Parents Association (PA) Information
PA Officers were elected at the PA Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 9th, 2025:
Chairperson: Ann Geraghty
Treasurer: Jacinta Power
Secretary: Ciara McGrath
Email address: parentsassociationsb@gmail.com
The current committee consists of 20 members.
The PA meets approximately once per month, typically on a Tuesday in the Staff Room at 8pm. All Scoil Bhríde parents are welcome to attend. Exact dates of meetings are published on Aladdin on the Parents Association account and also included in the weekly updates from the principal.
General Activities
Activities take place throughout the school year depending on what support the school needs. We are always in need of volunteers to help out at these activities so if you have spare time to help please contact us on our email above.
· Shared Reading from Junior Infants to 1st class – Wed mornings
· Voluntary Smartphone Pact
· Christmas Raffle – Key annual fundraiser
· Teas and Coffees/Food for School occasions
· Parent Coffee morning once per Term.
· Support with organising of 6th Year Hoodies
· Communion Class gift
· Assist with Book Fair
Smartphone Pact & Alliance
In May and early June 2024, the PA invited parents to complete a short Scoil Bhríde Smartphone Survey to identify if parents were interested in taking part in a voluntary Smartphone Agreement, to hold off on the purchase of smartphones for children until after primary school. 82% of respondents indicated they would like to take part in a voluntary Smartphone Agreement
In collaboration with 15 schools across South Kildare, the PA now facilitate an annual voluntary Smartphone Pact at the start of the school year.
2025/26 school year results
This year’s survey was completed in October 2025. The school's responses for the 2025/26 school year accounted for 59% of the student population up from 55% last year
Even more heartening is that 91% of students for whom we received a response are committed to the pact, demonstrating a collective effort to delay smartphone ownership in our school community. This is up from last year where we had 89% committed.
Response Rates by Class % smartphone-free students by class
- Junior Infants: 77%
- Junior Infants: 100% smartphone-free
- Senior Infants: 100% smartphone-free
- 1st Class: 96% smartphone-free
- 2nd Class: 96% smartphone-free
- 3rd Class: 98% smartphone-free
- 4th Class: 91% smartphone-free
- 5th Class: 87% smartphone-free
- 6th Class: 55% smartphone-free
- Senior Infants: 58%
- 1st Class: 75%
- 2nd Class: 59%
- 3rd Class: 55%
- 4th Class: 64%
- 5th Class: 49%
- 6th Class: 44%
Note: These results assumes that one parent answered per family unit. % of smartphone free students related to the % of positive responses from those that completed the survey.
Further information and Links:
The below is to provide information to parents concerning the effects of smartphones, how to implement parental controls, and provide other options rather than a smartphone for use outside of school. Please remember Scoil Bhríde is a smart-device-free school.
Scoil Bhríde Acceptable use of IT Policy
Child psychologists: What they are saying about the effects of smartphones on children:
● Richard Hogan: https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/healthandwellbeing/arid-40191249.html
Parental Controls: Resources for parents looking to set parental controls on home devices and information on internet safety:
● https://www.webwise.ie/parents/
● https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/be-safe-online/
● https://www.npc.ie/training-and-resources/training-we-offer/internet-safety-in-your-school
Other phone options:
There is a range of non-smartphone options available, that provide basic functions such as calls and texts but have no online access.
There are also smartwatches. These watches allow phone calls, and text messages and have a built-in GPS function.
All the above options eliminate online access. Please see some examples below: