The pupils from Room 10 (5th&6th Class) took part in a short prayer service to mark the fourth week of Advent. We lit the fourth candle on our Advent wreath.
Advent (Week 3)
The pupils from Room 1 (2nd Class) took part in a short prayer service to mark the third week of Advent. We lit the third candle on our Advent wreath.
Newsletter 15th December
Gaeilgeoirí na Seachtaine
Tá na páistí ag déanamh iarracht níos mó Gaeilge a úsáid i rith an lae. Féachaigí!
Covid Update
Thanks again to the children from 3rd – 6th Classes for their wearing of facemasks. We have had pupils either testing positive or being a close contact (typically of a family member) in the past week. We continue to be particularly grateful to parents who inform us of a positive case. Please continue to be vigilant, we really appreciate your support.
Flu Vaccine
The HSE is advising that your child can get the flu vaccine at your GP or pharmacy until the start of February 2022. It’s available as a nasal spray and there is no charge. If you’re interested, visit www.hse.ie/flu .
Admissions to Ballylinan N.S.
Please note that applications for the 2022/23 school year will be open from Thursday, 13th January to Friday, 4th February 2022. Further information on how to apply will be issued closer to the time. If you are aware of anyone who may wish to enrol a child for next year, please let them know these dates. Thank you.
Christmas Food Appeal
Many thanks to you all for your generous support of our recent food appeal and to Ms. Goff for organising.
Sending Books Home
As on previous occasions and as a precaution, we are planning to send home books this Friday. We DO NOT have any inside information; we expect to be open next week and also to reopen after the holidays but experience tells us – unfortunately – that it’s best to be prepared.
Christmas Panto
We are treating the pupils to a performance of the ‘Red Riding Hood’ (The Helix Panto Online) tomorrow (Thursday 16th December). We want to make it a special occasion. The children can wear their Christmas jumpers or something festive tomorrow and we’ll have some treats for them too!
Nollaig Shona
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody associated with the school – but especially you the parents – a very happy and peaceful Christmas. As always, we are aware of some especially difficult family circumstances and will be keeping you in our prayers.
The school will close for the Christmas holidays at 12:15 for Infants and 12:30 for all others on Wednesday next, 22nd December. The children don’t have to wear their uniform on that day; they may wear something festive if they wish. We are scheduled to re-open on Thursday, 6th January 2022. Other planned closures are detailed on the school website.
Thank you all for your support as always. Nollaig shona daoibh go léir.
John Threadgold
Principal
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Dear Parents,
We really appreciate your continued cooperation, we couldn’t have the school open without your following of public health advice.
We want our school to stay open and we want families to have a Christmas that is not spoiled by the virus. We know how difficult this is for you and how busy it is at this time of the year. We really need your continued help to keep disruption to a minimum. Schools near Ballylinan have had dozens of pupils testing positive in the past couple of weeks.
There are quite a number of (particularly younger) pupils in school with coughs and other symptoms. Some of them are just generally unwell and miserable and shouldn’t really be in school even under normal circumstances. Public health advice is clear; a child with symptoms should not be in school. Please read the following carefully:
If your child has any symptoms of COVID-19
- Keep them at home
- Get a PCR test (NOT an antigen test if showing symptoms)
The most common symptoms are:
- fever (high temperature of 38 degrees or more)
- dry cough
- fatigue (tiredness)
Less common symptoms include:
loss or changed sense of taste or smell
blocked nose
conjunctivitis (red or pink eye)
sore throat
headache
muscle or joint pain (aches and pains)
skin rash
nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
chills or dizziness
If your child gets a negative COVID-19 test result and has not had any new symptoms for 48 hours they can return to school. Your cooperation does make a real difference and all of the children – and their families – benefit as a result.
Thank you all.
John Threadgold
Principal
Advent (Week 2)
The pupils from Room 2 (2nd Class) took part in a short prayer service to mark the second week of Advent. We lit the second candle on our Advent wreath.
