St. Francis NS

LETTER FROM PRINCIPAL

The three spirals on the St Francis NS crest represent the school community: the pupils, the parents and the staff.

We work hard supporting each other to bring out the best in each child.
We are a vibrant, friendly and welcoming school that values friendship, trust and openness in a safe working environment.
We prepare our pupils for their place in a multicultural society by actively promoting equality and by celebrating the diversity we have within our school community.

SCHOOL HISTORY

St. Francis National School was established in September 2007 with two teachers (Oreena Lawless, Principal and Elaine O’Rourke, Deputy Principal) and 20 pupils on the roll. It was intended to serve the developing end of Blackrock as the existing Parish School was running at capacity with no further room for expansion. The school was established as a Catholic school following consultation with the local community.  Until June 2013 the school occupied five prefabs – four classrooms and an office/staffroom on the site of the Parish Centre on Sandy Lane. Work commenced in February 2013 on our permanent building on the Rock Road and we moved in at the end of August 2013.  On 6th December 2013, the new building was officially opened and blessed by The Most Reverend Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

In August 2018 we started our second stream and will be introducing a second Junior infants class every year.  For the 2020/2021 school year there are 12 mainstream classes and 336 children on our roll, including special needs and children from many different cultural backgrounds and nationalities. The individual class teachers are supported by a Special Education Team, of four teachers, and four Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), administrative and caretaking staff.

CATCHMENT AREA

Most of our pupils live in the village of Blackrock, and priority is given to pupils who live closest to the school when allocating school places.  We do however have some pupils living in Dundalk and the surrounding villages.

ACTIVITIES

We participate in several activities throughput the school year to compliment the school curriculum, including:

  • Green Schools
  • Louth Tidy Towns Eco Tribes Project
  • Active Flag
  • Music
  • Speech and Drama
  • Quiz Team
  • Choir
  • Public Speaking
  • Homework Club
  • Maths Week
  • Science Week
  • Tech Week
  • Engineers Week
  • Scratch Coding
  • MS Readathon
  • Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Day
  • Intercultural Celebrations
  • Book Fair
  • St Francis Day Celebrations
  • St Patrick’s Day Celebrations
  • Irish Dancing
  • Swimming (4th & 5th Classes)
  • Quiz Teams
  • Student Council
  • Sports training (regular coaching sessions arranged through links with Louth Sports Partnership, DKIT Health & Physical Activity Programme, Louth GAA, Geraldine’s GFC, Blackrock Hurling & Camogie)
  • Sports Teams (Gaelic Football, Hurling/Camogie, Soccer, Rugby, Basketball)

 

We also have several after school activities which take place in school and include:

  • Dance classes
  • French classes
  • Art classes
  • Brickx Club (lego)
  • FitKids (infant gymnastics)
  • Keyboard Classes
  • Tin Whistle Classes
  • Junior Einstein Science

 

ADMISSIONS AND ENROLMENT

We open up our Junior Infants admissions in the October preceding the year of entry, for a 3 week period.  Places are allocated in accordance with our Admissions and Enrolment Policy, with priority given to siblings of children already enrolled in the school, and pupils resident in the immediate catchment area, provided they have reached their 4th birthday at the end of March of the year of entry.  Parents can complete the “Expression of Interest” form on the school website at any time and we will contact you when admissions open for your chosen year of entry.  Full details are available on the school website at https://www.stfrancisns.ie/parents-page/enrollment/

 

MORE INFORMATION

For more information visit the school website at www.stfrancisns.ie

St Francis National School, Rock Road, Blackrock, County Louth A91NH0V

Email: admin@stfrancisns.ie

Tel: 042 93 66993