Category: Newsletters

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”

 

VISION/HEARING TESTS –
(Senior Infants/6th Class – Fri June 6th):
Please return signed forms by tomorrow (Friday).

OFFICIAL OPENING:
A reminder that Bishop Denis Nulty will officially open our new school next Thursday, June 12th at 2 pm.  All children will remain in school until 3 pm. on that day.  Full arrangements available next week.

OVERFLOW PARKING:
Extra parking in the “Junior Play Area” will be available to parents on days when all the children leave the school at the same time (e.g. holiday closings or special occasions).

6TH CLASS GRADUATION: –
Thursday June 26th at 7.30 pm.  More details to follow.

PARENTS COUNCIL NEWS:
A section of the notice board at the main entrance will be reserved for news updates.

RE-OPENING:
The school will re-open after the summer holidays on Thursday August 28th.

 

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

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION:
Our best wishes go to the children in 2nd Class who will receive the sacrament on Sunday next, May 18th at 11.30 a.m. in St. Anne’s Church. We hope the weather will be kind to us!
* CHOIR: Children from 4th, 5th and 6th classes will make up the choir on Sunday and should be in the church at 11.20 a.m.
NEW INFANTS:
An orientation meeting will be held at the school on Thursday, June 5th at 2.15 pm for parents of junior infants starting school in September. This meeting is for parents only.
* A further meeting for parents and children will be held on Tuesday, June 17th at 1.30 pm.

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

 

 

ANTI-BULLYING POLICY: A draft of our updated policy has been posted on the school website. Comments or observations can be emailed to ballylinan1@yahoo.ie.

SWIMMING: Well done to our Junior Infants in Mrs. Kavanagh’s class who started swimming lessons in Athy yesterday (Wednesday). It was a great success all round and an ideal opportunity to develop the children’s confidence and independence.
* Ms. Twomey’s class will travel to Portlaoise Swimming Pool tomorrow (Friday).

HEALTH SURVEY: N.U.I. Galway are carrying out a Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey and children in 3rd – 6th class have been invited to participate. Parents will receive an information pack which includes a consent form. We feel it will be a good experience for the children to take part, so we presume that you give your consent unless you inform us otherwise. There is no need to return the consent form.

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