Dear 2nd year Parents/Guardians,
I hope you are keeping well.
Please note that all 2nd year students sat two assessments per subject this term. The results of both assessments will be available to view by Friday 19th December 2025 on VSware. They are labelled Class Assessment 1 and Class Assessment 2.
Your daughter’s Christmas Report will be published on Friday 16th January and this will include formative feedback from each of her teachers on her progress to date.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ms. O’ Leary, Year Head, following the recent loss of her father last week and loss of her mother in September. Ms. Harrington, Junior School Deputy Principal, will assume the role of Year Head while Ms. O’ Leary is absent so please refer any questions/concerns relating to 2nd year students to her.
Upcoming Events
Our school calendar is packed with exciting events leading up to Christmas:
Christmas Carol Service: Tuesday, December 9th at 6.30pm, Glenmary Hall.
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Again this is always a special evening, we would love to see as many parents as possible join us for what is a wonderful celebration of our Christmas traditions.
Annual Christmas Fundraising: Friday, December 12th.
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Supporting famine relief, assistance to those affected by drought conditions and assisting the educational work of the S.M.G order in schools in Kitui, East Kenya, St. Vincent de Paul, Carrigtwohill and Bumbleance Children's Ambulance Service.
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We are asking you to donate €5 or more if you wish through our school Swoofee payment link attached here : https://saintals.swoofee.com. Please scroll to the product “Christmas Charity Fundraiser 2025 - €5 ” before December 12th to be in our draw which has some great prizes to give out.
Christmas Spirit Day: Friday, December 5th.
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A huge well done to all our 2nd years for their wonderful Christmas outfits and costumes.
Phones Usage at Christmas:
Christmas provides a wonderful two week break for all 3rd year students. We have advised them to study hard for the month of December so that they can really enjoy Christmas week with their family and friends. Routines will be broken during Christmas with late night films and events on each evening. However, we would ask all parents to please consider the advice of Dr. Richard Hogan - continue to take your daughter’s phone each evening at 9pm. It should not be in the bedroom with her as no good can come of it. We would ask you to continue to practice phone and internet safety.
Friendships:
We sometimes find that it is during the school holidays when friendship issues can arise as students are out of their routine, on Social Media for longer periods than normal or simply away with family and thus “missing out” on group activities. Issues that arise between friendship groups outside of school time, such as exclusion from an event, a negative comment on social media etc cannot be dealt with by the school. These issues must be managed by the parents of the students involved. Only bullying issues that take place during the school day may be investigated by the school.
All 2nd years will finish school on Thursday 18th December at 3.45pm.
The school reopens on Monday 5th January 2026.
Wishing you and your family a productive and enjoyable lead-up to the Advent and Christmas season.
Warm wishes,
Ms. Harrington
Junior School Deputy Principal