Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope this finds you well. I would like to commend and congratulate your daughters on their beautiful singing performance at our annual carol service last night and thank you very much for your generous contributions to our chosen charities this year.
A huge well done to the girls also for embracing the school’s Christmas Spirit Day on December 5th.
I feel very fortunate to work with such a fantastic group of 1st year students this year. Your daughters have made excellent progress both socially and academically this term. They have enjoyed many bonding experiences through our initial ‘Getting to Know you Day’, our walk to Rostellan Woods & Farm and our trip to the Cork Pops Orchestra. They have also benefited from a peer-led study skills lesson and a highly worthwhile workshop from ‘The Shona Project’ during our Bí Cineálta/Anti-bullying week. We are very proud of how the girls are adapting to their new environment and coping with the highs and lows of secondary school life.
VSware reports/ Parent teacher meeting/ Subject Choice
You can access the results of your daughter’s two continuous assessments on VSware from Monday December 22nd. Your daughter’s Christmas Report will be issued on VSware in early January and we will look forward to discussing your daughter's progress at their parent teacher meeting on Monday, January 12th from 4.15pm to 6.45pm.
From January, students will need to start thinking about the three option subjects (Business, Art, Music, Home Ec, Modern Foreign Languages) that they wish to continue with into 2nd and 3rd year. One option must be a foreign language. Mr. Twomey, Ms Harrington & Ms Holland will visit each SPHE class from late January onwards to go through subject choice with 1st years and how they can input their choices on VSware.
Any current 1st year student who did not sit their entrance exam this year will need to sit their CAT4 exam in early February during the school day along with our new incoming 1st year students.
Phone usage at Christmas
Christmas provides a wonderful two week break for all 1st year students. Routines will lapse during Christmas with late night films and activities on each evening. However, we would ask all parents to please consider the advice of Dr. Richard Hogan and continue to take your daughter’s phone each evening at 9.00pm. It should not be in the bedroom with her as no good can come of it. We sometimes find that it is during the school holidays where friendship issues can arise as students are out of their routine, on Social Media for longer periods than normal and thus sometimes make the wrong choices. We would ask you to continue to practice phone and internet safety.
All 1st years will finish school on Friday 19th December at 12.25 pm.
The school reopens on Monday 5th January 2026.
Finally, I would like to wish you and your families a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions or issues: s.mcauliffe@saintals.ie.
Thank you for your continued support.
Warm regards,
Ms. Susan McAuliffe
1st Year Head