St Peter’s National School welcomes you to our website. Please click the links above for up to date information on our school and for an insight into our work, celebrations and achievements.

Last week, our school buzzed with excitement as we celebrated Science Week 2024! This year’s theme was Kid Inventors, and every pupil dived into the fascinating world of young creators who changed the world with their brilliant ideas. It was inspiring to see the creativity and innovation from all our students as they researched famous kid inventors and even developed plans for their very own inventions!

Here’s a glimpse of the amazing activities that took place:

• 5th Class Quiz: Our 5th classes flexed their science knowledge in a thrilling Science Week Quiz. Their teamwork and enthusiasm were truly impressive.
• Mazes for 2nd Class: Some talented 5th class pupils designed intricate mazes and had great fun demonstrating them to 2nd class, who eagerly took on the challenge of solving them.
• 6th Class Creators: The 6th class pupils wowed us with their engineering skills as they built their own games and toys, showcasing fantastic creativity and problem-solving.

A massive thank you to Mrs. Cleare, who worked tirelessly to organise and coordinate this wonderful week. Your efforts made Science Week 2024 an unforgettable experience for everyone in the school.

The staff, pupils, parents and members of the Board of Management of St. Peter’s NS are heartbroken by the loss of our dear friend, colleague and manager of the afterschool, Patricia Conlon. Nobody can ever be prepared for the loss of someone who has impacted on the lives of so many people. For almost 21 years the education community of St. Peter’s NS has been truly blessed to have Patricia running our afterschool programme. She was a beacon of inspiration and support for all who worked with her. She was deeply committed to the development of St. Peter’s NS for many, many years. Patricia’s children are past pupils of St. Peter’s and her grandchildren are all current pupils. Our deepest sympathies go to her mother, children, grandchildren, family and large circle of friends.

A person who departs from this earth never truly leave for they are still alive in our hearts and minds and through us they live on. Stevan, Karen, Emma, Kellie, Claire, Lucy, Molly and Ava, we pray that in the midst of your sorrow that you will find comfort in the joyful memories you shared and may you all be assured that your loving, kind, caring, selfless mother/daughter/grandmother is now resting in the arms of our Lord.

Ba duine ar leith í Patricia a chuir a croí agus a dúthracht isteach in a cuid oibre ar shon gach duine. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dilís.

https://rip.ie/death-notice/patricia-conlon-westmeath-athlone-573212

Le meas,

Naos Connaughton

We want to share some exciting news that we have been selected to perform at Peace Proms in Dublin in February. Today we took our official photo for it. Click here to see the songs that we will be singing: Peace Proms Songs 2025.

Click here to learn some of our dances: Peace Proms Dance Moves 2025

Our 6th class “Big Sisters” and 2nd class “Little Sisters” took part in a special bonding activity. The girls paired up for a lovely walk around the town, where they had a chance to get to know each other and build friendships that will carry on throughout the year.

This Big Sister-Little Sister program is designed to help our new students feel welcomed and supported by their older peers. Karen Kinneavy – SCP Coordinator leads this lovely initative in our school. It was a beautiful day filled with smiles, laughter, and new friendships! Check out the photos above to see the wonderful moments they shared.

We’re thrilled to introduce our newly elected Student Council members, with one representative from each class. These student leaders will serve as the voice of their peers, bringing ideas and feedback to help shape our school community. They’ll work closely with Mrs. Browne, Ms. Quinn, and Mr. Connaughton throughout the year, meeting regularly to discuss important topics and plan initiatives.

Congratulations to each of our new council members! We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in our school.

Our 5th class students recently took part in an exciting workshop on planting broad beans, where they learned about sustainability and gardening in a fun, hands-on way. The workshop was made even more eco-friendly by using recycled plastic cups as planting pots, teaching students the value of reusing everyday materials.

Each pupil got the chance to plant their own broad bean seed, fill the cup with soil, and water it. They learned about the growing process and the importance of caring for plants. After the workshop, the children took their planted cups home, where they will continue to care for them and watch as their broad beans sprout and grow.

The workshop not only fostered a love for nature but also encouraged the students to think about sustainable practices. We look forward to seeing their progress and hearing updates about how their plants are thriving!

Many thanks to Athlone Library and the SOS Programme for inviting us to this enjoyable event. Stay tuned for more green activities at our school!

We are thrilled to share that our 6th class students have been busy honing their culinary skills over the past few weeks during a fun and engaging cookery course with the wonderful Valerie! Under her expert guidance, our young chefs have been learning to prepare a variety of delicious dishes while gaining valuable kitchen skills.

Throughout the course, the students have explored different recipes, including: banana muffins, burgers, chicken goujons, smoothies and pizzas.

The cookery course not only taught our students how to follow recipes and work safely in the kitchen but also emphasised the importance of healthy eating and balanced meals. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to learn practical life skills in a fun and supportive environment.

A big thank you to Valerie for her dedication and enthusiasm throughout the course. We can’t wait to see what delicious dishes our budding chefs will cook up next!

Stay tuned for more updates on our school activities. Happy cooking!

Our 5th and 6th class pupil are hitting all the right notes this year with orchestra lessons led by Paul Hensey from Music Generation. Every Friday, students participate in engaging music sessions where they get the chance to learn a variety of instruments, including the flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, keyboard, and violin. These lessons not only develop musical skills but also build confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong appreciation for music.

For students who wish to practice further or explore their musical talents, Paul offers additional lessons in our school hall on Saturdays from 11 am to 1 pm. All students are welcome to join and continue their musical journey. Click here to register: Music Hub Registration

We are delighted to see the enthusiasm and progress of our young musicians each week, and we look forward to hearing their performances in the months ahead!

Our 5th class students recently enjoyed an educational walk along the River Shannon in Athlone, where they had the exciting opportunity to witness the lock gates in action. Abbey’s grandfather showed us how they worked. The students were fascinated as they observed how the gates operate to control the water levels, allowing boats to pass through the river safely. It was a wonderful hands-on learning experience, sparking curiosity about our local waterways and the importance of the Shannon to our town.

Today we presented our principal, Mr Connaughton, with a special card from all the staff and pupils in the school wishing him well in the county hurling final. Mr Connaughton will be lining out for St Dominic’s on Sunday. We are all rooting for him. Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat, Mr Connaughton!

Today we celebrated Mercy Day as our school St Peter’s N.S is a Mercy School. The nuns from the Sisters of Mercy and Father Christopher joined us for a special prayer service. 5th class told the story of Sister Catherine McAuley who founded the order and they presented all the wonderful qualities that Catherine McAuley possessed. Children from various classes then read special prayers of the faithful. Eno and Amy performed a lovely piece of music. Thank you to Mrs. Flynn who co-ordinated this special occasion.

A warm welcome to all our new 2nd class students. We are so excited to have you as part of our school community. Over the past few weeks, the pupils have been settling in beautifully, adjusting to their new routines and making lots of new friends. They have also enjoyed meeting their ‘6th class Big Sisters’ who have helped them to settle into our school.

Their teacher, Ms. Whelan, is incredibly proud and impressed with how well they’ve adapted, showing enthusiasm and kindness every day. It’s been wonderful to see them embrace new learning challenges and support one another in and out of the classroom.

We’re looking forward to fantastic years ahead in St. Peter’s N.S; full of growth, creativity, and lots of fun experiences.