St. Eithne's Primary School was opened on Monday 1st September 1998. Staff, pupils and parents all congregated on the school's  small playground ready to start on that  very first day. It was a first day at school for everyone although staff and parents had met on a number of occasions in  the City's Sports Complex and Holy Family Church Committee Room.

          176 pupils joined the school in our first year. Three year 1 classes, one  year 2 class, one year 3 class and two year 4 classes.All of the pupils moving  into years 2, 3 and 4 had transferred from other schools. A number of the pupils and teachers came from our sister school the Holy Family Primary School and quite a number of boys and girls transferred from neighbouring  St. Eugene's, Rosemount Primary and St. Anne's Primary School.

              In the academic Year 1999/2000 our Primary 4 pupils moved into Year 5 and  we had a total of 255 pupils in the whole school.   In 2000/2001  we  had 336 pupils. Three new primary one classes and two new  primary four classes and our oldest pupils had reached Year 6.

We had finally reached Year 7 in September 2002 with 16 class groups altogether and one Special Needs teacher. This was the first year that we have seven year groups: Year 1 right up to Year 7. To date two groups of Primary Seven pupils transferred to secondary level education and we wish them the best of luck with their future.

This year we have 450 pupils.We have 18 class groups, a SENCO and a special needs support teacher and a music teacher.

           As a Catholic Maintained Primary School St. Eithne's caters for boys and girls in the 4 - 11+ age group. The range  of pupils this year is from Year 1 to Year 7.

  The name of the school (St. Eithne's) was chosen  because St. Eithne was the mother of St. Columba and Columba founded a monastry  here in Derry.Visit our web page dedicated to St. Eithne.     "Click here"
The school is located in County Derry on the Donegal side of the city. It caters primarily for the surrounding community which forms part of the parishes of the Holy Family and St. Eugene's.

 Staff
There are now 22 teaching staff, 13 classroom assistants, one caretaker and a school secretary. We are  an experienced and dedicated bunch of professionals who understand perfectly that we all have an essential role to play at St. Eithne's.

The Board of Governors.(08/09

The members hold office for four years. This year there is a reconstitution of the Board . By January 2010 there will be a new Board. Elections for Parent Representative and Teacher Representative will take place then.

Nominated By The Trustees
Rev. Fr.S. Mc Kenna
Mrs G. Hillick (Vice Chairman)
Mrs G. Beales
Mr. P. Mc Daid

Nominated By The Western Education & Library Board
Mr C. Mc Menamin
Mr D. Taylor

Nominated By The Department Of Education
Mr. S. Sands (Chairman)
Parents' Representative
Mrs A. Coyle

Teachers' Representative
Mrs M. Grant

Secretary
Mr G. Cosgrove (Principal)

The Governors as a group work together in partnership with the Principal and the staff to ensure the provision of good education for our children. They have particular responsibilities in relation to the curriculum, the financial management of the school, the appointment of staff, admissions to the school, discipline, building and maintenance, the parents' annual meeting and community links.
Governors attend regular meetings of the Governing Body at least once per term and any extra meetings or sub committee meetings that might be called.

Mr S. Sands (Chairman) may be contacted at St. Eithne's Primary School and Mr G. Cosgrove (Secretary to Board Of Governors) may also be contacted at the school address.