St. Catherine’s Senior Girls School is located on Ratoath Road, Cabra West, Dublin 7. We welcome girls from 2nd to 6th Classes. We pride ourselves on a holistic approach to education where the child’s social and emotional wellbeing are as important as their academic progress. We facilitate a wide variety of in-school activities along with after-school sports opportunities. Our pupils participate in Gaelic Football, FAI Football Competitions, athletics, swimming, tennis along many more creative arts experiences.
Our school currently has eight mainstream classes, three full-time special education posts (S.E.T.) & one shared S.E.T., three special needs assistants, full time secretary, part-time caretaker and an administrative principal.
The school occupies the first floor of the building, which was built by the Dominican Sisters in 1944. The large school hall is shared with the Infant School on the ground floor (accepts boys and girls for Junior Infants, Senior infants and 1st Class).
St. Catherine’s continues to preserve the Dominican tradition of education aiming to develop each girl to her full potential – academically, spiritually, socially and emotionally, in a spirit of trust and truth. We are inspired by our school Motto ‘Veritas’, which means ‘Truth’ and we aim to educate our pupils for life, helping them to reach their full potential, and use their gifts and talents to build a just and peaceful world.
As a feeder school for St. Dominic’s College, sixth class pupils usually transfer there for their secondary school education.
In April 2006, the Dominican sisters transferred the school to the Laurence O’Toole Trust, under the patronage of The Archbishop of Dublin.
School Reopening – August 2023
School will reopen for all pupils on Tuesday 29th August at 8.50a.m.
The school office will be opened from Thursday 24th August.
Opening Hours
School hours: 8:40am – 2:30pm
Break: 10:30am – 10:45am
Lunch: 12:15pm – 12:45pm
Policy Information for Parents
Re: Amendment to the School’s Admission Policy
Amendment to the School’s Admission Policy
Dear parents,
The Department of Education has instructed Boards of Management to make a change to their Admissions Policy, requiring Boards of Management to co-operate with the NCSE with regard to making places available for children with Special Education Needs.
The wording of the additional amendment is as follows:
St. Catherine’s Senior Girls School will cooperate with the NCSE in the performance by the Council of its functions under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 in relation to the provision of education to children with special educational needs, including in particular by the provision and operation of a special class or classes when requested to do so by the Council. St. Catherine’s Senior Girls School will comply with any direction served on the board or the patron under section 37A and 67(4)(b).
These required changes were notified to schools at very short notice, via a circular from the Department of Education. A copy of the circular (0075/2022) is attached.
The school’s board of management has been instructed to ‘consult’ with staff and parents in relation to these changes.
We are asking parents to read the proposed changes outlined above. If you have any comments in relation to these changes, you are asked to email these to principalstcatherinessns@gmail.com by Monday 30th January 2023.
The board is required to confirm that changes to the Admissions Policy have been made by the 31st January, 2023.
Warm regards,
Michelle O’Farrell.
—
Principal
St. Catherine’s Senior School,
Ratoath Road,
Cabra West,
Dublin 7,
D07 V045.
01-8387194
Parents As Partners
Parents are encouraged to become involved in the life of the school and their children’s learning.
Several courses are organised by the H.S.C.L. Coordinator including cookery (with a focus on healthy, cost-saving meals), fitness classes and computer classes. There is a parent and toddler group also. Parents are involved in Maths for Fun, Story Sacks and paired reading initiatives.
The school has developed a strong link with the local Library and is a member of CBI (Children’s Books Ireland).
Please take some time to explore our website. Your will find information on our many activities – our Green school, our sports and music ventures and some beautiful examples of our pupils’ work.
Our newsletter section will keep you up to date with our busy school life.
Click here to view some of our recent school newsletters
If you require any further information, please contact the school on (01) 8387194.
School Amenities
Our School has a large PE hall, which can cater for a range of sporting activities. The hall is also used for Christmas concerts, events and school activities that involve the entire school population. There is also a large playground, which provides ample space for children to play and engage in playground games. The playground is separated into class groupings for safety.
Digital literacy is promoted in the school. Pupils have access to iPads, Chromebooks and Lego Spike kits with which they engage in cooperative activities, coding skills and suitable educational games and activities. These digital skills will be invaluable to our pupils as they grow up in a digital world.
We also have an extensive library with a huge collection of both fiction and non-fiction titles to suit all interests. Pupils are brought to the library on a regular basis, as well as having access to a range of reading materials within their classrooms.
Our Wellbeing Room boasts a collection of interesting percussion and tuned instruments for use by all our classes and our school choir. Some classes learn how to play Ukelele.
Our beautiful Prayer Room is used for prayer services, reflective time and in supporting the Catholic ethos of the school, as we celebrate various religious occasions during the year.
School Life at St. Catherine’s
The school has for the fifth year running received a Plaque of Excellence for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
Pastoral care is emphasised in the school. There is a nourishing of the gifts of each child in an atmosphere of respect.
Sacramental preparation, involving the home, the school and the parish is undertaken by the teachers and parish sister, Sr. Philomena, who is based in the school.
The school is involved in the Green Schools Initiative and has recently obtained its fifth Green Flag for Biodiversity. The school is now piloting a brand new flag called for Biodiversity and Food. Our school boasts a gorgeous garden.
