Parent Information

Agreed Report to Staff and Parents’ Association from Board of Management Meeting 27 January 2026

Wishing all our families and staff a very Happy New Year.

Congratulations to Ms Hoey on the birth of baby Áine.

Deepest sympathy to Deirdre Skelly on the passing of her father.

Many thanks to our Parents Association for their help and support for our Christmas activities: concert, raffle and Santy visit. Thanks also for their commitment to cover the cost of the bus for Senior Room visit to Strokestown House.

We look forward to all the activities planned for what promises to be a very busy and productive term.

Agreed Report to Staff and Parents’ Association from Board of Management Meeting 25 September 2025

Welcome back to pupils and staff as the Board look forward to a safe and productive year.

Thanks to those parents who have paid their Voluntary Contribution, which forms a substantial part of the school budget. We would ask those who have not yet paid to please do so or make an arrangement with the school.

We would like to sincerely thank the outgoing Parents’ Association committee for their great work and for their energy and enthusiasm in raising much-needed funds for the school. We know that families have busy lives but would encourage all parents to get involved with the PA as they make such a difference to your child’s school experience. We look forward to working with the new committee this year.

Thanks also to Ms Doherty for continuing to manage and train the school’s football team. We know it is a big commitment. We are aware that many teachers give of their time above and beyond the school day in order that the children can get the most out of their time in our school.

Agreed Report to Parents Association and Staff from Board of Management Meeting 04 June 2025

The Board would like to thank Ms Doherty for her time and efforts with our football team and congratulate them on their recent win.

Our Parents’ Association continues to be an invaluable resource to the school and we commend their hard work over the year, which has made a great difference to the school finances and increased the amount of activities that the children were able to take part in.

We note that the children in our school have been commended for their manners, respect and behaviour outside the school at all events they attended recently: Cumann na mBunscol, Garda Fun Day and St Mel’s Open Day and by bus drivers to and from activities. We are proud that the children represent themselves, their school and their families so well.

As the summer holidays approach, we would like to thank parents, teachers and pupils for their hard work and commitment to the school, ensuring that the whole school community continues to thrive.

Bí Cineálta Policy

The Bí Cineálta Procedures provide direction and guidance to school management and school personnel in relation to preventing and addressing bullying behaviour in schools.

These procedures are called Bí Cineálta which means ‘Be Kind’. Showing kindness and being kind to each other underpins these procedures and supports school environments that foster empathy and understanding. The focus in these procedures on restoring relationships after bullying behaviour has been displayed will help to rebuild trust, encourage accountability and a supportive school culture.

We have developed our new Draft Bí Cineálta Policy for our school and an accompanying child-friendly version. This will replace our Anti-Bullying Policy from September 2025. This policy was developed under the new guidelines and in consultation with all members of the school community. The Policy is available below for parents to view or make suggestions/comment on.

Agreed Report to Parents Association and Staff from Board of Management Meeting 25 February 2025

Huge thanks to our Parents’ Association for all their hard work and fundraising efforts. The Parents’ Association donated €4,100 to the school – the proceeds of their Race Night. This money will make a massive difference to the school this year and we are extremely grateful.

A big thank you also to Longford Variety group for their donation of €1,000.

Our Internet Acceptable Use policy has been updated and is available to view on our website. We strongly encourage all parents to take internet/online safety seriously and look at resources such as Webwise to keep informed.

Also see our Safe Routes to School Outline Delivery Plan. This plan is the result of a lot of time and work by the school and Longford County Council and its implementation (hopefully in Summer 2025) should make a huge difference in terms of safety for children accessing the school, especially on foot or bike. It will also enhance and improve access to the village as a whole. OutlineDeliveryPlan_ScoilMhuireClondra_SchoolCopy

Bí Cineálta is a new Department of Education initiative to prevent and address bullying and promote good behaviour in schools. Staff will engage in Bí Cineálta training on March 03 (school closes for all at 1:50pm) and March 18 (school closes for all at 12noon). The new Procedures are available to view on: https://assets.gov.ie/296487/d0ea26bc-5b6c-45f3-b0fd-2f3e2d3c1f07.pdf

We have applied for the Schools Solar Panel Scheme and hope that this will be approved in the coming weeks.

Enrolment for the school year 2025-6 has now closed and our enrolment process is complete.

The Board of Management appreciates the hard work of the whole school community which ensures that the school continues to be a happy and safe place.

Agreed Report to Parents Association and Staff from Board of Management Meeting 25 September 2024

As the new school year gets underway, the Board would like to thank staff for their continued good work in the school and look forward to working with them for the advancement of the school this year. We note the many summer courses which have been undertaken in order that teaching and professional development remains consistent with best practise in education. We thank staff for the many ways they support and encourage the children in the school. Thank you to Ms Doherty who will continue to manage the school football team and to her co-manager, Deirdre Owens.

The Board also looks forward to continuing the school’s excellent relationship with the Parents’ Association. Finances in the school are under pressure this year, so we especially welcome and support any fundraising ideas and efforts that can generate much-needed funds for the school: perhaps looking into the feasibility of revisiting the Race Night which was a great success financially. We look forward to their continuing involvement and support in upcoming events.

We encourage all parents to become involved and hope that some of our new parents will come to a meeting and see the great work that the Parents’ Association do. An active and engaged Parents’ Association is of great benefit to the whole school community – the more parents who are involved, the more the school will thrive.

A big welcome to our new Junior Infants and to those in other classes who have joined this year.
Best wishes to all pupils, parents, staff, and Parents’ Association for the 2024-25 school year

Agreed Report to Parents Association and Staff from Board of Management Meeting 05 June 2024

Staff
Thanks to our staff for all their hard work this school year. We recognise the Continued Professional Development courses that teachers have completed and will do over the summer months and their continued work on other activities such as Amber Flag, Active School Flag and Green Flag. Congratulations to Aisling Hoey on the birth of Saoirse May. Very well done to Melissa on her first 7 months as Principal. Sincere thanks to those teachers who have been with the school this year and will not be returning next year – we wish you every success in the future. Best wishes to all for a good Summer.

PA
The board would like to recognise and thank the Parents Association for all their hard work and contributions towards the school. This had made a massive difference to families (dance, tour, swimming, etc). Thanks for always being there as a support at school events this year (retirement, Hallowe’en, Christmas, Easter, etc.), and for their upcoming support at Infants Induction Day. We encourage all parents to become involved in the Parents Association and hope that some of our new parents will get involved. We wish our Sixth Class the very best of luck as they move on to Secondary School. We hope all our families have a happy, healthy, safe and fun Summer.

Changes required to schools admissions policies

Changes are required to the schools Admissions Statement following the commencement of the Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Act 2022.

All schools must include the below text in the schools admissions statement. The admissions statement is part of the school’s admissions policy.

“Scoil Mhuire, Clondra, will cooperate with the National Council for Special Education in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 relating to the provision of education to children with special educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council.

“Scoil Mhuire, Clondra, will comply with any direction served on the patron or the board, as the case may be, under section 37A and any direction served on the board under section 67(4B) of the Education Act.”