Newsletter 10th September 2024

Newsletter 10th September 2024

Cumann na mBunscol: The football season begins with away matches against Ratheniska for both boy’s and girl’s teams tomorrow. There is a charge of €7 for the bus, payable via Aladdin please. A separate communication will issue to parents / guardians of players, later today.

Music Generation: We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Music Generation Laois this year. Juniors, Seniors and First class will take part in the Early Years Music Programme, with music specialist Kim Melia. This will involve weekly session beginning on Thursday of this week. Plans are in the pipeline to include some of our senior classes, later in the term. There is a small charge per pupil, which we hope to spread over two payments, details to follow.

Ploughing Traffic: As you know, 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 on the mornings of Tuesday 17th, Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th September. The school will open and close at the usual times. We will be understanding and ask that you be patient; there is no need to rush to avoid being late.

Parental feedback: Your feedback helps to shape future planning for our school. If you did not get the opportunity to complete our Parental Feedback Survey at the beginning of the Summer, you might like to do so now.

Flu Vaccination:  We are very fortunate to have Ballylinan Pharmacy come onboard to offer the Nasal Flu Vaccine to our pupils this winter. The vaccine is offered free of charge to all children who wish to avail of it. More details, including parental consent forms, will follow in due course.

Newsletter 2nd September 2024

Newsletter 2nd September 2024

Welcome back: Welcome back to all school community and especially to our new pupils.

Arrival time: School starts each morning at 9:15pm. Please note that the Board of Management provides supervision for pupils as they wait in line (at the rear of the school) from 9:05am, but not before then. On wet mornings, children can enter the school through the front door and are supervised in the sports hall from 9:05am.

Aladdin: Please check that we have the most up to date details for your child on Aladdin, including contact details, medical information etc. Please ensure that you have the most recent version of Aladdin installed on your phone and that you have notifications enabled. In the coming days, you will be asked to give your consent for a range of scenarios via the Aladdin App.

School Tracksuits: There was a slight delay with the delivery of our school tracksuits. These will be given directly to your child in the coming days. PE days will be notified by the class teachers in due course.

Lunches: You can continue to update your choice of school lunches via https://irishschoolmeals.ie/ using the login in details from the last school year. It is important to begin by choosing meals that you know your child will eat. You may provide a small healthy snack for morning break. NO NUTS PLEASE!

Invitations: We ask that you would not distribute party invitations at school. There is a new feature on Aladdin that allows you to share your contact details with the parents of children in your class. This may help you to arrange those all-important birthdays, playdates etc. Deatils on how to join the class list are availble in your Aladdin notifications.

Parents Association: Our school playground and basketball courts had a facelift over the holidays. Thank you to the wonderful team of parents who refreshed our basketball court markings, made and installed new backboards and nets and added playground games to our yard. Thank you also to our parents who welcomed our new parents with a cuppa on Wednesday morning.

Autism Class: Building work continues on the reconfiguration of our autism classroom. We anticipate that this will continue for a number of weeks.

Communication: Positive home school communication is vital. If you wish to speak to your child’s teacher, please call the school on 059 8625195 to arrange a meeting or phone call. Email is not the appropriate forum through which to raise or discuss concerns about your child.

Payments: Thank you to all who have paid the back-to-school expenses already. Payments can be made through Aladdin, by instalment if required.

Homework: There will be no formal homework for the month of September.

Free Book Scheme: The Free Book Scheme has been a positive development for our school. Please have a chat with your child about the importance of looking after their books so that books are in good condition for next years class.

School Lotto: The school lotto continues each Thursday. Your support is greatly appreciated. Sign up here.  

Recycling: Our Green School Committee continue to collect your cans and bottles. These are retuned for cash through the Deposit Return Scheme. We are currently saving towards the purchase of sensory equipment for our school.

Calendar: The calendar for 2024 / 2025 is availbel to view on our website. 

Newsletter 3rd May 2024

Newsletter 3rd May 2024

School Closure: The school reopens on Monday 13th May.

School Lotto: We are delighted to announce the launch of our school lotto. The monies raised through the lotto will go directly towards improving the school facilities and resources. We hope that the weekly option of just €2.50 for one line, or €5 for three lines, will allow everybody to contribute via the following link. It would be fantastic if you could invite aunties, uncles, grandparents etc to support our weekly School Lotto. They might just be a lucky winner. Thank you

 St. Abban’s Athletic Club Student Games: Congratulations and thank you, to all who represented our school at the St. Abban’s AC student games on Friday last.

First Holy Communion:  Congratulations to our second-class pupils who celebrated their First Holy Communion on Saturday morning. It was a really wonderful occasion. Thank you to Ms Cunningham & Mrs Moriarty for all their work in preparation for the day. Thank you also to Mrs Connolly and her wonderful choir who really added to the ceremony and to all who joined us on the day.

Classy Kidz: Classy Kids are now enrolling for September – there are a limited number of places available for ECCE. Call Ann 089 2161320

School Tours: It’s that time of year again and we are busy preparing for the end of year tours. The tour is always the highlight of the school year and eagerly anticipated by our pupils. We appreciate that this is an expensive time for families, particularly where there is more than one child in a family. It is no surprise that the increasing cost and limited availability of buses has had a knock-on effect on the cost of our tours. With this in mind, payments have been activated on Aladdin to afford you the opportunity to pay in instalments so as to spread the cost of tours over the coming weeks.

Headlice: There have been a number of reports of headlice in the junior classes. Please be vigilant.

Hurling / Camogie: Our 5th & 6th class boys and girls have enjoyed some hurling and camogie recently and have been fortunate to have some extra skills coaching with Frank and Peter.

Thank you for your support in all that we do. Enjoy the break!

Newsletter 22nd March 2024

Newsletter 22nd March 2024

Confirmation: Congratulations to the children from 6th class who celebrated their Confirmation yesterday. It was a wonderful occasion and a great honour to have Bishop Denis Nulty confirm our children. Thank you to all who played a part in preparing for our special day.

Hot School Meals: Each child should have received their login details and additional information ahead of the launch of our hot school meals programme when we return to school on April 8th. We are appealing to you to select your child’s preferred options for the week, through the website, as soon as possible and ideally by Friday 29th March. If you encounter any difficulties with ordering please contact Bradbury’s directly.

We don’t want any child to be without a lunch on our first day so please don’t forget to place your order. Children will still require a small healthy snack for little break and a drink.

This is a very positive development for our school community. We really appreciate your support in encouraging your children to try the various options available and to recognise the value of eating a healthy balanced diet.

SETU Carlow: Our children had very interesting visit from Andrew Keppel from South Eastern Technological University Carlow on Wednesday.  Andrew brought along a 3D printer and some very interesting and useful components that were designed and produced by the engineering team at SETU Carlow. Thank you, Andrew.

Congratulations: Huge congratulations to Ms. Kiernan, who won a bronze medal at the European Masters Indoor Championship in Torun, Poland this week. Ms Kiernan ran a personal best on the day and is an inspiration to all of us.

Parents Association: The next meeting of our Parents Association takes place on Monday April 8th at 7:30pm.

Easter break: School is closed from Monday 25th March and reopens on Monday 8th April.

Newsletter 11th March 2024

School Photos: County photos will return on Tuesday March 12th to facilitate the taking of photos of children who were absent previously. We also hope to take class photos on the day. Children must wear their school uniform.

 St. Patrick’s Day: Children will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with “Lá Glás” on Friday 15th March. Children are not required to wear school uniform but can wear something green on the day.

Autism Class: We are delighted to inform you that our school will open a special class for children with autism in September 2024. Children must have a diagnosis of autism and a recommendation to attend an autism class in a mainstream school to qualify for a place. An updated admissions notice outlining the timeline for applications will be published soon. If you have any queries, please contact the school.

Hot School Meals: The hot school meals programme is due to begin in early April. This is a free service to all children in our school and is funded by the Department of Social Protection. Parents / guardians will be provided with an individual login through which you can order from an extensive menu with Irish School Meals, based in Athy. Meals will be delivered to your child in school, each day. Children will still require a small healthy snack for little break and a drink. More details to follow.

Ballylinan GAA Oskars:  Best wishes to Ballylinan GAA as they embark on a major fundraising drive to fund a new walking track. There are two events that may be of interest:

  • Disco Party for primary school children, takes place at Ballylinan GAA Clubhouse on Friday 22nd March, 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Entry is €5 and there is a shop available on the night.
  • Easter Activity Camp takes place at Ballylinan GAA on Wednesday 3rd, Thursday 4th and Friday 5th April from 10am to 1pm for children aged 4 years to 12 years. Contact 085 7186406 or 087 9793317. Family rates apply: €50 for 1st child, €40 for 2nd child, €30 for 3rd child and 4th child is free.

Book Fair: Thank you for your incredible support of our book fair.

Peace Proms: Children from fourth, fifth and sixth class took part in the Peace Proms Concert in SETU Waterford on Saturday March 9th. What a fantastic event it proved to be. Sincere thanks and appreciation to the teachers who have worked so hard in preparing the children and thank you to all who travelled to Waterford on the day.

Confirmation: Children from 6th class will celebrate their Confirmation on Wednesday 20th March at 11am. School remains open as usual for all other classes.

Road safety: There have been some reports of dangerous / inappropriate behaviour as children make their way from school. Please remind your child(ren) to take care and to be mindful of other road users.

 School Closures:

Bank holiday: School is closed on Monday 18th March (bank holiday).

Easter break: School is closed from Monday 25th March and reopens on Monday 8th April. The break begins with a half day on Friday 22nd March. School closes at 12:20pm for infants and 12:30 for the rest of the school.

Congratulations: Well done to our 6th class quiz team who came an impressive fourth place in the Cumann na mbunscol quiz recently. Well done also, to all who took part in the FAI 5 aside soccer tournament recently, and in particular to the girls team who qualified for the next round.