Our school offices close for the summer break from Friday, 28th June at 12 noon until Wednesday, 7th August at 9am.

The focus for the year’s school improvement plan (SIP 2023/2024) examined one of the targets set in that School Plan under the target pillar of “Reimaging curriculum, teaching and learning”  through the lens of “Wellbeing Curriculum -To comprehensively review the wellbeing curriculum offered”. This follows a comprehensive Junior Cycle review of subjects offered, which was followed by a review of the Junior Cycle hour allocation offered to incoming first years 2025 across their subjects.The main method used is to embed this target across all wellbeing subject areas, with each department planning for their hour allocation and reviewing their current subject plans in light of changes incoming in 2025. This is supported by the Wellbeing and SSE committees. These committees are also tasked with the creation of a new curriculum for subject “Life Skills” in first year. Following consultation with staff, it was noted that to make this new subject most beneficial and make a tangible contribution to the students in the classroom, continuity and clear guidance on content would be essential. To ensure each subject department is conducting a review, updated subject plans will be submitted and reflect the changes proposed. 

We continue to evaluate our progress towards achieving school plan targets. Both students and parents were surveyed on our performance in this area. This metric is proving extremely useful at charting our progress from baseline and directing us towards actions to improve. This document outlines findings and actions from 2023/24 and targets arising for 2024/25.  

In aligning the ‘Looking At Our Schools 2016’ quality framework as a tool to support reflection, self-review and evaluation over the next 5 years for the school’s standards and statements of quality. We aim to keep our focus on four core questions: 

1. What is our shared vision at HFSS that shapes our school community?

2. Who are our learners?

3. What is our vision of success for learning for each pupil?

4. How can we best improve practices in our teaching and learning community?

Please see the full document attached.

https://gofund.me/641e8381

Three HFSS students are represented on the Irish U20s Women's Volleyball Team. Jessica Dowling, Rebecca Dobey and Eimear Byrne. The team are fundraising to cover some of the costs towards hosting the U20 European Championships in Dublin.

This is NOT the FREE TEXTBOOKS for JUNIOR CYCLE SCHEME (This is NOT for 1st, 2nd, 3rd years)

A grant scheme is available in Ireland for students in post-primary schools to help with the cost of school books. Funding for this scheme comes from the Department of Education and Science and the scheme is administered in each school.

For the school year 2024/2025 this book grant will be paid for senior cycle students only. 

Please complete the form appended and return the form to the FINANCE SECRETARY or LEAVE AT RECEPTION by the deadline of FRIDAY, 14th JUNE at 12 noon

FORMS are also available to collect  at SCHOOL RECEPTION. Further queries to finance@holyfamily.ie

Students that may be eligible for assistance include;

• Families dependent mainly dependent on social welfare payments
• Families on low incomes, (e.g., those receiving Family Income Supplement, and beneficiaries under the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance)
• Families experiencing financial hardship because of particular circumstances.(For example, where there is prolonged illness of a parent/guardian, addiction problems, etc.)

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5652a-schoolbooks-scheme-for-junior-cycle-in-post-primary-schools/#circular-462013-book-grant-for-students-in-senior-cycle

This is NOT the FREE TEXTBOOKS for JUNIOR CYCLE SCHEME (This is NOT for 1st, 2nd, 3rd years)

A grant scheme is available in Ireland for students in post-primary schools to help with the cost of school books. Funding for this scheme comes from the Department of Education and Science and the scheme is administered in each school.

For the school year 2024/2025 this book grant will be paid for senior cycle students only. 

Please complete the form appended and return the form to the FINANCE SECRETARY or LEAVE AT RECEPTION by the deadline of FRIDAY, 14th JUNE at 12 noon

FORMS are also available to collect  at SCHOOL RECEPTION. Further queries to finance@holyfamily.ie

Students that may be eligible for assistance include;

• Families dependent mainly dependent on social welfare payments
• Families on low incomes, (e.g., those receiving Family Income Supplement, and beneficiaries under the Back-to-School Clothing and Footwear Allowance)
• Families experiencing financial hardship because of particular circumstances.(For example, where there is prolonged illness of a parent/guardian, addiction problems, etc.)

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5652a-schoolbooks-scheme-for-junior-cycle-in-post-primary-schools/#circular-462013-book-grant-for-students-in-senior-cycle

 Dear parents/ guardians, 

Please note that applications for the 2024 Home Based Summer Programme to support the Educational Needs or Care Needs of Students with Complex Needs is open. Please fill in the application form attached and return to the school as soon as possible. The school will then make an application on the on-line sanctioning portal which will close on Friday 14th June. Please find attached all the details. homebasedsummerprogram@education.gov.ie

A big congratulations to Emily O’Sullivan in 1st year, who released her debut song ‘My Fairytale’ last week. She wrote the song last summer to reflect on all the great opportunities that lie ahead at this time in life. You can download it on Spotify or find it on this Youtube link My Fairytale (youtube.com)  Congratulations Emily. You have a beautiful voice. Wishing you every success in your music career from all here in HFSS