To celebrate National Poetry Day 2026, pupils across Sacred Heart P.S. explored this year's theme, "Wonder."

Children engaged in a range of creative poetry activities designed to spark imagination and encourage self-expression.

Pupils in P4/P5 created thoughtful and imaginative acrostic poems, using the theme of wonder to inspire their writing. In P5/P6, children took part in enjoyable Open Mic Sessions, confidently sharing their poems with classmates and celebrating the power of spoken word. Meanwhile, our P7 pupils used J2Create to publish and present their poetry digitally, combining creativity with technology to produce impressive pieces of work.

The day was a wonderful celebration of language, creativity and imagination, with pupils embracing the opportunity to explore what inspires awe and curiosity in the world around them.

#NationalPoetryDay

Sacred Heart P.S. were delighted to welcome representatives from Scoil Spreagtha as part of our Case Study Day. The visit focused on celebrating and promoting the use of Irish throughout our school community as we work towards achieving three-year Scoil Spreagtha accreditation.

During the day, pupils from P5/P6 and P7 participated in two engaging workshops, including the popular and interactive game of Traitors, which encouraged communication, teamwork and the use of Irish in a fun and meaningful context.

The visiting representatives also met with focus groups of children to gather their views and experiences of learning and using Irish within the school. Pupils spoke confidently about the opportunities they have to use Gaeilge in class and across school life.

A special word of thanks goes to Mrs O'Toole, who has been leading this initiative within our school. Her commitment and enthusiasm have played a key role in developing and promoting Irish language learning and culture throughout Sacred Heart.

We look forward to continuing our Scoil Spreagtha journey and further strengthening the role of Gaeilge in our school community.

Scoil Spreagtha

Congratulations to our Pupils of the Month for September! These children have impressed us with their excellent attitude, hard work, kindness and positive contribution to school life.

Recipients: Nola (P1), Oisín (P2), Annie (P3), James (P4), Logan (P5), Shea (P6) and Annie (P7).

We are extremely proud of each of these pupils for setting such a wonderful example in their classrooms and around our school. 

Keep up the fantastic work!

Congratulations to our September Mathletes of the Month who have demonstrated excellent mathematical thinking, problem-solving skills and enthusiasm for numeracy throughout these four weeks.

Niamh (P1), Jasper (P2), Kohan (P3), Jude (P4), Niamh (P5), Hugh (P6) and Darragh (P7).

We are incredibly proud of their hard work, determination and positive attitude towards Mathematics. Keep up the fantastic effort!

Comhghairdeas mór le Fiadh (P1) a roghnaíodh mar Gaeilgeoir na Míosa do Mheán Fómhair!

Tá sár-iarracht déanta ag Fiadh ag úsáid focail agus frásaí Gaeilge sa seomra ranga gach lá. Táimid an-bhródúil as a díograis agus a dearcadh dearfach i leith na Gaeilge.

Maith thú, a Fiadh!

Scoil Spreagtha

Rosie and Úna P5

Rosie and Úna are a wonderful example of what it means to strive for greatness together. They produce fantastic work as a pair, build positive relationships with the adults they work with both in and out of the classroom, and are always there to support and look out for one another.

Leah P3

Leah is a pleasure to have in class. She is always kind, polite and respectful and sets a wonderful example for others everyday.

She works incredibly hard in everything she does and is always keen to do extra learning both at school and at home. Leah’s reading and writing are excellent and she consistently produces work to a very high standard.

In Numeracy, Leah is a confident learner who has shown a fantastic understanding of partitioning and applies her mental maths strategies with great success.

Leah is also a caring and supportive friend who gets along well with everyone. She gives 100% effort every day, approaches all tasks with enthusiasm and always tries her very best. Leah is incredibly responsible and takes excellent care of our classroom. She is always willing to help tidy up and ensures our learning environment is neat and organised before break and lunchtime.

Leah is a very deserving recipient of the Principal’s Award for her hard work, positive attitude and outstanding contribution to our school.

Well done!

Mr Doyle, our Designated Teacher for Child Protection and Safeguarding, led a whole-school safeguarding assembly. Pupils were reminded about the importance of staying safe, both in and out of school, knowing who their trusted adults are, and understanding that there is always someone available to listen and help if they have a worry or concern. 

The assembly reinforced key safeguarding messages, including being respectful to others, making safe choices online, looking out for friends, and speaking up when something doesn't feel right. Through discussion and age-appropriate examples, pupils were encouraged to build confidence in seeking support and helping to create a safe, caring and inclusive school community for everyone. 

At Sacred Heart P.S., the wellbeing, safety and happiness of every child remains at the heart of everything we do.

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the brand-new Sacred Heart P.S. website.

The website has been completely redesigned to provide an engaging, easy-to-navigate hub for parents, pupils, prospective families and the wider community. Whether you're looking for key school information, the latest news, upcoming events, curriculum information or a glimpse into daily life at Sacred Heart, you'll find it all in one place.

Our new website reflects who we are as a school: a caring, inclusive and ambitious learning community where every child is supported to thrive. Visitors can explore our school vision, celebrate pupil achievements, keep up to date with school activities and gain an insight into the many experiences that make Sacred Heart such a special place to learn and grow.

We would like to thank everyone involved in bringing this project to life and invite you to take a look around our new online home.

Visit our website here: https://www.sacredheartdundrum.co.uk

Thank you.

Work is starting on the parochial hall today and will last for the next 3/4 months. The hall will be completely out of bounds during this period. Parking and pick ups/drop offs is still workable at the rear of the hall in the carpark. However, there will be an area that will be closed off with fencing by the contractors.

Thanks.

Well done to a number of our P6 and P7 boys who were part of the Dundrum U-11 team who won the Shield at the prestigious Roche Emmett’s tournament in County Louth on Saturday. A superb showing!

Dundrum GAC

Our pupils have been busy developing their coding and computational thinking skills across the school last week through a range of exciting, hands-on activities.

P1/P2 worked alongside their P7 buddies using Just2Easy to code the Big Bad Wolf, creating instructions to help him travel to the houses of the Three Little Pigs.

P3 used Micro:bits to create and code their very own digital dice. After shaking their Micro:bits to generate numbers, they put their creations to the test in a game of Snakes and Ladders.

P4/P5 explored the concepts of algorithms and debugging. Following an unplugged activity, they used Spheros to create and test instructions, guiding their robots to different locations around the hall.

P5/P6 joined a live Just2Easy coding lesson where they programmed a spider to navigate its web and successfully reach different flies. Careful coding was required to ensure the spider found its meal!

P7 became data detectives using JIT Branch to create branching databases. By asking a series of yes/no questions, they classified animals and learned how databases can be used to organise information efficiently.

A fantastic week of problem-solving, creativity and teamwork, with pupils developing valuable digital skills that will support their learning both now and in the future. Well done everyone!

The activities reflect our ongoing commitment to developing coding, digital literacy and computational thinking skills throughout the school.

#NationalCodingWeek

Last Thursday we celebrated the rich variety of languages spoken across Europe. Through fun activities, games and language challenges, our pupils explored different cultures and discovered how learning languages helps us connect with others.

From Dia duit to Bonjour, Hola and Guten Tag, every language opens a door to new friendships, experiences and opportunities.

#EuropeanDayofLanguages

A huge thank you to Abbey CBS GAA Outreach Coach, Kevin McKernan, who visited Sacred Heart today to deliver a series of brilliant coaching sessions with our P6 and P7 pupils.

The children thoroughly enjoyed the activities and benefited greatly from Kevin's enthusiasm, expertise, and encouragement. 

It was fantastic to see such high levels of participation, teamwork, and skill development throughout the sessions.

We are very grateful to Abbey CBS, Newry, for supporting Gaelic Games in our school and inspiring the next generation of players.

Abbey CBS
Dundrum GAC

Today we celebrate and recognise the invaluable contribution of our Classroom Assistants, whose dedication, care and professionalism help make Sacred Heart P.S. a happy, nurturing and successful place for every child.

From supporting learning and encouraging independence to offering reassurance, kindness and a helping hand whenever needed, our Classroom Assistants play a vital role in the daily life of our school.

We are incredibly grateful for their commitment, patience and unwavering support of our pupils and staff.

Thank you for everything you do. Your hard work does not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated by our entire school community.

​Our first Mass to welcome in the new school year will take place this coming Monday at 9:30am in the chapel. Our whole school will be in attendance and all family members and those in our school community are most welcome to attend as well.

Thank you.

Laetare P4

This week’s Principal’s Award goes to a pupil who brightens up the classroom every single day. They come into school with a smile on their face, fantastic manners, and a wonderful attitude to learning. 

This pupil is always listening carefully, with their eyes on the teacher, and they give 100% in every activity. They take great pride in their work and always present it beautifully. 

What makes them extra special is their kindness. They are always willing to help others and make sure nobody feels left out, especially if someone is feeling lonely. They are a fantastic friend and role model to everyone around them. 

Their caring nature and responsibility have even earned them a place on our Student Council, where they continue to make a positive difference to our school. 

Well done, Laetare. We are all so proud of you!

Grace, Ailbhe, Jude, James and Elaina P4

Our Striving for Greatness Together Award this week goes to a fantastic group of pupils who have shown a brilliant attitude to their learning and have worked exceptionally hard.

They have impressed us with their detailed reading and thoughtful discussions about our class book. It is clear they have taken great care with both their classwork and homework, always giving their best effort.

They have also fully engaged with our 'Food' topic, producing excellent work and showing great enthusiasm for learning. Outside the classroom, they are a wonderful team, playing fairly, including others, and setting a great example in the playground.

We are delighted to introduce our Eco Council for the 2026/2027 academic year.

Our Eco Council members have been selected to help lead environmental initiatives throughout the school and to encourage everyone to play their part in caring for our world. The council will work together to promote sustainability, support eco-friendly projects and help our school continue on its journey towards becoming an even greener place to learn.

Throughout the year, the Eco Council will take an active role in raising environmental awareness, encouraging recycling, reducing waste and leading initiatives that make a positive difference to our school and local community.

We congratulate all of our Eco Council representatives and look forward to seeing the enthusiasm, teamwork and leadership they will bring to their important roles.

We are delighted to introduce our Student Council for the 2026/2027 academic year.

Following presentations, nominations and voting within their classes, our newly elected representatives have been chosen to serve as the voice of their fellow pupils and to help make a positive contribution to school life.

Throughout the year, the Student Council will meet regularly to share ideas, discuss ways to improve our school, support fundraising and community initiatives, and work alongside staff to ensure that pupil voices are heard.

We congratulate all of our elected members and look forward to seeing the enthusiasm, leadership and teamwork they will bring to their important roles.

Our established Buddy System is now fully up and running, with our P1 and P2 pupils proudly partnered with their P7 buddies.

At a special assembly today, all buddies were presented with their official buddy badges, marking the beginning of what promises to be a rewarding school year of friendship, support and collaboration.

The programme plays an important role in helping our youngest pupils settle into school life while providing our P7 pupils with valuable opportunities to develop leadership, responsibility and caring relationships.

Everyone is looking forward to working together throughout the academic year, creating many happy memories and experiences along the way.

Comhghairdeas to all of our Cúpla Focal recipients!

These pupils have demonstrated a wonderful enthusiasm for the Irish language by regularly using Gaeilge in school and embracing opportunities to develop their speaking and listening skills. Through their positive attitude and commitment, they are helping to promote Irish as a living language within our school community.

The Cúpla Focal Award recognises pupils who make a special effort to use Irish phrases in everyday school life and who encourage others to do the same.

Maith sibh uilig! We are very proud of your achievements and look forward to hearing even more Gaeilge around our school throughout the year. Is fearr Gaeilge briste ná Béarla cliste!

POSH held a very successful AGM last night, during which the following office bearers were elected for the 2026/2027 academic year:

🔹 Chairperson: Adelle Connor
🔹 Vice Chairperson: Joanne Redmond
🔹 Secretary: Bronagh Smyth
🔹 Treasurer: Áine Hynes
🔹 Committee Members: Additional members were also elected to support the work of the group throughout the year.

The POSH committee has already been busy planning a range of exciting events and fundraising initiatives, including a Bake Sale, Christmas Raffle and Sponsored Walk, all of which are already in the pipeline.

We would like to thank all parents who attended the AGM and congratulate the newly elected committee. Thanks extended to those who served on the previous committee too. We look forward to working alongside POSH throughout the year as they continue to support and enhance the experiences of all pupils at Sacred Heart Primary School.

Thank you for your commitment and support of our school community.

We are delighted to introduce our Digital Leaders for the 2026/2027 academic year.

Our Digital Leaders have been selected to help promote the effective and responsible use of technology throughout the school. 

They will play an important role in supporting digital learning, assisting with technology-based activities and helping pupils to develop the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Throughout the year, the Digital Leaders will work alongside staff and pupils to encourage creativity, collaboration and innovation through the use of technology. They will also help promote online safety and responsible digital citizenship across the school community.

We congratulate all of our Digital Leaders and look forward to seeing the leadership, enthusiasm and expertise they will bring to this important role.

P7 - Service of Light - 7:30pm - Tuesday 23rd February.

P3 – Sacrament of Reconciliation – 1pm – Tuesday 16th March.

P7 – Sacrament of Confirmation – 3pm – Thursday 13th May.

P4 – Sacrament of First Holy Communion – 11am – Saturday 29th May.

P1/P2 had a wonderful time foraging for blackberries in our local area!

The children thoroughly enjoyed picking the berries, squashing them to release their vibrant colour, and discovering how they could be used as a natural dye. They then used the blackberry dye to create their own unique tie-dyed flags.

This engaging outdoor activity provided a fantastic opportunity to explore our local environment while developing fine and gross motor skills, encouraging creativity, and fostering a love of learning through hands-on experiences.

Karla-May P5

Although Karla-May has not been with us long, she has fully embraced life at Sacred Heart and has already become an enthusiastic member of our school community. She settled in wonderfully and brings real energy and warmth to everything she takes part in.

She is a hard worker who is always keen to share her brilliant ideas, contributing thoughtfully in class and offering her teacher plenty to be impressed by. Her willingness to speak up and get involved shows lovely confidence for someone so new to the school.

Karla-May is also a musical girl through and through — she sings loudly and proudly in choir and music lessons, and has recently taken up guitar lessons with Mona. She is an absolute delight to have in class, and I am thrilled to recognise her with this award.

Beth, Robyn, Lyla and Eimear P3

These girls have made an excellent start to P3 and consistently demonstrate our school values every day. They always show outstanding manners, listen carefully to instructions and are attentive and engaged during lessons. Their positive attitude towards learning and strong work ethic help them achieve their best in all that they do. They are also kind, caring and respectful towards others, helping to create a happy and welcoming environment both in the classroom and in the playground. We are very proud of the fantastic example they set for others!

We are delighted to recognise the following pupils for their excellent effort, positive attitude and commitment to learning this week:

P1: Ria
P2: Fearne
P3: Oonagh
P4: Fionn
P5: Caolán
P6: Fionn
P7: Ronan

Congratulations to all of our recipients. Their hard work, dedication and exemplary conduct have made them worthy recipients of this week's Pupil of the Week award. We are very proud of their achievements and the positive example they set for others.

Our school was bursting with imagination, creativity and fun as we celebrated Roald Dahl Day!

Our youngest pupils in Primary 1/2 created their own colourful Roly Poly Birds, inspired by one of Roald Dahl's wonderful stories. Their creativity and artistic talents were on full display as they brought their birds to life.

In Primary 3, the children explored the world of The Enormous Crocodile. They shared their favourite Roald Dahl stories and characters before focusing on the cunning crocodile himself. The class enjoyed creating their own crocodiles, each with unique and imaginative designs.

Inspired by The BFG, the children in Primary 4/5 designed beautiful Dream Jars. They filled them with hopes and aspirations for the future, including dreams of becoming singers, footballers, composers, farmers and actors. The children also reflected on the kind of people they want to be, highlighting qualities such as kindness, friendship and hard work. Their jars were decorated with bright colours, gems and sequins, making each one as special as the dreams inside.

The pupils in Primary 5/6 stepped into the magical world of Willy Wonka by designing brand-new sweets for Wonka's Factory. They decided on ingredients, appearance and magical effects before creating persuasive advertisements to encourage customers to buy their fantastic creations.

Meanwhile, Primary 7 celebrated the day by designing personalised bookmarks featuring inspirational Roald Dahl quotes for use during Accelerated Reading. They also showcased their ICT skills by creating Wanted posters for some of Dahl's most famous villains. To finish the day, the class designed their own chocolate bars inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and even enjoyed a small chocolate treat to spark their creativity!

Roald Dahl Day was a wonderful celebration of storytelling, imagination and creativity. It was fantastic to see every class engaging with these much-loved stories in such exciting and imaginative ways.

“Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl

#RoaldDahlDay

P1/P2 had a fantastic first outing with their P7 buddies on Friday! 

The boys and girls have been learning all about the story “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” and during play time this week, they made their very own bear paws. They put their paws to the test as they ventured to the beach to create their own bear paw prints in the sand! 

The children loved spending time with their P7 buddies and enjoyed working and playing together. They finished off their adventure by building some super sandcastles and practising writing their names in the sand. 

What a wonderful first outing with our buddies!

Last Friday, to mark our first week back in school, we welcomed Brennan’s Ice Cream to Sacred Heart P.S. The pupils and staff alike all enjoyed the treat in what was a lovely way to help kickstart the new academic year.

Brennans Seaforde & Dundrum

Young at Heart has returned for the new academic year and this latest crop of boys and girls have started their tenure in the most positive way. Art activities, blackberry picking and investigative play have just been some of the undertakings as the grouping bed in for all the fun and learning that lies ahead.

Oisin, Ella, Patrick and Éanna P2

The group really impressed Mrs O'Toole during outdoor play with their construction this week. They carefully planned their build, mapped out the different shapes they would need and added labels to their plan. They showed great persistence throughout the process and took on different roles to ensure their construction was sturdy and successful.

What a fantastic team! You worked together brilliantly and should be very proud of what you achieved.

Well done, Oisin, Ella, Patrick and Éanna!

Eva P1, Barra P2, Coby P3, Grace P4, Úna P5, Korey P6 and Cailie P7 were the tremendously super Pupil of the Week award winners today. All the boys and girls have made rousing starts to the new academic year and thoroughly deserve this recognition.

Eva P6

Eva is a pleasure to have in class for many reasons, one of which is her exceptional listening skills. She listens brilliantly to instructions and follows them first time, every time, without ever needing to be reminded. She is usually one of the first in the class to show she is ready to learn, even if there are distractions around her — her calm, focused example is a lovely one for others to follow.

She also shows wonderful initiative in how she manages her own learning. Without ever being asked, she will pick up a book to read during transitions between lessons, and if she is stuck on a question and waiting for an adult, she simply moves on to the next one rather than losing time. This independence shows a real maturity.

Eva tries her hardest in everything she does, showing particular determination in numeracy, where she is not afraid to have a go and learn from any mistakes — and has made lovely improvement as a result. She also works well with all staff around her, and I regularly hear other staff singing her praises. Eva has the most wonderful attitude, and I am delighted to recognise her with this award.

Our P1 boys and girls received a special surprise at assembly this morning to celebrate their first week at Sacred Heart P.S.

Each child was presented with a personalised keepsake featuring their self-portrait, beautifully displayed in a frame alongside our school colours and crest. 

These special mementoes mark an important milestone as they begin their primary school journey and will serve as a lasting reminder of their first week in P1.

Well done to all of our wonderful P1 pupils on a fantastic start to school life!

Niamh, Méabh, Bria and Eva P1

Niamh, Méabh, Bria and Eva have had a fantastic first week in Primary One! They have shown wonderful teamwork when working together with the loose parts during outdoor play. The girls have really encouraged and supported one another and have shown lovely respect and kindness towards all the boys and girls in our class. It has been wonderful to see them settling in so well and making such a positive start to school life.

Our first week back in school has been delightful with everyone back, ready and eager to learn and engage with a new academic year. Our teachers spoke proudly this morning at assembly as they outlined their reasoning why the following attained our first Pupil of the Week certificates for 2026/2027: P1 Charlie, P2 Kai, P3 Zayne, P4 Theo, P5 Kiannah Mae, P6 Róise and P7 Rebecca.

Well done to you all!

Evie P7

Evie has made a fantastic start to Primary 7 and is continuing to settle in extremely well. She is a hardworking and conscientious pupil who approaches every activity with enthusiasm and always strives to complete her work to a very high standard. 

Evie is consistently organised, prepared and ready to learn. Her positive attitude is reflected in the effort she puts into all areas of school life. She is a kind and caring girl who is always willing to support others, making her a wonderful friend to her peers and everyone around her. 

Evie comes into school each day with a smile on her face and a positive attitude that brightens our classroom. She has recently made excellent progress in mental maths, numeracy and reading through her determination and commitment. 

Evie regularly goes the extra mile in everything she does and I have no doubt that she will continue to flourish and have a highly successful year in Primary 7. 

Congratulations Evie!

Another little piece of history was made today as our new P1 pupils began their journey at Sacred Heart P.S.

The boys and girls had a wonderful morning settling into their new surroundings and enjoying lots of fun, engaging activities in Mrs O'Toole's classroom. There were plenty of smiles, excitement and enthusiasm as new friendships started to blossom and new adventures began.

A fantastic start was made by everyone, and we are incredibly proud of how well the children settled into school life. We can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Welcome to the Sacred Heart family, boys and girls!

Tomorrow (Tuesday 1st September) sees all of our classes (P1 to P7) start school for the 2026/2027 academic year. Breakfast Club is available from 8am to 8:45am and our After School Club Programme starts for P2 to P7. Children can arrive in the school yard from 8:45am to 9am. A reminder too that it is full school uniform tomorrow!

Our new P1’s will have their first day in Sacred Heart P.S. and we are very much looking forward to welcoming them into our school community. The boys and girls will have a 12 noon finish up to and including Friday 18th September.

See you all in the morning!

Creative Arts, Autumn Activities, Bee Active, Kazuko Karate, ActiSport and SavSports all make up our After School Club provision for Term 1.1.

Our new pricing structure is in place: 2pm to 3pm (£4), 3pm to 4pm (£4) and 4pm to 4:45pm (£3). Slot bookings and payment can be made on SchoolMoney from Tuesday morning.

Thanks.

School starts back for all of our pupils (our new P1’s and P2 to P7) on Tuesday 1st September. Please view an information letter on our school return at: https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/sacred-heart-ps/UploadedDocument/3753b614-6d17-45d3-95e6-97538fd4d7c1/shps-dundrum-2026-2027-academic-year..pdf

Thank you and see you all bright and early on Tuesday morning!

Young at Heart will start back for the new academic year on Tuesday 1st September. To confirm your child’s place, please contact the school office (437 51293) between 8am and 1pm tomorrow (Thursday). A reminder that the cost per week per child is £15.

Thank you.

Well done to Oisin P1, Niamh P4, Jessica P4 and Fionn P5 who all earned 100% attendance accreditation for the 2025/2026 academic year.

Our pupils and staff have done a fantastic job embracing the Cúpla Focal challenge this year. From greetings and classroom phrases to everyday conversations, Gaeilge has become an important part of life at Sacred Heart P.S. 

Recently, Miss Byrne co-ordinated our Cúpla Focal examinations, and we were delighted with the outstanding results. A large number of pupils, along with three members of staff, successfully completed the assessments and passed with flying colours.

This achievement reflects the enthusiasm, commitment and confidence shown by everyone involved in promoting and using Irish throughout the school.

Maith sibh a pháistí agus a fhoireann! Is fearr Gaeilge briste ná Béarla cliste! 

Scoil Spreagtha