Child Safeguarding Statement
Newsletter 12th March 2018
 Confirmation Postponement
As you know by now we had to postpone the Confirmation until Saturday, 21st April. We apologise again for any inconvenience caused and sincerely hope we won’t be affected by exceptional weather again! Choir members please note change of date.
 Quiz Season
Well done to all those competing in the various quizzes recently; some very good performances and lots of fun had. No silverware as yet though! The final of the St. Abban’s quiz will be held this Wednesday night (14th).
Enrolment 2018/19
Last call for next year. If you have not returned the form you received, please do so immediately. Thank you.
Vision & Hearing Checks
These are being held today (Monday 12th March) for Junior and Senior Infants.
FAI 5-a-side Soccer
6th Class will be providing the teams for the FAI blitz this Wednesday 14th in Portlaoise.
 Zim Day (Friday 16th March)
Our Annual Fr. O’Shea appeal for Zimbabwe will be held on Friday 16th March. As in other years the day will consist of cake and jumble sales and will conclude with a monster raffle. Tickets for the raffle will go on sale for the children to buy on Monday 12th March. They will cost 50c each. We are asking for toys, books and games that your children no longer use but that other children might like and be anxious to buy. These can be brought to the school from Monday 12th March. We are also calling on all the bakers and bun makers in Ballylinan to bake for us. These goodies and treats are always in great demand. We know that we can depend on your support and that our cake stall will be very well stocked. The money raised from Zim Day will be donated to the Franciscan Missionary Union and will be used to help the children attending Assisi High School, Nharira, Chivhu, Zimbabwe, providing resources for their educational needs.
 School Closures
School closed next Monday 19th March for St. Patrick’s weekend. Remember school closes at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, 23rd March for the Easter holidays.
Ballylinan Community Alert
Ballylinan Community Alert would like to invite you to our AGM in St. Anne’s Hall, Ballylinan on Tuesday, 20th March at 8 p.m.
We have 80 members at present and welcome everybody from our village and surrounding areas to register on the night.Â
Aims
To improve the quality of life through:
Reducing opportunities for crimes to occur;
Encouraging neighbourliness and self-reliance;
Promoting accident prevention and personal safety.
Members of An Garda SÃochána will be in attendance at the meeting.
Girls Gaelic Football
Girls football is starting again for the new season 2018.
Tuesday 13th March in Ballylinan GAA from 6 to 7 p.m.
Indoor for Under 8 and Under 10 girls (bring runners)
Outdoors for Under 12 girls
Gumshields must be worn.
All new members welcome!
Board of Management Report
Agreed Report
- A meeting of the Board of Management of St. Patrick’s N.S., Ballylinan was held in the school on Wednesday, 31st January, 2018.
- A response was agreed to the recent WSE report as follows:
Observations on the content of the inspection report
The Board of Management welcomes the many positive findings contained in the report. It notes in particular the positive learning atmosphere that exists for pupils and the very high levels of satisfaction with the school among parents and teachers.
Follow-up actions planned or undertaken since the completion of the inspection activity to implement the findings and recommendations of the inspection.
The Board accepts the recommendations and has already begun work on prioritising them for implementation. - Maintenance / Property
Additional security lighting has been installed.
The school lift was recently inspected and approved by Allianz. - Enrolment
There were 277 pupils enrolled on 30th September 2017. Â 281 pupils are needed to retain the current teaching allocation though this may change due to the upcoming reduction in the pupil/teacher ratio. - Staffing
Congratulations to Ms. Bronwen Kiernan on the recent birth of her son. Ms. Saragh Buggy will replace her until the end of this school year. - Curriculum
The Aistear programme for infants will shortly get under way.
The introduction of the ‘Literacy Lift Off’ programme is a priority for the coming school year.
The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for 15th March 2018.
School Open on Monday
School will reopen as normal on Monday, 5th March.