Category: Newsletters

Visual Arts
Over the coming weeks the children will learn all about the life and works of the French artist Claude Monet. Keep an eye out for some examples of creations inspired by his work!

Music
Music with Imelda Andrews is ongoing from Junior Infants – 4^th Class. The pupils are enjoying it and learning lots. Did you know that the human body can be a musical instrument?

Enrolment 2020/21
Enrolments are now completed. If you know of anyone who may have neglected to enrol their child, please ask them to contact the school immediately. Thank you.

Are you a Parent or Carer of a Child with a Diagnosis of ADHD?
Anna Berry, Trainee Clinical Psychologist would like to invite you to participate in an 8-week mindfulness based stress reduction course, as part of a research study. Venue: Treo Nua Family Resource Centre, Portlaoise.
For more information contact Anna Berry at anna.ni-bheara@ucdconnect.ie or 085-127-2623

Virus Update
In school, your child is being reminded:

• How to cough or sneeze into tissues or elbow
• To bin used tissues (pupils may bring their own)
• To wash hands properly (with soap and water for 20 seconds)
• To try to avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

Please help us to promote good health by repeating these hygiene lessons at home. It is important not to send your child to school if s/he is unwell (a cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or high temperature).
If you are in any doubt please visit www.hse.ie for advice on when you may need to call a doctor. Thank you.

Quiz Season
We have had lots of pupils representing the school recently at various table quizzes. They performed very well and enjoyed themselves too. The highlight was the St. Abban’s A.C. Quiz where four of our teams made it to the final and Hannah Dunne, Grace Forrestal, Anna Harrington and Emily Murphy took the trophy as the winning team on the night. Well done to all!

Upcoming Dates
St. Patrick’s Weekend:  Closed Mon. and Tue. next week (16^th & 17^th March)
Primary Language Curriculum:  Closed for inservice re. on Monday 23^rd March

Primary Language Curriculum
Information for parents.

 

Zim Day
Our annual Fr. O’Shea Appeal for Zimbabwe cake sale and monster raffle will be held this Wednesday, 19^th February. We are calling on all the bakers and bun makers in Ballylinan to bake for us! These goodies and treats are always in great demand. As some pupils in the school have nut allergies, please make sure that your delicious baking is nut free. We know that we can depend on your support and that our cake stall will be very well stocked! Please ensure that your containers and lids are labelled with child’s name and room number. Please also give your child a bag or container to bring home their purchases. The money raised will be donated to the Franciscan Missionary Union and will be used to help the children of Zimbabwe. Thank you for your support.

Gaeilge
Please visit www.ballylinannationalschool.com and scroll until you see ‘Categories’. Click Gaeilge, you can hear some of our pupils reading some short poems and conversing in Irish. Is féidir libh éisteacht lenár ndaltaí ag caint as Gaeilge. Bainigí triail as!

Visual Arts
Over the past few weeks the children from Junior Infants to 6th Class have been learning all about the life and works of the American artist Jackson Pollock. Take a look at our website for some examples of creations inspired by his work!

School Calendar
A big thanks to all who supported our 2020 calendar by placing an advertisement for their business.

Tin Whistle
Tin whistle for both groups tomorrow (Tuesday) this week.

Enrolment 2020/21
Enrolments are now completed. If you know of anyone who may have neglected to enrol their child, please ask them to contact the school immediately. Thank you.

Mid Term
Zim Day on Wednesday, 19^th February. School will be closed on Thursday and Friday this week (20^th & 21^st) for the mid term break. Normal closing times (2 pm and 3 pm) on Wednesday 19^th.

Zim Day
Zim Day will be on Wednesday week, 19^th February.  For the first time ever it will be held on a Wednesday.  The 20^thand 21^st are our mid-term break. Like other years it will consist of a monster cake sale and raffle. Tickets for the raffle will go on sale next Wednesday 12^th February priced at 50c each.  There will be at least one or two winners in each class.

We are calling on all bakers to provide us with delicious cakes, buns and treats for our cake sale. We know we can depend on your support!

The Bishop of Harare said lately that things were not right in Zimbabwe, so all money raised will go to help the children.

Green School News
We will be having a visit from an An Taisce representative to see the work we are doing towards gaining our Biodiversity flag. The pupils of the Green School Committee have been busy for months feeding the birds, keeping an eye on our wildflower bed, bug hotels and wild meadow. Earlier in the year they also planted butterfly bushes and a tree to attract more wildlife.

Triple P Junior & Teen Groups/ Fear- Less Seminars
Midlands Area Parenting Partnership are delivering  programs for parents of primary school children over the coming months. Visit www.askaboutparenting.ie .

Gaeilge
If you visit www.ballylinannationalschool.com and scroll until you see ‘Categories’ and click Gaeilge, you can hear some of our pupils reading some short poems and conversing in Irish. Is féidir libh éisteacht lenár ndaltaí ag caint as Gaeilge. Bainigí triail as!

Community News
Ballylinan GAA registration day for club membership will be held on Sunday 16th February from 12pm to 2pm. Refreshments will be served on the day. New members welcome.

School Calendar
If you want one, they’ll only be available this week! A big thanks to all who supported our calendar by placing an advertisement for their business. Available from the office.

Enrolment 2020/21
If you know of anyone else considering enrolment for next year, please ask them to contact the school immediately. Thank you.

Mid Term
Zim Day on Wednesday, 19^th February. School will be closed on Thursday and Friday (20^th & 21^st) for the mid term break. Normal closing times (2 pm and 3 pm) on Wednesday 19^th.

Grandparents Mass
Thanks to everyone involved in our recent Grandparents Mass and to the Parents Association for providing refreshments. It was a lovely occasion as always and it’s wonderful to see the strong bond between the school and the wider community in Ballylinan.

Quiz Season
Well done to our quizzers who represented the school in the People First Credit Union quiz last week. They performed very well: Caitlin Brennan, Hannah Dunne, Eoin Hovenden, Andrea Craven, Kaycee Strutt, Kate Clooney, Odhran O’Brien and Kealan Leonard. There are more quizzes to come and a chance for others to test themselves!

Triple P Junior & Teen Groups/ Fear- Less Seminars
Midlands Area Parenting Partnership are delivering  programs for parents of primary school children over the coming months. Visit www.askaboutparenting.ie .

Gaeilge
Please visit www.ballylinannationalschool.com where you can hear some of our pupils reading some short poems and conversing in Irish. Is féidir libh éisteacht lenár ndaltaí ag caint as Gaeilge. Bainigí triail as!

Parent/Teacher Meetings
These are an important chance to have a chat with your child’s teacher about his/her progress and are taking place this week.

Cycle Safety
4^th Class will be taking part in a cycle safety course after mid-term; they will learn lots of ways to help them to be safer cyclists!

School Calendar
Very last few on sale, price €8. A big thanks to all who supported our calendar by placing an advertisement for their business. Available from the office.

Enrolment 2020/21
Enrolment is almost complete for the coming year. If you know of anyone else considering enrolment for next year, please ask them to contact the school immediately as we need to finalise our preparations. Thank you.

Mid Term
An early reminder that school will be closed on Thursday and Friday (20^th & 21^st) February for the mid term break. Normal closing times (2 pm and 3 pm) on Wednesday 19^th.

Parents Association AGM
Will take place in the school on Wednesday, 29^th January at 7:30 p.m. All welcome.

Catholic Schools Week  (Jan 26^th – Feb 2^nd)
Grandparents Mass will be this Friday 31^st January at 12.30 p.m. in St. Anne’s Church (note slightly earlier time this year). Pupils will be able to leave after the mass if collected from the school. We are looking forward to what is always one of the nicest events of the year!

Triple P Junior & Teen Groups/ Fear- Less Seminars
Midlands Area Parenting Partnership are delivering  programs for parents of primary school children over the coming months. Please see posters on notice board at the school or visit www.askaboutparenting.ie .

Gaeilge
Please visit www.ballylinannationalschool.com where you can hear some of our pupils reading some short poems and conversing in Irish. Is féidir libh éisteacht lenár ndaltaí ag caint as Gaeilge. Bainigí triail as!

Parent/Teacher Meetings
These are an important chance to have a chat with your child’s teacher about his/her progress. They will take place this year on Tuesday and Thursday, 4^th & 6^th February. Times are being allocated to you this week. Please note that parents of pupils who were receiving learning support (SEN) earlier in the year from either Mrs. Curran or Mrs. Browne will not have a meeting with an SEN teacher at this time, but will meet with the class teacher as normal.

Bereavement
Our sincere condolences to our secretary Mary Moore on the recent death of her father Joe Whelan.

School Calendar
Last few on sale, price €8. A big thanks to all who supported our calendar by placing an advertisement for their business. Available from the office.

Enrolment 2020/21
Parents who have already given their child’s name to the school will receive an enrolment form in the next couple of weeks. Please return the form promptly because we need to prepare for next year. If your child is due to start school in September and you haven’t already let us know, please contact the school office immediately at 059 – 862 5195. Thank you.