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.

On Saturday, February 1st, our talented 4th and 5th class students took to the stage at the RDS as part of the Peace Proms Choir. After months of dedication and rehearsals they performed with incredible energy, showcasing their beautifully learned songs and dance moves.

The atmosphere was absolutely electric, and our students did themselves and St. Peter’s proud with their fantastic performance! A huge thank you to Mrs. Cleare, Ms. Miley, Mrs. Hanley, Ms. Callinan, Róisín, and Thérése for accompanying the girls on the day. Also well done to all the parents who travelled to Dublin to support the girls. A special mention to Ms. Quinn, our HSCL, who organised a parents’ bus. All the support was muchly appreciated.

Well done to all involved—it was an unforgettable experience!! 👏🎶

Our 5th Class students had an amazing time in St Paul’s Junior School, where they took on the role of teachers, guiding 1st Class pupils through a fun and engaging Science experience!

The day kicked off with an energetic warm-up of PE games to get everyone moving and ready to learn. After that, the children created special “Mars Passports”, getting them ready for their journey into space!

Next, 5th Class introduced the 1st Class students to the mysteries of Mars, sharing fascinating facts about the Red Planet. They then unveiled the rockets they had built, sparking excitement before launching them into the sky! 🚀

To finish off, the children explored coding with Beebots, programming them to navigate different locations and features on a specially designed Mars map. It was a fantastic way to combine creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork!

A huge well done to all our 5th Class students for their enthusiasm and leadership, and a big thank you to St Paul’s Junior School for having us. We hope we’ve inspired some future astronauts and scientists! 🌍✨

#STEM #YoungScientists #5thClassLeaders #ExploringMars

We are absolutely thrilled to share the fantastic news that Abdul in Silver Class has achieved 1st place in Ireland in the Credit Union Art Competition in his category!

Competing at a national level is no small feat, and we couldn’t be prouder of him for representing our school with such outstanding artistic skill.

Well done Abdul! You are a superstar!

St. Peter’s, Dean Kelly, and St. Paul’s teamed up for a festive Christmas Jumper Day to support a cause that is deeply meaningful to our school community. Together we raised €1000. Gavin’s children are past pupils of our school, and his wife, Eileen, is a beloved member of St. Paul’s as both the Lollipop Lady and After School Manager. We invite you to contribute to this important fundraiser by following the link below:

Donate Here

We are incredibly proud of Marzanna and Yashvi, who won in the Westmeath Road Safety Competition! Their hard work and creativity stood out, earning them well-deserved recognition.

Both students attended the prize ceremony in Mullingar, where they were celebrated for their achievement.

A huge well done to Marzanna and Yashvi – you are fantastic ambassadors for our school!

Thank you for your interest in our school. We are accepting applications for admission until the 7th of February 2025.

Details of applicable dates for our enrolment process can be found in the  St Peter’s N.S Admission Notice 2025-26, while the Admissions Policy governs the enrolment process and criteria.

Click Here: Online Application Form for Admission 2025-2026

Alternatively email MS Word Application for Admission 2025-2026 to stpetersgns@gmail.com or post PDF Application for Admission 2025-2026 to St. Peter’s NS, Excise Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath N37 XY50

You are welcome to call the school at 0861385826 between 9.30am and 2.30pm if you have any enquiries.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

With the announcement of the extension of the severe weather warning until tomorrow the Board of Management has decided to keep St. Peter’s NS school building closed tomorrow Thursday the 9^th of January. Teachers have assigned work for the children to complete remotely which was sent by email and it is also available here: Work for Thursday the 9th January

We are looking forward to a safe return to school for everyone Friday the 10^th of January.

Le meas,

Naos Connaughton

This week, our talented 5th and 6th class students brought the festive spirit to life with their beautiful carol singing at Golden Island Shopping Centre. Under the expert accompaniment of Mrs. Roche on the keyboard, their melodic voices filled the air with holiday cheer, spreading joy to shoppers and passersby.

We are thrilled to share that their performance was not just about music – it was also about making a difference. Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone who donated, we raised funds to support St. Vincent de Paul, a very important charity.

A huge congratulations to all the students who participated – your hard work and enthusiasm shone through every note! And a special thank you to Mrs. Roche for her musical accompaniment.

Thank you to all who stopped by to listen and contribute. Together, we’re making this season brighter for those in need.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from St. Peter’s N.S! 🎄✨

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone at the Athlone Family Resource Centre for their thoughtfulness and generosity in the lovely treats they gave to the children.

Today our school came together for a truly special event—our annual Christmas Carol Service, where we celebrated the Nativity story through beautiful music, song, and storytelling. It was heartwarming to see the entire school involved, from the youngest to the oldest pupils, bringing the story of Christmas to life with such enthusiasm and joy.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Roche for her wonderful piano accompaniment and for guiding the music throughout the service. A special thank you also goes to Mrs. Cleare and Mrs. Flynn for their dedication and hard work in organising this event.

It was a delight to welcome parents and families to join us for this festive occasion, and your presence made the day even more meaningful for the children.

This celebration truly embodied the spirit of Christmas—a time of togetherness, joy, and love. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making it such a memorable day for our school community.

Merry Christmas to all!

Well done to 6th class for organising and hosting our annual jumble sale. It was a resounding success. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all and over €1200 was raised.  Thanks to 6th class, Mrs. Flynn and Karen for all their hard work.

Today 4th and 5th classes went to Peace Proms Practice in Dublin. They sang their hearts out under the instruction of conductor Greg Beardsell. We can’t wait until the big day in February!

Today our school was brimming with Christmas cheer as everyone showed off their festive Christmas jumpers!

To add to the magic, the children enjoyed a cosy treat of hot chocolate and marshmallows – a perfect way to warm up on a chilly December day.

We hope you all have a wonderful evening enjoying The Late Late Toy Show🌟.

Thank you to everyone who helped make today so special. Stay tuned for more festive celebrations in the coming weeks! 🎅✨

Our 5th and 6th class students had the wonderful opportunity to meet renowned children’s author Brian Gallagher at Athlone Library this week. This exciting event was part of a workshop, he read an extract from his captivating book Winds of Change, which is set right here in Westmeath.

We participated in a lively Q&A session. The students asked insightful questions about Brian’s writing process, his inspiration for his books, and what it’s like to be an author. Brian’s thoughtful answers encouraged everyone to think creatively and explore their own potential as writers and readers.

We are so grateful to Athlone Library for hosting this memorable event, and to Brian Gallagher for sharing his time, talent, and stories with us. It was a fantastic experience that left us inspired and eager to dive into Winds of Change and beyond!

This week our school hosted its very first Wellness Week and it was a huge success! Each day was packed with activities designed to foster mindfulness, gratitude, kindness, and fun for everyone in our school community. Every child was given a friendship bracelet as a memento of our special week.

Here’s how the week unfolded:

• Mindful Monday encouraged everyone to start the week with calm and focus through mindfulness activities.
• Thankful Tuesday reminded us to practice gratitude, with students and staff sharing what they’re thankful for.
• Wellness Wednesday brought the whole school together in the hall for active dances and relaxing breathing exercises—a true highlight of the week!
• Thoughtful Thursday inspired acts of kindness and reflection on how we can care for ourselves and others.
• Friendly Friday wrapped up the week on a high note as students came dressed in their comfiest, brightest clothes and enjoyed a special movie screening together in the hall.

A huge thank you to our Wellness Committee—Mrs. Browne, Ms. Quinn, and Ms. Feeney—for their hard work in planning such a meaningful week.

Don’t forget to check out the photos from our Wellness Week. Here’s to making wellness a daily practice in our school!

We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible artistic talents of our students who participated in the recent Art Credit Union Competition. A huge congratulations goes out to the three winners, all from Ms. Walsh’s Gold Class! 🌟

Their creativity, hard work, and passion for art truly shone through in their submissions, earning them this well-deserved recognition.

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.