Category: Newsletters

Catholic Schools Week  (Jan 26^th – Feb 2^nd)
Grandparents Mass (including parents!) will be celebrated on 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 .

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

Parish News
Arles Parish reminds you that children for First Communion are invited to 11.30 mass this Sunday in Ballylinan. The children are asked to please bring colouring pencils.

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 will be allocated to you in the coming days. 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.

School Calendar
There are still a small number 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.

 

Mass for Confirmation
Parents of 6^th Class: Mass of Commitment tonight (Tuesday 14^th) in Arles at 7:30 p.m.

Internet Safety
There was a good attendance at our talk last week with Ger Brick. There was much food for thought and many issues were raised of which parents need to be aware. Check privacy settings! If you weren’t able to come, please talk to someone who did. At the very least, visit www.webwise.ie .

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 .

Swimming
Swimming is ongoing for various classes throught the year, as is football, hurling and rugby. We are pleased that Imelda Andrews is returning for music this week for classes from Infants – 4^th Class.

Donation
We made a donation to ‘Aoibheann’s Pink Tie’ in memory of Jaydn Kelly from monies collected for our Christmas Carol Service. Thank you all for your support.

Gaeilge
Déanaigí iarracht cupla focal a úsáid – try to use a word or two each day!
Here are a couple you might hear in everyday talk:

leadránach – boring
taoiseach ­– chieftain, prime minister
bean sí ­– female fairy (banshee)
bóithrín – little road (boreen)
bróg – a shoe (brogue)
craic – fun
go leor – plenty (galore)
uisce beatha – water of life (whiskey!)

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 will be allocated to you in the next couple of weeks.

Catholic Schools Week  (Jan 26^th – Feb 2^nd)
Grandparents Mass (including parents!) will be celebrated during the week (details to follow).

School Calendar
There are still some 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.

 

Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise / Happy New Year!
Welcome back to all our pupils. We hope that parents had a good Christmas break and wish everyone in our school community all the best for 2020.

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

Green Schools News
A reminder that all children are required to take home in their lunchboxes any lunch waste that they may have. This will include any food waste and wrappers etc. and will also give you an indication whether the amount of lunch provided is appropriate for your child. If there is too much food it may be reduced, a ‘proper’ lunchbox may be reused and some wrappings may be recycled. As a green school, we aim to reduce, reuse and recycle (in that order), and encourage people to be responsible for the waste that we produce.

Tin Whistle
Tin whistle will resume as normal this week; Tuesdays for beginners and Thursdays for advanced.

Parking at the School
It is very important to park in an orderly fashion at the school. Please remember that the drop-off area is only for that purpose; no double parking in that area is allowed because then children have to walk between cars which can be dangerous. Please allow plenty of time, particularly on a wet morning. Please ensure that disabled parking spaces are kept free. Thank you for your cooperation.

School Uniform
Please note that the school tracksuit requires plain bottoms (no logos), not leggings. Thank you.

Voluntary Envelope Collection
This important envelope collection is our main means of fundraising and allows us to provide better facilities, equipment and services for your children. The envelopes are sent home every Tuesday with the oldest child in each family. Your contribution is voluntary and confidential and you will be issued with a receipt at the end of the year. Please consider contributing this year if you haven’t done so for a while; it benefits all the children in the school.

Internet Safety
There will be an information session open to all parents tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 7:15 p.m. There will be no charge. Formerly with Microsoft Ireland, Ger Brick has facilitated workshops with over 60,000 primary school children throughout the country. If you have any concerns about how your children (or you as a parent) deal with the online world, please make an effort to come along. Parents of children in all classes are welcome.

Christmas Carol Service & “Shine Star Shine”
Well done to all who took part. The singing was lovely and we hope that you had an enjoyable time! Following our carol service in the church, a donation was made to ‘Aoibheann’s Pink Tie’ in memory of our fellow pupil and friend Jaydn Kelly.

School Calendar
On sale at the school office and Centra, price €8. This is a nice keepsake or (big) stocking filler!

Internet Safety
Internet Safety & Anti Cyberbullying Workshops for 5^th & 6^th Class pupils will take place on Tuesday, 7th January. There will also be an information session open to all parents that night at 7:15 p.m. Please note in your diary; we all could do with some advice on how to deal with the online world.

Parish News
Practice will take place in the Church on Friday 20^th December at 7p.m. If you would like your children to take part in this years 6 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass, please text their names and ages to Margaret at 086 – 325 4931 before Thursday 19^th December.

Tin Whistle
Following this week’s concert, tin whistle will resume as normal in the new year.

No Presents Needed
While teachers like to receive presents at Christmas and children like to give them there is absolutely no need and no one should feel under any pressure in this regard. Working that little bit better in school would be a great present though, a gift that would keep on giving not only to the receiver but also to the giver! As has been the custom in recent years we also ask children to refrain from giving cards to classmates as the volume of cards and envelopes generated is extraordinary. They may give one to their ‘Advent Friend’ under the guidance of the class teacher.

Nollaig Shona
Before things get too hectic we would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody associated with the school – but especially you the parents – a very happy and peaceful Christmas. We think of some especially difficult family circumstances and will be keeping you in our prayers at this time.

The school will close for the Christmas holidays at 12:20 for Infants and 12:30 for all others this Friday 20^th December. The children don’t have to wear their uniform on that day; they may wear something ‘Christmassy’ if they wish. We will re-open on Monday, 6^th January 2020. Other planned closures are detailed on the school website.

 Thank you for your support as always. Nollaig shona daoibh go léir.

Reminder: Christmas Carol Service
Pupils from 1^st – 6^th Classes will be taking part in a Carol Service in Ballylinan Church next Tuesday night, 10^thDecember. Due to the numbers involved, we have divided the children into two groups on the night. You will be aware of these by now. You are most welcome to come and join us for just a few prayerful moments to focus on what’s most important at Christmas. Please note:

• The first service will begin at 7 p.m. and finish a little after 7:30.
• The second service will begin at 8:15 p.m. and finish a little after 8:45.
• Pupils are to wear proper school uniform on the night. To make sure that uniforms are clean and ready, pupils may wear tracksuits next Monday and Tuesday.
• Each family will be issued with 3 tickets @ €3 per ticket. These are available from class teachers. Please do not request tickets from the office.
• While there should be room for all, seating on the night will be first come, first served.
• As children enter the church with you, please remove and hold on to their coats (if worn). This will make it easier for them to move to and from the altar.

Nativity Story
Junior and Senior Infants will be taking part in ‘Shine Star Shine’ on Thursday of this week (12^th) at 12 noon in the Dunne Sourke hall.

Food Appeal
Many thanks to you all for your generous support of our food appeal.

Tin Whistle
Both groups will be practising this Wednesday 11^th. Christmas concert tomorrow week (Tuesday 17^th) at 1:30 p.m. in the school. All welcome.

School Calendar
Will soon be on sale at the school office and Centra, price €8. This is a nice keepsake and looking back at previous calendars it is interesting to note how much the children have changed over the years!

Ballylinan GAA
Christmas Fair in the clubhouse from 1-5 p.m. this Sunday, 15^th December. Colouring competitions must be returned to the school by this Thursday 12^th.

No Presents Needed
While teachers like to receive presents at Christmas and children like to give them there is absolutely no need and no one should feel under any pressure in this regard. Working that little bit better in school would be a great present though, a gift that would keep on giving not only to the receiver but also to the giver! As has been the custom in recent years we also ask children to refrain from giving cards to classmates as the volume of cards and envelopes generated is extraordinary. They may give one to their ‘Advent Friend’ under the guidance of the class teacher.