Author: Karen Pepper

     April Newsletter 2022 

Parents’ Association

Many thanks to those who contributed to the Parents’ Association recent collection in lieu of a fund raising event.  As a result of your donations the Parents’ Association will be in a position to contribute to the cost of buses for this year’s swimming lessons and school tours.  There has been a big increase in transport costs, no doubt a result of the increase in the price of fuel.  Without financial assistance from the Parents’ Association the cost of swimming lessons/tours would be a lot higher.

Swimming/Tours

Swimming lessons for all pupils will take place on the following dates:

Friday 29^th April, Friday 6^th May, 20^th May, 27^th May.  Children will leave school at 11.00am and return to school by 1.30.  P.E. clothes should be worn.  Lunch will be eaten before we leave and when we return.  Cost per pupil per lesson is €7 (€35 for 5 weeks).  Payment must be made in advance by cheque, draft of online.  NO CASH WILL BE EXCEPTED.  Payment may be made in instalments but must be fully paid before the last lesson.  Please note staff are not permitted to dry children so if your child is in Junior classes and need help to dry/dress you must organise a responsible person to do this (i.e. yourself, older sibling or another parent).  Staff will ensure younger children are able to undress, (it is helpful if swimming togs are already on underneath clothes) put belongings in a locker and get to the pool area.  This is all part of the experience and is promoting independence for younger children.  For those attending to assist with drying and dressing you should be at the pool at 12.20.  Junior and Senior Infants may go home from the pool if parents are there.  All other children will return to school on the bus.

A tour for the children in Ms Brown and Mrs Pepper’s rooms is being planned for Friday 3^rd June.  A tour for the children in Ms McCarney’s room is being planned for Friday 10^th June – more details to follow.

Brian Parker, Faith Mission

Brian is a qualified soccer coach and will be in school on Tuesday 26^th April, 3^rd May, 10^th May & 17^th May.  He will take each classroom in the yard for soccer coaching.  Each session will include a short talk based on an aspect of Jesus’ ministry.  Pupils may wear runners on Tuesdays for the 4 weeks after Easter.

Andrew & Beulah McMullan, CEF

Andrew and Beulah McMullen visited our school monthly (prior to Covid) over the last number of years.  The children always enjoyed their assemblies.  Wednesday 6^th April will be their last visit with us as they have new roles within CEF.  We wish them well in their new positions and thank them for their many visits to us.

ABP Tree Planting

Recently ABP, Clones  came to school and planted 15 native Irish trees around the school.  They plan to plant 1,000 native Irish trees with National Schools in Co. Monaghan.  We are delighted to join their Sustainability Journey and help improve our natural environment.

Donation to Ballybay Cancer Society

Following the Christmas Walk to School on 20^th December €261 was collected for Ballybay Cancer Society.  Charlie Mills called to the school recently and received the cheque which he passed on to the Treasurer of Ballybay Cancer Society.  Many thanks to all who donated.

Easter Holidays

School closes at 12.00 on Friday 8^th April for Easter.  There will be an Easter egg hunt for the children that morning.  School reopens on Monday 25^th April.

School is closed on Monday 2^nd May for a Bank Holiday.

 

 

March Newsletter 2022

 

 

World Book Day

Thursday 3^rd March is World Book Day and we are looking forward to a day filled with book activities which include dressing up as book characters, quizzes, reading, arts & crafts and much more.  There will be a prize for the most creative costume in each classroom chosen by Mrs Flood.  If children have favourite library books at home that they’d like to read in school they should bring them in on Thursday.  Homework on Thursday night will be based on World Book Day activities.

Updated Covid Procedures

All families were sent an email on Monday which outlined the most up to date Covid arrangements as advised by the Department of Education.  As stated in that email if a child tests positive they need to stay at home for at least 7 days and can only return when both of these apply:

• They have not had a high temperature (38˚C or over) or other symptoms for 48 hours.
• It has been 7 days since they first developed symptoms or tested positive. After 7 days they need to take extra care for another 3 days to reduce the risk of passing Covid 19 on.    Parents are still requested to keep children off school if they have symptoms of Covid 19.  It is usually ok to send your child to school if they only have nasal symptoms such as a runny nose or a sneeze but otherwise feel well.

Free antigens are still available from the HSE if there are cases of Covid 19 in your child’s classroom.  (You will receive a text message if that is the case).  Close contacts of a positive case are no longer requested to stay at home as long as they have no symptoms and/or have tested negative on an antigen test.  If a family member tests positive it is strongly advised that children have a negative antigen test before sending them to school.

 Parents’ Association

The Parent’s Association committee wish to acknowledge and thank those who have returned their contribution.  Receipts have been issued.  Please let the school secretary know if you did not receive a receipt and she will pass that information on to the Treasurer of the P.A.  If you have yet to return your contribution (€40 per family) please do so on or before Wednesday 9^th March.  Financial assistance from the Parents’ Association will help reduce the cost of tours and swimming for all pupils.  It would be great to have an end of year get together in June – it has been 2 years since we’ve had such a social gathering.  This is always a very enjoyable evening with food, bouncy castles etc where our new enrolments are also invited to attend.  This evening cannot happen without financial support from the Parents’ Association.

Staff Training

School will close at 12.00 on Friday 25^th March to facilitate staff training in the Primary Language Curriculum.

Swimming

Swimming lessons commence on Friday 29^th April for all pupils for 5 weeks.  More details to follow nearer the time.

School Closures

School will be closed on 17^th, 18^th and 21^st March for St. Patrick’s Weekend.

School closes at 12.00 on Friday 8^th April and remains closed for Easter until Monday 25^th April.

February Newsletter 2022

Welcome

We wish to extend a warm welcome to Ahmed Ali and his family who have moved to Ballybay recently.  Ahmed is in Junior Infants.

School Bus Transport

Applications for school transport for the 2022/23 school year are now being taken by Bus Eireann.  The closing date is Friday 29^th April.  Any parent seeking primary or post-primary school transport for the first time should apply on Bus Eireann website (School Transport).  If your child is transferring to secondary school and they need a bus ticket you must apply before the closing date in order to secure a seat on a bus.

World Book Day

World Book Day is on Thursday 3^rd March.  There will be lots of fun activities in school that day to celebrate and promote books and reading.  Pupils and staff should come to school dressed up as a fictional book character from one of their favourite books.  There will be a prize in each classroom for the most creative and imaginative costume.

Parents’ Association

The Parents’ Association are presently collecting family contributions in lieu of fund raising.  Envelopes may be sent to school and will be passed on to the Treasurer of the Parents’ Association.  The school greatly appreciates the support of the Parents’ association.  At Christmas they covered the costs of a breakfast for everyone following our walk to school. 

As we look forward to the summer term we are planning tours, swimming lessons and fun events.  Funding for the Parents’ Association helps to keep the costs of extra activities down for all pupils.  Please support the Parents’ Association by returning your envelope before Wednesday 23^rd February.

St. Patrick’s Weekend

When planning for this school year we had included Friday 18^th March as a holiday.  Following the recent Government announcement that 18^th March is now a Bank Holiday it has been decided to take Monday 21^st March as a holiday in lieu of 18^th.  A text was sent to all families informing them of this.

Applications for 2022-2023

Applications are now being received for those who wish to attend Ballybay Central School in September 2022.  The closing date for applications is Friday 18^th February 2022.

Dates for your diary:

 School will be closed on Thursday 24^th and Friday 25^th February for mid-term.

School will also be closed on Thursday 17^th, Friday 18^th and Monday 21^st March for the St. Patrick’s Weekend.

School will be closed from Friday 8^th April at 3.00pm til Monday 25^th April for the Easter Holidays.

 

    January 2022  Newsletter

Happy New Year to all and welcome back to a new school term.  I trust you had a lovely Christmas. The re-opening of school this term doesn’t come without concerns surrounding the very high number of Covid cases presently reported.

Many symptoms of the Omicron strain of Covid are very similar to common colds and flus: sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, headache, lower back pain, body aches, loss of appetite and fatigue.  If your child or anyone in your family displays some of these symptoms please don’t dismiss them.  Keep your child at home until symptoms have passed and you have checked (using antigen tests) that they haven’t Covid.  Free antigen tests can be ordered on the HSE website https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/testing/get-tested/ for those between the ages of 4 and 39 who have symptoms of Covid.

Welcome

We extend a very warm welcome to Erin Bann and her family who have moved to the area.  Erin has joined 1^st class.  We also welcome Ms McCarney as the Junior Room class teacher for the remainder of this school year.  Ms McCarney is familiar to most pupils as she has been covering as SET during last term.

Christmas Activities

On Monday 20^th December all pupils enjoyed our walk to school through the park wearing Christmas jumpers etc.  Many thanks for your kind donations to Ballybay Cancer Society.    €261 has been raised which we will pass on to the committee. 

Later that morning Clare Douglas from Hope collected all the food items that had been donated during the month.  She was absolutely thrilled with the amount and variety of food collected.

We all enjoyed a tasty breakfast on the same day, juice, fruit, sausages, rolls and brown bread.  Many thanks to the members of the Parents’ Association who organised and prepared the food.

P.E.

Every Friday from 14^th January for 6 weeks pupils will be coached by Eamon Hughes from Monaghan GAA.  The skills taught are transferable to many other activities.  Tracksuits and runners are to be worn on Fridays.

Applications for September 2022

Applications are now being taken for the 2022-2023 academic year.  If you wish to enrol a child or you know of anyone who wishes to enrol a child, please contact the office for an application form.  Application forms are also available on our website www.ballybaycns.com

The closing date for applications is Friday 18^th February 2022.

Dates for your diary: Mid Term/St. Patrick’s Day Closures

School will be closed on Thursday 24^th and Friday 25^th February for mid-term.

School will also be closed on Thursday 17^th and Friday 18^th March 2022.

December Newsletter 2021

 

Covid-19 Update

All parents have been sent the most recent updated information from the Department of Education in relation to Antigen testing of asymptomatic children in Primary Schools where a confirmed case of Covid-19 is identified.  If your child has a positive Covid-19 PCR test result you should inform the Principal immediately.  Following this:

1. All families of children in that classroom will receive a text informing them that there is a positive case in the classroom.
2. Parents of children sitting at the same table and/or in close proximity to the child who has tested positive will be contacted (by phone)and advised that they can request antigen test for their child should they wish to.
3. If two or more positive cases of Covid-19 arise in a classroom within a seven day period, antigen testing will be offered to all children in the classroom.
4. Parents need to follow the procedures for ordering antigen tests themselves as outlined in the letter you received on Friday last. You will need the school Roll Number which is 19884W when requesting antigen tests.

Please note:

1) Antigen testing of asymptomatic children is voluntary,                                          2) Parents must order the tests themselves – this is not the school’s responsibility 3) At no point will the school share any identifying details of the confirmed case.

If there is a positive case of Covid-19 in your house all family members must restrict their movements.  All unvaccinated children less than 13 years of age who are close contacts of a positive case must restrict their movements for 10 days and get a Covid-19 PCR test on day 0 and day 10.

Some parents have asked about children wearing masks to school (from 3^rd class upwards). 

As yet we have received no information about this from the Department of Education.  As soon as we are informed of the Government’s decision on this issue we will let you know.

Parent Teacher Meetings

Parent teacher meetings are taking place over the next two weeks by phone.  All parents have received a time from their child’s/children’s teacher to contact them at.  Please note phone conversations are 10 minutes per child and will be strictly adhered to in order to ensure no one is kept waiting for their phone call.

Wellbeing Programme

Over the coming three weeks a wellbeing programme for children, Mind Me, Mind You, is being implemented in all classes.  The Department of Education recognises that the changes due to that of Covid-19 over the last 2 years may have had a negative impact on children’s wellbeing and with this in mind schools are being encouraged to promote and support the wellbeing of children.  Each class group, infants, 1^st & 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th, 5^th & 6^th will cover six topics – Dealing with change, Perseverance, Stress, Peer Pressure, Respect and Gratitude in an age appropriate manner.  The same topic will be covered in each classroom on the same day.  The programme will be covered every Monday and Wednesday for the next three weeks.  Homework on each Monday and Wednesday will be a follow up on the lesson covered in school that day.  This may take the format of a colouring, a written or oral activity.  Homework is being set to allow parents and children to talk about the topic being covered.  The wellbeing of everyone is paramount during these uncertain times and we must encourage our children to talk about their feelings.

Credit Union Art Competition

Huge congratulations to Sarah Hamilton who was awarded 2^nd place in the 8-10 year old category in the recent Credit Union Art Competition.  Sarah received her prize in school last week.

Cash for Clobber

Many thanks to all who contributed to the Cash for Clobber clothes collection.  €272 was raised for the school.  It was great to see past parents and people from the local community contributing also.

Food Appeal

A box has been placed inside the front door for items of non-perishable food.  If you wish to donate please give items to your child to bring in to school.  This food appeal is always well supported and we look forward to donating the food to Claire Douglas from Hope Café in Monaghan, where it will be distributed to local needy families in the run up to Christmas.

Kris Kindle

It is the policy in our school that instead of the children exchanging Christmas presents with each other we implement Kris Kindle. Children have been given the name(s) of who to buy for.   Please wrap it and put the name of the person it is for (but not who it is from) on the label.  We ask that all presents are brought into school between 6^th and 10^th December.  In this way we can make sure presents can be left untouched before distributing them on 22^nd December.  Please be mindful of the age and interests of the child your child has to buy for.  All presents will be left in a box in the hall until Tuesday 22^nd when they will be distributed before children go home.

We have asked the children not to bring any Christmas cards into school for their friends this year due to the Covid 19 situation.

Christmas Activities

Thursday 16^th December – School Carol Service 7.30pm 2^nd Ballybay Presbyterian Church.  Please note time – further information regarding this event will be issued nearer the time.

Friday 17^th December – Christmas Movie & Hot Chocolate Day

Monday 20^th December – Christmas Walk to School in aid of Ballybay Cancer Society – (all pupils are to contribute €2 to Ballybay Cancer Society).  On arrival at school The PA will be providing breakfast for everyone

Wednesday 22^nd December – School closes for Christmas Holidays at 12.00. Pupils exchange Kris Kindle presents.

Thursday 6^th January 2022 – School reopens for all pupils.

 

*Please note some of these activities may be cancelled depending on Covid 19 situation.

 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6

 

November 2021  Newsletter

We hope everyone had a great midterm break and children enjoyed their week off school.  Please be mindful of Covid symptoms over the coming days especially if your children have been mixing with other children during the break.  If your child is displaying any Covid symptoms including cough, runny noses etc., please keep them off school until they have been tested.  It is so important that we detect positive Covid cases as early as possible to stop onward transmission in the school.

Cash for Clobber

Our annual Cash for Clobber clothes collection takes place this Wednesday.  All unwanted clothes, bed linen, towels, shoes (paired) may be left into school on Tuesday evening or on Wednesday morning.  Last year this clothes collection raised €416 which went towards buying resources for the classrooms.

Book Bills

Many thanks to all who have paid their book rental bill for this year.  Some bills are still outstanding and we’d appreciate if they could be paid as soon as possible either online using the school’s bank account details or by cheque. 

Football with Euan

All children thoroughly enjoyed the sessions with Euan before midterm.  It was great to see our artificial grass being used during these sessions – Euan complimented the school on this great facility.  PE continues on Fridays this term and pupils must wear their tracksuits and runners on Fridays.

Primary Language Curriculum

School will be closed on Friday 12^th November for Primary Language Curriculum training for staff.

Photographer

The photographer will be in school on Wednesday 10^th November.  He will take photos of family groups, 6^th class, Junior Infants and the whole school.  If you require a photo of a child individually i.e. not with brothers/sisters please let us know in advance.  Full school uniform must be worn for school photographs.

Parent Teacher Meetings

Parent teacher meetings will take place by phone again this year.  You will receive an email from your child’s class teacher in relation to a suitable time for phone calls to take place.  It is hoped to have these meetings at some stage between Monday 29^th November and Friday 10^th December.  Phone calls will take place outside of school hours.  Each pupil will be allocated 10 minutes which must be strictly adhered to in order that other parents are not left waiting for their call.

Covid Updates

As you are aware the HSE decided to stop contract tracing in schools last month.  This meant that if a child in school tested positive for Covid 19 no follow up took place by the HSE.  Parents will be made aware if there is a positive case in the school and asked to be vigilant for signs and symptoms of Covid in their own children.  There has been a lot of discussion in the media over the last week regarding this as there appears to have been an increase in the number of positive cases in this age group.  We await further guidelines from the HSE/Department of Education this week regarding contact tracing of primary school children.

Return to School Forms

Each time a child is off school, be it for a day or two or a school holiday parents are expected to complete the return to school form.  The link for the form was sent by text to all families last week.  The same link can be used each time you need to complete the form.  If you need the link sent again please email the school and this will be sent to you.  Please inform the school by email/phone call if your child is absent from school giving the reason for the absence.  This is particularly important this year with children being off with colds, coughs etc.  If we do not receive an email/phone call your child’s absence is recorded as unexplained.  If a child misses 20 days a report is sent to Tusla.

Coats/Warm Clothes

Please ensure all children have coats in school each day. Classrooms must have the correct level of ventilation as guided by the CO² monitors in each room.  This results in windows being kept open as much as possible.  The classrooms get cold and pupils are encouraged to keep their coats on inside if they wish.

Staff

Congratulations to Ms Brown who got engaged over the midterm break.  We wish her and her fiancé every happiness as they prepare for their wedding.  We also wish Mrs Boyle and her family every best wish as they look forward to the arrival of a new baby in January.   Mrs Boyle will commence maternity leave on 6^th January.  We are very pleased that Ms McCarney will be covering Mrs Boyle’s maternity leave in the Junior Classroom.  Ms McCarney is working as SET (Special Education Teacher) for the month of November while Mrs Patton is taking parental leave.

Advance Notice

School closes at 12.00 on Wednesday 22^nd December for Christmas holidays, and reopens on Thursday 6^th January 2022.

September Newsletter 2021

 

Welcome back to school for another academic year and a special warm welcome goes to Katie, Ivy, Kevin, Charlotte, Theodore and Tongai who are starting school for the very first time.  It is great to see pupils returning to their classrooms and while there are many Covid restrictions still in place staff are looking forward to this year with optimism and enthusiasm.

Covid Response Plan

Please ensure that you are familiar with the school’s current Covid response plan which was emailed to all parents prior to school reopening. A copy of the plan is on the website (under Covid19 Information tab).  With the rise in the number of positive Covid cases in the area please be extra vigilant of the symptoms of Covid.  I appreciate many symptoms are similar to a common cold and children will pick up colds etc. especially when back at school.  It may be a case that in order to rule out Covid your child will need a Covid test which you can book online or by “walking in” to the Monaghan GAA Centre, Cloghan, Monaghan A75 VE84 between 11am and 2pm every day.  If any member of the family is awaiting a test result, children or staff must not attend school.

It is going to be the case that some children be deemed “close contacts of a positive Covid case” throughout this year.  If you are contacted by HSE to inform you of this, your child will be tested twice and they must not return to school until after the second negative PCR test. While awaiting the results of the 1^st test, all siblings remain at home.  If the 1^st test is negative, and siblings don’t appear to display any symptoms they may return to school.  If children are at home due to being close contacts, your child’s/children’s teacher will liaise with them to provide school work.  Your child’s temperature is checked each morning on arrival to school.  If it is 38˚or higher they will remain in the hall (supervised) and their temperature will be checked again, 20 minutes later.  If it is still 38˚or higher you will be contacted and asked to collect your child.

 Arrival/Departure from School

Please do not congregate at the school gate in the morning/afternoon.  A member of staff will be at the gate in the morning.  Pupils enter/exit the building through the designated door – Senior Room through the hall, Middle Room through the front door, Junior Room via the playground. Pupils may arrive to school from 9.00am but should be in class by 9.20am.  Junior Infants will be collected at 12.30pm until and including Wednesday 8^th September.  From Tuesday 9^th September Junior and Senior Infants will finish at 2.00pm and all other pupils finish at 3.00pm.

Homework

Homework will be set from Monday 6^th September.  Please ensure your child/children completes all activities to the best of their ability.  We will continue to use the online learning platform SEESAW.  Homework exercises should not be returned to school on sheets or in books (unless requested by a particular assignment).  All written homework should be uploaded on SEESAW.

Football

Euan Treanor, An FAI primary schools soccer coach will provide football coaching in school for all pupils starting Friday 17^th September until Friday 22^nd October (6 sessions).  The cost per child is €6.  This fee will be included on your book bill which will be issued in October. 

 Pupil Insurance

We have used this insurance cover for several years and we feel it is the best cover out there at the moment for school pupils. This year we will again purchase cover on a ‘compulsory’ basis whereby all pupils in school are insured for €5.30 each where cover is limited to School Related Activities only. Please do not send cash to school – this payment will also be included on your book bill in October online.

Stationery & Books

Please ensure your child has all stationery etc. necessary for their class.  Each teacher sent an email in August with a list of what was required.  The school provides copy books and workbooks while text books are issued under the Book Rental Scheme.

Annual Consent

The annual consent for the incoming year is being sent home today.  This give consent for pupils to take part in school activities/tours/sport/visits to other schools.  Please fill in the consent form and return as soon as possible.

Absences

If for any reason a pupil is absent for a day or longer period of time a written note explaining the absence should be emailed to the school.  If we do not receive a reason for the absence, the absence will be recorded as unexplained.  If a child misses 20+ school days in any academic year, a report is made to the Education Welfare Officer/Tusla.  Please complete the Return to School declaration (text sent with link) following each period of absence.  During a legitimate sickness pupils should be kept at home to avoid infection being spread to the whole school community.  Good attendance at school is to be encouraged as it sets a good foundation for later life.

Uniform

Please ensure to name your child’s/children’s jumper(s).  They have a habit of going missing and getting mixed up especially while the weather is still warm.  Ensure that the name remains on all year as they can wash off. 

All pupils to wear tracksuits and runners on Fridays.

Staff

We wish Mrs Patton well as she commences her Parental Leave on 6^th September.  We welcome Ms McCarney to the SET position for the duration of Mrs Patton’s leave.

 

School Holidays 2021/2022

 

Reopening                            Thursday 26^th August 2021

Mid-Term                              Mon 25^th-Fri 29^th Oct inclusive

Christmas                             Closing Wed 22^nd December

Reopening                             Thurs 6^th Jan 2022

Mid-Term                              Thurs 24^th & Fri 25^th Feb

St. Patrick’s Day                    Thurs 17^th & Fri 18^th March

Easter Closing                       Fri 8^th April

Reopening                            Mon 25^th April

May Bank Holiday               Mon 2^nd May

June Bank Holiday               Monday 6^th June

Summer Holidays                Closing Tues 21^st June 2022          

 

Summer Term Newsletter 2021

  

Litter Picking with Ballybay Tidy Towns         

Congratulations and a huge well done to the boys and girls in Ms. Brown’s room who spent a morning litter picking recently.  Olivia Duffy from Ballybay Tidy Towns Committee was delighted to meet with the children and provided high vis jackets, gloves, litter pickers and bags.  She also gave the class an insect hotel.  In total the children collected 5 bags of rubbish.  During the month of April the pupils in Ms. Brown’s room have been learning about their environment and more importantly how to look after it.  It is sad to see so much litter being thrown around and with more and more food being ‘taken away’ unfortunately there seems to be an increase in littering.  It is important to teach children from a very young age not to litter.

Trip to Castleblayney Outdoor Adventure Centre

We are limited in options for a school tour this year and some schools have decided not to go on a tour at all.  After much consideration we have provisionally booked a trip to Castleblayney Outdoor Adventure Centre for all pupils for Friday June 4^th.  This trip is optional and if you do not wish your child/children to attend that is understandable.  However if children do not go on the tour they will have to stay at home as all staff will be required for supervision at the Adventure Centre on the day.  We will not be using buses as we cannot be certain of social distancing on a bus.  As such parents will be responsible for bringing their own children to the Adventure centre and collecting them at the end of the day.  Children will be remaining in their pods for the activities on the day, just as they would in school.

The itinerary for the day along with consent forms and prices will be issued nearer the time.

Sports Day

Pupils will take part in our school’s Sports Day before the end of term.  Unlike other years where pupils from all classes form teams, this year each classroom will take part in their own events.  Each room will rotate around different parts of the school grounds so as to ensure pods are not mixing.  Our sports day is weather dependent but we are provisionally planning it for the last week of term.

Standardised Testing

Pupils from 1^st – 6^th Class will complete standardised tests before the end of term in both English and Maths.  These tests were not administered last year as schools were closed.  Test results will be included with the end of year reports.

Low-Mow Lawn

We have been asked by Ballybay Tidy Towns to leave a section of the grass at the front of the school uncut.  This is to allow wild flowers such as daisies, dandelions etc. to grow naturally and species diversity will increase.

Stranooden Group Water Scheme

Many thanks to Ross MacDonald from Stranooden GWS who donated a native tree (Birch, Hazel or Hawthorn) to each pupil.  The children will receive certificates in June when Ross visits to talk to the children (outdoors) about biodiversity.

End of Term

School will close at 12.00pm on Friday 18^th June.  All text books and library books which are the property of the school must be returned before the end of term.

 

School Holidays 2021/2022

Reopening                             Thursday 26^th August 2021

Mid-Term                              Mon 25^th-Fri 29^th Oct inclusive

Christmas                              Closing Wed 22^nd December

Reopening                             Thurs 6^th Jan 2022

Mid-Term                              Thurs 24^th & Fri 25^th Feb

St. Patrick’s Day                    Thurs 17^th & Fri 18^th March

Easter Closing                       Fri 8^th April

Reopening                             Mon 25^th April

May Bank Holiday                 Mon 2^nd May

June Bank Holiday                Monday 6^th June

Summer Holidays                 Closing Tues 21st June 2022         

 

  Spring Newsletter 2021

 

“She turned to the sunlight

And shook her yellow head

And whispered to her neighbour

Winter is dead.”            

(From Daffodowndilly by A. A. Milne)

Spring has suddenly crept up on us and it is hard to believe we are at the end of the second term in school already.  We feel privileged to be back at school following 7-9 weeks of remote learning.  It is not a privilege we take for granted.  We are very conscious of the importance of implementing our Covid Response Plan, we all have a part to play in keeping our staff, pupils and their families safe during these worrying times as Covid continues to be prevalent in our country.    Again I must reiterate the importance of keeping your children at home if they display any symptoms of Covid or if you feel they (or any member of the household) may have been in contact with a Covid positive case.

Festive Walk To School

On 14^th December the children and staff took part in a festive walk to school.  We met at the Riverdale Hotel and walked to school through the park wearing festive hats.  We were unable to walk together as a school due to Covid restrictions but each classroom walked together.  On arrival at school everyone went to their own classroom and thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast provided by members of the Parents’ Association.  Children and staff made donations to Ballybay Cancer Society on the morning and €210 was collected altogether.

Hope Café Monaghan

During the month of December children brought non-perishable food items to school which were donated to Hope Café in Monaghan.  Clare Douglas who collected the food items informed us that the food would be donated to needy families in Monaghan in the run up to Christmas.  She was overwhelmed by the amount of food donated.

BCNS 2020 – School Magazine

Pupils in the senior Room created a school magazine during December and sold it to their families and friends.  €1 from each magazine is being donated to Ballybay Cancer Society.  The children were delighted with the response to their magazine and such was the demand they had to print more copies! A bundle of magazines was sent to the local nursing home, St. Anne’s for the residents to read.  Thanks to Micheal our local postman for delivering them for us. 

€140 from the sale of the magazine will be put with the €210 from the festive walk to school and €350 is being donated to Ballybay Cancer Society.  Thanks to everyone who supported these events before Christmas.

Remote Learning

During the period from 11^th January-1^st March/15^th March all pupils remained at home and worked remotely.  Staff provided daily lessons using the on-line learning platform Seesaw.  This was part of our contingency plan as required by the Department of Education.  We were delighted to have had introduced Seesaw to the children during the first term and everybody was familiar with it when schools remained closed after Christmas.  We will be continuing to use Seesaw both in school and for homework after Easter.  Remote learning was challenging for many families on a variety of levels and we appreciate the support you gave your child/children in completing the activities each day.  Staff worked extremely hard during lockdown to ensure the curriculum continued to be implemented.  It was great to see the children at our whole school zoom assembly and also at their individual zoom catch up with their teacher and classroom peers.  We will not be sending home any books when schools close for Easter.  However if schools don’t reopen we will be reverting to remote learning on Seesaw after Easter and books/packs will have to be collected from the school after the holidays.

Parent Teacher Meetings

Parent teacher meetings were deferred in Nov/Dec due to Covid restrictions.  Meetings took place on 3 consecutive Tuesdays this month over the phone at pre-arranged times.  Unfortunately it is not possible to meet with parents unless there has been a pre-arranged meeting.  Obviously we are limiting the numbers of people who come into the school building at this time.

Work Placement

We are pleased to welcome Jessica Hill to our school.  Jessica is completing work placement in Ms Brown’s room as part of her teacher training in Stranmillis College.

PSALM

The school was very pleased to receive €700 from the committee of PSALM.  This group was set up a number of years ago to promote music in Protestant Primary and Secondary schools in Co. Monaghan.  We participated in a number of events organised by PSALM.  The donation will be used to purchase an electric piano which will be a great addition to our school.

Boundary Wall Collapse

During a period of very heavy rain on 23^rd February part of the boundary wall of the school collapsed and was washed out onto the road.  We are very grateful that no one was hurt and many thanks to those who helped clear the road and remove debris on the day.  The Board of Management is engaging with the Department of Education and our school insurance company in order to secure funding to repair the wall but also to address the drainage issue behind the wall.

Looking Ahead

It is very difficult to make plans for the summer term at this stage but it is highly unlikely we will be able to go swimming as we usually do in term 3.  School tours, open mornings and whole school gatherings all appear doubtful.  However it is important to focus on the positives – hopefully the weather will be good and the children will be able to go on trips to the park/playground, nature walks and spend time outdoors in their class group while also continuing to work hard in class in order to complete all parts of the curriculum.  The summer term is short, 10 weeks in total.  It will be a different term but let’s pray we all keep safe.  Hopefully the vaccine roll out reaches more people and we can continue to keep our schools open.

School closes at 12.00 this Friday 26^th March for Easter and will reopen on Monday 12^th April.

School Closures During Term 3

Monday 3^rd May            School closed Bank Holiday

Monday 7^th June            School Closed Bank Holiday

Friday 18^th June             School closes at 12.00 for Summer Holidays

 

“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He has risen, just as he said.”

Matthew 28:5-6

 

 

December Newsletter 2020

Cash for Clobber

Many thanks to all who contributed to the Cash for Clobber clothes collection.  Over a tonne of clothes were received which results in approximately €400 for the school.  It was great to see past parents and people from the local community contributing also.

School Photographs

You should receive your school photographs this week.  If you wish to order photographs (and I am assured they will be back before Christmas), fill in the order form in your pack or order online.  There is no obligation to purchase photos.

Credit Union Art Competition

Congratulations to David Burgess in 5^th Class who was awarded 3^rd prize in the recent Credit Union Art Competition.  Unfortunately due to the current restrictions there won’t be a presentation night but members of the Credit Union will present David with his prize at school.

Caretaker

After more than 10 years’ service to the school as caretaker, Denis Parker has retired.  We thank Denis for all his work throughout that time, and wish him and his family well.

Christmas Walk to School

We will be having our annual Festive Walk to School on Monday 14^th December.  On that morning children should be left at the Riverdale Hotel where they will assemble in their separate class bubbles.  Each class bubble will walk to school through the park – the departure times being staggered so as we can socially distance!  Children can wear a Christmas jumper, hat etc and we ask that all children bring €2 each which we will donate to Ballybay Cancer Society.  Later that morning members of the Parents’ Association will leave “brunch” into school for all the children.

Food Appeal

A box has been placed inside the front door for items of non-perishable food.  If you wish to donate please give items to your child to bring in to school.  This food appeal is always well supported and we look forward to donating the food to Claire Douglas from Hope Café in Monaghan, where it will be distributed to local needy families in the run up to Christmas.

Virtual Christmas Celebration

Children are busy practising items for our virtual Christmas Celebration.  Pupils in each classroom will be recorded separately and all will be put together onto a short video.  The video will be put onto the website on 21^st December for viewing.  Please sign the consent form being sent home today giving permission for your child/children to be recorded.

Kris Kindle

It is the policy in our school that instead of the children exchanging Christmas presents with each other we implement Kris Kindle. Children have been given the name(s) of who to buy for.   Please wrap it and put the name of the person it is for (but not who it is from) on the label.  We ask that all presents are brought into school between 9^th and 16^th December.  In this way we can make sure presents can be left untouched before distributing them on 22^nd December.  Please be mindful of the age and interests of the child your child has to buy for.  All presents will be left in a box in the hall until Tuesday 22^nd when they will be distributed before children go home.

We have asked the children not to bring any Christmas cards into school for their friends this year due to the Covid situation.

Homework/Uniform

Thursday 10^th December will be the last night of homework this term.  In the meantime please ensure that all homework tasks are completed by your children.  As we have moved to an online platform if your child is unable to complete homework on the night it is assigned it should be done the following night or at the weekend –                                                                             please speak to your child’s teacher if you have any queries regarding this.

Pupils may wear their own clothes to school from Monday 14^th December onwards.

On Wednesday 16^th December it is hoped to record the items for our Virtual Christmas Celebration and it would be nice if children wore festive items that day.

End of term arrangement

School will close at 12.00 on Tuesday 22^nd December and reopen on   Wednesday 6^th January 2021.

 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

“And there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.”   Luke 2:8-9