Category: News

Christmas Carol Service
Pupils from 1st – 6th Classes will be taking part in a Carol Service in Ballylinan Church on the night of Wednesday, 14th of December. Due to the numbers involved, we have divided the children into two groups on the night. The service will take place at 7 and again at 8 p.m. We have allocated 4 tickets per family and there will be a charge of €3 per ticket. Payments may be made via the Aladdin app from this Wednesday 7th December. Thank you. You are most welcome to come and join us for just a few prayerful moments to focus on what’s most important at Christmas.

Wriggly Nativity
Junior & Senior Infants and 1st Class will be taking part in the ‘Wriggly Nativity’ on Friday week (16th December) at 12:30 in the Dunne/Sourke hall in the school. There will not be any tickets for this event and all are welcome.

Ballylinan N.S. Christmas Food Appeal
We are trying to help in a small way by having our food appeal this week on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th December. If you – or a family you know – would benefit from a hamper this year, please contact Ms. Goff: maryegoff.ballylinan@gmail.com. Please be advised that any enquiry will be handled discreetly and in the strictest confidence. Click to read more details.

Online Presence
We are also reviewing our online presence with a view to better communicate what goes on in the life of the school. We are considering using a social media platform such as Instagram etc. If you would like to comment or make suggestions, all views are welcome at feedback.ballylinan@gmail.com . Thank you.

Admissions to Ballylinan N.S. 2023/24
Please note that applications for the 23/24 school year will be open from Thursday, 5th January until Friday, 3rd February 2023. 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.

Public Health Update
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are:
fever (temperature of 38 degrees or more), including having chills
dry cough
fatigue (tiredness)

Your child may not have all of these symptoms, they may vary. S/he may go to school with a runny nose or sneezing as long as they:
have no other symptoms
do not have a fever
are otherwise well

but if your child has a runny nose and feels unwell or is off form, they should stay at home. Thank you for your cooperation.

Advent Friends
As in previous years, each child in the school has been 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. No cards or gifts are required; the pupils will make cards in school.

Christmas Holidays
The school will close for the Christmas holidays at 12:15 for Infants and 12:30 for all others on Wednesday, 21st December.

Thank you for your support as always.

Halloween Hike
It was great to see parents on our recent hike! Thankfully the weather was kind on the day and a great time was had by all. There were some wonderful homemade costumes! A total of €3,680.80 was raised. Thank you all very much for your wonderful support as always.

Online Presence
We are also reviewing our online presence with a view to better communicate what goes on in the life of the school. If you would like to comment or make suggestions, all views are welcome at feedback.ballylinan@gmail.com . Thank you.

First Communion 2023
There will be a meeting for all 1st Communion Parents on Wednesday, 16th November in Arles Parish Hall at 7.30pm. (First Communion will take place on Saturday 13th May at 11 o’clock. First confession will be on Tuesday 24th January at 7:30 p.m.)

Gaeilge
Táimid ag déanamh iarracht níos mó Gaeilge a úsáid i rith an lae. We’re trying to use a little more Irish during the day. Déanann na páistí sár-iarracht ar scoil. The children make a great effort at school. Why not have a go at a cúpla focal at home? Bainigí triail as! Or try even one word – sláinte – which means health. Instead of using “cheers’ etc., why not use our Irish word “sláinte“? In a toast, it means “good health to you.”

School Rules
We are reviewing our school rules with the aim of making them simpler and clearer. Here are our draft rules:
1. We are kind and helpful
2. We are honest
3. We are gentle
4. We work hard
5. We listen
6. We look after property
You are welcome to comment at feedback.ballylinan@gmail.com . Thanks again.

Parent-Teacher Meetings
These will take place on the afternoons of Tuesday 22nd and Thursday 24th of November. More details to follow shortly.

Inservice
As mentioned before Halloween, teachers are required to undertake inservice on the revised primary language curriculum. The next session will be next Monday afternoon (14th November). School will finish for all pupils at 12:30 (12:15 for infants) on the day.

First Communion 2023
First Communion will take place on Saturday 13th May at 11 o’clock. First confession will be on Tuesday 24th January at 7:30 p.m. There will be a meeting for parents in mid-November in the school, details to follow once confirmed by Arles parish.

Confirmation 2023
Confirmation will be on Saturday 25th March at 11 o’clock. Ceremony of light will be on Tuesday, 7th February at 7:30 p.m.

Cumann na mBunscol
Well done to our boys and girls teams who will compete in the Roinn 2 Shield semi-finals tomorrow (Tuesday 25th) at the Laois Centre of Excellence. Girls v. The Rock at 10 a.m. and Boys v. Emo at 12 o’clock. Go n-éirí libh go léir!

School Rules
We are reviewing our school rules with the aim of making them simpler while keeping them positive. Here are the ones we have been working on:
1. We are kind and helpful
2. We are honest
3. We are gentle
4. We work hard
5. We listen
6. We look after property
If you would like to comment please do so at feedback.ballylinan@gmail.com . Thank you.

Online Presence
We are also reviewing our online presence with a view to better communicate what goes on in the life of the school. If you would like to comment or make suggestions, please do so at feedback.ballylinan@gmail.com . Thanks again.

Meeting for Parents
Thanks to those who attended last week’s meeting. The next step will be the AGM of the Parents Association which will take place in November, details to follow.

Amber Flag
This year we will be engaging in activities as we work towards an Amber Flag. The Amber Flag initiative recognises the efforts of schools, community groups and clubs to create healthy, inclusive environments that support mental well-being. Details to follow throughout the year.

Christmas Carol Service
We are planning to hold a carol service this year (on Wednesday, 14th December) in Ballylinan church for the first time since 2019. We all know what happened in the meantime! Our infant classes will hold a nativity play in the school around that time, details to follow.

Halloween Hike
We will combine fun for the children with some fundraising on Friday morning. Fingers crossed that the rain stays away. We will hike in our costumes from the school to the village and back again. As our voluntary collection has been paused since the start of the pandemic, we are asking you to sponsor your child/ren. We are sending home one card per family and appreciate any contribution that you can make. Please return as soon as possible. We do aim to return to voluntary contributions in electronic format at some stage. Thank you all again for your support.

Halloween Break
Teachers are required to undertake inservice on the revised primary language curriculum. This will take place this Friday afternoon (28th October). School will finish for all pupils at 12:30 (12:15 for infants) on the day. School reopens on Monday, 7th November.