May Newsletter 2026

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to the latest Edition of our Newsletter. I hope that is edition finds you all keeping well. It is hard to believe that we are nearly half-way through our third term already. As always, it has been exceptionally busy in the school as you will see below. I hope that you enjoy reading our Newsletter and that you get a true flavour of the sentiment and spirit that permeates Clashmore National School.

1. School Attendance

As a DEIS rural school, improving our overall attendance is a top priority for us. With this in mind, we have analysed and compared our overall monthly attendance for March & April of this year, to that of the last year. I am delighted to announce that our pattern of increased attendance month on month, has continued in March and April of 2026.

• Our attendance has improved from 93.7% in March 2025 to 96.3% in March 2026, an improvement of 2.6%.
• Our attendance for April 2026 is 96.9%, which is an increase of 0.4% over last year at 96.5%.

It is wonderful to see the increased pattern of attendance continuing. Well done to everyone! I would like to congratulate our 1st-2nd Class for the best attendance for the month of March, and 3rd-4th Class for best attendance in April- maith sibh a pháistí!

2. Breakfast Club & After-School Club in Clashmore National School

As you are aware, there will be a Breakfast Club and After-School Club operating in the school in the coming school year by operator Helena O`Meara Ltd. There was a great turn out at the recent information meeting for all parents on 14th May regarding this club, what is provided and what parents need to do regarding the National Childcare Subsidy. Enrolments forms for the Breakfast & Afterschool Club are available from the school Office.

3. Clashmore National School`s 60th Anniversary on the current site- Save the Date!

In honour of the school`s 60th Anniversary on the current site, we will be having a special 60th Anniversary Mass in Clashmore Church on Thursday 1st October at 6:30pm. We are truly delighted that Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan will be officiating this special mass for us. We would like to extend an open invitation to all of the Clashmore Community who would like to come and celebrate this occasion with us. We are greatly looking forward to this unique event.

4. The Blast Programme

I am delighted to announce that our recent application for the Blast Programme was successful. As a result, Junior Infants-2nd class will be working with a Professional Artist on a unique fabric & fibre project based on our 2 National Saints- Saint Bridget and St. Patrick. This is a fully funded project and it gives the children a wonderful opportunity to get a real flavour for the Arts from a professional artist. Huge thanks to Ms. Seward who applied for this grant for us. We look forward to participating in the programme & we can`t wait to unveil the finished products once completed.

5. The `Siopa Beag` & The Circular Economy Grant from The Council

As part of seachtain na Gaeilge we unveiled the ` Siopa Beag`, a small enterprise where the children could purchase school supplies e.g. pencils, erasers etc that they commonly run out of during the year. The Siopa Beag was such a huge success, that we extended it to include some second-hand goods such as toys & books at a very low cost. It has been truly wonderful to see the children using their money to calculate what they can/cannot buy and if they have any money remaining. This in-turn has supported our Green School focus of recycling toys & books as part of the circular economy. Following an application for funding under the Circular Economy Grant for the Siopa Beag, we have been granted €100 to purchase more trolleys to store the goods for the Siopa Beag on them. The Siopa Beag will run every 3-4 weeks in school.

Our Student Council will be deciding what we should spend our small profits on.

Buíochas ó chroí le gach duine atá tar éis tacaíocht a thabhairt dár Siopa Beag.

6. Extra-Curricular Activities

• 6th Class Hoodies: I would like to commend 5th & 6th class on all of their recent fundraising  initiatives, to fund the 6th class end of year hoodies. They worked extremely hard organising and selling their Christmas centre-pieces and a cake sale to fund their hoodies. It is truly wonderful to see such an entrepreneurial spirit & work ethic in the children. Sincere thanks to Mrs. Keogh who helped the children with their fundraising efforts, supported also by Mrs. S Fitzgerald/Mrs. Moore (SNA`s).
• Spanish Lessons: 5th-6th class have concluded their 10 weeks of Spanish lessons as part of The Modern Foreign Languages Programme. We have applied for further funding for this scheme to run again next year.
• Swimming: 3rd to 6th class have also concluded their 6-week block of swimming lessons in Aura. As part of our review of the swimming, we will be sending out a google survey to get your thoughts on how best to organise swimming lessons moving forward.
• GAA: The children are continuing to enjoy hurling sessions with Mary O` Rourke this term & also with Barry Dunne.
• The Daily Mile:  The children are still busy doing their daily mile and making great progress towards our end goal of reaching the destination of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
• Music Generation: Each Wednesday the school is alive with the sound of music, as the children continue to enjoy their music lessons with Danny Dunford as part of Music Generation.
• Chess: Congratulations & well done to 5th & 6th class children who participated in the final round of the Chess tournament on the 12th March. We are so proud of their efforts.
• Food Dudes Week: On the week of the 20th April, the children enjoyed a flavour of various fruit and vegetables under the Food Dudes scheme. This is a great scheme which aims to encourage the children to eat more fruit & vegetables.
• Discover Singing Workshop: As part of the Lismore Opera Festival in partnership with Music Generation, 3rd& 4th class have been getting workshops in Opera singing. Following this, the class will them attend the Lismore Opera Festival on the 26th May.
• Soccer with Clashmore Ramblers: We are delighted to have Clashmore Ramblers in partnership with Waterford Sports Partnership, doing soccer sessions with the children once again. The boys & girls have thoroughly enjoyed these sessions.
• Athletics: Well done to all of the children who participated in the Finnisk School Sports Athletics. It was a particularly wet evening, but the children performed amazingly. The next round of athletics will be in The Friary on 21st May. Many thanks to Mr O`Connell & Mrs. Seward for co-ordinating the athletics.
• Return Bin: We are still continuing to collect plastic bottles and cans for our Return Bin. All funds raised from the bin will go towards purchasing new Irish resources and graded readers. We are as always extremely grateful for your generosity.

7. First Holy Communion

The boys & girls in second class received their First Holy Communion last Saturday 16th May. They were outstanding on the day and we were so proud of their efforts. Sincere thanks to Mr. Phelan for preparing and organising the children for this special occasion and thanks also to  Mrs. Michelle. Fitzgerald (SNA) who also supported the children. I would like to extend our thanks to Fr. Kelly who conducted this special ceremony. We had a very memorable day.

8. School Tours

The following School Tours have been organised for the children.

School Tour prices will be released on Aladdin in the coming weeks.

• 9th June- 5th-6th Class School Tour to Eco Adventures, Aghada.
• 15th June- Junior-Senior Infants School Tour to Leahy`s Farm.
• 17th June- 1st-4th Class School Tour in Dungarvan with `Just for Fun` school Tours.

9. 7th Green Schools Flag Awarded to Clashmore N.S.

Our Green School Committee and the entire school community have been working hard to achieve our 7th Green School Flag and we have been successful! So well done to all involved.

A special word of thanks to Mrs. Seward and Mrs. O`Donovan who have both co-ordinated this wonderful initiative. Ms Seward will attend a special Green Schools Award Ceremony where we will be officially awarded our 7th School Flag.

10.  Standardised Testing

Like previous years, we will be doing standardised testing in English and Maths with the children in 1st-6th class this month. Please remember not to place too emphasis on the scores attained, as they are merely a snap shot of your child`s progress in primary school.

11. School Facebook Account

Please ensure that you keep with to date with what`s happening in school by visiting our School Facebook page.

12. Important Dates for Your Diary

• Monday 1st June: Bank Holiday, the school will be closed.
• Thursday 18th June: End of Year Graduation Mass in Clashmore Church at 10am- all welcome.
• Friday 19th June: The school will close at 12:00 for the Summer Holidays.

Le gach beannacht uaimse,

Yvonne Uí Fhlaithimhín
Principal of Clashmore National School