Category: Newsletters

Confirmation
Well done to the children who made their Confirmation recently. It was a lovely ceremony in beautiful weather! We hope you had a memorable family day. Thanks to all who helped in the preparation of the children. First Communion will be on Saturday, 26^th May.

Tin Whistle, Homework Club
Continuing as normal. If you’d like your child to take part, please contact the school.

FREE Triple P Parenting Programme
For parents of children 2-10 years. Triple P gives you tips and strategies to make family life less stressful with children, giving good understanding of positive parenting with plenty of ideas to make parenting easier.The Programme takes 7 weeks. Each session lasts 2 hrs. After 4 weekly sessions, you have 2 weeks to practice Triple P at home with support phone calls. Check their website www.triplep-parenting.net . We hope to arrange some further sessions in the Ballylinan area in the next few months.

 Junior Infants 2018/19
Talks for new parents: incoming parents will be notified next week about upcoming dates.

Social, Personal and Health Education
This is one of the curriculum areas that we implement in the school. During the course of the year the children in all classes have been taught the ‘Stay Safe’ programme. We also teach the RSE (relationships and sexuality education) programme which includes modules on growing and changing. If you have any queries please contact your child’s teacher. Thank you.

Labels
It’s a good time to ensure that your child’s name is on all clothing. We can have great difficulty identifying jumpers/tracksuit tops in the playground. Please check now!

Half Day
Please note that all school staff are required to undergo training in relation to child protection matters. To facilitate this the school will close for children at 12:30 on Wednesday 2^nd May (next week).

 

 

 

 

Quiz Season
Well done to all those competing in the St. Abban’s quiz recently; some very good performances and Ballylinan had three teams that finished in the top 7. Congratulations to our winning team who brought home the Fr. Kennedy Cup; Tadgh McGrath, Mackenzie McIvor, Jack Dunne and James Hovenden.

Internet Safety
An Garda Síochána recently gave a talk on safe use of the internet to 5^th and 6^th Classes.

Blitzes
6^th Class will be providing the teams for the (postponed) FAI blitz this Wednesday 21^st in Portlaoise. Ms. Hogan’s and Ms. Buggy’s classes will be providing the teams for a fun football blitz in Killeshin on the same day.

 Zim Day (Friday 16^th March)
Our Annual Fr. O’Shea appeal was held last Friday and was a great success. A grand total of €1,800 was collected and is winging its way to Zimbabwe to help those in need. Míle buíochas díbh go léir.

Tin Whistle
Classes for both groups this Thursday 22^nd March.

Thank You
A big thanks to Tadhg Kelleher, Peter Barry, Liam Brennan and Frank Shanahan for providing our ongoing rugby, hurling and football coaching. We really appreciate it!

Recent Activities on Website
As always, please check out recent activities and photos on the school website (address below).

Easter Holidays
Remember school closes this Friday, 23^rd March for the Easter holidays (12:20 for Infants and 12:30 for all others). We reopen on Monday, 9^th April.

Happy Easter to all and thank you for your support as always. 

 Confirmation Postponement
As you know by now we had to postpone the Confirmation until Saturday, 21^st April. We apologise again for any inconvenience caused and sincerely hope we won’t be affected by exceptional weather again! Choir members please note change of date.

 Quiz Season
Well done to all those competing in the various quizzes recently; some very good performances and lots of fun had. No silverware as yet though! The final of the St. Abban’s quiz will be held this Wednesday night (14^th).

Enrolment 2018/19
Last call for next year. If you have not returned the form you received, please do so immediately. Thank you.

Vision & Hearing Checks
These are being held today (Monday 12^th March) for Junior and Senior Infants.

FAI 5-a-side Soccer
6^th Class will be providing the teams for the FAI blitz this Wednesday 14^th in Portlaoise.

 Zim Day (Friday 16^th March)
Our Annual Fr. O’Shea appeal for Zimbabwe will be held on Friday 16^th March. As in other years the day will consist of cake and jumble sales and will conclude with a monster raffle. Tickets for the raffle will go on sale for the children to buy on Monday 12^th March.  They will cost 50c each. We are asking for toys, books and games that your children no longer use but that other children might like and be anxious to buy. These can be brought to the school from Monday 12^th March. We are also calling on all the bakers and bun makers in Ballylinan to bake for us. These goodies and treats are always in great demand.  We know that we can depend on your support and that our cake stall will be very well stocked. The money raised from Zim Day will be donated to the Franciscan Missionary Union and will be used to help the children attending Assisi High School, Nharira, Chivhu, Zimbabwe, providing resources for their educational needs.

 School Closures
School closed next Monday 19^th March for St. Patrick’s weekend. Remember school closes at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, 23^rd March for the Easter holidays.

Ballylinan Community Alert
Ballylinan Community Alert would like to invite you to our AGM in St. Anne’s Hall, Ballylinan on Tuesday, 20^th March at 8 p.m.

We have 80 members at present and welcome everybody from our village and surrounding areas to register on the night. 

Aims

To improve the quality of life through:
Reducing opportunities for crimes to occur;
Encouraging neighbourliness and self-reliance;
Promoting accident prevention and personal safety.
Members of An Garda Síochána will be in attendance at the meeting.

Girls Gaelic Football
Girls football is starting again for the new season 2018.
Tuesday 13^th March in Ballylinan GAA from 6 to 7 p.m.
Indoor for Under 8 and Under 10 girls (bring runners)
Outdoors for Under 12 girls
Gumshields must be worn.

All new members welcome!

 

Forecast Weather Event
We are naturally aware of the forecast and keeping the situation under constant review. If there are any changes to normal school opening times or activities during the coming days we will communicate this to you as early as we can. We will send you a text and all announcements will also be posted on the school website www.ballylinannationalschool.com . Please check the site if you are looking for the most up-to-date and accurate information. Thank you.

Communion Visits
This only applies if Fr. Shelley was due to visit you at home: visits due this Thursday evening (1^st March) and the following Thursday (8^th March) have been postponed.

Tin Whistle
Both tin whistle groups on Wednesday this week; none on Thursday or Friday.

Quiz Season
Very well done to our teams who qualified for the final of the St. Abban’s Quiz which is due to be held on Thursday 8^th April in Killeen Hall at 8 pm.

Enrolment 2018/19
These are almost finalised for next year. If you have not returned the form you received, please do so immediately. Thank you.

Vision & Hearing Checks
These will be held on Tuesday 13^th & Wednesday 14^th March for Junior and Senior Infants.

Zim Day (Friday 16^th March)
Our Annual Fr. O’Shea appeal for Zimbabwe will be held on Friday 16^th March. As in other years the day will consist of cake and jumble sales and will conclude with a monster raffle. Tickets for the raffle will go on sale for the children to buy on Monday 12^th March.  They will cost 50c each. We are asking for toys, books and games that your children no longer use but that other children might like and be anxious to buy. These can be brought to the school from Monday 12^th March. We are also calling on all the bakers and bun makers in Ballylinan to bake for us. These goodies and treats are always in great demand.  We know that we can depend on your support and that our cake stall will be very well stocked. The money raised from Zim Day will be donated to the Franciscan Missionary Union and will be used to help the children attending Assisi High School, Nharira, Chivhu, Zimbabwe, providing resources for their educational needs.