Thursday, November 25, 2010

School note November 25th

Dear parents,
The members of the  Parents Association are busy organising the bagpacking in Tesco in Dooradoyle. If you are available to help on the dates, please return the form to Rosemary in the school office by tomorrow morning. The next Parents Association meeting is Monday next November 29th at 8.30 pm in the Halla.
Last Friday night, Ballybrown NS finished in third place in the GAA School of the Year Awards in Croke Park. This was the second time in two years that we achieved this placing.
I would remind parents that these notes are available on the school blog. www.ballybrownns.ie
Our school will participate in a school Board  Game playing day tomorrow Friday Nov 26th. It is hoped that the pupils will bring board games to school on the day, where they will have an opportunity to enjoy playing these with their friends.  
Board games are recognised as being excellent tools for encouraging social interaction amongst children and teaching them valuable life skills. All children benefit from playing games. Games teach important social skills such as sharing, obeying rules, taking turns and winning and losing.  Regular game-playing can contribute to developing the concept of turn-taking, visual alertness, visual discrimination, fine and gross motor movements, attention to the sound and letter value in words, number and time concepts, memory strategies, sequencing, problem solving, deductive and inductive reasoning, vocabulary and a host of other skills.
These are but a few of the advantages of playing board games and we at Ballybrown National School hope to provide more opportunities for the children to play these games in the future. Hasbro, an Irish board company will sponsor some free games for the school as a result of having this game day and we also ask that the pupils each bring €2 in order to help the school buy a substantial amount of games for the children for use in our school.
Yours,

____________________
J. Lyons
Principal

School note November 18th

Dear parents,
I wish to bring the following to your attention.
Parent – teacher meetings will take place next Thursday November 25th . School will end for all pupils at 2 p.m. It is important that all pupils are collected promptly so that the scheduled times can be adhered to. Most teachers have 20-25 meetings scheduled for that afternoon. If you have an issue to discuss that may take longer than the allotted time, please arrange a further appointment and the school will make every effort to accommodate you. Each family will receive a letter today with details of appointment times.
I would like to thank the members of the Parents Association who helped with the Book Fair. Once again, the Book Fair was a great success. The turnover came to €2500 approximately and the school will receive books to the value  of 60%  of this amount as commission. Please note that the Parents Association will send out a note next Monday regarding the Bagpacking in Tesco, Dooradoyle. Volunteers needed.
Congratulations to Clodagh Kirby, Cathal Locke and Ava Coughlan, Sixth Class, all prizewinners in the MPCC Credit Union poster competition.
A number of children have had to leave school due to illness recently. I have been informed that some have presented with a viral infection and a 'foghorn' type cough. Medical advice is that this is contagious and if these symptoms occur, you should bring the child to your doctor.

The school has been shortlisted for the Best GAA School Award and the result will be announced at the Cumann na mBunscol Awards in Croke Park tomorrow night. It is a great honour to make the shortlist for the second time in the last three years.

Gach dea –ghuí,

____________________ 
J. Lyons
Principal,

Thursday, November 11, 2010

School note November 11th

The annual Book Fair is currently taking place in the school Hall. Parents may visit the Book Fair today Thursday from 2-4 p.m. and from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. tonight.  There will be another opportunity tomorrow between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. The school receives a commission on all books sold. I am indebted to the members of the school's Parents' Association who are helping out with the Book Fair.
Congratulations to Mairead Hannon, Fifth Class, who was a prizewinner in the Fairtrade Christmas Card competition. Congratulations also to Robert and Eoin Corby, successful in the Munster Schools Swimming Gala in Cork last weekend.
The next meeting of the Parents' Association will take place next Monday night November 15th. at 8.30 p.m.
The Food Dudes initiative has reached the halfway point and the response has been extremely positive.
Parent teacher meetings will take place on Thursday  November 25th. Appointments are being finalised at the moment. Please note that notice of appointments will not be posted out to parents this year. The eldest child in each family will receive the notices. This is an effort to reduce costs.
As the weather deteriorates, I appeal to parents to be extremely careful when dropping off and collecting children. Please use the car parking areas. Parents should not park in the Staff parking area or allow pupils to run through this area. . Disabled parking spots and bus parking should be kept free at all times.
The school's only concern is the safety of our pupils.

Thank you for your co-operation in this matter.

Gach dea-ghuí,

________________
J.Lyons

Principal

Friday, November 5, 2010

School Note November 4th

Dear parents,
The Book Fair will go ahead in school next week, starting on Thursday 11th. Books will be available for viewing at designated times for parents and pupils. A note will issue next week with further information.
The Food Dudes initiative is going on in school this week and the reaction from pupils has been overwhelmingly positive. Today's fruit was raisins and carrots were the vegetables. Thanks to Mr Sheehy and Mr Lordan for co-ordinating distribution to all classes. There are also lovely prizes on offer.
I have just received confirmation that Ballybrown NS has been nominated on the shortlist for Best GAA School in the Allianz  Cumann na mBunscol Awards. The other schools nominated are Dualla NS, Co. Tipperary, Watergrasshill NS, Co Cork and Doon CBS. The winners will be announced in Croke Park on Friday November 19th. There are six teachers actively involved in GAA activities in the school and this nomination is recognition of that commitment.
Sixth Class will start swimming classes in Askeaton Leisure Centre next Wednesday  and will continue for six weeks. Fifth Class will get their turn in the New Year.
The two Senior Infants classes are enjoying their new Interactive Whiteboards. The Promethean Board in Ms Fitzgerald's class was procured thanks to the 300 old mobile phones collected by parents. Mr  Lordan's class is next on the list.
For children interested in Science, UL Festival of Science will take place in UL on Saturday Nov 13th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Further details from Vicky at 061 202642.
Fógra: The Community Council wish to inform you that a Fun Bingo Quiz will be held in the local GAA Hall on Friday 12th Nov at 9pm. Over 18yrs only. Table of 4 (10euro each).
 Ballybrown/Clarina Community Games wish to announce that Draughts Training will commence this Thursday in the school hall from 7:30 to 8:30pm. The competitions are U10, U12, U14. New competitors are welcome.
Gach dea-ghuí,

___________________ 
J. Lyons
Principal

School note October 21st

Dear parents,
. It has been pointed out to me that some traffic/parking problems have arisen lately.
For parents new to the school, please note that traffic enters near Fr O Connor's house and exits near to the school.  Drivers are asked not to park at or near the exit as this causes a delay and prevents the speedy throughput of cars.
Safety of pupils is at all times our first concern. Parents are requsted not to park or drop off children near the area reserved for buses or the staff car park. Children should not walk through the staff car park.
Please do not obstruct access to the area designated for buses or the disabled spaces. I appeal to parents to observe the designated areas. I would also ask parents to convey this information to other drivers such as grandparents/ siblings/ minders who may do the school run.
The Food Dudes Healthy Eating initiative has started in the school and will continue for 16 days after the midterm break. A special word of thanks to Mr Sheehy and Mr Lordan who have agreed to co-ordinate the project. As this involves distribution of over 270 packs of fruit and vegetable every day as well as organising surveys, rewards and disseminating information, there is a lot of work involved. The daily Fruit Break will continue.
Damien O Brien has asked me of Ballybrown/Clarina Community Games to include the following:
A registration night will be held in Ballybrown NS hall on next Thursday night (21st October from 7pm-8pm). All children aged between 6 and 15 who wish to take part in community games this year must register on this night. Registration is €5 and covers insurance and participation for all community games competitors throughout the year. Upcoming events (before Christmas) include Draughts and indoor soccer. For other Events see information on registration night.

School will close at the usual time tomorrow and reopen on Monday November 1st. Tomorrow is the date of the Hallowe'en Party. Fancy dress optional.
Gach dea-ghui

___________________________
J. Lyons
Principal