Category: Newsletters

CHOIR (3rd – 6th Class) – please see important note below.

G.A.A. FOOTBALL COACHING – Coaching commenced today (Tuesday) for children from 1st and 2nd class. Frank Shanahan returns and we welcome Jerry Campion who coaches in other primary schools in the area.

FIRST EUCHARIST – Meeting tonight (Tuesday) in the school sports hall at 7pm.

FIRST PENANCE – Next Wednesday, March 4th in St. Anne’s Church at 7pm. followed by refreshments for families in the school sports hall.

CONFIRMATION – Meeting in Arles Hall next Tuesday March 3rd at 7pm.

FR. BRIAN KAVANAGH – We bid farewell this week to Fr. Brian. We thank him for his involvement in the school and we wish him well in his new post.

SCHOOL CHOIR
This is the time of year when we ask the children to give something back to the school and also to support their school and class–mates. Over the next few months we have 3 major school celebrations.
First Confession                   Wednesday March 4th (7pm)
Confirmation                         Wednesday May 20th (2.00 pm)
First Eucharist                      Sunday May 24th (11.30am.)

We are asking for a commitment from parents that their children from 3rd – 6th Class will attend on these occasions as part of the choir if they are not already involved in the ceremony.
Please sign the form below and return to the school
———————————————————————————————————-

I will make every effort to ensure that _______________________________
will attend to support the school choir.

Parent(s) Signature: ____________________________________

PARENT/TEACHER MEETINGS:
The meetings will be held on Tuesday November 25th and Thursday November 27th commencing each day at 3.15 pm. As in recent years parents will be allocated times in alphabetical order using surnames in order to reduce delays. Full details in next week’s newsletter.

CONFIRMATION:
As announced in the parish newsletter at the weekend the Confirmation ceremony will be celebrated by Bishop Denis Nulty in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Arles on Wednesday May 20th at 11 am. Meeting for parents and children on Tuesday November 25th at 7 pm. in the A.B.K. centre.

FIRST EUCHARIST MASS:
Sunday Nov. 16th @ 11.30 am.

5TH CLASS MASS:
Well done to the children form 5th class who participated in the Mass last Sunday.

CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL:
The finals were held recently in Portlaoise and the winners in our divisions were Emo (girls) and Clonaslee (boys). Thanks to Mrs. Connolly and Ms. Mulhare for all their work with the girls since September.

SCHOOL CALENDAR:
We have started taking photographs of the classes for our school calendar. The calendar will be the same format as last year and is a very economical way to get a class photograph! The calendars will be available in December.

“Don’t Say No to Saving H2O”

HALLOWEEN / MID-TERM:
A reminder that we are “dressing up” on Friday 24th. Contribution of €2 per child or €3 per family which will go to charity. No masks across the school and no one piece costumes for infants please!

School finishes at the usual times on Friday and re-opens on Monday, Nov. 3rd.

CONFIRMATION:
Enrolment Ceremony – Saturday (Mass) October 25th @ 7 pm.

SWIMMING:
Lessons for 2nd, 3rd and 4th classes will commence after mid-term as follows:

Wed Nov. 5th               2nd Class (Athy)
Thurs Nov. 6th            3rd Class (Mrs. Hurley & Ms. Cunningham)
Friday Nov. 7th           4th Class (Ms. Mulhare & Ms. Cunningham) (Portlaoise)

DUBLIN CITY MARATHON:
Our very best wishes go to Eamon Baldwin who will run the marathon for the school on Monday October 27th. Not only has Eamon been training hard but he has also raised considerable funds through sponsorship. Any outstanding cards can be returned to the school
office as soon as possible please. Thanks to everyone for their generosity.

GIRLS FOOTBALL:
Congratulations to our past pupils who were members of the U16 girls football team which won the county final recently.

YOUR CHILD AND SECONDARY SCHOOL:
Choosing a secondary school for your child is a very important decision for parents. There have been major changes in recent years and the decision has to be made much earlier, normally in 5th class. We have contacted the local schools to provide you with the details you require to make an “informed” decision.

Ardscoil na Tríonóide:
September 2015 (current 6th class):            Waiting List in Place

September 2016 (current 5th class):           Open Night: Mon Nov. 10th @7pm.

Closing date for applications:                       Mon Nov. 24th @ 5 pm.

Athy College:
September 2015 (current 6th class):          Closing date for applications –
Friday October 24th @ 5pm.

September 2016 (current 5th class):           Now open for applications.

Knockbeg College:
Open Day: Friday November 7th – 4pm – 7pm

COMMUNITY NEWS

BALLYLINAN LADIES:
Prize-giving and disco for girls U8 – U14 football teams on Friday 24th October 7pm – 10 pm in the clubhouse.
“Don’t Say No to Saving H2O”

FIRST EUCHARIST/CONFIRMATION:

Enrolment Ceremonies:

First Eucharist: Sunday October 19th @ 11.30 Mass

Confirmation: Saturday October 25th @7 pm Mass.

DUBLIN CITY MARATHON:
Please return any sponsorship cards to the school office on or before this Friday 17th October. Eamon is training hard and will be “ready to go” on the 27th.

 HALLOWEEN:
We are “dressing up” again for Halloween this year on Friday October 24th. As last year we are asking for a contribution of €2 per child or €3 per family. Any funds raised will go to charity. No masks please and no “one piece” costumes for infants!!

SCHOOL WEBSITE:
As mentioned before, considerable work has been done over the last 2 years in relation to improving literacy/numeracy standards in our school and in the whole area of school self-evaluation. From time to time we will post updates on the school website: www.ballylinannationalschool.com

 “Don’t Say No to Saving H2O”