School Day: 

The school day at Monkland National School begins at 9.20am. Children may be dropped off from 9.10am, where they line up in the yard under staff supervision, ensuring a calm and safe start to the day.

Our morning break runs from 10.50am to 11.05am (15 minutes). Lunchtime is from 12.40pm to 1.05pm (25 minutes). Pupils are given time to eat their lunches at their desks before going outside to enjoy the yard.

Home time is 2.00pm for Junior and Senior Infants. All other classes finish at 3.00pm. Our AS classes finish at 1.50pm or 2.50pm. Staggered collection helps ensure a smooth, safe dismissal for everyone.

For safety reasons, pupils are not permitted to leave the school during the day. If a child needs to be collected early, parents or guardians must report to the school office and sign their child out using the QR code system.

School Uniform:

All children must wear the complete school uniform every day to school.

Junior Infants and Senior Infants:

  • plain navy tracksuit bottoms
  • white polo shirt
  • maroon school sweatshirt 
  • velcro runners / shoes with straps (no laces)

1st Class – 6th Class:

  • navy pinafore or skirt / plain navy trousers / tracksuit bottoms (no logos or stripes permitted)
  • white shirt and school tie
  • v-neck maroon school jumper
  • shoes / runners

School Calendar:

Please click here to download the 2025/2026 school calendar.

School Lunches:

All children in Monkland National School receive a hot school meal each day, provided through The Lunch Bag. Each child is given a reusable lunch box for returning packaging home, helping us reduce waste and support our Green School initiatives.

For small break, pupils are asked to bring a simple, healthy snack such as fruit, yoghurt, or a cereal bar. We are proud to be a ‘Healthy Eating School’, and as part of this commitment, sweets, crisps, chocolate, and fizzy drinks are not permitted. For full details, please refer to our Healthy Eating Policy.

Monkland National School is a nut-free school. We have pupils with serious nut allergies, so it is essential that no nuts or products containing nuts are brought to school at any time. This includes snacks, spreads, treats, and any food items that may contain traces of nuts. We greatly appreciate the cooperation of all families in helping us maintain a safe environment for every child.

School Communication:

Monkland National School uses the Eolas app to support everyday school administration and communication. While most communication from the school is sent directly via the school email address, the Eolas app is also used for key tasks such as recording absences, tracking attendance, making school payments, scheduling parent/guardian-teacher meetings and viewing school reports.

It is essential that all parents download and have access to the app. Your username will be the email address you provided when enrolling your child.