Category: News

Junior Infants 2024: Applications to enrol will be accepted until Friday, 9th of February 2024. Please complete this form if you wish to enrol your child for the 2024/2025 school year. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school.

Catholic Schools Week: Thank you to all who attended our Grandparents Mass and thank you to our Parents Association for providing refreshments afterwards.

School Vaccination Programme: The school immunisation team will visit on Monday 12^th February for junior infants. A parent / guardian must accompany your child at your allocated time.

Referendum: School will be closed on Friday March 8^th to facilitate the Referendum on the Thirty-Ninth and Fortieth Amendment of the Constitution.

Travelling Book Fair: The Celtic Travelling Book Fair returns to the school from Wednesday 28^th February to Wednesday 6^th March. The fair will open from 1:45 to 2:15 and from 2:45 to 3:15 every day. Please follow the link for a sample of some of the books available to purchase. The school receives up to 60% commission on books sold which is in turn used to purchase new books for our class libraries.

World Bok Day: World Book Day, takes place on Thursday 7^th March. Children are invited to dress up as a character from their favourite book on the day.

School Photos: Our Parents Association have arranged to have school photographers County Photos visit the school on Thursday 22^nd of February. Children will be photographed on the day (with siblings where applicable). Parents will be issued with a pack containing proofs and a range of package options to choose from. County Photos come highly recommended, however, there is no obligation to purchase.

Hurling & Camogie: We are delighted to have entered a hurling and camogie team in Laois Cumann na mBunscol this year. This is another fantastic opportunity to help our children develop a love for Gaelic Games.

Ceremony of light: The Ceremony of Light for our Confirmation children takes place on Tuesday 6^th February at 7:30pm in St. Anne’s Church, Ballylinan. This is a combined ceremony for all schools in the Parish. Children are asked to bring their Baptismal Candle on the night.

Cross Country: Students from 5^th & 6^th class participated in the Co. Carlow Schools Cross Country event last week. For many of our children it was their very first experience of an athletics event and an enjoyable day was had by all. Congratulations to Jake Kelly who came fourth in a field of over 100 runners. Our next outing will see 5^th and 6^th class take part in the Laois Cumann na mBunscol Cross Country Event, on Wednesday 28^th February in Portlaoise.

Parents Association:The next meeting of the Parents Association takes place of February 19^th, at 7:30pm in the school.

Junior Achievement: Ms. Cunningham’s and Mrs. Moriarty’s second class will participate in the Junior Achievement Programme through February and March. The programme explores the community we live in and the work we do and is presented by Karen Duffy in co-operation with her employer MSD Carlow.

Classy Kids Pre School Ballylinan: Classy Kids have been in touch to say that registration is now open for September. Contact Anne on 0892161320.

School closures this term:

February 5^th: Bank Holiday

February 15^th & 16^th: Mid Term Break

March 4^th: Teacher in service.

March 8^th: Referendum

March 18^th: Bank holiday

March 25^th to April 5^th: Easter Break

 

Thank you for your continued support of our school.

Happy New Year!

Junior Infants 2024:  Applications to enrol will be accepted until Friday, 9th of February 2024. Please complete this form if you wish to enrol your child for the 2024/2025 school year. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school.

Anti Bullying Week: Our Wellbeing Committee had been busy assisting teachers in arranging activities as we celebrated Anti Bullying Week.

During this week, we aimed 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.

There was a specific focus on kindness this week, we  played co-operative games in the hall and our senior classes participated in the Fuse Antibullying Programme.

Catholic Schools Week: Catholic Schools Week will take place from Sunday 21^st to Saturday 27^th January 2024. The theme this year is Catholic Schools as Communities of Service.

Grandparents Mass: Our annual Grandparents Mass will take place on Thursday 25^th January at St. Anne’s Church Ballylinan at 12:30pm. It is a wonderful occasion to mark Catholic School’s Week and an opportunity to celebrate the gift of Grandparents. Grandparents / Parents / Guardians are welcome to attend Mass and to join us for a cuppa and a look around the school afterwards. More details to follow. 

Maths Curriculum Day: The school will close on Monday 4^th March to facilitate teachers’ attendance at a professional learning day to introduce the new Primary Maths Curriculum.

Entrance exams: We have been advised that Entrance Assessments for Carlow Town schools will take place on Friday 1st March 2024. Each school will communicate details with their own incoming students.

Christmas Food Appeal: Ber McEvoy, St. Vincent de Paul, Athy, wrote to us this week to convey her appreciation for your kindness and generosity during our recent food appeal.

 Swimming: Timetable for the remainder of the year

10th January – Ms. Hogan & Mr. Curry

28th February – Ms. Cunningham & Mrs. Moriarty

23rd April – Ms. Twomey

24th April – Mrs. Donnelly

Parents Association: The Parent’s Association will meet this evening, Monday 15^th January at 7:30pm.

Travelling Book Fair: The Celtic Travelling Book Fair returns to the school from Wednesday 28^th February to Wednesday 6^th March. More details to follow.

School closures this term:

February 5^th: Bank Holiday

February 15^th & 16^th: Mid Term Break

March 4^th: Teacher in service.

March 18^th: Bank holiday

March 25^th to April 5^th: Easter Break

 

Thank you for your continued support of our school.

 

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