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Ploughing Traffic

As no doubt you are aware, the National and World Ploughing Championships will take place in Ratheniska next week. Garda Traffic Management advises us that there will be a noticeable increase in traffic through Ballylinan, though they do not expect as big an increase as on some other routes. Consequently, the plan is for our school to open and close at the usual times.

However please note that there are likely to be delays on the mornings of Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd. We will be understanding and ask that you be patient; there is no need to rush to avoid being late.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as always.

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Newsletter 31st August

Starting and Finishing Times
Welcome back to all our pupils and their families and in particular to our new pupils.
School starts in the mornings at 9:15 p.m.
(Junior Infants will start at 9:30 a.m. for the first two weeks.)
School finishes each day at 3 p.m. and 2 p.m. for Junior & Senior Infants.
(Junior Infants will finish at 12:30 p.m. for the first two weeks.)

Please note that the Board of Management provides supervision for pupils who have to wait in lines (at the rear of the school) for up to ten minutes before the school starting time, but not before then.

Parking
A reminder to parents that the junior playground is open for parking before 3 p.m. to facilitate collection. Please remember that the drop-off area is only for that purpose in the mornings; no parking in that area is allowed. Thank you for your cooperation.

School Uniform Reminder
Green jumper/cardigan, white shirt, grey trousers/skirt/pinafore.
School tracksuit is available through the school and is to be worn with a white polo shirt on P.E. days only. Replacement navy legs (plain only) may be purchased in any shop. In warm weather, plain navy shorts of an appropriate (knee) length may be worn. Grey, tailored knee-length shorts with the main uniform are also acceptable. Football shorts etc. are not acceptable. Please ensure your pupil’s name is on his/her jumper. We recommend practical footwear, preferably in a dark colour.
Click here for examples.

School Tracksuits
Tracksuits ordered during the summer are now due for collection. Tracksuits will be given as payments are received through Aladdin. If you have any queries please contact the school. PE days will be notified by the class teachers in due course. Thank you.

Book Rental/School Contribution (Costs)
Thanks to everyone who has paid. Through the book rental scheme we try hard to keep costs as low as possible. The school contribution pays for the services provided for your children such as materials for art/science, assessment tests, photocopying, 24 hour personal accident insurance, etc. As we have to pay many of these costs in advance we appreciate prompt payment. If you wish to discuss payment please contact the school in confidence. Thank you.

Book Grant
Families who qualify for the “Back to School Clothing Allowance” are also eligible for the book grant. Please let us know if this concerns you.

Healthy Lunches
We encourage the eating of healthy lunches. Please do not send sweets, crisps (and similar snacks), chocolate, fizzy or energy drinks to school please. We also ask you to be careful about the quantity of food as children may feel they need to finish everything but that is not always the case.

Nut Allergies
A number of children in the school have an allergic reaction to nuts. Since this condition can be life threatening, all teachers are asking for your help in minimising the risk to these children by:
1. Avoiding giving children nuts in school lunches;
2. Avoiding giving peanut butter sandwiches, other spreads containing nuts such as Nutella and other products labelled “may contain nut traces” in school lunches;
3. Asking children not to share their lunches.

Due to the severity of the problem, it is important that all parents carry out the suggested measures and reduce the risk of allergic reaction to these children.

Thank you very much for your co-operation.

School Calendar 2022/23

Covid
We await updated guidance from the Department of Education but for now the advice remains the same; please ensure that your child does not attend school if they are unwell or have Covid symptoms. We all fervently hope that we will have less disruption this year.

Homework
Homework will resume for pupils over the coming weeks.

The Coming Year
There is a special, happy atmosphere in our school that pupils, parents and school staff have all developed and nurtured over the years. Thank you as parents and guardians for playing your part and we really appreciate your continued support during the coming year.

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School Reopening

Welcome back to all our pupils and their families and in particular to our new pupils!

School will reopen for all pupils on Wednesday 31st August at 9:15 p.m.
(Junior Infants will start at 9:30 a.m. for the first two weeks.)

School finishes each day at 3 p.m. and 2 p.m. for Junior & Senior Infants.
(Junior Infants will finish at 12:30 p.m. for the first two weeks.)

(The Board of Management provides supervision for pupils who have to wait in lines outside for up to ten minutes before school starts, but not before then.)

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School Uniform

Green jumper/cardigan, white shirt, grey trousers/skirt/pinafore.

Our tracksuit is available through the school and is to be worn with a white polo shirt on P.E. days only. Replacement navy legs (plain only) may be purchased in any shop. In warm weather, plain navy shorts of an appropriate (knee) length may be worn. Grey, tailored knee-length shorts with the main uniform are also acceptable. Football shorts etc. are not acceptable. We recommend practical footwear, preferably in a dark colour.

The use of hair dye is not permitted during term time and we encourage pupils to tie up their hair. Earrings should be neat (no large loops etc.) and fake nails or nail extensions are not permitted. We discourage the wearing of other jewellery for health and safety reasons and because it can get lost or damaged.

Here are examples:

Standard Uniform:

Tracksuit:

Warm Weather:

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Newsletter 20th June

6th Class Graduation
Wednesday, 22nd June at 7:30 p.m. in the school.

Booklists, Classes etc.
This year’s school reports are available on Aladdin. Booklists for next year are listed at the top of the school homepage and will be available throughout the summer if needed, as will uniform details (see below).

Covid
Case numbers are rising again at the moment. Please be familiar with the latest public health advice  (click to view).
Keep your child at home if they:
have symptoms of COVID-19
have got a positive COVID-19 test result
have diarrhoea and are aged 12 or younger
Thank you for your continued cooperation.

School Uniform Reminder
Green jumper/cardigan, white shirt, grey trousers/skirt/pinafore.
School tracksuit is available through the school and is to be worn with a white polo shirt on P.E. days only. Replacement navy legs (plain only) may be purchased in any shop. In warm weather, plain navy shorts of an appropriate (knee) length may be worn. Grey, tailored knee-length shorts with the main uniform are also acceptable. Football shorts etc. are not acceptable. We recommend practical footwear, preferably in a dark colour. Here are examples:

Standard Uniform:

Tracksuit:

Warm Weather:

Superstars Summer Camp
Closing date for registration is Wednesday, 22nd June. Please note that we will be unable to accept registration after that date.

Summer Arrangements
Remember that school closes this Friday, 24th June for the summer holidays (12:15 for Infants and 12:30 for all others). We reopen for all pupils on Wednesday, 31st August. See our 2022/23 Calendar.

End of Year
Despite the increased freedom of the past couple of months, it has been a year again dominated by disruption due to Covid. Absences were much higher than normal and for much of the year we were still very restricted in how children (and staff) could mix in school. Thankfully restrictions have eased and we have been able to resume many of our more enjoyable activities. Let’s hope that future waves of the virus continue to become less disruptive as immunity due to prior infection and a high level of vaccination in the population help to counteract its worst effects.

As we approach the end of another year I would like to thank all those who help to keep the school running so well, including those who volunteer their time and efforts in many ways. I especially want to thank the staff for their hard work and for all the dedication and the exceptional care and attention that they give to your children.

There is a special, happy atmosphere in our school that pupils, parents and school staff have all developed and nurtured over the years. Thank you for playing your part and we really appreciate your continued support. I hope that during the summer all of you parents and caregivers find at least a little well-earned time for yourselves to rest and relax.

Thank you.

John Threadgold
Principal