Good afternoon Parents / Guardians,
As we reach the end of another busy and productive week, we would like to acknowledge the positive engagement of our students in school life. Classrooms have been focused and purposeful and it has been encouraging to see students continuing to build strong routines for learning and attendance.
We thank parents and guardians for their ongoing support, particularly during the Anseo Attendance Challenge. Your partnership plays an important role in helping our students make the most of every school day.
We look forward to the week ahead and to continuing our shared commitment to supporting the learning, wellbeing and development of all our students.
A reminder to all that there is a School Closure Day on Monday for Teacher Training on Senior Cycle Redevelopment. School reopens for students at the normal time on Tuesday, 27th February.
Please take note of the specific points of information below. Have a lovely weekend with your families and we look forward to seeing our students back in school on Tuesday!
Kind regards,
Sarah Green
Principal
Yard Enhancement Works – Update on Progress
As was communicated in December, improving the Yard Spaces has been identified as a priority for St Seton’s by the whole school community and the Board.
The following developments have happened since the last communication on 13th December:
- Commitment for funding for Yard Enhancement Works and supports to assist with dual campus logistics.
- Meeting with IPB Insurance (the school’s insurance provider) regarding a partnership with Difference Days – next meeting taking place on 29th January on site on Junior Campus. This group will look to develop an external area of the Junior Campus eg an outdoor classroom / garden in April.
- Approval in Principal secured to partner with Padel100 and install two Padel Courts on the Junior Campus
- Commencement of Fencing Installation on Junior Campus.
Please review the proposed developments to enhance both the Junior and Senior Campus Yard Spaces here:
🔗 Enhancement of JC Yard, SC Yard – Parent Update 23.01.26
I will keep all parents / guardians regularly updated as we make further progress.
Anseo Attendance Challenge – 19th January – 11th February 2026
As we enter week 2 of our current Attendance Challenge, please encourage your child to aim for full attendance next week. It’s a short week as there is no school on Monday so even more reason to see our attendance on Tuesday increase! Good habits around attendance have to be practiced. If your child is struggling with their attendance, please reach out and talk to us. We will always work in partnership with you as parents / guardians to collaborate and work together to help your child experience success in school.
LCA Task Interviews
It’s a big week for our 5th and 6th Year Leaving Certificate Applied students who will be carrying out Task Interviews next week. We wish them the best of luck. Congratulations on the successful completion of their Task Projects and a big thank you to the teachers and SNAs who have supported them along the way. We have no doubt that they will achieve great results next week!
Mock Examinations
The Mock Examinations begin on 6th February for LC Established students and run until 13th February. Mock exams are an important opportunity for students to practise exam skills, build confidence, and identify areas for improvement. Families play a key role in helping students manage this period positively so if you have a 3rd or 6th year student in your household, here are some ways you can best support them at this time.
Helpful tips for home:
- Keep routines steady: Encourage regular sleep, meals and study times. Tiredness increases stress and reduces concentration.
- Create a calm study space: A quiet, well-lit area with minimal distractions can make a big difference.
- Encourage realistic study goals: Short, focused study sessions with breaks are often more effective than long hours.
- Promote attendance: Being present for all mock exams helps students gain the full benefit of the experience.
- Support wellbeing: Remind students that mocks are a learning tool, not a final judgement. Encourage exercise, fresh air and downtime.
- Stay positive: Praise effort rather than results, and reassure students that it’s normal to feel nervous.
Above all, a calm, supportive home environment helps students approach their mock exams with confidence and balance.
Incoming 1st year Meeting
We are really looking forward to meeting our new incoming 1st year students and their parents / guardians on Thursday (29th January) at 7pm on the Junior Campus for a General Information Meeting. Everyone involved in our ‘Supporting Successful Transitions Team’ will be present on the night. These staff members include: Members of our Senior Leadership Team; Members of our Special Education Teaching Team; Members of our School Completion Team, our HSCL Teachers and other valuable support staff.
The new incoming 1st year students will also be coming in for Profiling Afternoons on 30th January and 6th February from 2.45pm – 5.30pm, where they will sit the CAT4 Assessments. 70-80 students will attend on each date. If anyone is available to assist with these assessment dates, please let me know.
All newly incoming 1st Year students received a letter this week with details of the General Information Meeting and the Profiling Afternoons:
🔗 Letter for Incoming 1st Year Parents / Guardians 15.01.26
Ceiliúradh CEIST
Ceiliúradh CEIST takes place on 30th January. This is a special day of Celebration within CEIST schools and this year’s theme for 2026 is, ‘Together in Hope: ‘Inspired by Faith, Transformed by Love. Schools, Homes & Parishes Working Together.’
Thank you to Mr Murphy and Mrs Turley who have planned the details of the day’s celebrations which include the students preparing a ‘Wall of Gratitude & Hope’ on both Campuses. All 1st Years will make St Brigid’s Crosses on Friday and learn about the cultural significance of St Brigid’s Cross. ‘The Calling’ is a prayer for CEIST Schools and it will be read out over the intercom on both campuses. Finally, on Friday morning, we will raise the CEIST Flag and light our CEIST Candles on both campuses.
Celebrating School Community Success
- Congratulations to our U19 Soccer team and Mr Whelan who won their Semi Final match on Wednesday and are through to the League Final. They play Kylemore College on Friday at 10am on the Astro Pitch in Crumlin United. This is a really momentous occasion for St Seton’s and we are looking forward to bringing a cohort of JC and SC supporters to support our boys in this Hometown Derby!
- Hard luck to the Boys U19 GAA team and Mr Nolan after their narrow defeat on Monday following a great effort. Well done!
- A big shout out to the Chess Club who had huge numbers in attendance this week. It is great to see that St Seton’s caters for all students’ interests and talents. Thank you to Gary White and the other staff members who coordinate this lunchtime club.
- Well done to the TY students who coordinated the opening of the School Bank. It’s never too early to start to save for a rainy day!
- There was a very constructive and engaging Student Council meeting on Wednesday. The students contributed to a discussion around the effectiveness of the Block Classes for 3rd & 6th years at Christmas, the provision of school meals at lunchtime and a review of the Christmas Hamper Appeal. They finished off with a brainstorming session on their next Charity initiative which will take place in the run up to Easter. Wonderful to see such cross-campus leadership at student level with the support of Mr Dempsey and Ms Kenendy.
