Scoil Mhuire na mBráithre – C.B.S. Primary Tralee
An Edmund Rice School
Newsletter – Nuachtlitir
December
Dear Parents,
It’s December already – can you believe it!! The number of “sleeps” left to the big day is getting smaller and smaller. The boys and girls will be on their very best behaviour over the next few weeks because Mr. Smith could be getting a phone call from the North Pole to see if they’ve all been good!
Over the next few weeks, our school will be filled with festive decorations, our beautiful Crib will be on display and preparations for the Christmas concerts have already begun – this has always been a highlight of our school year and we look forward to seeing you all there!
Brendan Smith
Principal
New pupils for September 2026
Many thanks to all of you who have sent in your application forms for next year’s Junior Infants. Please remember, if you / your friends / neighbours / cousins are sending a child, or children, to us next September, forms are available right now from the secretary’s office. The Board of Management will be in touch with parents in January regarding their child’s place for next September.
November – a month for remembering
Each year we come together in our school, in our own special way, one day in November to remember those who are no longer with us. The idea is to help us to keep these people alive in our thoughts and to help us to be able to smile as we remember them. This year our special day took place on Wednesday 19th November. We lit candles, listened to a story and took some time to remember in a special way family members, friends and relatives who are no longer with us.
Health and Safety
We are appealing to parents to take great care when dropping off and collecting their children. Parking at any school is a difficult exercise, especially on wet days! We ask you to be mindful of our traffic warden, Jerome, and avail of his guidance when crossing the road. In particular, can you please avoid parking in a place that interferes with the work of our traffic warden. We have also to be mindful of our school gates at arrival and home times-the main gate is for pedestrians, the other gate is for vehicles. Accessing the school car park is for staff vehicles only.
Please help us to make arrival and home time a safe time!
School Attendance
Since September we have been emphasising to parents and their children the importance of being in school every day. If your child is in school every day, they have a much better chance of reaching their potential.
As part of our school campaign to reward children for good attendance, each child is entered in a raffle for prizes when they complete a full week in school. If they have 4 full weeks attendance, they will have 4 tickets in the raffle. We have already had a raffle for September and October and the children were very happy with their prizes. The November raffle will take place very soon.
We ask that you, the Parents, work with us on promoting good attendance with your child at home and, by sending in notes when children are absent. Thank you for your support so far this year – there is a definite improvement in attendance figures.
Split the Bucket Draw-Fundraiser
Our Parent’s Association have been extremely busy, and with the consultation of CBS Primary staff they decided on a “Split the Bucket” fundraising draw. The first draw took place on 25th November Live on Facebook from Mrs. Donohue’s junior infant classroom. The second live draw will take place in Mr Casey’s Second class on Wednesday 3rd December, and due to phenomenal demand, one final live draw will take place on Wednesday 10th December. Thank you for all your fantastic support and this has really added to the excitement amongst the whole school community.
Christmas Concert
We will have our Christmas concerts in the school hall, taking place on Tuesday 16th AND Wednesday 17th December beginning at 12.00 p.m. each day. The priority for our concert, as always, will be to give every child, where possible, in the school an opportunity to be “on stage”. All classes will perform in the concert both days. Our staff will be working very hard with the boys and girls over the next few weeks to have everything ready for a great show again this year!
Entry to the concert will cost €2 each for adults (children are free) – this money will be collected at the door on the way in and audience members can make their way to the hall via the school yard. The usual raffle will also take place – many thanks to those of you who donated prizes. So, if you need help to get into the festive spirit, come along to the concert – you will not be disappointed!!
In order to assist parents, who are getting time off work to see the concert, a rough guide to the concert timetable will be shared in the next few days.
DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools
Our school is very fortunate to be included in this Government-funded programme for schools. As a consequence, we have been able to provide lunches for all of the children, every day. However, due to the Christmas concerts taking place in the hall, our school kitchen staff will be providing sandwiches in the last week of school leading to Christmas.
In the last few weeks, we have also been able to put in place music lessons for every child every Friday, basketball coaching after school and we have other various activities lined up for after Christmas.
All of these additions, and much more, help to make the children’s learning experience a very positive one here in our school. Our Priorities this year will focus on improving Attendance, Literacy and Numeracy.
News from the Board!
Our Board of Management will hold its next meeting of this academic year in the next week. During this meeting, our Board will discuss all activities relating to our school during this busy term. Reminder that all school policies are published on our school website (www.cbsprimarytralee.com)
Student Council
The Student Council is organising a Christmas Door Decoration Competition that will bring colour and cheer to the school in the run up to the holidays. Last year was the inaugural year of this event and it was such a success that we are delighted to run it again. Classes can design their doors with any seasonal theme they choose, and prizes will be awarded across four groups from infants to sixth class. Creativity, teamwork, and Christmas spirit will guide the judging, and winners will be announced during the week that begins on Monday December 15th
Mobile Phones & electronic devices
If your child must bring a mobile phone to school, parents/guardians must write to the principal giving valid reasons for the phone to be brought to school. Otherwise please no mobile phones or electronic devices!
CBS Facebook Page
Again, this year staff members Siobhan Ryle& Aoife McDonnell have agreed to look after our school Facebook page. They have been very busy since September keeping everyone up to date with lots of interesting activities that take place in our school. To ensure you don’t miss anything, I am reminded to ask you, your family and friends to “Like” our page. We hope you enjoy all our wonderful news!
Future Foresters
We are delighted to share some fantastic news! Third Class has been selected as a national finalist in Coillte’s Future Foresters Project, placing our school among the top three schools in the entire country!! As part of this wonderful achievement, members of Third Class will travel to Avondale Forest Park in Wicklow on the 4th December to present their project before a panel of three judges.
This is a huge achievement, and we are extremely proud of every member of Third Class and the adults working with them. Fingers crossed that they’ll be bring home the Grand Prize on December 4th!!
Well done, Third Class!!!
Spanish lessons
The children from the 5th and 6th Classes have been enjoying Spanish lessons with Marisa our Spanish Tutor for the last 10 weeks as part of the Say Yes to Languages Module. The aim of this Module is to introduce pupils in senior classes in Primary Schools to a Modern Foreign language. Marisa has also taught the children about Spanish festivals, culture, and history.
Second class Scientists
Our two Second classes were very busy scientists lately.
We were delighted to welcome Susan Enright from MTU who guided the children through a fascinating Cell Explorers DNA experiment – using a banana! The children had a fantastic time exploring science in a fun and hands-on way.
School Garden
We are in the process of re-establishing our school garden. We are seeking to make it a place which will stimulate the children’s interest in plants and nature-a place where they can be part of the entire process of planting, caring for and nurturing seeds. If any parent/guardian is able to help us out in any way, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
Christmas Annuals
Again, this year we have two different annuals – one published by Folens and one by Educate.ie.
They can be ordered from the office and order forms will be shared with the children today.
Christmas / Winter Jumper Day
On every Friday in December, all of our school staff and children can wear their Christmas Jumpers – this will help everybody get into the festive spirit!
Christmas Carol Singing!!
“Voices of Joy”, a festive celebration of Christmas carol singing to be held in Tralee on Saturday, 6th December 2pm – 5pm in the Square. This event will then be followed by Santa’s Enchanted evening parade. This special event will bring together school choirs from across the region to share the joy and spirit of the season through song. It promises to be a heart-warming day filled with music, community, and Christmas cheer. CBS choir will have the opportunity to perform a short selection of Christmas carols on a stage with a full sound system. More details of approximate time slot will be given closer to the date. Come along with the whole family and join in with us!
Oh! You Better Watch Out
Every Year, our Parents’ Council work very hard to organise a visit from a person who is very busy this time of year. Last year he made a special visit to our school. We never know until the last minute whether he can make it or not. Fingers crossed everybody!
Come, come, come to the Manger
We will have a beautiful crib in our school again this year. In keeping with the custom in our school, the Baby Jesus will be placed in the Manger by youngest child in the school will on the last day of school before the holidays– a short carol service will follow. In the midst of all the hype surrounding this time of year, this is a very special little moment in our school’s Christmas celebrations. If you get a chance, let your child bring you to the manger.
Dates to Remember
Christmas Concert: Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th December starting at 12:00
Christmas Holidays: School closes on Friday 19th December at 12.00
School reopens on Monday 5th January at 08:45
