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Newsletter 24th November 2023

Newsletter 24th November

Cumann na mBunscol Final: Congratulations to our boys team who were victorious in their Shield Final V The Heath in O’Moore Park yesterday. The boys represented our school exceptionally, both on and off the field. Well done boys, we are very proud of you.

Thank you to our football coaches Mrs Donnelly, Ms Lacey, Mr Sweeney & Mr Curry and to all the teachers “back at base” who go over and above to facilitate our participation in Cuman ns mBunscol. Thank you also to Ballylinan GAA, who work with many of our players throughout the year at club level. Finally, thank you to all the supporters who travelled to O’Moore Park yesterday. Your presence was greatly appreciated.

Nut Allergies: Please be mindful that we have children with serious allergies to nuts in our school. We ask you as parents and guardians to be particularly vigilant and please do not send nuts of any kind to school.

Parent Association AGM: Thank you to all who attended Monday’s AGM. It is fantastic to see so many of you interested in strengthening the relationship between home and school. Thank you to Mary McCann who has accepted the role of chairperson for the year ahead. Eva Julian will take on the role of secretary and Alison Walsh and Sarah Owens will share the role of treasurer.

Ballylinan National School Christmas Food Appeal: Our Annual Food Appeal takes place next week on Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th November.

We completely understand the pressure on families at this time of year. If you are in a position to contribute, we would ask you to choose from the food items listed below. We would particularly like to see the children themselves contributing towards the appeal. This could be achieved through the use of pocket money or by helping to choose or shop for the items.

This year, our donations will be used by the transition year students in Ardscoil na Tríonóide in Athy, in conjunction with St Vincent de Paul, to make hampers for families in need, in the Athy and surrounding areas.

If you or a family you know would benefit from a hamper this year, please contact your local St Vincent de Paul branch or Ms Goff – maryegoff.ballylinan@gmail.com in confidence.

Junior & Senior Infants: Pasta/Noodles/Rice

First & Second Class: Biscuits /Teabags/Coffee

Third & Fourth Class: Tinned food eg beans/peas/soup

Fifth & Sixth Class: Cereals/Porridge/Treats – selection boxes/boxes of sweets

Thank you for your continued support of our school.

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Newsletter 15th November

Newsletter 15th November

Peace Proms: 4th, 5th and 6th classes travel to SETU in Waterford tomorrow, Thursday to participate in the Peace Proms workshop. Buses depart the school at 10am and estimated return time is 4:15pm. Classes have been busy practising all week and we’re really looking forward to the concert in March.

Board of Management: Thanks to so many of you who took the time to nominate and vote for candidates in our recent BOM elections. Thank you to all the parents who agreed to go forward, it is fantastic to have so many willing to give their time in support of our school. Aisling Kelly and PJ Leonard were successful on this occasion.

Chicken Pox: We have been advised of two cases of Chicken Pox in the junior end of the school. Please be vigilant.

Parent / Teacher Meetings: Will take place on the afternoons of Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd November. Parents / guardians who have not yet booked their slot are asked to do as soon as possible via the Aladdin App.

Cumann na mBunscol: Our boys team play their Shield Final V The Heath at 3pm on Thursday 23rd November at O’Moore Park. More details to follow.

Parent Association AGM: Will take place at 7:30pm on Monday November 20th. I am a firm believer in the importance of building positive relationships between school and home and the Parent Association is the ideal structure through which we can achieve this. I appreciate how busy family life can be but I encourage all families to consider attending this meeting and I look forward to seeing you there.

Christmas Carol Service:  Our school Christmas Carol Service will take place on Tuesday 12th December at St Anne’s Church Ballylinan. Children from Junior and Senior infants will also take part this year. There will be no Junior and Senior Infant Nativity Performance this year. It will take place every second year moving forward. More details on the Carol Service to follow.

Thank you for your continued support of our school.

 

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Newsletter 11th October 2023

Peace Proms: 4th, 5th and 6th classes have been offered the opportunity to take part in the 2024 Peace Proms. The programme includes the learning of songs and medleys in school, attendance at a regional workshop hosted by renowned conductor Greg Beardsell and performance at the Peace Proms Concert in SETU Waterford on Saturday 9th March 2024. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to nurture a love for music and the arts in our children and to sing alongside a real orchestra.   We hope to participate in Peace Proms on a cyclical basis so that each child will have this opportunity at some point in their primary school education.

Permissions: Please check your Aladdin App for permission requests that require your attention.

Outstanding Payments: Thank you to those who have paid their school contribution already. Prompt payment of outstanding balances would be appreciated. It is perfectly acceptable to pay in instalments via the Aladdin App.

 Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny: Reminder: Fourth class will visit the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny on Tuesday 17th October. Cost per child is €12 per child payable via Aladdin please.

Halloween Hike: Our Sponsored Halloween Hike will take place on Friday 27th October. Weather permitting, we will leave the school at 10am. We will hike in our Halloween costumes from the school to the village and back again.  We are sending home one sponsorship card per family and appreciate any contribution that you can make. Please return by Wednesday 25th October.

 Headlice: We have been advised of two cases of headlice at the junior end of the school. Please be vigilant.

Cumann na mBunscol: Despite the weather conditions, both our teams were deserving winners today. Well done!

Parent / Teacher Meetings: Meetings will take place on the afternoons of Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th November. Parents / guardians can book their slot via the Aladdin App. You will be notified once the booking system opens.

Thank you for your continued support of our school.

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Newsletter 4th October 2023

Ballylinan GAA:
Huge congratulations to Ballylinan GAA, on their Intermediate County Championship success. It was a great occasion for the whole community. We were thrilled to see so many of our past pupils play in O’Moore Park last Saturday and the support from our children was fantastic.
The victorious team will visit the school on Friday 6th October with the cup and the children may wear their Ballylinan colours once again. Thank you to all at Ballylinan GAA for giving so generously of their time to instil a love for Gaelic Games in our children.

European Championship Success:
It was a very successful weekend on the sporting front. Ms. Kiernan, from our special education team, won Gold in the 400m relay event at the European Masters Athletics Championship in Italy. Congratulations Ms Kiernan, we are so proud of you.

Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny:
Fourth class will visit the Watergate Theatre in Kilkenny on Tuesday 17th October for Barnstorm Theatre’s production of Noah Barley Water Runs Away. Cost is €12 per child payable via Aladdin please.

Sacraments:
Confirmation will take place on Wednesday 20th March at 11am, in St. Anne’s Church.
First Holy Communion will take place on Saturday 27th April at 11am, in St. Anne’s Church.

Ardscoil na Tríonóide, Athy:
5th & 6th class pupils and their parents / guardians are invited to the rescheduled open evening at 6:30pm this evening.

Cumann na mBunscol:
Our girls play in Stradbally on Thursday 5th at 12.15.
Our postponed home fixture v Ratheniska has been rescheduled for Friday 6th. Girls play at 11:00am and boys at 11:45am.
Once again, these fixtures are subject to change, often at short notice. Thank you for your understanding.

Permissions:
In the coming days you will be asked to give your consent for a range of school activities / scenarios. Permissions can be found on the home screen in the Aladdin App. If you have any difficulty accessing the app, please contact the school office.

An important reminder:
School starts each morning at 9:15am. Please note that the Board of Management provides supervision for pupils for ten minutes before school. Please do not leave your child at school before 9:05am.

Chicken Pox:
We have been advised of a case of chicken pox at the junior end of the school. Please be vigilant for signs / symptoms.

Thank you for your continued support of our school.

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Newsletter 22nd September 2023

Ardscoil na Tríonóide -Athy: 5th & 6th class pupils and their parents / guardians are invited to an open evening on Wednesday 27th September at 6:30pm. Principal’s address will take place during the evening.

Best wishes: Best wishes to both St. Brigid’s U12 teams who represent their club in the finals of the Heather Cowen Tournament on Sunday September 24th in Rathleague GAA. St Brigid’s play St. Conleth’s at 12pm in the division “C” final and face St. Conleth’s again at 2pm in the division “A” final.

Teacher Continual Professional Development: Teachers have recently completed CPD in the new UFLI and Heggerty phonics and phonological awareness programmes. These evidence-based programmes will inform our approach to phonics going forward and provides explicit, systematic, comprehensive instruction in all the phonics skills, including letter-sounds, phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, reading words from memory, and text reading. This will see a move from the more traditional spelling lists and Friday tests, in favour of equipping children with the skills to spell independently.

All Inclusive Junior Duathlon The National Primary and Post-Primary Schools Duathlon Championships are hosted by Athy Triathlon Club and take place in Narraghmore, Kildare on Sunday 1st October. See www.athytriathlonclub.com for more details.

Ballylinan GAA: Best wishes to Ballylinan GAA as they take on Crettyard in the Intermediate County Final on Saturday 30th September in O’Moore Park. To mark the occasion, children are invited to wear the Ballylinan colours (green & gold / yellow) to school on Friday 29th. We are expecting photographers from local media outlets on the day. These photographers may take photos for publication in local newspapers or on their online platforms. If you have any concern about your child’s photo being used, please contact ahurley.ballylinan@gmail.com or call the school.

Cumann na mBunscol:

Tuesday 26th: Our boy’s team play Ballyroan at 12:00pm at Ballylinan GAA.

Wednesday 27th: Last week’s postponed fixture V Ratheniska has been rescheduled. Girls play at 12:00pm and boys at 12:45pm.

Please bear in mind that these fixtures are subject to change, often at short notice. Thank you for your understanding.

Smart Moves:  5th and 6th class are participating in the ISPCC Smart Moves programme. The programme aims to support the emotional resilience of children as they prepare to transition from primary to secondary school.

Healthy lunches: We encourage the eating of healthy lunches. Please do not send sweets, crisps (and similar snacks), chips, chocolate, fizzy or energy drinks to school please.

Homework: Homework will resume in the coming weeks. Throughout the year, we will explore various homework activities. We will also be seeking parental feedback periodically on how you feel that your child is engaging with these learning activities.

Ms. Kiernan: Good luck to one of our special education teachers Ms. Kiernan as she competes in the European Masters Athletics Championship in Italy next week. Go néirí and tádh leat.