Category: Newsletters

Newsletter 4^th December 2023

Ballylinan National School Christmas Food Appeal: Our Annual Food Appeal took place last week and we would like to sincerely thank you all for your generous donations. Many thanks to Ms. Goff who co-ordinated the appeal, in conjunction with the Transition Year pupils of Ardscoil na Tríonóide and St. Vincent de Paul.

Advent Friends: As in previous years, each child in the school will soon be allocated an “Advent” or “special” friend in the lead up to Christmas. We are asking that children should be particularly kind to the person without letting them know that they have been chosen. The children will make a card for their Advent/Special friend closer to Christmas. With this in mind, we would ask that no Christmas cards are sent in to school from home to be distributed by the children. 

Birthday invitations: A gentle reminder that birthday party invitations should be distributed outside of school. We appreciate your understanding on this matter.

Christmas Carol Service: Our Christmas Carol Service takes place in St. Anne’s Church, Ballylinan, on the night of Tuesday, 12^th of December. In a change to previous years, our Junior and Senior Infants will also take part in our Carol Service this year.

As before, due to the numbers involved, we will have two services on the night and have therefore divided the children into two groups. One service will take place at 7p.m. and the other at 8p.m. Your child will be informed of their service time tomorrow, Tuesday 5^th December.

We have allocated 3 tickets per family and there will be a charge of €5 per ticket, or up to a maximum of €12 for 3 tickets. Payments may be made via the Aladdin app from this Wednesday 6^th December.

Children are asked to wear their uniform for the Carol Service. To facilitate this, all children may wear their school tracksuit to school next Monday 11^th and Tuesday 12^th December. Children are also asked to bring along a Santa hat/Christmas hairband on the night, which they can wear at the end of the Carol Service.

Christmas Holidays: The school will close for the Christmas holidays on Friday 22^nd December, at 12:15p.m. for Infants and at 12:30p.m. for all other pupils. On this day, children are welcome to wear festive clothing to school.

Thank you for your continued support of our school.

Ballylinan GAA:
Huge congratulations to Ballylinan GAA, on their Intermediate County Championship success. It was a great occasion for the whole community. We were thrilled to see so many of our past pupils play in O’Moore Park last Saturday and the support from our children was fantastic.
The victorious team will visit the school on Friday 6th October with the cup and the children may wear their Ballylinan colours once again. Thank you to all at Ballylinan GAA for giving so generously of their time to instil a love for Gaelic Games in our children.

European Championship Success:
It was a very successful weekend on the sporting front. Ms. Kiernan, from our special education team, won Gold in the 400m relay event at the European Masters Athletics Championship in Italy. Congratulations Ms Kiernan, we are so proud of you.

Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny:
Fourth class will visit the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny on Tuesday 17th October for Barnstorm Theatre’s production of Noah Barley Water Runs Away. Cost is €12 per child payable via Aladdin please.

Sacraments:
Confirmation will take place on Wednesday 20th March at 11am, in St. Anne’s Church.
First Holy Communion will take place on Saturday 27th April at 11am, in St. Anne’s Church.

Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy:
5th & 6th class pupils and their parents / guardians are invited to the rescheduled open evening at 6:30pm this evening.

Cumann na mBunscol:
Our girls play in Stradbally on Thursday 5th at 12.15.
Our postponed home fixture v Ratheniska has been rescheduled for Friday 6th. Girls play at 11:00am and boys at 11:45am.
Once again, these fixtures are subject to change, often at short notice. Thank you for your understanding.

Permissions:
In the coming days you will be asked to give your consent for a range of school activities / scenarios. Permissions can be found on the home screen in the Aladdin App. If you have any difficulty accessing the app, please contact the school office.

An important reminder:
School starts each morning at 9:15am. Please note that the Board of Management provides supervision for pupils for ten minutes before school. Please do not leave your child at school before 9:05am.

Chicken Pox:
We have been advised of a case of chicken pox at the junior end of the school. Please be vigilant for signs / symptoms.

Thank you for your continued support of our school.

Ardscoil na Tríonóide -Athy: 5^th & 6^th class pupils and their parents / guardians are invited to an open evening on Wednesday 27^th September at 6:30pm. Principal’s address will take place during the evening.

Best wishes: Best wishes to both St. Brigid’s U12 teams who represent their club in the finals of the Heather Cowen Tournament on Sunday September 24th in Rathleague GAA. St Brigid’s play St. Conleth’s at 12pm in the division “C” final and face St. Conleth’s again at 2pm in the division “A” final.

Teacher Continual Professional Development: Teachers have recently completed CPD in the new UFLI and Heggerty phonics and phonological awareness programmes. These evidence-based programmes will inform our approach to phonics going forward and provides explicit, systematic, comprehensive instruction in all the phonics skills, including letter-sounds, phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, reading words from memory, and text reading. This will see a move from the more traditional spelling lists and Friday tests, in favour of equipping children with the skills to spell independently.

All Inclusive Junior Duathlon The National Primary and Post-Primary Schools Duathlon Championships are hosted by Athy Triathlon Club and take place in Narraghmore, Kildare on Sunday 1^st October. See www.athytriathlonclub.com for more details.

Ballylinan GAA: Best wishes to Ballylinan GAA as they take on Crettyard in the Intermediate County Final on Saturday 30^th September in O’Moore Park. To mark the occasion, children are invited to wear the Ballylinan colours (green & gold / yellow) to school on Friday 29^th. We are expecting photographers from local media outlets on the day. These photographers may take photos for publication in local newspapers or on their online platforms. If you have any concern about your child’s photo being used, please contact ahurley.ballylinan@gmail.com or call the school.

Cumann na mBunscol:

Tuesday 26^th: Our boy’s team play Ballyroan at 12:00pm at Ballylinan GAA.

Wednesday 27^th: Last week’s postponed fixture V Ratheniska has been rescheduled. Girls play at 12:00pm and boys at 12:45pm.

Please bear in mind that these fixtures are subject to change, often at short notice. Thank you for your understanding.

Smart Moves:  5^th and 6^th class are participating in the ISPCC Smart Moves programme. The programme aims to support the emotional resilience of children as they prepare to transition from primary to secondary school.

Healthy lunches: We encourage the eating of healthy lunches. Please do not send sweets, crisps (and similar snacks), chips, chocolate, fizzy or energy drinks to school please.

Homework: Homework will resume in the coming weeks. Throughout the year, we will explore various homework activities. We will also be seeking parental feedback periodically on how you feel that your child is engaging with these learning activities.

Ms. Kiernan: Good luck to one of our special education teachers Ms. Kiernan as she competes in the European Masters Athletics Championship in Italy next week. Go néirí and tádh leat.

Newsletter 15^th September 2023

Ploughing Championships: The National Ploughing Championships will take place in Ratheniska next week. Garda Traffic Management advises us that there will be a noticeable increase in traffic through Ballylinan. The school will open and close at the usual times. However please note that there are likely to be delays on the mornings of Tuesday 19^th, Wednesday 20^th and Thursday 21^st. We will be understanding and ask that you be patient; there is no need to rush to avoid being late.

Halloween Hike:  We plan to dress up for Halloween again this this year on the morning of Friday October 27th. Like last year, we plan to ‘hike’ from the school down to the village and will be issuing sponsorship cards soon. Details to follow.

Athy College: Parents and prospective students are invited to an open evening on Thursday 28^th September between 6pm and 8pm. Sixth class will also visit the school for their open day on the morning of Friday 29^th September.

St. Mary’s Knockbeg College: Open evening takes place on Friday September 29^th from 3:30 to 6:30. All interested students in 5^th or 6^th class are welcome to visit with their parents/guardians.

Parking:  Please remember that the drop-off area is only for that purpose in the mornings; if you wish to walk your child to their line, please park in a designated spot. Thank you for your cooperation.

Calendar: The 2023 / 2024 school calendar is available to view on the school website.

Work experience: We are thrilled to see that so many of our past pupils are interested in pursuing a career in education / childcare. We have had an unprecedented number of requests for transition year work experience. Unfortunately, we have not been able to accommodate all requests this year. Please bear in mind that students must be 16 years old and have Garda vetting to complete work experience in a primary school.

HSE: The HSE will visit the school on Monday and Tuesday 18^th & 19^th September to conduct eye sight and hearing tests for Junior and Senior infants. Please ensure that you have retuned your consent form. If you have any concerns about your child’s eyesight or hearing (and you child is not in junior or senior infants) please contact the school immediately and we can arrange to have your child included.

Cumann na mBunscol: Our teams began their 2023 Cumann na mBunscol journey in Abbeyleix on Tuesday. Both teams played with great spirit and represented themselves and our school very well. Winning was a bonus! Due to the heavy rainfall over night and a forecast for further rain, today’s matches have been postponed.

School Tracksuits: Tracksuits ordered during the summer are now available. Tracksuits will be given directly to your child as payments are received through Aladdin.

Mobile Phones: Mobile phones are not necessary for children during the day. In exceptional circumstances if they need to be brought for use after school, they must be turned off and handed to the class teacher in the morning.

Swimming:  Swimming begins next week. The schedule for the year is as follows. More details from class teachers in due course.

September / October: Ms Goff’s classes

November / December: Ms Lacey’s & Mr Sweeney’s classes

January / February: Ms Rainsford’s & Mr Curry’s classes

February / March: Ms Cunningham’s & Ms Maher’s classes

April / May: Ms Twomey’s & Mrs Donnelly’s classes