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Newsletter 14th December 2023

Christmas Carol Service: Well done to all the children who took part in our Carol Service on Tuesday night. It was a beautiful occasion. Thank you to our Parents Association for their help on the night.

Christmas Holidays: The school will close for the Christmas holidays on Friday 22nd 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. The school reopens on Monday 8TH January. Don’t forget that our school calendar is available to view on www.ballylinannationalschool.com all year round.

Christmas Eve Mass Ballylinan 7pm: If children would like to take part in this year’s Christmas Eve Mass, please text your child’s name and age to Margaret Brennan on 086 3254931. Practice will be on Friday 22nd December at 6:30pm. Names must be in by 5pm on the day before the practice.

 Enrolment 2024/2025: Please note that applications for the 24/25 school year will be open from Thursday, 11th January until Friday, 9th February 2024. Further information on how to apply will be issued in due course. If you are aware of anyone who may wish to enrol a child for next year, please let them know these dates. Thank you.

Anti Bullying Week: Our Anti Bullying Week begins on January 8th.  During this week, we aim to empower children to understand their own behaviour, to recognise bullying, to develop an awareness of online safety risks and to be confident in how to report and seek support when they need it.

Pupils from 4th, 5th and 6th will take part in the FUSE Anti-Bullying and Online Safety Programme, supported by the Department of Education and referenced in the Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying. FUSE is a research-based Anti-Bullying and Online Safety Programme developed by DCU Anti-Bullying Centre. More details to follow…

 Board of Management: Our newly formed Board of Management has begun its term of office. After each meeting an “Agreed Report” of items discussed or decisions made will be published on the school website. You can view details of the most recent meeting in the Board of Management section of the site.

Thank you: As I come to the end of my first “100 days” as principal, may I take this opportunity to thank you our parents and guardians for your support and good wishes during this period. Every day is a school day in this job, but wonderful children, fantastic staff and a supportive parent body ensure that every day is both rewarding and enjoyable.

Merry Christmas: Finally, on behalf of all the team at Ballylinan NS, may I wish you and yours a very Happy Christmas and New Year.

 

щасливого Різдва     Wesołych Świąt     聖誕節快樂    Nollaig Shona

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Newsletter 4th December 2023

Newsletter 4th 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, 12th 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 5th 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 6th 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 11th and Tuesday 12th 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 22nd 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.