February Newsletter 2026
St. Brigid’s Day was celebrated on 1st February. There are many traditions and customs associated with this feast day in Ireland. Apparently St. Brigid promised fine weather from her feast day onwards, Spring, the season of hope and new life brought better weather and longer days – let’s hope we see better weather over the coming weeks!
Postal Bible School Prize Giving
Congratulations to everyone who received a prize at the recent Postal Bible School prize giving in Hall Street. It was lovely to see such a good crowd attend the evening. We are very thankful to Gareth and Maggie McMeekin and their helpers for all their hard work in distributing, collecting and correcting the lessons each month.
People’s Peace Forest
We are very pleased to have been chosen as one of four schools in County Monaghan to receive trees as part of The People’s Peace Forest initiative. The People’s Peace Forest (PPF) was launched last October at the Monaghan Pearce Campus and is Ireland’s contribution to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Peace Forest Initiative. It is a global programme that links land restoration with peace building.
This morning 200 silver birch trees have been planted at the back of the school. This is an area we have been working on to promote biodiversity in the school grounds. The President of the Tree Council of Ireland, Cormac Downey, arrived at 11.00 and we were delighted to also welcome Éanna Ní Lamhna to speak with the children. Éanna Ní Lamhna is a biologist, environmental consultant, radio and television presenter, author and educator. She spoke to the children about wildlife and trees and answered lots of questions.
School Uniform
Children are expected to wear the full school uniform in school every day, Monday-Thursday. Uniform consists of grey trousers/skirt/pinafore, a grey shirt, red jumper, grey and red tie and plain black school shoes/ankle books or black runners. Some children have started to wear runners to school which are not part of the uniform. Runners with logos or stripes and runners of any other colour are not permitted. Please ensure your children are wearing the correct footwear.
Fresh Today
Please use the Fresh Today app (downloaded from the App store or Google Play) to check/change lunch orders. PLEASE CLICK THE NO MEAL OPTION on any given day if your child does not wish to receive a lunch. If your child wants to opt out completely from the school lunches please let us know so as we can remove them from the system. For the month of February there is a special available, Chicken Pesto Pasta. If you are unable to access the Fresh Today App, please call into the office and we will help you.
Changemaker Project
Children in 4th, 5th and 6th classes have begun a cross border project with St. Mary’s Primary School, Granemore, Co. Armagh. In January the two schools met for team building at Parkanaur. The project focuses on topics such as diversity, inclusion, culture and reconciliation. It looks at the wider world and how children can become positive role models within their shared future by looking at what good citizenship means. Some of the dates had to be rescheduled; the following dates are now confirmed.
- Thursday 5th February – St. Mary’s P.S.
- Monday 9th February – St. Mary’s P.S.
- Tuesday 10th February – Hall St., Ballybay
- Monday 16th February – Hall St., Ballybay
- Tuesady 24th February – Parkanaur (9.00-3.00)
Open Day
Our Open Day is Wednesday 18th February 1.00-3.00pm. Everyone is welcome.
Applications for September 2026
Application forms for a school place in September are now available from the school office. If you know of anyone who requires an application form please contact the office or download one from the website www.ballybaycns.com Applications will be accepted until 27th February.
World Book Day – Thursday 5th March
We always look forward to World Book Day in our school. On this day staff and children all come to school dressed as a character from a book. You might want to start planning outfits now! On the day the children take part in lots of fun activities all of which promote the enjoyment and importance of reading. There are prizes for the most creative outfits in each classroom.
School Closures
School is closed this Friday 6th February due to staff training for the New Curriculum Framework.
Mid Term
School will be closed on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th February for midterm.
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend
School will be closed on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th March for St. Patrick’s Day.
Easter
School will close at 12.00 on Friday 27th March and reopen at 9.00am on Monday 13th April.