Wednesday Newsletter 17th September 2025
APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION FOR JUNIOR INFANTS
SCHOOL YEAR 2025–2026
| The school will commence accepting applications for admission on | 29th September 2025
|
| The school shall cease accepting applications for admission on | 24th October 2025 @ 3:00pm
|
| The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application is | 14th November 2025 |
| The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is* | 28th November 2025 @ 3:00pm |
Applications must include:
1. Completed application form
2. A copy of the birth certificate
3. **A current utility bill** (only for applicants living within the parish)
Click the link to view the Parish Map
https://hollyparkbns.ie/sites/default/files/image-uploads/Foxrock.pdf
**A current utility bill includes ESB, Gas bill, refuse collection bill, home phone bill, etc. Please do not send personal bills. ie, Bank statements, Mobile phone bills or insurance forms, etc**.
To be returned to the school by hand or post only to:
Admissions
St. Patrick's BNS,
Hollypark,
Blackrock,
Co. Dublin
A94 FE02
https://hollyparkbns.ie/our-school/policies/admissions-policy
Gaelic football season is back with a bang! Hollypark Junior and Senior footballers will again take to the field. Junior matches are on Tuesday evenings and Senior matches take place on Thursday evenings.
This year, we have an incredible team of nine staff members who generously give their time and expertise to coach and manage the teams—a huge thank you to our team of volunteers. We wish them the best of luck in the upcoming games.
Junior Football News
A huge well done to our two Junior Football teams who showed fantastic skill, teamwork, and determination in their matches yesterday against St. Laurence’s and St. Michael’s. Both games were full of excitement, and the boys gave it their all from the first whistle to the last. They were rewarded for their efforts by picking up 3 well-deserved league points along the way. Great performances all round – we’re very proud of you!
Hollypark BNS school Nasal Flu vaccine 2025
Dear Parent and or Legal Guardian,
Laurence Gavin here from Sandycove Pharmacy.
I am very happy to work with Barry and the team at Hollypark to provide the nasal flu vaccine for the boys again this year. It was a great success last year, and we had an exceptional level of uptake for the vaccine.
I will be visiting the school on October 2nd with another pharmacist, and we will vaccinate any pupil who wishes to have a vaccine at the school on that day between 9 am and 1 pm.
The booking link is attached below.
Please complete this carefully with special attention to PPSN - the letters can sometimes look like numbers so please double check.
https://vaccinesandycovepharmacy.as.me/hollyparkbns
If you have any further questions, please email sandycovepharmacy1@gmail.com, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
NOTE: The school does not have access to the booking details, so please direct any queries to me and not the school team.
If your child is unwell on the days before the 2nd of October and you do not wish them to receive the vaccine please cancel using the link in your confirmation email no later than 24 hours before the appointment.
Kind Regards
Laurence Gavin Pharmacist
JUNIOR INFANTS INFORMATION EVENING
We were delighted to welcome our Junior Infant parents and guardians to the school last night. It was a lovely opportunity to meet and get to know everyone, and we hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did. Thank you to Ms. Brennan and Ms. Doyle for hosting the night in their classrooms.
A big thank you to our Parents’ Association for their warm welcome afterwards, offering wine, cheese, tea, and coffee in the hall. A special word of thanks to parent Rebecca Coghlan for arranging the beautiful cheese platters – they were thoroughly enjoyed!
No Smartphone Voluntary Code – Research Survey
Dear Parents / Guardians,
The use of smartphones and other technologies is now a feature of daily life for people of all ages. As you are likely aware, however, they can particularly expose primary school children to some risks – including cyberbullying and encountering harmful content. In recognition of these concerns, the Department of Education published its ‘Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free’ guidance. In line with this, a number of school communities both locally and nationally have chosen to explore voluntary approaches to delaying smartphone ownership until after primary school.
The Parents’ Association respects each family’s right to decide whether or not their children have access to the internet or smartphone, and as such, we are first seeking to establish if there is interest in exploring this as a measure. The “No Smartphone Voluntary Code” invites parents to agree, via a simple form, not to purchase a smartphone for their child until after they have left primary school. Please note that this does not affect the use of basic mobile phones (without internet access or apps) that some children may need for after-school collections or similar reasons.
At this stage, we are circulating a short survey to establish the level of interest within our school community and to hear your views. Your feedback will play an important role in informing our decision. Please click the link Smartphone Survey to answer a few short questions.
We appreciate your time and feedback. Your input will ensure that any next steps reflect the wishes of the school community.
Kind regards,
Hollypark BNS Parents’ Association
OPENING OF THE YEAR MASS
On Tuesday, 30th September at 10 am, 3rd - 6th class from Hollypark BNS and GNS will attend Foxrock Church for the opening of the year Mass.
All parents, grandparents, and family members are welcome to attend the Mass.
SACRAMENTS 2025-26
2nd and 6th Class
Dear Parents/Guardians,
You are kindly invited to attend an Information Meeting for Sacramental Preparation in Foxrock Church. The meeting aims to provide you with information about the Communion and Confirmation year ahead, as well as how to register for the Sacraments.
| First Holy Communion | Thursday, October 2nd @ 8pm |
| Confirmation | Thursday, October 9th @ 8pm |
Kind regards,
The Foxrock Parish Team
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
IN-SERVICE DAYS FOR 25/26 (School Closure)
The school will be closed for the Department of Education in-service training days on the dates attached:
| 11/02/2026 | Lá 1 - Creatchuraclam na Bunscoile / Day 1 - Primary Curriculum Framework | Scoil Padraig Naofa B |
| 13/05/2026 | Lá 2 - Creatchuraclam na Bunscoile / Day 2 - Primary Curriculum Framework | Scoil Padraig Naofa B |
| Junior Infant Information Evening | Tues., September 16th | Junior Infants |
|---|---|---|
| Junior Infant HSE Hearing and Vision | September 23rd-26th | Junior Infants |
| Jun. Infant Immunisation | October 6th-8th | Junior Infants |
| Sports Blitz | Friday, 10th October | Whole School |
| Hallowe'en Dress Up Day Presidential Election | Thursday, October 23rd Friday, October 24th - School Closed- Polling Station | Whole School |
| Midterm Break | 27th Oct - 31st Oct | Whole School |
| 6th class Christmas Show | Tues., 9th December | 6th class |
BLACKROCK EDUCATE TOGETHER
We were delighted to welcome Principal Donal from Blackrock Educate Together to our school last Tuesday. Donal spoke to all 5th and 6th classes about their relatively new school and all the facilities it has to offer. For more information, check out the poster below and the school website www.blackrocketss.ie
MONEY CLUB
Core Credit hopes you all enjoyed your summer break. We will be returning with the Money Club in Hollypark Boys School from 16th September 2025. We will be on-site every Tuesday to collect the children’s savings. If your child already has an account with us, they can pop up and we can issue them a new card. Please contact us on 01 2725600 with any queries, and if you would like further information on the Money Club in your school, please go to https://www.corecu.ie/schoolmoney-club/
PARK AND STRIDE
The Gardaí have once again asked us to appeal to all parents, not to block driveways and exit routes and to park safely in surrounding estates. We again remind you that free parking is available in Foxrock Parish car park. We encourage our older boys to walk, cycle and scoot to school. Everyone's cooperation in this will ensure the safety of our children and the happiness of our residents.
This week is a very special week for these great boys: Jamie Healy, Robert Reys, Noah McCann, Oisin Flynn Griffin, Rian Fogarty, Mark Mulligan, Jack Halligan, Jack Moran, and Alexander O'Regan. Have a wonderful celebration, boys!
Beir bua agus beannacht,
Principal
17.09.'25