December
Dates for your Diary:
Friday the 28th of November: School closed – Staff Inservice in Laois Ed.
Tuesday the 2nd of December: Gaming and Screen Time Talk @ 8pm
Thursday the 4th of December: Board of Management meeting at 8pm
Saturday the 6th of December: Family Mass @ 7.30pm
Monday the 8th of December: Birr Theatre Show - Infants to 3rd Class
Tuesday the 9th of December: Parents Association AGM @ 8pm
Tuesday the 16th of December: School Show for Grandparents/Active Retirement Group
Wednesday the 17th of December: School Show @ 7pm
Friday the 19th of December: Casual Day in aid of Cystic Fibrosis/Dóchas Cancer Care
Friday the 19th of December: School closes @ 12 noon for Christmas break.
Monday the 5th of January: School re-opens
Gaming and Screen Time Talk: Our children’s Health and Wellbeing is very much a priority for us all. As a school we have policies in the areas of Wellbeing and Internet Usage. As part of these policies, we really do see the issue of ‘Screen time and Gaming’ to be areas of concern when it comes to our pupils. In this context a talk specifically on the ‘Gaming and Screen time’ will take place this Tuesday the 2nd of December in the school at 8pm. Please note the time change, it will now take place at 8pm, not 7pm as was originally communicated. Please email the school if you are attending as we are sharing the talk with two other schools, so we just need to provide for seating.
Swimming Lessons
Swimming lessons for all children from 1st to 6th class will take place in January/February. Further details will follow.
Birr Theatre: The boys and girls from Junior Infants to third class will travel by bus to Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Monday the 8th of December to see ‘I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’. The Junior and Senior infants are to be collected from school at their usual time. Those who haven’t sent in €20 for the show, please do so as soon as you can, (The Board of Management are paying the balance for the bus).
Christmas Show: Our Christmas Show will take place in the Parish Hall on Wednesday the 17th of December. Proceedings will get underway @ 7pm. Juniors – 2nd class will be performing a play entitled ‘A Midwife Crisis’, while 3rd – 6th class will be performing a play entitled ‘Christmas with the Krackers’. Over the coming days we will be looking into our wardrobe to see what costumes we possess. As always, you are asked to ensure your child is organised with regard to the costume details they are furnished with. You will be given ample time to organise costumes, so please have your children ready with their costumes when requested. We will write to you closer to the time with specific details for the night of the show. On the night of the Christmas Show, we always hold a raffle at the interval. Families have always kindly donated something (chocolates, perfume, biscuits etc) to this raffle and this has enabled us to make up hampers to raffle on the night. If you could send in donations of prizes before Wednesday the 10th of December, it would be much appreciated. We ask you when you are donating prizes, to be mindful that we are trying to create hampers, so a variety of items suitable for Christmas hampers would be appreciated.
On the night of the show, there will be no fixed admission charge. If you wish to make a donation at the door, it is much appreciated.
Clareen Active Retirement Group/Grandparents: Members of the Clareen Active Retirement Group and Grandparents are invited to a showing of the show on Tuesday the 16th of December. This will begin at 11am. I am writing to the Active Retirement Group to notify them of this. Please bring this to the attention of Grandparents who are not part of Clareen Active Retirement Group as they are also welcome on the day.
Incoming Infants for 2026: Children who are due to begin Junior Infants in Seir Kieran’s NS in September 2026, are also invited to attend the showing of our Christmas Show on Tuesday the 16th of December at 11am. If you know of any parent who falls into this category, you might tell them to contact Gerardine in the office and she will furnish them with an enrolment application form. Alternatively, an enrolment application form can be downloaded from the school website by clicking on School Information and then by clicking on the Enrolment tab.
Green Schools:
The Green School’s committee held a Halloween Costume Swap Shop in October, and it was a great success, bringing our school community together while promoting sustainability in a fun and creative way. Instead of buying new costumes, students and families donated used outfits and accessories, giving them a second life and helping reduce waste during one of the most fast-fashion-heavy times of the year. Thanks to everyone’s enthusiasm and generosity, the event raised an impressive 200 euro, all of which will go directly toward installing new, energy-efficient hand dryers in the school bathrooms—another step in our ongoing commitment to reducing our environmental footprint. The swap shop not only supported our eco-initiatives but also encouraged students to think about reusing, recycling, and making greener choices in everyday life. There is now a Sustainable Christmas Jumper Shop in the school. Students once again have the chance to swap, donate, or pick up pre-loved festive jumpers, helping us cut down on unnecessary purchases while still spreading plenty of holiday cheer. We look forward to seeing the same level of enthusiasm as we continue working together for a greener school year.
Casual Day: A Casual Day will take place on Friday the 19th of December. Every year we hold a Casual Day to raise funds for an organisation/group which is doing great work. This year the organisation/group we are supporting is Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and Offaly Dóchas Cancer Care. So, on the day of the 19th the children can come to school dressed casually (a Christmas jumper would be nice, if they have one). Any small donation they bring in on the day will be collected and this will then be given to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and Cancer Care.
Coats and keeping warm; I know weather can vary but generally speaking, we are in the cold season now. Some of the days in November were very cold and some children are not wearing coats into school. Please ensure your child is in a habit of wearing a coat into school everyday.
Parents Association AGM: This will be held on Tuesday the 9th of December at 8pm. Our PA do great work in supporting our school so one parent from each family is asked to attend on the night. I will address the meeting on the night, so I look forward to seeing you all then.
Dóchas Cancer Care Fundraiser: A big well done to our sixth class and Clareen Community Group, who raised in excess of €1000 from the coffee/tea afternoon which they ran last Friday the 21st of November. A very strong tradition has always existed in the community of Seir Kieran for fundraising for very worthy causes. Such exercises really bring out the very best in us as humans so it was wonderful to see our sixth class embracing this spirit and working so well with the Community Group, to raise funds for such a worthy cause. Well done all.
Christmas Cards: We ask that pupils don’t bring Christmas Cards into school into friends. There will be lots of Christmas spirit in school in the lead up to Christmas and we will be all sharing warm Christmas wishes amongst one another. Christmas cards only lead to more litter (envelopes etc.) and sometimes unknowingly, someone can be left off someone’s Christmas card list and this can cause hurt.
On behalf of both myself and the staff, I wish you all a Happy Christmas and all the best for 2026. We are very thankful for the support and cooperation we received from you in the past year and we look forward to working with you again in 2026, in the very best interests of your children.
Nollaig Shona Daoibh agus Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Daoibh go léir.
Friday the 28th of November: School closed – Staff Inservice in Laois Ed.
Tuesday the 2nd of December: Gaming and Screen Time Talk @ 8pm
Thursday the 4th of December: Board of Management meeting at 8pm
Saturday the 6th of December: Family Mass @ 7.30pm
Monday the 8th of December: Birr Theatre Show - Infants to 3rd Class
Tuesday the 9th of December: Parents Association AGM @ 8pm
Tuesday the 16th of December: School Show for Grandparents/Active Retirement Group
Wednesday the 17th of December: School Show @ 7pm
Friday the 19th of December: Casual Day in aid of Cystic Fibrosis/Dóchas Cancer Care
Friday the 19th of December: School closes @ 12 noon for Christmas break.
Monday the 5th of January: School re-opens
Gaming and Screen Time Talk: Our children’s Health and Wellbeing is very much a priority for us all. As a school we have policies in the areas of Wellbeing and Internet Usage. As part of these policies, we really do see the issue of ‘Screen time and Gaming’ to be areas of concern when it comes to our pupils. In this context a talk specifically on the ‘Gaming and Screen time’ will take place this Tuesday the 2nd of December in the school at 8pm. Please note the time change, it will now take place at 8pm, not 7pm as was originally communicated. Please email the school if you are attending as we are sharing the talk with two other schools, so we just need to provide for seating.
Swimming Lessons
Swimming lessons for all children from 1st to 6th class will take place in January/February. Further details will follow.
Birr Theatre: The boys and girls from Junior Infants to third class will travel by bus to Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Monday the 8th of December to see ‘I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas’. The Junior and Senior infants are to be collected from school at their usual time. Those who haven’t sent in €20 for the show, please do so as soon as you can, (The Board of Management are paying the balance for the bus).
Christmas Show: Our Christmas Show will take place in the Parish Hall on Wednesday the 17th of December. Proceedings will get underway @ 7pm. Juniors – 2nd class will be performing a play entitled ‘A Midwife Crisis’, while 3rd – 6th class will be performing a play entitled ‘Christmas with the Krackers’. Over the coming days we will be looking into our wardrobe to see what costumes we possess. As always, you are asked to ensure your child is organised with regard to the costume details they are furnished with. You will be given ample time to organise costumes, so please have your children ready with their costumes when requested. We will write to you closer to the time with specific details for the night of the show. On the night of the Christmas Show, we always hold a raffle at the interval. Families have always kindly donated something (chocolates, perfume, biscuits etc) to this raffle and this has enabled us to make up hampers to raffle on the night. If you could send in donations of prizes before Wednesday the 10th of December, it would be much appreciated. We ask you when you are donating prizes, to be mindful that we are trying to create hampers, so a variety of items suitable for Christmas hampers would be appreciated.
On the night of the show, there will be no fixed admission charge. If you wish to make a donation at the door, it is much appreciated.
Clareen Active Retirement Group/Grandparents: Members of the Clareen Active Retirement Group and Grandparents are invited to a showing of the show on Tuesday the 16th of December. This will begin at 11am. I am writing to the Active Retirement Group to notify them of this. Please bring this to the attention of Grandparents who are not part of Clareen Active Retirement Group as they are also welcome on the day.
Incoming Infants for 2026: Children who are due to begin Junior Infants in Seir Kieran’s NS in September 2026, are also invited to attend the showing of our Christmas Show on Tuesday the 16th of December at 11am. If you know of any parent who falls into this category, you might tell them to contact Gerardine in the office and she will furnish them with an enrolment application form. Alternatively, an enrolment application form can be downloaded from the school website by clicking on School Information and then by clicking on the Enrolment tab.
Green Schools:
The Green School’s committee held a Halloween Costume Swap Shop in October, and it was a great success, bringing our school community together while promoting sustainability in a fun and creative way. Instead of buying new costumes, students and families donated used outfits and accessories, giving them a second life and helping reduce waste during one of the most fast-fashion-heavy times of the year. Thanks to everyone’s enthusiasm and generosity, the event raised an impressive 200 euro, all of which will go directly toward installing new, energy-efficient hand dryers in the school bathrooms—another step in our ongoing commitment to reducing our environmental footprint. The swap shop not only supported our eco-initiatives but also encouraged students to think about reusing, recycling, and making greener choices in everyday life. There is now a Sustainable Christmas Jumper Shop in the school. Students once again have the chance to swap, donate, or pick up pre-loved festive jumpers, helping us cut down on unnecessary purchases while still spreading plenty of holiday cheer. We look forward to seeing the same level of enthusiasm as we continue working together for a greener school year.
Casual Day: A Casual Day will take place on Friday the 19th of December. Every year we hold a Casual Day to raise funds for an organisation/group which is doing great work. This year the organisation/group we are supporting is Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and Offaly Dóchas Cancer Care. So, on the day of the 19th the children can come to school dressed casually (a Christmas jumper would be nice, if they have one). Any small donation they bring in on the day will be collected and this will then be given to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and Cancer Care.
Coats and keeping warm; I know weather can vary but generally speaking, we are in the cold season now. Some of the days in November were very cold and some children are not wearing coats into school. Please ensure your child is in a habit of wearing a coat into school everyday.
Parents Association AGM: This will be held on Tuesday the 9th of December at 8pm. Our PA do great work in supporting our school so one parent from each family is asked to attend on the night. I will address the meeting on the night, so I look forward to seeing you all then.
Dóchas Cancer Care Fundraiser: A big well done to our sixth class and Clareen Community Group, who raised in excess of €1000 from the coffee/tea afternoon which they ran last Friday the 21st of November. A very strong tradition has always existed in the community of Seir Kieran for fundraising for very worthy causes. Such exercises really bring out the very best in us as humans so it was wonderful to see our sixth class embracing this spirit and working so well with the Community Group, to raise funds for such a worthy cause. Well done all.
Christmas Cards: We ask that pupils don’t bring Christmas Cards into school into friends. There will be lots of Christmas spirit in school in the lead up to Christmas and we will be all sharing warm Christmas wishes amongst one another. Christmas cards only lead to more litter (envelopes etc.) and sometimes unknowingly, someone can be left off someone’s Christmas card list and this can cause hurt.
On behalf of both myself and the staff, I wish you all a Happy Christmas and all the best for 2026. We are very thankful for the support and cooperation we received from you in the past year and we look forward to working with you again in 2026, in the very best interests of your children.
Nollaig Shona Daoibh agus Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Daoibh go léir.