Author: Karen Pepper

It’s hard to believe we are about to start the final month of this school year—it has been a busy year with the children enjoying many activities.  This month the children will go on their school tour and everybody is looking forward to the annual BBQ and fun night hosted by the Parents’  Association on 20th June.

Swimming Update

Swimming lessons will take place this Friday June 1st and the following Friday June 8th, which will be our last lesson.  It’s great to see the children making progress at the pool and we wish Emma Fuller every success as she represents our school at The Inter Schools Swimming Gala on Saturday 9th June.

Sports Day

The sun shone and everybody had great fun at Sports Day last Friday.  There was plenty of cheering and shouting as team members encouraged each other.  The day ended with ice cream for everybody.  See our school website ballybaycns.com for more photos!

Write A Book

Children in the senior room took part in the Write A Book competition in Monaghan Education   Centre recently.  This is a great opportunity for the children to develop their story writing skills by planning, drafting and editing stories which they then compile into a book format.  The final   results were excellent and all pupils will get certificates.  The following children were highly    commended:  David Burgess, Ellen Johnston, Avon Wylie and Sam Moffett.                                                                                        

Freya Lees, Lucy Pollock and Tessa Anderson were merit winners and they will receive their awards at a prize giving in the Garage Theatre tomorrow night.

French

Pupils in 3rd-5th class have been learning French vocabulary with Agnes Callaghan.  It is great for our pupils who learn French in secondary school to have a good foundation when leaving primary school.  Agnes’ last class will be next week.

Tour Information

We are all looking forward to our school tour in Gormanston Park next Tuesday.  It is going to be a busy day filled with lots of different activities for the children to enjoy.  Please ensure children wear comfortable clothing (tracksuit bottoms and long sleeve top which are needed for certain  activities) and runners.  Children should also wear/bring sunhats and suncream.  As it is a tour day, children are allowed to bring treats but please include sandwiches etc. in their lunch also as they will be hungry.  An extra drink will also be required.  Children will need food for two breaks.  No spending money is required.  Children are not allowed to bring mobile phones and if they do they will be confiscated.  Parents will be contacted via text-a-parent if there are any changes to the time we are due back at.

Please note all pupils must be in school by 8.45am as the bus will leave at 9.00am sharp.  We will be back at the school at 5.00pm.  Please inform After School of this time if anybody is going there.

Testing

Children in 1st-5th class have completed a Micra T test and they will complete Sigma T during the week of 11th June.  These are standardised tests that the Department of Education requires all children from 1st class upwards to do.  Results are forwarded to the Department at the end of June.  Children in 3rd class upwards will also be completing some end of year class tests over the coming weeks.  These tests prepare children for secondary school and allows them to develop their revision skills,  a skill required at second level.

Dates for your Diary

School Closed                                                                                       Thursday 31st May

School Closed                                                                                       Monday 4th June

School Tour for all classes                                                                 Tuesday 5th June

Induction morning for new pupils                                                 Wednesday 13th June

End of Year Reports to be issued                                                     Friday 15th June

Fun Evening & BBQ at 7pm                                                              Wednesday 20th June

Last swimming day                                                                             Friday 8th June

School closes @ 12.00pm for Summer holidays                          Friday 22nd June

School reopens for all classes @ 9.20am                                       Wednesday 29th August

May I take this opportunity on behalf of the staff to wish you all a very happy, safe and sun filled summer.

                                                Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything.

                                                                                   Ephesians 5 v 20

Children First National Guidance

New guidelines for the protection and welfare of children were issued in 2017 and since then staff, BOM members and school personnel have attended training as required.  It is important to note that under Children First Guidelines that every registered teacher has a statutory obligation to make a mandated report to Tusla regarding child protection concerns.

All families should have received the new Child Safeguarding Statement ratified recently by the Board of Management.  This document replaces the original Child Protection Policy and will be   included in the Booklet for Parents from now on.

Active School Week

All children and staff had a very active week at school last week and took part in a wide range of activities.  It is great to see children being active and as the evenings  become longer  (and warmer hopefully!)  encourage your children to get outdoors and keep active.  Many thanks to the Parents’ Association for their donation which allowed all the children attend the Peace Link in Clones on Wednesday. 

Swimming

Swimming continues each Friday at a reduced cost of €5 per child (again thanks to the Parents’ Association for subsidising the lessons).  If  money is being paid weekly it must be paid in advance of each lesson.  The children completed the Swim a Mile Challenge last week and received their certificates.  Well done to all.

French Classes

Agnes Callaghan has very kindly agreed to teach pupils in 3rd-5th French vocabulary for 5 weeks.  This is a great opportunity for our pupils and it gives them a definite advantage when going to secondary school.  Cost per lesson is €2 (thank you to the Parents’ Association for subsidising the balance).  Please forward €10 to school as soon as possible.

School Tour

Our school tour will be held on Tuesday 5th June, we will travel to Gormanston Park for a Let’s Go activity based school tour that is action packed and full of fun and excitement.   Further details will follow.

The cost of the tour is €25 per child.  The Parents’ Association are subsidising the cost of transport.  Money may be sent to school at any stage between now and Friday 1st June.  Payments may be paid in installments.  Please put money in an envelope with your child/children's’ name on it for the attention of Mrs McBride.

Dates for your diary

Monday 7th May                       School Closed Bank Holiday

Thursday 31st May                   School closed as staff attend in service training day for Primary Language                                                                            Curriculum

Friday 1st June                         Last swimming lesson

Monday 4th June                     School Closed Bank Holiday

Tuesday 5th June                    School Tour for all pupils to Gormanston Activity Centre

Wednesday 20th June            End of year Fun Evening

Friday 22nd June                    School closes at 12.00 for Summer Holidays

Cycle Safety Training - 3rd/6th Classes 11th September for 6 weeks

1st October - 2nd, 3rd & 4th Classes visit to Clea Primary School as part of Shared Education Project

10th October - Photographer

14th October - Harvest Service Christ Church Ballybay

7th November - Cash for Clobber Clothes Collection

29th October-2nd November - School closed for Mid Term Break

November Newsletter 2017

It’s hard to believe that our first ‘half term’ is      completed and if the next half of this term goes as quickly it will be Christmas before we know it.  This month all children will take part in two workshops as follows:

Thursday 9th November: Agri Kids Workshop—this is a  fantastic opportunity for the children to become more agri aware.  We are constantly hearing about dangers on a farm and unfortunately there have been far too many accidents and fatalities in recent times.  With many children living on farms and more children visiting farms it is important for them to be aware of the dangers.  Check out www.agrikids.ie for more information.  Thanks to Laura Ward for organising the workshop.

Friday 17th November: As part of Cavan/Monaghan Science Festival all pupils will attend “Dinosaurs Down Under” in  Monaghan Museum at 10.00am.  Dale Treadwell, RTE jr’s best loved nature guy is set to take us on a journey to his own back yard of Australia with a catch it’s the Gondwana Land.  Dale is joined by a cast of realistic Down Under Dinosaurs and an exciting AV display.

Shoe Box Appeal

If anybody wishes to fill a shoebox for Team Hope         Operations Christmas Child Appeal please bring it to school before Friday 10th November, and we will pass it on to Sandra Anderson.

Cash For Clobber

Many thanks to all who contributed to the Cash for Clobber Appeal 540kg of clothes was collected which resulted in €270 for school funds.

Parent Teacher Meetings

Parent Teacher Meetings will take place on Wednesday 29th November.

More details to follow.

Parents’ Association AGM

Many thanks to those who attended the recent AGM.  Please support the committee’s fund raising endeavours over the coming months.  So far this year a set of 15 Good News Bibles was presented to the school and all children received the benefit of discounted gymnastic lessons. 

Please forward recipes to the school before Friday 17th November which will be passed on to the committee for publication in a cookery book which will be on sale at the cookery demonstration on Friday 23rd February 2018.  In order for the book to be a success lots of tried and tested recipes are required.  Ask your extended family & friends to send in their favourite recipes also.

Book Bills

Many thanks to those who have paid their book bills.  Some bills are still outstanding, please contact the Principal if you wish to pay your bill in instalments and arrangements will be made.

School Christmas Show Time

Our bi-annual Christmas production will take place on Tuesday 22nd December at 7.30pm

October Newsletter 2017

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to Hanny, Leeroy, Joanna and Glenden who joined Ballybay Central School during September.

We are delighted that Rev. Gerry Clinton has taken over as Chairperson of the Board of Management.  We are hugely grateful to Charlie Mills who has served as Chairperson since January 2016.  Gerry will be visiting school to lead    assembly each Thursday morning except for the 1st Thursday of every month when we    welcome Andrew McMullan  and his wife Beulah from CEF to assembly.

Cash for Clobber

All unwanted clothes, bed linen, towels, shoes (paired) may be left into school over the coming weeks for collection by Cash for Clobber on 24th October.  The money raised from the collection will be used to buy much needed resources for the school.

Book Bills

Ballybay Central partakes in the Book Rental Scheme.  All books are purchased by the school and are rented to children for the year.  In order for the scheme to be a success we urge you to ensure text books, readers etc are kept in good condition.  Any lost or damaged books must be replaced.  Pupils write in workbooks and these are sent home at the end of the year.  Book rental money also covers costs of photocopying.  The school also provides copy books for children.

This year we are introducing two fees for the rental of books: Junior Infants-1st Class pupils cost €40/                    2nd-6th Class €55.

Please return payment by Friday 27th October, in an envelope with your child’s/children’s name(s) on it for the attention of Mrs McBride.  If anyone wishes to speak to the Principal re the payment of book bills please ring the school and arrangements can be made to pay in installments.

Parents’ Association

Many thanks to the Parents’ Association for their kind donation of 15     Good News Bibles.  This is greatly appreciated.  The AGM of the Parents’ Association will take place on the 24th October (provisionally) and we would encourage parents to attend.

Shoe Box Appeal

Many families already donate shoeboxes to the ‘Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal’ each year.  Sandra Anderson is going to give a talk about the appeal and show us some ideas for boxes.  If any family wishes to prepare a shoebox for the appeal they should bring it to school on or before 27th October and we will pass it on to Sandra.  For families who already donate shoeboxes through their church/library or any other organisation please continue to do so.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics continues every Fridsay until Halloween at a cost of €2 per child per week.  The children are enjoying the classes with Lisa.  Please make sure your child/children wears a t-shirt tucked into tracksuit/leggings for each class.  Each class must be paid for in advance.

Code of Behaviour

Over the coming weeks the staff will be reviewing and updating our school’s Code of Behaviour which was last ratified by the Board of Management in 2009.  A draft copy of the updated policy will be sent to each family.  Please read the policy and should you wish to comment please do so and return to school by the given date.  The Board of Management will then ratify the updated policy and each family will receive a copy.  If you have an e-mail address could you fill in the from attached as this will save on printing hard copies (especially for policies) for each family.

Photographer

The photographer will be in school on Tuesday next 10th October to take school photographs.  Please make sure all pupils are   wearing their full school uniform.  While photographs of each child/family will be taken, there is no  requirement on any parent to purchase any photos.       

Agri Aware Workshop

A workshop for children highlighting the dangers of a farm will take place in school on 9th November.

Homework

Homework is a very important part of your child’s education.  It is used to reinforce work taught in school and it also prepares children to work independently, a skill required for secondary school.  Many children are now attending the After School Service but it is still    important for parents to check that the homework has been         completed to the best of their child’s ability.  Please do not assume that homework has been completed fully in After School.

Lunches

Please ensure that your child/children adheres to the healthy lunch  policy.  Drinks suggested are water or diluted cordial.  Cartons of juice have a high sugar content and are not recommended.  We expect all children to eat all their lunch everyday.  Please don’t send lunches that are too big or include foods that your child doesn’t like as it is          distressing for a young child in particular to have to eat food they don’t like!

Absent Notes

Please fill in the absence note (found in homework diary) if your child is absent for school for any reason.  We are required to maintain records of pupils absences and if a child misses 20 school days or more they are reported to Tusla.  These absence notes may be required at  a later stage to confirm reasons for absences.

Closure

School will be closed on Monday 16th October as staff attend an Inservice Training Day for the new Primary Language Curriculum

Halloween Break —

School will finish on Friday 27th October, returning to school on Monday 6th November.