September Newsletter 2023

Welcome

Welcome back to a new school year at Ballybay Central and we extend a very warm welcome to Moriah, Lauren, Sam, Harper, Chloe, Mark, Daniel, Louise, Katie and Bethany who have joined our school this September. We hope you will be very happy with us. We also welcome Niamh Donaghy and Lauren Angell who have joined the staff. Ms Donaghy will be teaching in the Senior Room every Tuesday and Ms Lauren is our EAL teacher this year.

Fresh Today

Fresh Today lunches recommence today, 4^th September for pupils in Senior Infants upwards. The log in details from last year are the same. Please order/make any changes before 5.00pm each Thursday for the following week. If you don’t change the order your child will receive the same lunch each week. Please check in with your child/children to see what they like or don’t like. Younger children can get upset if they continue to receive a lunch they don’t like! Lunches for Junior Infants will begin on Thursday 14^th September and they will receive log in details before then. If your child/children are never going to avail of the free lunch being provided please let the office know and they will be taken off the system.

Please remember to provide a healthy snack for first break. CRISPS, CHOCOLATE BARS, CHOCOLATE BISCUITS ETC. ARE NOT ALLOWED. Suggested alternatives are fruit, crackers, salted popcorn, yoghurts, cheese, wraps, pasta, sandwiches, bread sticks, rice cakes, sugar free jelly or vegetables.

Aladdin Connect

Later today you will be requested to give or decline permission for 2 separate items on Aladdin Connect:

Use of photographs – this is giving permission for your child’s photo to be used during the year on the school website, newsletter, the local newspaper etc. children are not named when photographs are used. If you do not give consent your child won’t be photographed in school.
Taking part in school activities outside the school grounds. This includes walks, trips to the local park/playground, visits to other educational facilities/schools, school tours etc.

Please check your Aladdin and accept or decline permission as appropriate.

Aladdin will be used for all correspondence from school this year. Please note you are unable to reply to an Aladdin notification or to send a message using Aladdin. Later in the year Aladdin will be used to book Parent/Teacher Meeting appointments. If your child is absent, being collected early or arriving late to school, please use Aladdin to inform their teacher.

P.E.

PE will be on Fridays for this term and we look forward to welcoming Euan Treanor soccer coach with the FAI for the next 6 Fridays.

Children should wear tracksuits and runners every Friday for P.E.

Uniform

Please ensure jumpers are named – especially during this warm weather as they can get mixed up when taken off. School uniform must be worn Monday-Thursday.

Text Books/Stationery

The Free Primary Schoolbooks Scheme means that parents are no longer required to contribute to the cost of schoolbooks. Therefore you will not be charged for book rental as other years. All books and resources used to implement the curriculum are the property of the school and if damaged or lost must be replaced.

Photographer

The photographer will visit the school on Tuesday 3^rd October.

Parents’ Meeting

All parents are invited to attend a meeting in the school on Wednesday13^th September at 7.30pm. Staff will be present at the meeting to discuss the school curriculum, routines and general school policies. It is important that each family is represented at the meeting.

Cash For Clobber

Our annual Cash for Clobber collection will take place on Friday10th November. All unwanted clothes, bed linen, towels, shoes (paired) may be left into school after the October midterm break. The money raised from the collection will be used to buy much needed resources for the school. Please spread the word amongst friends, neighbours and family members. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Hedgerow Week

This is Hedgerow Week, an initiative of Teagasc and The Heritage Council. Ross Cochrane will visit the school this week and will speak to 4^th-6^th Classes about the importance of our hedgerows.

Homework

Written homework will begin next Monday.

Contacting the School

If you need to contact a member of staff, please ring 042 9741365 before 9.20am or after 3.10pm. The school secretary works on Mondays and Wednesdays. If you require to discuss a matter in depth with a teacher, a meeting will be arranged which will take place before or after school. The reason for requesting a meeting should be indicated in advance. Teachers must not be contacted on their personal mobile numbers or personal email addresses.

Ballybay Central National School

School Calendar 2023-2024

School Re-opens	Wednesday 30^th August
Mid-Term Break	Monday 30^th October-Friday 3^rd November inclusive
Christmas Closing	Friday 22^nd December @ 12 (Mon 25^th-Fri 5^th Jan)
Re-opening	Monday 8^th January 2024
St. Brigid’s Day	Monday 5^th February
Mid-Term Break	Thursday 15^th & Friday 16^th February
St. Patrick’s Day	Monday 18^th March
Easter Closing	Friday 22^nd March @ 12 (last day of school)
Re-opening	Monday 8^th April
Bank Holiday	Monday 6^th May
Bank Holiday	Monday 3^rd June
Summer Holidays Closing	Friday 21^st June