soon as the hot food menu has been switched on.
Please send a small, low-carb snack for your child to have at morning break.
Junior Infant lunches will begin on Monday, 8th September.
Nut-Free School
Ard Rí CNS is a nut-free school due to allergies. Please ensure that your child does not bring any nuts or nut-based products to school, including in snacks and packed lunches. We appreciate your support in keeping all our pupils safe.
School Bus Service
The school bus service will begin on Monday, 1st September. I will be in direct contact with everyone who expressed an interest in the service in the coming days to confirm pick-up times, stops, and other details.
Student Direct Costs
The Student Direct Costs for this school year are €52. This covers the following:
- €7 for 24-hour Pupil Accident Insurance
- €10 for Aladdin
- €35 for your child’s school tour
The €35 school tour fee secures your child’s place on their annual tour in May 2026. Due to significant increases in bus transport costs, we are collecting this fee at the start of the school year 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.
Ard Rí CNS is a cash-free school, and we are proud to maintain the highest standards of financial compliance. All payments are made through Way2Pay, a Bank of Ireland online payments system. If you have not already paid, a Way2Pay bill for the €52 Student Direct Costs will be raised on your account shortly. Please note there is also an option on the app to pay these costs in instalments if needed.
School Swimming
School swimming lessons for all pupils from 1st to 6th Class will begin on Monday, 16th September, and will run for 6 weeks. We will provide further details early next week.
We are really looking forward to welcoming all our pupils back to school and to a fantastic year ahead. Please remember, if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to get in touch. Together, we will make sure every child feels safe, happy, and excited about learning.
Thank you for your continued support and for being such an important part of our school community.
Warm regards,
Darragh
14th August 2025
Dia duit gach duine,
I hope everyone is enjoying a lovely summer. The return to school is just around the corner. Preparations are now well underway. Teachers are working hard planning and are busy organising their workspaces for the new year. Let’s go!
I want to provide you with some quick reminders and updates:
- School reopens for all pupils on Wednesday 27th August Calendar
- Classes Senior Infants to 6th start at 9am.
- Any new pupils joining Senior Infants to 6th come to the school at 9.15am on Wednesday so we can direct you to your new class.
- New Junior Infants are in school from 10am to midday on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I will share guidelines specific to Junior Infants in the next few days.
- ‘Drop and Go’ and ‘Park and Walk’ will work as before from day one. The green gates will open at 8.50am every day. No parents to pass the green gates please. Children will line up with their classmates on yard and enter their classrooms all together at 9am with first lesson commencing immediately.
- School Bus: There will be a new company running the school bus this year. We are delighted to be working with Philip Barrett and his driver Jeff. The route will run as before collecting and dropping at SuperValu Johnstown, along Metges Road at Priory, Millbrook, Cois Glaisín, Limekiln, Baker Hall and Academy Street. This is a private service and costs €30 per child per week two-way, €20 per child per week one-way or €50 for two children in the same family per week. Preference will be given to two-way passengers. If you are interested, please fill in this form:
School Bus: https://forms.office.com/e/s2nAnNRfCc
- Class Teachers: pleased to announce we begin the school year with a full complement of staff. I am delighted to welcome back Meghan Byrne, Aoife Gavin, Ciara Hughes and Barbara Tully. These teachers have all worked at the school previously. New to the team, I warmly welcome Lauren O’Brien, Charlotte McLoughlin, Aoife McCluskey, Emma-Jane Blake and Áine Carr. We welcome you to the community and we look forward to working with you all. See below the complete list of class teachers for 2025/26:
*Junior Infant parents will receive a text shortly to let them know which class their child will be in.
| Year 24/25 | Year 25/26 |
| Incoming Pupils | Múinteoir Rachel Junior Infants* |
| Incoming Pupils | Múinteoir Ciara Junior Infants * |
| Múinteoir Niamh D Junior Infants | Múinteoir Gráinne Senior Infants |
| Múinteoir Ciara Junior Infants | Múinteoir Ruth Senior Infants |
| Múinteoir Gráinne Senior Infants | Múinteoir Aoife G 1st Class |
| Múinteoir Ruth Senior Infants | Múinteoir Ailis 1st Class |
| Múinteoir Ailis 1st Class | Múinteoir Laura 2nd Class |
| Múinteoir Aoife 1st Class | Múinteoir Meghan 2nd Class |
| Múinteoir Laura 2nd Class | Múinteoirí Maria & Edel 3rd Class (jobshare) |
| Múinteoir Meghan 2nd Class | Múinteoir Niamh D 3rd Class |
| Múinteoir Emma 3rd Class | Múinteoir Sarah 4th Class |
| Múinteoirí Maria & Edel 3rd Class | Múinteoir Aoife Mc 4th Class |
| Múinteoir Sarah 4th Class | Múinteoir Charlotte 5th Class |
| Múinteoir Angela 4th Class | Múinteoir Niamh H 5th Class |
| Múinteoir Niamh H 5th Class | Múinteoir Wilma 6th Class |
| Special Education Team | Múinteoirí Karen, Angela, Catherine, Lauren, Barbara, Emma-Jane & Áine |
- Free School Books & Your Child’s Direct School Costs 2025/26
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 this grant.
Your child’s annual school costs for the 2025/26 school year will be €52 per child, which covers:
• €7 – Irish Public Bodies (IPB) Student Personal Accident Insurance (more info)
• €10 – Text-a-Parent & Aladdin communication tools
• €35 – School Tour*
*The €35 school tour fee covers the cost of your child’s annual school tour in May 2026. Due to significant increases in bus transport costs we are taking a different approach by collecting for the school tour at the start of the school year 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.
Ard Rí CNS is a cash-free school, and we are proud to maintain the highest standards of financial compliance. Way2Pay is a Bank of Ireland online payments application. If you have not paid already, a Way2Pay bill for the €52 Student Direct Costs will be raised on your account shortly. Please note that there is an option to pay these costs in installments if required.
- Each child will require a well-stocked pencil case:
- Extra Curricular Activities: We are delighted to bring you a range of extra-curricular activities again this year:
Creative Keyboards are now enrolling for keyboard classes at Ard Rí CNS starting September 2025. For all info and bookings: click here
Primary Pals Homework Club for Junior and Senior Infants will run from 1.40-2.40 and Primary Pals Plus will run from 2.40-3.40, Monday to Friday. For all info and bookings please call Jana on 0863445115
Study Mates Homework Club for pupils 1st to 6th will run from 2.40-3.40 Monday to Thursday. For all info and bookings please email Niamh and Angela on [email protected]
- Enrolment has been very strong this year. There are still places available in some classes. As explained before the summer our teacher allocation depends on pupil numbers. If you know of any one looking for a school place or if your child will not be returning to school with us please email [email protected].
- Our school uniform supplier is Geoghegans, Trimgate Street, Navan. For full information on our uniforms: click here Our Parent Association also makes pre-loved (second-hand) uniforms available. LABEL EVERYTHING!
I will be back in touch in the coming days with more information.
Go raibh maith agaibh,
Darragh
