Piercestown National School
Scoil Náisiúnta Baile an Phiarsaigh
Níos fearr le chéile
LATEST NEWS
FIRST ASSEMBLY OF THE YEAR 2025
Today, 6th October, we held our first assembly of the school year! There was a real buzz of excitement in the air as Ms. Walsh waited to greet the children and staff who came together to celebrate, share and begin a new year of learning. Our newest members, the Junior Infants, were ready and waiting—bright-eyed and full of anticipation for their very first assembly. They did a fantastic job sitting attentively and soaking in the experience. A few were even brave enough to pop their hand up to answer questions! Well done to them! First Class kicked things off in style with a beautiful performance as Gaeilge. Their confidence and fluency truly impressed us all, setting a high standard for the rest of the school. Maith sibh, Rang a hAon! Ms. Walsh then spoke to us about the importance of our school assemblies and all the wonderful reasons we gather together: to celebrate achievements, build our school community, and remind ourselves of the many traditions we celebrate at Piercestown National School.
We also took time to celebrate all the September and October birthdays—a big “Happy Birthday/Breithlá Shona” to everyone who blew out candles recently! We hope you all had a fantastic day. Finally, we revealed our Class of the Month. While there were no winners from the junior end this time, a big congratulations goes to Third Class, who took the crown this month for their hard work, teamwork, and excellent behaviour. Keep it up!
It was a fantastic morning, and we’re already looking forward to our next assembly. Well done, everyone and huge thanks to Ms. Walsh!
SNA APPRECIATION DAY 2025
On Thursday 25th September, schools across the country celebrated the invaluable work done by Special Needs Assistants in schools every day. On SNA Appreciation Day, we take a moment to recognise the invaluable contributions our very own SNA team make to Piercestown National School. We appreciate every thing they do for the students and staff in our school and thank them wholeheartedly.
WECLOME BACK TO SCHOOL!
Piercestown 5k Run
Piercestown 5km Run Brings the Community Together—Rain or Shine!
Today was a true testament to the spirit of our community as hundreds of students, parents, grandparents, and supporters gathered for the new, but hopefully, annual, Piercestown 5km run. Despite the pouring rain, spirits were high as everyone came together for a shared goal: to run, have fun, and show support for our school.
The morning began with a wet and wonderful warm-up, with laughter and energy buzzing through the air. The rain didn’t dampen anyone’s enthusiasm—in fact, it only added to the fun. With raincoats on and sneakers splashing, our runners headed off down the course full of determination and smiles.
It wasn’t long before the medals needed to be prepared and just as the first runner approached the finish line, the rain eased, and cheers erupted. Congratulations to Jack Butler, who powered through the course to come in first place—an amazing achievement! It wasn’t long before the rest of the runners came in, one after the other, all greeted with proud applause and big smiles.
Once everyone had crossed the finish line safely, the celebration continued. Medals were handed out to recognize the fantastic effort of every participant, and of course, no school event is complete without a sweet treat—donuts for all!
A huge thank you goes out to the amazing Steph Quigley and the wonderful Parents’ Council for organizing and leading such a memorable event. Today wasn’t just about running—it was about connection, perseverance, and community spirit.
Well done, Piercestown—what an unforgettable day!
To view more photos and all race times head to the JustRuns Events Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/1FcvPgAGxw/?mibextid=wwXIfr and check the timings on https://my.raceresult.com/347479/
2025 Primary Schools Sports Competition
Today some of our pupils headed to The Hub Sports Centre, Enniscorthy to compete in the annual Co Wexford Primary Schools Sports Competition, which is held in May each year. The events were co-ordinated by the County Wexford Primary Schools’ Rackard League committee. Every year Piercestown NS enter a team of athletes from 1st Class to 6th Class into the various competitions, ranging from sprints, long distance, to relay and other field events too. Our pupils have experienced many memorable performances at this annual event over the years and it is always a truly enjoyable experience for them, our wonderful sporting ambassadors.
The emphasis of the day was on participation and inclusion, with about 2,000 young primary school pupils competing and representing their schools. We were well represented this year, with one of our students EVEN making it to the final stages in their events. We were glad to give the new jerseys an airing and the students wore them with pride. HUGE congratulations to all those who participated, some for the last time prior to heading off to Secondary School. Special shout out to Kate in 3rd class winning gold in the long jump, Bobby in 2nd class winning silver in the sprints and ALL of our relay teams for qualifying for the finals with the under 10 boys relaying bringing home gold medals, and under 12 boys and mixed relay teams bringing home bronze medals. Go Piercestown! Special shout out to ALL the parents for ensuring the children could attend and to Ms. Lyttleton and Mrs. Newport for ensuring everyone was safe, happy and present at the starting whistle for all events.
Sacrament of the Eucharist 2025
With the sun blazing it perfectly set the tone for a truly special occasion in our school community. After weeks of preparation, learning prayers and practicing responses the beautiful outfits were carefully chosen, and the much-anticipated day of First Holy Communion had arrived.
In the lead-up to the ceremony, the sound of the school choir practicing filled our halls with joy and anticipation. Their dedication was evident, and on the day itself, they truly did not disappoint. Their voices echoed through the church, adding a moving and memorable touch to the celebration. Music filled the air and the addition of the tin whistle was, literally, music to our ears.
Father Aodhán Marken guided the ceremony so beautifully and kept us enthralled with stories from his boyhood. How lucky we are to have Father walk with the children every step of their journey.
We were all so proud of our pupils who made their Holy Communion. They approached the day with reverence, grace, and happiness, and in doing so, made our entire school proud. It was a day filled with faith, joy, and community spirit – one we will all remember fondly. Well done 2nd Class and congratulations Mr. Lehane, Miss Sinnott, Tash, Bryan, Pat and Becky!
Double, double!
Huge congratulations to Mr. Murphy and the boys for winning the Rising Stars Final. The pressure was on them but they held strong to execute a brilliant win. They brought us through an array of emotions over the 50 minute match time in Chadwicks Wexford Park on Friday afternoon.
The double double is officially complete! What an achievement.
We are the Champions…yet again!
Victory for the Martins in an Unforgettable Rackard League Final!
This evening brought an electric atmosphere to Chadwick’s Wexford Park as our boys lined out in the highly anticipated Rackard League final against local rivals Rathangan. With throw-in at 7pm, excitement buzzed through the air as students arrived in their dozens, ready to cheer on the team.
From the very first whistle, the crowd was treated to a fantastic display of hurling. The first half kept everyone on the edge of their seats — a true nail-biter filled with fierce determination, fast-paced play, and superb skill on both sides.
But it was in the second half that the Martins truly came into their own. Digging deep, they showed incredible teamwork, resilience, and heart. The hard work paid off as they pushed ahead and secured a well-deserved win. Final score 3-7 to 3-4!
A huge congratulations to all the players, teachers, and supporters who made this a night to remember. The spirit, sportsmanship, and sense of community were on full display — and we couldn’t be prouder of the boys for bringing home the victory!
Principal’s message – Many thanks to all of the coaches and mentors along the way, in particular Mr Lehane, Mr Murphy and Pat Quigley from our own school and Mr Murphy, Mr Whyte and Mr Howard from Murrintown NS. Huge thanks to all the parents who made this opportunity possible by driving their children to and from matches and training! Final thanks goes to the children for always turning up and always believing!
Fresh today have also created a special video to wish all of our finalists the very best of luck.
65 Roses for Cystic Fibrosis
In support of 65 Roses for Cystic Fibrosis our school community came together to raise awareness and show solidarity for those affected by this condition. Purple filled our classrooms and corridors as students and staff marked the occasion.
Our energetic and enthusiastic 1st Class, truly celebrated in style! With big smiles and even bigger determination, they completed an incredible 65 laps of the school grounds—one for each of the “65 Roses,” a phrase often used by young children to pronounce cystic fibrosis.
Yet again, Piercestown National School displayed strength in community and the importance of raising awareness and demonstrated support for those in our school living with cystic fibrosis.
Autism Awareness Day 2025
Today, we came together to celebrate Autism Awareness Day, a day we love to dedicate to honouring our friends on the autism spectrum. It was a day to celebrate whilst also spreading awareness to foster a more inclusive world. As part of the celebration, everyone made a huge effort to dress in blue. Seeing so many people come together in support of this cause truly shows the impact of community and the importance of understanding one another. As our motto states, we are indeed, ‘Níos Fearr le Cheile!’ The day is always a reminder that small actions, like wearing blue, can make a big difference in creating awareness and promoting acceptance and showing our friends how lucky we are to have them in our Piercestown Family. As a school we will continue to embrace, support, and above all, learn from those with autism, not just today, but every day. Together, we can help build a world where everyone feels seen, valued, and included.
Epilepsy Awareness Day 2025
Epilepsy affects millions of people worldwide, and while it’s a condition that many may not always understand, the day provided an opportunity to educate and raise awareness. By wearing purple, we demonstrated that we stand together with those who live with epilepsy and their families. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this day a meaningful experience.
Lots of Socks 2025!
Celebrating World Down Syndrome Awareness Day
This year, we celebrated World Down Syndrome Awareness Day in style, yet again. It was a day full of colour and joy as we honoured our friends with Down syndrome and recognized the incredible ways they inspire us every day. The theme of the day was all about wearing crazy, colourful, and odd socks and our students did not disappoint! From stripes to polka dots, neon to pastels, every sock was unique and full of personality, reflecting the beautiful diversity of the students around us. The children wore their socks with pride, and the school was alive with a kaleidoscope of colours that set the tone for a fun-filled day of celebration.
In the morning, the Junior Infants and Senior Infants gathered for a magical experience with Lisa from Shine Bright Theatre. The puppet show was a delightful way to spend the morning and left the little ones smiling and talking about their favourite puppet characters long after the show had ended. The Senior Infants Class and 3rd Class were busy enjoying class parties in the afternoon. Throughout the day, the school showed its unwavering support, recognizing that they are not only a valuable part of our school family but also incredible individuals who teach us about perseverance, love, and the importance of celebrating our differences. Here’s to continuing to embrace inclusion, kindness and love every day, not just on World Down Syndrome Day!
World Down Syndrome Day March 21st 2025
We may be closed to mark official ‘World Down Syndrome Day, but we are still rocking our funky socks from home!
We will ‘rock our socks’ as a community on Tuesday coming March 25th.
Tionól SNAG
Seachtain na Gaeilge déanta i stíl le ceann de na tionóil is aoibhinn a bhí feicthe sa scoil riamh. Bhí an-bhród orainn uile leis an méid a rinne ár ranganna agus cé chomh cruthaitheach agus spreagúil a bhí gach rud! Maith sibh Scoil Naisiúnta Baile an Phiarsaigh.
Na Buatoirí
Seachtain na Gaeilge/Irish Language Week 2025!
Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025 is in full swing and we are delighted that the children are taking part and celebrating our beautiful language.
Mar chuid den chomórtas a tseachtain seo, tá na páistí ag seoladh na ‘selfies’ isteach. Tá na pictiúir lán de spraoi agus léiríonn siad an grá atá ag gach duine don Ghaeilge. Chonaic siad Gaeilge i ngach áit – ó fhocail simplí i gcomharthaí bóthair go dtí nathanna cainte. Bhí sé dochreidte a fheiceáil an teanga a chur chun cinn ar bhealaí difriúla.
Well done everyone! It’s great to see the Irish language alive and vibrant in the hearts of young people. It’s great to be involved in SNAG, and we look forward to more activities and competitions of this kind in the future.
World Book Day 2025 Winners
This year’s Book Week came to a close with the kind of excitement and joy that only books can bring; with the much-anticipated prize ceremony! Books waiting to find their new homes—were ready to be awarded to the deserving winners.
For many, Book Week is more than just a series of events or competitions. It’s a reminder of the importance of reading and how it can ignite a child’s imagination. Throughout the week, there were storytelling sessions, book readings and art projects designed to make literature come alive. The excitement wasn’t just about winning books—it was about celebrating the endless possibilities that reading opens up. Congratulations to all winners and thanks to everyone who entered the competitions during the week. The smiles say it all…
And drumroll for the winning door…JUNIOR INFANTS! Did you pick the winner?
You will find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book!
Dr Seuss
So, that is exactly what we did on Monday, 3rd March at our Book Fair evening and it was an absolute triumph! This year’s event was filled with excitement, joy, and a true sense of community. It wasn’t just about books—it was about bringing families together, celebrating the magic of storytelling, and inspiring the next generation of readers, writers, and dreamers.
How lucky we were to have the amazing Parents Association at the helm to sell the books. They worked tirelessly to ensure everyone went home happy! Parents took to the stalls and eagerly helped their children choose new books for their home libraries. Whether it was colourful picture books, engaging chapter books, or educational resources, the sales were a resounding success.
One of the most enchanting parts of the night was the storytelling sessions. What an absolute treat it was to have the children turn up, ready for bed, in their pyjamas and to have the wonderful Olga Conway read them their bed-time stories and Billy Roche to entertain them with his magical words! Ms. Walsh greeted everyone and presented them with their lucky envelopes, four of which contained the golden tickets! Jack in Junior Infants was thrilled for brother Harry and Nora in 2nd class, Cara in 4th, Ciara in 5th were delighted with their wins. Then it was over to Olga. Her ability to captivate an audience with a simple story is truly a gift. The students were enthralled and the parents were happy to hand over the hard work to her for a night…although they might have to up their story telling game going forward. The senior classes were also treated to a snippet of the wonderful play ‘Belfry’ that was brought to life by Billy Roche himself and his equally talented grandchild, and our very own, Lily Fox. Lily’s peers watched on in awe and their wasn’t a dry eye amongst the adults and staff present.
The children now wait, with anticipation, to see who wins the prize for best classroom door display! Check out the pictures and stay tuned to see who has won. More photos of our wonderful week to follow!
WHICH DOOR WOULD YOU CHOOSE?
Scholastic Book Fair 2025!
It is, yet another, one of our favourite swashboggling times of year here in Piercestown National School…Scholastic Book Fair Week. The teachers and students are all set for a week jam packed with phizz-whizzingly exciting adventures through literature! Doors will be decorated, books will take centre stage and a wealth of authors will be explored, culminating in the event we all love…Book Fair evening! So, have the pjs and pocketmoney on standby for the March 3rd at 6:30pm to spend the evening perusing, purchasing and watching performances by the amazing playwright and actor Billy Roche and the wonderful Discovering Drama’s Olga Conway. It is an evening not to be missed!
📅 When: Monday, 3rd March 2025
🕖 Time: 6:30pm – 8pm
📍 Where: Piercestown National School
Hurling 365 Piercestown NS style!
There was ‘throw in’ for Hurling 365 in Piercestown National School today with sixty eight children from Junior infants to second class arriving at school at 8.30am to a a squad of super staff to be put through their paces. Essential basic hurling skills were taught and revised and above all a fun morning was had with all sixty eight children counting down to next week already! The amazing Hurling 365 team are looking forward to Wednesday morning already to see if the senior end of the school can beat the amazing turn out today!
Brainpower on Display: Credit Union Quiz
A huge congratulations to our quiz team for their outstanding effort in the Credit Union Class Quiz! It was a nail biting afternoon of quizzing but the winners are rearing to go and hoping to continue their lucky streak. They will now be representing the school, with great teamwork and quick thinking, on Sunday 9th February in the Local Level Round (Stage 1) in Riverside Park Hotel, Enniscorthy. As the Credit Union stated, it is an, ‘Experience that goes beyond the competition, shaping memories that endure beyond your school days. It is FOR your team, FOR your school and FOR your community’
‘Questions will cover a wide range of topics including geography, history, music, literature, and sport, and we have no doubt that school children in our community will rise to the challenge!’
Well done to all who took part and best of luck to this clever bunch from all of Piercestown National School.
Open Night 2025
Join Us for Our School Open Night!
We’re excited to invite parents of prospective new students to our School Open Night next Wednesday at 7 pm.
Discover what makes our school special! Meet our dedicated staff, tour our facilities, and learn about the initiatives and opportunities we offer to help every pupil thrive. This is a wonderful chance to ask questions and experience the welcoming environment we’ve built for our school community.
📅 When: Wednesday, 15th January 2025
🕖 Time: 7:00 pm
📍 Where: Piercestown National School
We can’t wait to meet you and share all that we have to offer!
For more information, feel free to contact our school office.
Carol Service 2024!
🎄 Join Us for a Magical Evening! 🎶
The festive spirit is in full swing at Piercestown National School as our students and staff get ready for this year’s annual carol service. We warmly invite you to share in the joy and music on December 17th at St. Martin’s Church, Piercestown.
Don’t miss this special evening filled with fun, laughter, and festive cheer!
We can’t wait to see you there! 🌟
St. Martin’s Abú!
It was a 46th-minute goal from Barry O Connor that helped lift the maroon and whites to their first Pettitt’s Senior Hurling Championship crown since 2019! Only fitting, so, with 21 of the 35 players being past pupils, that they make their way into Piercestown National School, where the love of hurling began under the guidance and support of Ms Hearne, to celebrate in style! The team were welcomed with open arms by Ms. Walsh and with rapturous applause and cheers from the boys and girls. The school hall was awash with flags, banners and jerseys and ‘We are the Champions’ wafted through the corridors. The long awaited cup was lifted and cheers rang out. Speeches were made and the students quizzed the team on the highs and lows of the day and looked for pointers in how to be a sporting hero like them.
Once the speeches were finished they headed off to the classrooms where the kids got their heroes to sign various hurls, sliotars, jerseys or whatever they could get their hands on. We are so grateful that the team and staff were able to share their triumphant victory with us and delighted that they too celebrated our own sporting heroes who had won the Rising Stars and Rackard League. Watch this space for some of them making it to the Martin’s Team in the future!
Freaky Friday!
Piercestown staff and students celebrated a spooktacular Freaky Friday on October 25th. Our students did an incredible job dressing up for Halloween this year, ensuring there was a fantastic and spooky atmosphere at the school! With Ms. Walsh out of the building, Maleficent took over the running of the school! A few gruesome witches, groaning zombies and familiar characters, along with some tired parents took over the management of the classes for the day! The children were also busy with SNA Becky, in the lead up, learning some ‘Halloween’ moves in preparation for the disco. The senior end of the school learned ‘The Time Warp’. The junior end of the school learned ‘Ghostbusters’. Many thanks to Becky for sharing her expertise with us. A fangtastic day was had by all! Oíche Shamhna shona daoibh go léir! Bainigí taitneamh as an mbriseadh.
Maths Week 2024
This week was all about exploring the wonders of math through fun and interactive activities. From math scavenger hunts to engaging games, bingo, dancing, quizzes, countdown and tables champions students worked in teams to solve challenges, developing their problem-solving skills while having a blast. In the classroom, we transformed math concepts into hands-on experiences. Whether it was measuring our skips, counting our steps dancing or building geometric shapes. Learning was never dull! Every day brought new challenges and laughter, with plenty of smiles to go around.
GOAL Jersey Day 2024
What is GOAL Jersey Day?
Jersey Day is GOAL’s flagship annual fundraising campaign held across Ireland and throughout the world. GOAL Jersey Day sees tens of thousands of people coming together and wearing their favourite sports jerseys to support GOAL’s work with vulnerable communities.
Running for over 35 years, it is a firm favourite with communities, clubs, workplaces, and schools. Boost community spirit and get involved with this exciting campaign!
This year we hosted our GOAL jersey day fundraiser on Friday 11th October, with all proceeds going to GOAL. The generosity of our school community is second to none and a grand total, to date, of €347.15 was raised. We look forward to sending the money to GOAL and well done to all the boys and girls and staff for wearing their jerseys.
Tionóil/Assembly
Gach mí bíonn tionól scoile ar siúl sa halla. Ar maidin bíonn tionól na bunranganna agus tar éis am sosa bíonn tionól na hardranganna ar siúl. I mbliana beidh deis ag rang amháin ó Naíonáin Bheaga- Rang 2 agus rang amháin ó Rang 3-6 cur i láthair ranga a dhéanamh.
I mí Dheireadh Fómhair bhí deis ag Naíonáin Bheaga agus Rang 5 píosa a thaispeáint don scoil. Bhí an craic ag na Naíonáin baill choirp a thaispeáint, dhá amhráin a chanadh agus cluiche a imirt. Bhí spraoi ag na hardranganna amhráin a chanadh chun tús a chur le cheiliúradh Oíche Shamhna. Maith sibh na páistí uilig. Bhíomar go léir an bhróidiúl asaibh! Ní féidir linn feitheamh chun na ranganna eile a fheiceáil i mí na Samhna
Each month we have a school assembly. The junior classes attend in the morning and the senior classes attend in the evening. This year one class from the junior end and one from the senior end have the opportunity to perform in Irish.
In October the Junior Infants and 5th Class presented! There was great craic with the infants demonstrating their knowledge of the body parts, singing two songs and playing a game. 5th Class kicked off the festive season with a Halloween song. Well done to all. We were extremely proud of the knowledge and presenting skills. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the classes have in store.
Happy Lámh Day 2024
Today, October 16th, was ‘National Lámh Day’. We are proud lámh learners in Piercestown National school, with all classes having a wealth of signs. All the staff and children greeted each other today using their lámh. Many wished each other a ‘happy lámh day’. Throughout the day, we used our usual signs for toilet, sharing, would you like to play, I need help, thank you, Maths week, winner winner chicken dinner to name but a few.
To set the scene for our day, Ms Sinnott and her class performed a song using lámh. Ms Sinnott, Bryan, Tash and the boys made a video of ‘Walk with Me’ to demonstrate their lámh and our inclusivity that we relish in our school. Well done to Ms Sinnott’s class.
This years theme for National Lámh Day was ‘Let’s Learn’. Today, we handed the learning over to our 6th class group. They chose three new signs that they wanted to teach their friends; wifi, game console and youtube! They headed off around our school to teach their new signs. Check out the video of our learning in action. Many thanks to Fiona Roche who lead our lámh day celebrations and promotes lámh in our school. We are so lucky to have Fiona in our school. If you want to learn more, go to instagram and follow ‘Sign_noma’ to keep up to date with all the seasonal signs.
Big shout out to all of the staff and pupils in Piercestown who fly the flag on a daily basis. Keep up the great work!
1st Annual SNA Appreciation Day
In an unprecedented show of support, over 3,750 schools across Ireland are celebrating the inaugural SNA Appreciation Day today (Thursday 26th September 2024), with the community invited to share their gratitude using the hashtag #ThankOurSNAs.
This is the first year that Fórsa trade union, which represents 14,000 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) has run the initiative, highlighting the vital role SNAs play in supporting students with additional needs and the school communities in which they work. Source: https://www.forsa.ie/sna-appreciation-day-2/
In the words of our Principal Laura Walsh, “As a school, we appreciate our staff every day, but we are organising a special thanks tomorrow(Thursday 26th September) for our SNA team to support this new event.
We are so blessed with our team, Fiona, Bryan, Lena, Shelly, Teresa, Pat, Niamh, Tash and Becky.
We know you join us in saying a very big THANK YOU to our SNA team for not only tomorrow, but every single day.“
Assembly Time!
The first assemblies of the year were held on Monday and it was lovely to have everyone gather together to talk about what the new school year will bring. Twenty seven new Junior Infant pupils started school this year and got settled in quickly by attending their first assembly too. We also welcomed new pupils, along with new members of staff. We enjoyed using our LÁMH, speaking as Gaeilge and discussing our goals for the coming month. Have a look at the photos for a flavour of what happened at our Junior Assembly!
Welcome to Our Newest Bunch!
On Wednesday the 28th August the newest members of the Piercestown family joined us as they began their journey in Junior Infants. They were welcomed, with open arms, by our Principal Ms. Walsh, Junior Infant Teacher Mrs. Larkin, Ms. Corrigan and Mr. Furlong. It was smiles all round and they quickly settled. They played, listened to stories, tried their best to speak Irish, made lots of new friends along the way and even had time to play! Phew! We can’t wait to continue the journey with our new friends and know that you will all make them feel welcome here at Piercestown National School. Huge thanks to Mr. Furlong, another newbie, for taking the wonderful photographs.
piercestownns.com 