St. Patrick's N.S., Ballylinan

OFFICIAL OPENING: 

Thanks to everyone involved in our big day last Thursday, June 12th. We were blessed with the beautiful day and we have many happy memories of a wonderful occasion. The school looked fantastic and thanks to all those who worked late into the night (nights!) leading up to Thursday. The school has certainly come alive in the 12 months we have been here. Photos of the day will be posted on the school website and if you have any photos you would like to share we would be delighted to receive them in digital form. Robert Redmond posted Margaret Brennan’s song on his facebook page and it looked and sounded great!

REPORTS:
Children’s end of year reports will be posted today (Wednesday). The pack will include –
1) Report
2) Voluntary contribution receipt
3) Book List for September
4) Information leaflet for parents regarding Micra T/Sigma T results.

CLASS ALLOCATION:
We are delighted that we will have an additional teacher joining us in September due to increased enrolment on September 30th 2013. This will have the effect of reducing class size.

Junior Infants                Mrs. M. Kavanagh
Jnr/Snr Infants             Ms. S. Twomey
Snr Infants/1st Class    Ms. M.E. Goff
1st Class                          Ms. F. Brennan
2nd Class                         Ms. C. Cotter (Deputy Principal)
3rd Class                          Ms. A. Brennan
3rd/4th Class                 Ms. L. Cunningham
4th Class                         Ms. E. Mulhare
5th Class                        Ms. E. Hayden
6th Class                        Mrs. P. Connolly

ILLNESS:
Best wishes to Mrs. Morris who was hospitalized recently and underwent surgery. We wish her a speedy recovery.

CHOIR TREAT:
Children who supported the choir at various ceremonies during the year were brought to Athy Swimming Pool today (Wednesday) as a small “thank you” for all their hard work.

HEATWAVE !
Children can wear shorts for the rest of the week (or as long as the good weather continues) with white or yellow t-shirt.

GREEN SCHOOLS:
We raised our “Green Flag” during a ceremony last Friday. Ms. Cotter thanked the committees for all their hard work and we are all very proud of this “outstanding achievement”.

MASS:
Saturday June 21st @ 7.30 – 6th Class
Sunday June 22nd @ 11.30 – 2nd Class
Please note the classes involved this weekend. Sunday is the Feast of Corpus Christi and the families of the children in 2nd class in particular are invited to attend.

COMMUNITY GAMES ART:
Congratulations to James Walsh (3rd) ; Loughlan Kelleher (4th); Christian King (4th); Karol Donoghue (3rd); Laura Walsh (1st), all who won prizes at the area art competition.

Uisce says “Don’t say no to saving H20”

 

SCHOOL REPORTS:
Reports will be posted home towards the end of next week. The envelope will include school report, book list and receipt for the weekly voluntary contribution.

VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION:
This is the last week for this years envelope. All contributions should be returned by Friday so that receipts can be issued.

LEAVING CERT/JUNIOR CERT:
Good luck to all our past pupils who are sitting exams at the moment. The finishing line must be coming into view for most students – enjoy the summer!

VISION/HEARING TESTS:
The H.S.E. will return on Friday to complete the testing for Senior Infants and 6th Class.

OFFICIAL OPENING – Thursday June 12th at 2 pm.
Bishop Denis Nulty will officially open our new school on Thursday.  Arrangements as follows –
* All classes remain in school until 3pm.
* The ceremony will start in the sports hall at 2pm and will end at 2.45 pm. The children will return to their classrooms with their teachers.
* Children can be collected from their classroom by their parents.
* All other children will be led to the usual exit points at 3pm.
* Only children accompanied by their parents will be allowed to stay back after 3pm.
* The school will remain open until 4.30 pm.
* Parents and visitors are welcome to visit the classrooms.
* There are a number of exhibitions at various locations – details inside the main door. These include photographs (not so old, old, and very old!) in Room 9 and 10; the building of the new school on the upstairs corridor; history of education in Ballylinan and old roll books in Room 2.
* Revisit the last 10 years of panto and graduation photographs in a number of classrooms (on interactive whiteboards).
* Refreshments (for adults) in the marquee at the rear of the school.
* Parking will be available from 1.30 pm. on the basketball courts at the rear of the school and visitors can enter the sports hall directly from there. Stewards will be on hand to help you.
* School Uniform for all (no track suits).

GREEN FLAG:
Our 3rd Green Flag (water) will be presented to the children by Marie Hickey, past-pupil and president elect of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. Marie has a long involvement with Ladies Football being a founder member of the Ballylinan Club in 1983. She has been an office holder at all levels of the association and was elected this year as National President. She attended Ballylinan N.S. from 1972 – 1980.

Uisce says “Don’t say no to saving H20”