CONFIRMATION: We wish Mrs. Connolly and her class well for Thursday and hope that the sun shines! The candidates will not attend school on the day and the ceremony begins at 2pm.
CHOIR: As it is a normal school day the choir will leave from the school at 1.15 and they will be back for collection between 3.15 and 3.30 pm. School tracksuits please and perhaps some extra lunch.
Eye Health Study (children in 1st class): Our school has been chosen to take part in a national eye health study. The benefits to you include a free eye test for your child. We would encourage all children in 1st class to participate, so please read the attached document. Permission packs will be distributed after the Easter holidays. All 1st class children will receive an information letter today.
Easter Holidays: School closes this Friday (7th) at 12.30 and re-opens on Monday April 24th. (infants available from 12.20).
SAFETY: As this will be a very busy time please use the overflow car parking in the Junior Play area.
RETIREMENT: As you may know by now I plan to retire at the end of the school year. I have many people to thank for a long and very happy career in Ballylinan and will hopefully have the opportunity to do that in the months ahead.
BOOK FAIR: Well done to everyone who helped in any way with our recent book fair and “thank you” for your generosity! €2,125.00 was spent purchasing books for children and this will mean up to €1,275 worth of books will be provided for the class libraries.
TIN WHISTLE: No tin whistle this week.
HOMEWORK CLUB: No Homework Club this Thursday 6th.
COMMUNITY NOTICE
BALLYLINAN G.A.A. CLUB: Juvenile Football Training (starts this Friday April 7th).
Friday – (6.45-7.45):
U6 (Boys and Girls)
U8 Boys
U 10 Boys
Monday – (6.30 – 7.30):
U8 & U10 Girls
(Gum shields required. Available from Murphy’s).
BOOK FAIR: The book fair will finish tomorrow (Tuesday) at 3pm. Thanks to our Parents Association officers and school staff who have been very generous with their time and a big “thank you” to 6th class children for all their help.
CONFIRMATION ARRANGEMENTS:
Bishop Denis Nulty will confirm children from 6th class at our Confirmation ceremony on Thursday April 6th at 2 pm. in St. Anne’s church. The school will remain open on the day. Children from the choir will return to the school after the ceremony for collection
(3.15 pm. – 3.30 pm.) More details in next newsletter.
EASTER CLOSING:
The school will close on Friday April 7th at 12.30 pm. (infants from 12.20 pm.) and re-open on Monday, April 24th.
Labels:
Now that the weather has started to improve we are having great difficulty identifying jumpers/tracksuit tops in the playground. Please ensure that your child’s name is on all clothing.
SPORT:
A busy week for 6th class children as they travel to Portlaoise on Wednesday for the postponed Spar 5 a-side soccer competition and on Thursday to Athy for a tag rugby blitz.
POSITIVE PARENTING FOR TEENS:
Places still available on the course for parents of 11- 15 year olds which will commence Wednesday April 26th. It will run for 7 weeks (5 evenings – 2 hours per evening) with a following two weeks of phone support. If interested please contact the office.
BOOK FAIR:
Celtic Book Fairs arrived today and we will be open for business tomorrow (Thursday).
The fair will be open daily as follows:-
Thursday, Friday, Monday, Tuesday:
1.45 pm. – 2.15 pm.
2.45 pm. – 3.15 pm.
For parents who do not need to attend the fair, books can be ordered as follows:
Use the order form attached to the newsletter.
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Enclose the form with the correct money in an envelope and return to the school. (Child’s name on outside).
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If the book is in stock your child will have it by evening. Some popular books may need to be ordered and could take a few days.
NOTE:
If you order a book worth €3.99 or more, please reduce the price by €1.50 as we have a supply of World Book Day tokens which will be accepted by Celtic Book Fairs (one per transaction).
FIRST PENANCE: Congratulations to the children form 2nd class who received the sacrament of First Penance last night. We were very proud of them all and thanks to Mrs. Kiernan and Mrs. Hurley for all their work. A special word of thanks to our Parents Association who prepared “goodie bags” and provided personalised buns for the children. It was a lovely occasion and one I am sure the children will remember. Thanks to Mary Moore and Lynda Wilkinson Ryan for keeping everybody “topped up”.
CHOIR: A big “thank you” to all the children who turned out in such great numbers to support 2nd class. Thanks to Mrs. Browne and to Margaret Brennan for providing the music.
BOOK FAIR: The biennial “Travelling Book Fair” will arrive to the school next Wednesday, March 22nd (until Tuesday March 28th). The fair will be open from Thursday and will give parents the opportunity to purchase books suitable for their children.
SPAR 5-A-SIDE SOCCER: Children from 6th class will travel to Portlaoise on Wednesday (March 22nd) to take part in the county stage of the F.A.I.S. run competition.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION NEWS:
POSTITIVE PARENTING FOR TEENS:
A course for parents of teenagers (11-15 years) will be run by
“Triple P” (Positive Parenting Programme) at the school over the coming weeks (beginning the week of April 23rd). The course is also suitable for parents who may not have teenagers now but will have in the future. It will last for 7 weeks and will mean attending for 5 evenings (2 hours per evening) with two weeks of phone support.
We need to know if there is sufficient interest. Please sign the slip below and return to the school by 2pm tomorrow (March 16th).
___________________________________________________________
I am interested in “Positive Parenting for Teens”.
Signed: _________________________
FIRST PENANCE: Tuesday, March 14th in St. Anne’s Church at 7pm. Refreshments afterwards for the children and their families in the Dunne/Sourke Hall at the school.
CHOIR: Children from the choir should arrive at the church by 6.50 pm (not too early please). The ceremony should be over by 7.45 pm. – 8pm.
QUIZ: Well done to the three teams who reached the final of the St. Abban’s Quiz last Thursday night. The team of Darragh Loughman, Mikey Walsh, Conor Walsh and Alan Behan finished in joint second place. The other children involved were Laura Mulhare, James Hovenden, Aisling Brennan, Emily Murphy and Diarmuid Downey, Eoin Dunne, Alex McDonagh and Eoin Brennan.
BORN TO MOVE: “Is a series of classes created by and for young people. It uses music, movement and the power of group exercise to boost your energy, increase your skills and leave you feeling amazing”. Over the coming weeks children from all classes will have the opportunity to participate in “tester” sessions. Thanks to Samantha Kirwan for offering her services.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY: For us celebrations begin on Thursday, March 16th with a number of activities at the school. All children should wear their school tracksuit (with or / and something green!).
SCHOOL CLOSURE:
School closes on Thursday at the usual times and re-opens on
Tuesday March 21st.
Friday (17th) – School closed.
Monday (20th) – School closed.
SOCCER: The Spar F.A.I. schools 5a side tournament begins next week with 2 boys teams and 2 girls teams travelling to Portlaoise on Wednesday, March 22nd. The children involved are mainly from 6th Class.
SLIEVE MARGY HURLING CLUB: Open day for under 8s, 10s, 12s and 14s Sunday March 19th at 2pm. in Ballylinan G.A.A. Clubhouse. Celebrity hurlers in attendance. Refreshments will be served. All welcome.
TIN WHISTLE: Practice for both groups on Wednesday March 15th. No charge.