New beginnings at St Anne’s, Maio as school welcomes first junior infants in four years
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The three new Junior Infants of St Anne’s NS, Maio spend time getting to know one another ahead of starting their big school journey this September.Image 2 of 4
New Junior Infant Rhían Lynch is pictured with mam Stephanie, dad Adrian and siblings Evan, Donnacha and Fiadh during the school’s induction morning.Image 3 of 4
New Junior Infant Joey McHugh is pictured with RoseEllen, Stephen and his sister Myra at St Anne’s NS, Maio.Image 4 of 4
New Junior Infant John Russell pictured with his mum, Emma, during the induction morning at St Anne’s NS, Maio.For the first time since 2022, the school welcomed three new Junior Infants through its doors, bringing fresh hope and new energy to one of County Meath's smallest schools. At the same time, six Sixth Class pupils celebrated their graduation, closing an important chapter in the life of a school where every child plays a vital role.
Come September, St. Anne's NS in Maio, Moynalty will have just nine pupils. In most schools, that number might fill only part of a classroom. Here, it is the entire school. Yet what St. Anne's lacks in numbers, it more than makes up for in warmth, opportunity and community spirit.
Often described as "more like a family than a school", every child is known, valued and encouraged to thrive. The school's small class sizes allow teachers to provide exceptional one-to-one support, helping each pupil develop confidence, independence and a genuine love of learning in a caring and inclusive environment. Parents regularly speak of the school's unique atmosphere, where kindness comes naturally, friendships flourish across all age groups and every child's achievements are celebrated. It is a place where children are not simply another face in the classroom, they are at the very heart of everything the school does.
One recent visitor summed it up perfectly, saying: “If you had to pay for this level of education, imagine what it would cost.”
While saying goodbye to half of the school's pupils was naturally emotional, welcoming three new Junior Infants made the day one of hope as much as farewell. Their arrival marks an important milestone for St Anne's NS and is a reminder that small rural schools continue to play a vital role in the communities they serve.
As one generation moves on to secondary school and another begins its educational journey, St Anne's National School continues to prove that the size of a school is never measured by the number of pupils within its walls, but by the strength of its community, the care it gives its children and the memories it creates along the way.