Wednesday Newsletter 23rd September 2026
APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION FOR JUNIOR INFANTS
SCHOOL YEAR 2027–2028
| The school will commence accepting applications for admission on | 28th September 2026
|
| The school shall cease accepting applications for admission on | 23rd October 2026 @ 3:00 pm
|
| The date by which applicants will be notified of the decision on their application is | 13th November 2026 |
| The period within which applicants must confirm acceptance of an offer of admission is* | 27th November 2026 @ 3:00 pm |
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**.
https://hollyparkbns.ie/our-school/policies/admissions-policy
Parents and Guardians seeking placement for their child in a new special class or special school for school year 2027/2028, should now notify NCSE.
Please complete the online form. https://www.ncse.ie/parents/current-application-processes/parents-notif…
If you do not have the required documentation yet, please submit the form anyway. Supporting documentation can be provided until the 15th of September or as soon as possible after that date. Your local SENO will contact you directly if you have completed the form without the required documentation attached.
You can complete the form on our Parents Notify webpage.
A Very Positive Visit from the Department Inspectorate
We were delighted to welcome two members of the Department of Education Inspectorate to Hollypark BNS yesterday as part of a follow-up to our very successful WSE-MLL inspection two years ago. WSE-MLL Report to St. Patrick's BNS, Hollypark (Click the link to read the report)
During that inspection, the school’s leadership and management were identified as a particular strength. As part of yesterday’s visit, the Inspectorate wanted to explore further how our school leadership supports children to belong, connect and feel a strong sense of pride in their school community.
A focus group was held in the school hall, bringing together a wonderful cross-section of our school community — board of management members, parents, children, teachers and SNAs. Participants were invited to share their experiences and examples of the many ways leadership and management contribute positively to school life and help our pupils feel valued, included, and connected.
The feedback from the Inspectorate was extremely positive, and they were particularly impressed by the strong sense of community evident throughout the school and by the commitment of staff, pupils and parents to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. The inspectorate will use this data collection as a guide for schools to follow.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the focus group. Also, a huge thank you to our in-school leadership and management team: Ms. Lynch (DP), Ms. Larkin, Mr. Mitchell, Ms. Brennan, Mrs. Regan, Mr. McEvoy, Ms. Hynes, Ms. Ryan, Ms. O'Farrell & Ms. Morgan. Your ongoing work and positive contributions reflect the culture and values that make Hollypark BNS such a special place.
Well done to all involved — this was a fantastic endorsement of the collective work of our entire school community.
BUDDIES
One of the nicest traditions we cherish in Hollypark BNS is our Buddy System. When a child starts in Junior Infants, he is paired with a 5th Class buddy. The bond continues as they move into Senior Infants and 6th Class together.
Over the two years, our buddies share lots of special moments — from Teddy Bear Picnics, reading time, and art displays, to Sports Day, Ice-Cream Day, Mini-Beast Hunting, and even Graduation. These experiences create friendships and memories that last well beyond their time in the system. In fact, our current 6th Class boys still fondly remember their own buddies from Junior Infants — an incredible eight years ago!
At the focus group session in the hall yesterday, the pupils, both young and old, spoke of the positive impact of the buddy system in Hollypark and the memories they cherish from their time in Infants and 5th/6th class.
Parents' Association - Notice of AGM
The Parents' Association will hold an Open Evening on Tuesday 20th October at 7:00 pm in the school. As part of the evening, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Parents' Association will take place.
This is a great opportunity to tour the school, meet other parents, learn more about the work of the PA, and see how you can get involved with supporting our school community. This invite is open to all parents in the school. We look forward to seeing many of you there!
Sports Blitz - Friday 9th October
We are gearing up for our fundraising Sports Blitz, which will take place on 9th October. The Sports Blitz is the Parents' Association's main annual fundraiser for our school. The PA has organised a huge variety of sports and activities which will take place throughout the day - soccer, rugby, cricket, tennis, volleyball, basketball, yoga, dancing. Thank you to all the clubs, coaches and parents who are generously giving their time to make this special event possible. Sponsorship cards will be sent home with the boys this week. Your continued generosity allows the PA to provide valuable resources, events, and improvements that benefit all the boys throughout the year. A QR code is included on the cards, making it easy for families to submit sponsorship payments online. If you are paying online, the boys must still return their sponsorship cards to their teachers. Your support is greatly appreciated!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Professional Learning Days: School Closure Dates
*2 new dates added
Below are the full-day school closure dates assigned to our school by Oide for the academic year.
The full-day school closures assigned to your school for 2026/27 are shown below:
| Date | Subject / Purpose | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 18/09/2026 | Child Protection Procedures | Full School Closure |
| 05/11/2026 | *Assigned Curriculum Area: STEM | Full School Closure |
| 04/03/2027 | Language Awareness | Full School Closure |
| May 2027: Date to be confirmed | *Assigned Curriculum Area: STEM | Full School Closure |
| Junior Infant HSE Hearing and Vision | September 29th-2nd October | Junior Infants |
|---|---|---|
| Nasal Flu Vaccine | Thursday, October 1st | Whole School *Please register below |
Staff Child Protection In-service Day- School Closure
Sports Blitz | Friday, 18th September
Friday, 9th October | Whole School
Whole School |
| Halloween Dress Up Day | Friday, October 23rd | Whole School |
| Midterm Break | 26th Oct - 30th Oct | Whole School |
| 6th Class Christmas Show | Tuesday, 8th December | 6th class |
OPENING OF THE YEAR MASS
On Thursday, October 8th at 10 am, 3rd-6th classes 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.
Please see this week's Parish Newsletter and Missalette attached.
CLASS PHOTO
DATE: 18-11-2026
Junior Infant Photos (and any new pupils in Hollypark BNS)
INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT
Congratulations to Mariana Hayes and Ken Fitzpatrick, parents of David in 4th class, who feature in the movie TRY! What a marvelous achievement. Please watch the attached trailer and support the movie if possible. Watch the trailer here
Winner of the Best Irish Feature Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh 2026
Richie wasn't allowed to play the sport he loves because of his disability - until Mixed Ability rugby came along. Try! is a feature documentary that follows four Irish players who defy all expectations on their journey to the most inclusive and competitive World Cup you've never seen.
This compelling Irish sports documentary is a must-see for secondary school students, demonstrating exactly what true inclusion looks like, and is a testament to the power of sport in building real community.
Try! is the award-winning debut feature from Oisín Mistéil, that follows four Irish players who defy all expectations on their journey to the most inclusive and competitive World Cup you've never seen.This unique sport is 15-a-side, full contact rugby played by people with and without disabilities, all with the dream of lifting the trophy.
For years, Richie was told he’d never get to play rugby because of his autism, but The Rebels made it possible - and as Richie says himself, he intends to pay them back in blood, sweat and tears.
Join Richie, Maeve, Tommy and Paul, from wet and windy training nights to the nail-biting culmination of their World Cup dream. Try! is a celebration of the power of sport in creating community for those who never belonged before.
Try! Is supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán and Virgin Media Television. The film is produced by Claire McCabe (Blue Road - The Edna O’Brien Story) and executive produced by David Collins (Once).
In cinemas nationwide from Friday October 2nd. Rating 12A.
Want to make a group booking?Email tryfilmcontact@gmail.com and for more information go to tryfilm.ie
Our Gaelic Football Teams Are Up and Running!
Our Gaelic football season is well and truly underway, and it's been fantastic to see so many of our boys represent Hollypark BNS with pride, enthusiasm, and determination.
Our Senior A team, who are defending the Corn Kitterick Cup, have made a solid start to their campaign, recording one win and one defeat after the first two rounds. With 1 more group game left to play, we look forward to seeing the team build on their performances as the competition progresses.
Our Junior A team made a stunning start to the year, putting in an outstanding performance to comprehensively defeat St. Laurence’s, Kilmacud. The skill, teamwork and energy on display were fantastic, and the boys can be very proud of their opening performance.
Our Senior B team have also been hugely impressive so far. Their determination, commitment and work rate have been excellent, and it is wonderful to see the boys supporting one another and giving their very best at every training session and match.
A huge thank you to all our teachers and SNAs who volunteer their time to coach, mentor and support our teams. The countless hours spent at training sessions, travelling to matches and encouraging our pupils make such a positive difference to their experience of school sport.
Finally, a special word of thanks to Mr Mitchell, who coordinates all of our teams and managers. Keeping everything organised across the various age groups, fixtures and training schedules is a full-time job in itself! We are very grateful for all of his hard work.
Well done to all our players, coaches and volunteers. We wish all our teams the very best for the remainder of the season — keep up the great work, boys!
KIND WORDS, KIND ACTIONS
It is wonderful to see our corridors once again filled with art pieces, creations, and projects. The boys are working extremely hard academically, while also showing their wonderful Hollypark manners. Please remember, when lining up for school in the morning, we show kindness and respect to all pupils, parents, and staff members.
This term, we are placing a special focus on respect and kindness — both in the classroom, in the yard and when lining up for school. On my daily visits to classrooms, the boys have shared some excellent insights on how to play and interact kindly. Their suggestions included:
- Including everybody in your games
- Using kind words
- Helping classmates join in play
- Kind hands
- Keeping your hands to yourself while lining up
These thoughtful responses show just how much the boys are embracing our values of kindness and respect in keeping with the new Bí Cínéalta Policy 2025. We hope that you, our parents, will continue to reinforce this important message at home too.
https://hollyparkbns.ie/our-school/policies/bi-cinealta-policy
Hollypark Boys National School On-Site Nasal Flu Vaccine 2026
Dear Parent and/or Legal Guardian,
Laurence Gavin here from Sandycove Pharmacy. I am delighted to work with Mr O’Donovan and all of the team at Hollypark Boys National School to provide the free nasal flu vaccine for pupils again this year. For those who wish to have their children vaccinated, I will be on-site at the school on Thursday, October 1st.
The booking link is provided below. Please complete the form carefully, paying particular attention to PPSN. As some letters can resemble numbers, we kindly ask that you double-check this section https://vaccinesandycovepharmacy.as.me/hollyparkbns2026
If you have any further questions after completing the form, please email me at sandycovepharmacy1@gmail.com , and I will respond as soon as possible.
Please note the school does not have access to the booking information, so all queries should be directed to me rather than the school office.
If your child becomes unwell in the days leading up to the date of vaccination, and you decide not to proceed with the vaccine, please use the link in your confirmation email to cancel the appointment at least 24 hours in advance.
Kind Regards
Laurence Gavin
Pharmacist
THANK YOU FROM CBC MONKSTOWN
Dear Principal,
On behalf of everyone here at CBC Secondary School, we would like to sincerely thank the boys from your school, along with their parents and guardians, for taking the time to attend our recent Open Evening.
It was a pleasure to welcome them to CBC and to have the opportunity to showcase our school, our facilities and the many opportunities available to students. We hope that the boys and their families enjoyed their visit and found the evening informative and helpful as they consider the next stage of their education.
If you, the boys or their parents/guardians have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us here at CBC. We would be more than happy to assist in any way we can.
Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to welcoming many of your pupils to CBC in the future.
Kind regards,
Gerry Duffy
CBC Secondary School
PEACE PROMS 26-27
Our 3rd class students are taking part in the music education programme ‘Peace Proms’. This involves participating in a choir workshop in November/December and performing in Peace Proms with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland at the RDS, Dublin, on Saturday, 6th February 2026.
(Tickets will be released on November 1st from www.tickettailor.com/events/peaceproms
Peace Proms gives children the opportunity to perform with a full symphony orchestra in premier venues and work with internationally acclaimed conductors and soloists. Peace Proms is recognised as one of Ireland’s most valuable, dynamic, engaging, and fun Music Education initiatives. Peace Proms engages children in music and singing, enriching their lives by providing outstanding performance opportunities that promote peace, unity, and tolerance.
This is our 4th year taking part in the Peace Proms, and it really is a night and an experience to remember forever.
STAR OF THE FUTURE
Congratulations to Richie, 6th class (and his sister), who represented Ireland Tennis last week. Richie's team and his sister's team were victorious in the 4 Nations competition - what an incredible achievement. Inspired by Conor Gannon's win this summer, Richie and his teammates are determined to put Irish tennis on the world map. Well done to all involved; keep up the great work.
This week is a very special week for these boys: Jack Moran, Jack Halligan, Ivan Foley, Quin Goodman, Ethan Sheridan, Beauden Daly, Shaurya Verma, Cormac Loughrey, Shane McDonagh, Cormac Lynn, Sean Kennedy, Finn McDonald, George Madigan, Tom Wickham, Joe Sheahan & Cody Murphy.
Have a lovely celebration, boys!
Beir bua agus beannacht,
23.09.2026
THIS WEEK'S ADVERTISEMENTS
