Fáilte! Welcome to Brannoxtown CNS! Our multidenominational Community National School opened in 2018, under patronage of the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). 

Our school includes the original schoolhouse (1885) and a newer school building (2013). Our four classrooms are in the 2013 building. Each classroom has toilets, wet areas and workspaces and each is well-equipped with technology and a range of educational resources. The school office, staffroom and additional services (provided privately by The Learning Tree) are located in the 1885 schoolhouse. Outdoors, we’re developing a range of play spaces – look out for the tepee, mud-kitchen, pallet house and… willow hut!  

Our school set-down and main entrance are via the Grangemore Manor estate.

Brannoxtown CNS is a happy place. We support all children to grow in competence and confidence so they can flourish as learners and individuals. We support each child to be their very best self. Through a range of hands-on learning experiences, children achieve high standards in all they do at Brannoxtown CNS. They are kind to one-another. Respect is a key ambition for everyone at our school. 

Parents can see what we get up to on Aladdin, our communication platform. Each half-term, parents can also find a round-up of news in our Newsletters which are posted to our website homepage: www.brannoxtowncns.ie. This booklet includes four sections (below) to support new parents to our school.  

On behalf of the staff and Board of Management, I look forward to welcoming you and your child to Brannoxtown CNS.

Deirdre Murphy, Principal 

At Brannoxtown CNS, the ethos/spirit of our school is visible in our beliefs and our actions. 

Our Beliefs 

At Brannoxtown CNS… 

• Everyone is valued, respected and treated with dignity. 

• We strive for excellence in all we do, encouraging each child to reach his/her full potential. 

• We encourage children’s holistic development (intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual). 

• We recognise and celebrate diversity; it makes us stronger. 

• We work in partnership with parents and the local community, and we value this synergy which can only benefit children.  

Our Actions 

These are some of the ways you can see our ethos ‘in action’ at Brannoxtown CNS: 

• We create a welcoming and happy atmosphere in our school. 

• We value all members of the school community. 

• We listen carefully and communicate clearly. 

• We treat each other with dignity and respect. 

• We support and encourage each other. 

• We nurture each child and focus on their positive attributes. 

• We strive for excellence in all we do.  

• We work with parents, the local community and with outside agencies in the best interests of our children. 

At Brannoxtown CNS, we take collective responsibility for achieving the highest standards of quality in all aspects of our work: across children’s learning experiences, the school environment and atmosphere and relationships within and outside the school.  Excellence is at the heart of all we do to enrich children’s growth and development at our school. 

We began to design and develop our school crest during our first term as a Community National School in 2018. We researched the values that schools, sports teams and other organisations consider important. After lots of discussion and deliberation, we agreed four values for our school: Ambition, Effort, Respect and Teamwork. We explored and designed symbols to represent these values. We explored different symbols to show the rich history of Brannockstown village and of Co. Kildare. We examined a range of crests and logos and identified design features, shapes and colours which we liked! 

We prepared a design specification to translate our ideas into a new school crest. DoodleMoose Designs prepared many draft designs which were shortlisted and became the focus of consultation. Our new school crest was finalised in January 2019. 

Meaning of our School Crest 

• The four linked hands reflect our four school values: Ambition, Effort, Respect and Teamwork. 

• The hands also resemble the cross of Brigid of Kildare and its pre- Christian origins in the sun cross, the source of life. 

• The oak leaves represent Kildare (Cill Dara) which means the ‘Church of the oak tree’. 

• 1885 is the date our school was established (as a Baptist School); it reminds us of all the teachers and children who came before us. 

• 2018 is the date our school began its new life as a Community National School, under patronage of the KWETB.  

Information regarding the setup process for Aladdin Connect will be shared with families by email before the start of the school year. We encourage all parents and guardians to complete the setup process as soon as possible, as it will be our primary method of communication throughout the year.

Children in the Junior Room can avail of the service for up to three hours, from 1:30 to 4:30 (from Wednesday, 26th August). Children in classes from 1^st to 6^th can avail of the service for up to two hours, 2:30 to 4:30pm.

• The Club has a maximum of 12 places, daily.

• Flexibility to offer one-off places to children on a given day will depend on availability.