Day 10: Final Day Summer Spectacular!
We wrapped up our two-week summer project with a fantastic hot and sunny day full of fun, energy, and unforgettable memories. The morning began with a magical storytelling session led by the amazing Niall de Búrca, who captivated both Juniors and Seniors with his vibrant tales and infectious enthusiasm. It was a wonderful way to start the day and brought smiles and laughter all around!
In the afternoon, the school grounds came alive as 12 teams took part in a variety of exciting games and activities. From the giant bouncy castle and football darts, to wet and wild sponge relays, balloon challenges, tyre games, and a crowd favourite—towering Jenga—the energy was high and the competition friendly. Team 1 took the win, but with 12 teams giving it their all, everyone was a winner on the day! Our ice-cream van rolled in to keep everyone cool along with a water hose, 99's all round for kids, teens and even some of the adults!!
A very special mention goes to Carol Barnes, who is finishing up after 7 years of on the Summer Project Committee. Carol, thank you sincerely for all the time, energy, and heart you’ve given to this project over the years—your impact has been immense, and you will be dearly missed.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible teen supervisors who did a fantastic job over the past two weeks. These amazing young girls and boys many of whom were once students in St Pius, were a credit to the school. Their support, dedication and positivity helped keep the project running smoothly and we are grateful for the energy and enthusiasm they brought every day!
A big thank you also to all our committee members for their tireless work throughout the year. There’s an incredible amount of organisation, planning, and behind-the-scenes effort that goes into making the summer project the success it is. A huge shout-out to Aoife McGrath, who stepped into the lead organiser role this year and did an absolutely outstanding job. Aoife, your commitment, creativity, and leadership made this year’s project truly special.
Thanks to everyone who made it possible! 🌞🎉
And with that we've reached the end of an amazing and busy two weeks of adventure, fun and lots of memories. Enjoy the rest of the summer break, especially if the weather stays like this!
See you all in September and hopefully again next summer for the St Pius Summer Project 2026!
Click here to see the pictures of our final day! 🌞🎉
In the afternoon, the school grounds came alive as 12 teams took part in a variety of exciting games and activities. From the giant bouncy castle and football darts, to wet and wild sponge relays, balloon challenges, tyre games, and a crowd favourite—towering Jenga—the energy was high and the competition friendly. Team 1 took the win, but with 12 teams giving it their all, everyone was a winner on the day! Our ice-cream van rolled in to keep everyone cool along with a water hose, 99's all round for kids, teens and even some of the adults!!
A very special mention goes to Carol Barnes, who is finishing up after 7 years of on the Summer Project Committee. Carol, thank you sincerely for all the time, energy, and heart you’ve given to this project over the years—your impact has been immense, and you will be dearly missed.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible teen supervisors who did a fantastic job over the past two weeks. These amazing young girls and boys many of whom were once students in St Pius, were a credit to the school. Their support, dedication and positivity helped keep the project running smoothly and we are grateful for the energy and enthusiasm they brought every day!
A big thank you also to all our committee members for their tireless work throughout the year. There’s an incredible amount of organisation, planning, and behind-the-scenes effort that goes into making the summer project the success it is. A huge shout-out to Aoife McGrath, who stepped into the lead organiser role this year and did an absolutely outstanding job. Aoife, your commitment, creativity, and leadership made this year’s project truly special.
Thanks to everyone who made it possible! 🌞🎉
And with that we've reached the end of an amazing and busy two weeks of adventure, fun and lots of memories. Enjoy the rest of the summer break, especially if the weather stays like this!
See you all in September and hopefully again next summer for the St Pius Summer Project 2026!
Click here to see the pictures of our final day! 🌞🎉
Day 9: Olympic Handball Finals
Another scorcher of a day for the Summer Project! The Juniors had a well-deserved morning off after the action at Clara Lara yesterday. It was a relaxing afternoon also, with pottery making and pizza with Giddy's Studio in the GP room. The kids left with ornamental lions - which will go great alongside their Forest School sculptures from last week!
The Seniors had a much busier morning. There was something for everyone today, with activities taking place in multiple locations. Go-Karting at Kylemore Karting was a big hit, and according to the kids it was exactly like being in Formula 1. Up in Tibradden, it was a perfect morning for wood-work and pizza making. Across in Sandyford, the gamers among us headed to Zero Latency virtual reality gaming centre. And at the Paddocks Riding Centre, we unleashed our inner cowboys with some horse-riding. It was all back to the school in the afternoon for 2 sessions of African Drumming - the beats could be heard all around the neighbourhood!
But it was all leading up to the main event: the Olympic Handball final! All teams played a final round before 4 remaining teams played in the semi-finals. Both matches were brilliant, with Team 4 (captained by Chloe Thom) and Team 9 (captained by Jonah Martin) making the final. The match was played along the full-length of the yard, lined with spectators cheering on their friends. A cracker of a game ensued with Jonah's team eventually emerging victorious - congratulations Team 9 and hard luck Team 4 on a battle well-fought!
All the kids who played in the tournament should be really proud of themselves. From Junior Infants to 6th class, they displayed amazing teamwork and camaraderie throughout. It's no surprise that Olympic Handball is one of the highlights of the Summer Project, for children and parents alike!
Click here to see all the pics of today's fun.
The Seniors had a much busier morning. There was something for everyone today, with activities taking place in multiple locations. Go-Karting at Kylemore Karting was a big hit, and according to the kids it was exactly like being in Formula 1. Up in Tibradden, it was a perfect morning for wood-work and pizza making. Across in Sandyford, the gamers among us headed to Zero Latency virtual reality gaming centre. And at the Paddocks Riding Centre, we unleashed our inner cowboys with some horse-riding. It was all back to the school in the afternoon for 2 sessions of African Drumming - the beats could be heard all around the neighbourhood!
But it was all leading up to the main event: the Olympic Handball final! All teams played a final round before 4 remaining teams played in the semi-finals. Both matches were brilliant, with Team 4 (captained by Chloe Thom) and Team 9 (captained by Jonah Martin) making the final. The match was played along the full-length of the yard, lined with spectators cheering on their friends. A cracker of a game ensued with Jonah's team eventually emerging victorious - congratulations Team 9 and hard luck Team 4 on a battle well-fought!
All the kids who played in the tournament should be really proud of themselves. From Junior Infants to 6th class, they displayed amazing teamwork and camaraderie throughout. It's no surprise that Olympic Handball is one of the highlights of the Summer Project, for children and parents alike!
Click here to see all the pics of today's fun.
Day 8: Fun in the sun at Clara Lara
What an unforgettable sunny hot day! Our crew set off bright and early for an epic adventure to Clara Lara Funpark. With the sun shining and spirits high, the park was the perfect place for a day full of excitement, laughter, and nonstop fun!
From the moment we arrived, the energy was electric. All the kids raced to explore the park’s incredible water activities, where paddling, splashing, and giggles filled the air. The water slides, and log rafts were firm favourites, with both juniors and seniors braving the chilly waters for the thrill of it all. Some even challenged themselves with the giant rope swings over the water!
Our gang went down giant slides and got competitive with mini-golf and go-karting. Whether it was climbing nets, paddling across ponds, or the adults just chilling by the grass, there was something for everyone.
The pond area was busy, where the kids teamed in the paddle boats and had lots of fun in and out of the water!
Of course, no trip to Clara Lara is complete without a bag of salty chips!
As the day came to a close, our tired but happy kids boarded the buses home, full of happy memories along with a few muddy, wet shoes. Clara Lara never fails to deliver and what a day we had!
Click here to see all the pics from our annual trip to Clara Lara! We can’t wait to go back!
From the moment we arrived, the energy was electric. All the kids raced to explore the park’s incredible water activities, where paddling, splashing, and giggles filled the air. The water slides, and log rafts were firm favourites, with both juniors and seniors braving the chilly waters for the thrill of it all. Some even challenged themselves with the giant rope swings over the water!
Our gang went down giant slides and got competitive with mini-golf and go-karting. Whether it was climbing nets, paddling across ponds, or the adults just chilling by the grass, there was something for everyone.
The pond area was busy, where the kids teamed in the paddle boats and had lots of fun in and out of the water!
Of course, no trip to Clara Lara is complete without a bag of salty chips!
As the day came to a close, our tired but happy kids boarded the buses home, full of happy memories along with a few muddy, wet shoes. Clara Lara never fails to deliver and what a day we had!
Click here to see all the pics from our annual trip to Clara Lara! We can’t wait to go back!
Day 7: Movie Time
Tuesday was jam-packed with activities for both Juniors and Seniors. The Juniors kicked off the day with story-telling and recycled art, led by our resident forest school teacher, Muireann. We made humming birds out of wool and even played hummingbird tag when some of us needed a break for a run around the yard. Meanwhile, another group of Juniors got in on the Wimbledon vibe, with tennis in the yard.
The Seniors had a busy morning. There was plenty of choice to suit all tastes with another climbing session out in Tallaght, a round or two of golf in Spawell and a trip to the roller-skating rink. We really are spoilt for choice this year!
We all re-convened at lunchtime and both Juniors and Seniors took the bus to the cinema. Always a Summer Project favourite, everyone enjoyed their popcorn, jellies and drinks while sitting back to enjoy the movie, Elio.
Batteries were fully recharged for the penultimate night of Olympic Handball. Our competitive spirits were on full display with a few very exciting matches tonight. Buckle up for the finals on Thursday night, it's going to be intense!
Click here to see all the pics from today, and rest up - tomorrow is another big day, our annual trip to Clara Lara!
The Seniors had a busy morning. There was plenty of choice to suit all tastes with another climbing session out in Tallaght, a round or two of golf in Spawell and a trip to the roller-skating rink. We really are spoilt for choice this year!
We all re-convened at lunchtime and both Juniors and Seniors took the bus to the cinema. Always a Summer Project favourite, everyone enjoyed their popcorn, jellies and drinks while sitting back to enjoy the movie, Elio.
Batteries were fully recharged for the penultimate night of Olympic Handball. Our competitive spirits were on full display with a few very exciting matches tonight. Buckle up for the finals on Thursday night, it's going to be intense!
Click here to see all the pics from today, and rest up - tomorrow is another big day, our annual trip to Clara Lara!
Day Six:
Slime Time for our Juniors & Seniors Soccer World Cup!
Week 2 got off to a flying start, packed with creativity, fun, and energy for both our Juniors and Seniors!
Juniors kicked off their day with a fantastic gymnastics session, full of flips, hoola hoops and flexibility! In the afternoon things got gooey and giggly during the slime-making workshop, where everyone got hands-on with colourful, stretchy creations to take home.
Seniors had a whirlwind of activities, keeping them busy from early morning right through until 9pm this evening! The day started with the amazing Elaine Whelan teaching the kids about making prints and showing them how to do it. On the green some of our budding golfers practiced their swings and improved their putting. Also in the school our seniors had the lovely Emma in Drama exploring acting games and character development. In the early afternoon with the support of the amazing Liz & Lauren our seniors learned some cake decorating! They created edible works of art, including colourful penguins, customised cupcakes, donuts and marshmallow teapots that looked (almost) too good to eat!! In the Spawell, teams represented different countries as they competed in our very own World Cup. An exciting and competitive tournament, which saw USA vs South Korea battle it out in one semi final all the way to a penalty shoot out with South Korea winning and going through to a nail biting final. Spain came out on top at the end beating South Korea in an exciting final. The day ended on a high note with our seniors hitting the dance floor for a high energy disco and tuck shop! A live DJ spinning some of their favourite tracks including "Free from Desire", "Pink Pony Club" and "Hot To Go"....... The perfect ending to a day full of creativity and excitement!
What a day to remember! 🌟
Click here to see pics of all of today's adventures.
Juniors kicked off their day with a fantastic gymnastics session, full of flips, hoola hoops and flexibility! In the afternoon things got gooey and giggly during the slime-making workshop, where everyone got hands-on with colourful, stretchy creations to take home.
Seniors had a whirlwind of activities, keeping them busy from early morning right through until 9pm this evening! The day started with the amazing Elaine Whelan teaching the kids about making prints and showing them how to do it. On the green some of our budding golfers practiced their swings and improved their putting. Also in the school our seniors had the lovely Emma in Drama exploring acting games and character development. In the early afternoon with the support of the amazing Liz & Lauren our seniors learned some cake decorating! They created edible works of art, including colourful penguins, customised cupcakes, donuts and marshmallow teapots that looked (almost) too good to eat!! In the Spawell, teams represented different countries as they competed in our very own World Cup. An exciting and competitive tournament, which saw USA vs South Korea battle it out in one semi final all the way to a penalty shoot out with South Korea winning and going through to a nail biting final. Spain came out on top at the end beating South Korea in an exciting final. The day ended on a high note with our seniors hitting the dance floor for a high energy disco and tuck shop! A live DJ spinning some of their favourite tracks including "Free from Desire", "Pink Pony Club" and "Hot To Go"....... The perfect ending to a day full of creativity and excitement!
What a day to remember! 🌟
Click here to see pics of all of today's adventures.
Day Five: National Stud and Hell & Back
The final day of Week One was a cracker. The Juniors spent a fantastic day at the National Stud. We learned all about the stallions marrying the mares and all the little foals arriving 11 months later! And who knew that all foals in Ireland celebrate their birthdays on the 1st of January. We even met some "celebrity" horses, including Beef & Salmon! Lots of fun was had in the playground, and a big thank you to our teen helpers, Dillon, Olivia, Doireann, Georgia and Cara for pushing us on the witch's hat and the swings. We came home so tired that some of us had a little snooze on the bus!
The brave Seniors took on Hell & Back in Kilruddery. Ye will all be applying for "Ireland's Fittest Family" now that your kids are experts on "Hang Tough", and "Backs against the Wall"! There was also archery, code-cracking, and "floor is lava". And of course, no trip to Hell & Back would be complete without the Hell-Run obstacle course.
It's been an amazing first week of Summer Project 2025, click here to see pics of all of today's adventures.
Day Four:
Juniors take on the Jungle & Seniors Conquer Bray Head!
Our Juniors had an unforgettable experience spending a few thrilling hours with Jungle Dave! They got up close with tarantulas and snakes, sparking a mix of excitement and nerves all around. The adventure didn’t stop there — the kids channeled their creativity into some fantastic animal art, inspired by their new animal friends and also in Junior Art they painted birds houses. A day full of creativity, wonder, bravery and imagination! A Wild Jungle Adventure!
Meanwhile, our Seniors embraced adventure and took on the challenge of climbing Bray Head, enjoying a scenic and active day filled with plenty of walking and adventure. After reaching the summit, they took a well-earned break to enjoy lunch with a view, surrounded by stunning landscapes. A great day of fresh air, fun, and accomplishment!
To cap off the day, all our kids came together for another energetic and fun-filled evening of Olympic handball in the school — a perfect end to an action-packed day! Everyone has headed home exhausted and will hopefully sleep well in preparation for a very busy day at Hell & Back (Seniors) and The National Stud (Juniors) tomorrow!
Click here to see some pictures from our fourth day of fantastic fun activities!
Meanwhile, our Seniors embraced adventure and took on the challenge of climbing Bray Head, enjoying a scenic and active day filled with plenty of walking and adventure. After reaching the summit, they took a well-earned break to enjoy lunch with a view, surrounded by stunning landscapes. A great day of fresh air, fun, and accomplishment!
To cap off the day, all our kids came together for another energetic and fun-filled evening of Olympic handball in the school — a perfect end to an action-packed day! Everyone has headed home exhausted and will hopefully sleep well in preparation for a very busy day at Hell & Back (Seniors) and The National Stud (Juniors) tomorrow!
Click here to see some pictures from our fourth day of fantastic fun activities!
Day Three: Seniors on Tour & Juniors go back to nature
The sun shone this morning as our Juniors headed to Bushy Park for Forest School. Muireann, our Forest School teacher, helped the kids unleash their inner Bear Grylls and there was plenty of scary rope walks, fun rope swings, as well as hammocks to relax in after all that adventuring. The morning ended with the kids making clay sculptures using leaves, feathers and pine cones. I'm sure their creations are all taking pride of place on your mantelpieces this evening!
In the afternoon it was back to the school for Picture Bingo. The PE Hall was buzzing, with lead supervisor, Eleanor, bringing major energy and fun to the activity. The "shake-off" breaks were a big hit and the lucky winners went home with great prizes.
Our Seniors spit into two groups today. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th classers headed to Kilruddery for Squirrel Scramble. Always a big hit, this activity involved plenty of teamwork, and our supervisors were so impressed to see the kids helping each other out on the tricky spots. The trip to McDonalds for lunch was well-deserved and the kids were clearly revived - judging by the sing-song on the bus on the way home!
Our 5th and 6th classers took the bus for our inaugural trip to Dundrum - fair play to our supervisors who managed to get all 44 kids onto one bus (God help the other passengers!). The first activity was bowling in the newly opened Lane 7, where there was also the opportunity to play darts, snooker and shuffleboard. After a spot of lunch in McDonalds, it was time for the kids to channel their inner Rory McIlroys and Leona Maguires for some mini-golf in Rainforest Golf. Everyone agreed that the trip to Dundrum will be a regular feature on Summer Project from now on!
All the day's pictured can be viewed here.
In the afternoon it was back to the school for Picture Bingo. The PE Hall was buzzing, with lead supervisor, Eleanor, bringing major energy and fun to the activity. The "shake-off" breaks were a big hit and the lucky winners went home with great prizes.
Our Seniors spit into two groups today. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th classers headed to Kilruddery for Squirrel Scramble. Always a big hit, this activity involved plenty of teamwork, and our supervisors were so impressed to see the kids helping each other out on the tricky spots. The trip to McDonalds for lunch was well-deserved and the kids were clearly revived - judging by the sing-song on the bus on the way home!
Our 5th and 6th classers took the bus for our inaugural trip to Dundrum - fair play to our supervisors who managed to get all 44 kids onto one bus (God help the other passengers!). The first activity was bowling in the newly opened Lane 7, where there was also the opportunity to play darts, snooker and shuffleboard. After a spot of lunch in McDonalds, it was time for the kids to channel their inner Rory McIlroys and Leona Maguires for some mini-golf in Rainforest Golf. Everyone agreed that the trip to Dundrum will be a regular feature on Summer Project from now on!
All the day's pictured can be viewed here.
Day two: A little rain didn't dampen the spirits!
What started out as a rainy Tuesday morning, moving our activities indoors turned into a dry and active day full of movement, creativity, and fun!
Our Juniors had great fun at Kaizen Dojo followed by some dribbling relays, and target shooting at Soccer.
Lots of enthusiasm and giggles at Junior Drama and after lunch there was great excitement and fun at the
Yard Games with some races with hula hoops!!
The Seniors had a calm and energizing start to the day with Bronwyn practicing mindful breathing, balance poses, and stretches at Yoga! And a big shout out to Sara Jane Gavin for stepping in to help Bronwyn as Yoga was going on across two classrooms! Lots of laughs and creativity on stage today at Drama whilst some seniors were learning basic martial arts sequences at Kaizen Dojo. Our seniors did get wet today in Templeogue swimming pool with lots of fun and splashing! In the afternoon some of our Tennis lovers took to the court for some games and racket skills in Templeogue Tennis Club.
The Seniors finished off the evening at Tag Rugby in Terenure College with a nail biting final between New Zealand and Wales going to sudden death before Wales were crowned the champions. Well done to all the teams!
Click here to see some pictures from our second day fun activities!
Our Juniors had great fun at Kaizen Dojo followed by some dribbling relays, and target shooting at Soccer.
Lots of enthusiasm and giggles at Junior Drama and after lunch there was great excitement and fun at the
Yard Games with some races with hula hoops!!
The Seniors had a calm and energizing start to the day with Bronwyn practicing mindful breathing, balance poses, and stretches at Yoga! And a big shout out to Sara Jane Gavin for stepping in to help Bronwyn as Yoga was going on across two classrooms! Lots of laughs and creativity on stage today at Drama whilst some seniors were learning basic martial arts sequences at Kaizen Dojo. Our seniors did get wet today in Templeogue swimming pool with lots of fun and splashing! In the afternoon some of our Tennis lovers took to the court for some games and racket skills in Templeogue Tennis Club.
The Seniors finished off the evening at Tag Rugby in Terenure College with a nail biting final between New Zealand and Wales going to sudden death before Wales were crowned the champions. Well done to all the teams!
Click here to see some pictures from our second day fun activities!
Day one: Summer Project 2025 kicks off!
St Pius Summer Project got off to a flying start today! The Juniors had a jam-packed day, starting with the Junior quiz in the morning, followed by a trip to Bushy Park for a relaxing afternoon of yoga and playground fun.
The Seniors' week started off with a Rounders tournament which proved at times contentious but ultimately concluded with a win for the Giants. There was barely time for lunch before the first group headed over to the Dublin Climbing Centre, followed later in the afternoon by another group of intrepid climbers.
Our first night of Olympic Handball was the usual organised chaos, but the teams eventually mobilised and there were two extremely exciting games, before everyone headed home exhausted!
Click here to see a snapshot of today's fun.
The Seniors' week started off with a Rounders tournament which proved at times contentious but ultimately concluded with a win for the Giants. There was barely time for lunch before the first group headed over to the Dublin Climbing Centre, followed later in the afternoon by another group of intrepid climbers.
Our first night of Olympic Handball was the usual organised chaos, but the teams eventually mobilised and there were two extremely exciting games, before everyone headed home exhausted!
Click here to see a snapshot of today's fun.