Thursday, December 23, 2010

School note December 23rd 2010

Dear parents,
 As we reach the end of term, I would like to bring the following to your attention.
Members of the Parents' Association were busy bagpacking in Tesco in Dooradoyle in the run-up to Christmas. A total of €2,100 was raised. The efforts of the Parents Association, not just at Christmas, but all year round are greatly appreciated.
The Christmas Show held in Ballybrown Church on Monday night was a huge success. The show was of an extremely high standard and attracted a very large attendance. Our thanks are due to Mrs Dillon and Ms Mc Carthy who co-ordinate such a wonderful production every Christmas. Thanks also to Mr Sheehy who was in charge of the band of angels and to all the children who took part. They were a credit to the school and their parents.
Fr Tommy Byrne of the Redemptorist  Order visited the school yesterday to accept a cheque for €1,590 for the Fr Gerry Daly Christmas Fund. The money was raised by the pupils of Sixth Class who ran a Fun Day last Friday. Fr Byrne was deeply grateful for the donation and praised the children for their efforts.
A Fun Table Quiz was held yesterday for all pupils in 4th. , 5th. and 6th. classes. The winning team of Ava Coughlan, Ciara Waters, Sinead Ronan and Beverly Mullins scored 54 marks out of 60 and won by a single point. Cora Harty of the Parents Association presented prizes to the top three teams. Thank you to the Parents Association for providing the prizes and to Ms Fitzgerald, Mr Lordan, Mrs Allen and Mary Conway for their help in running it.
School will re-open on Monday January 10th at 9.15 a.m. School will close at 12.30 p.m. on Friday January 14th to facilitate a teachers' meeting.
On behalf of the Board of Management and staff of the school, I would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas. I look forward to seeing you all in 2011.
Gach dea-ghuí,

____________________________
J. Lyons
Principal

Thursday, December 16, 2010

School note December 16th 2010

Dear parents,
    
 As we approach the end of term, I wish to bring the following to your attention.
The pupils in Ms Fitzgerald's Sixth class are organising the Christmas Fun Day tomorrow Friday 17th. , proceeds of which will go to the Fr Daly Christmas Fund.
The Christmas show featuring children from First to Sixth classes will take place in Ballybrown Church on Monday Dec.20th at 7 p.m. Great credit is due to Mrs Dillon, Ms Mc Carthy and all the cast who have been rehearsing for this production. Carols can be downloaded at  www.ballybrownns.ie under the Tips for Parents link. We look forward to full audience participation.
Many parents have been involved in bagpacking in Tesco in Dooradoyle  The  Parents Association would like to thank everybody who gave so generously of their time at this busy time of year to make some money for school funds. The Parents Association would also like to pass on Christmas greetings to all families in the school.
    Confessions will be heard in the school next Tuesday for children from 3rd to 6th classes.
    There will be a Table Quiz for all pupils in 4th , 5th, and Sixth classes on Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m.. Thank you to the Parents Association for providing prizes.
Congratulations to Ms Day, Third Class teacher, who was conferred with a Masters in Drama and Performance Studies on Monday in U.C.D.
School will close for all pupils on Thursday next Dec 23rd. at 12.30 p.m. and reopen on Monday January 10th.  2011. School will close at 12.30 p.m. on Friday January 14th to facilitate a teachers' meeting.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very peaceful Christmas.
Gach dea-ghuí,

_____________________ 
J. Lyons
Principal

Thursday, December 9, 2010

School note December 9th

Dear Parents,
                     I wish to bring the following to your attention.
There will be a Colours Day tomorrow Friday Dec 10th in aid of the school's Parents' Association.  Children are not required to wear their school uniform on that day. € 1 per child would be appreciated.
Sixth Class will hold the annual Fun Day in aid of the Fr. Gerry Daly fund on the following Friday December 17th.
Please read the note from the Parents' Association on the reverse of this page.
Congratulations to Michelle Maher, Fifth Class, who won a trip to Lapland for herself and her family.
Last Thursday, pupils from First to Fourth Class enjoyed a performance of 'Dick Whittington' by the West Midlands Theatre Company from Wolverhampton. It was an excellent production.
Thank you to the members of the Parents Association who braved the Arctic conditions to direct traffic in the Car Park this week. We continue to appeal to parents to be vigilant in the vicinity of the school.
Whatever about recession, Romance is blossoming in Ballybrown NS. Our best wishes go to Ms Linda Fitzgerald, Senior Infants teacher, who will wed Dan Ivess on Saturday. Congratulations also to Ms Sinead Fitzgerald, Sixth Class teacher, on her engagement last weekend and to Ms Mary O Connell, Special Needs teacher, who was married during the Hallowee'en break.
The Christmas pageant will take place in St Joseph's Church, Ballybrown on Monday Dec 20th. All carols will be posted on the www.ballybrownns.ie website so you have no excuse for not joining in. Thanks to Mrs Dillon and Ms Mc Carthy for their efforts again this year.
Yours,

____________________ 
J. Lyons
Principal

Thursday, December 2, 2010

School note December 2nd

Dear parents,

I wish to bring the following to your attention.
A note explaining  Phonological Awareness Training  (PAT) has been uploaded on the school website. This mainly concerns children in classes from Infants to Third Class.

Any child interested in joining the choir for the Communion preparation Masses is requested to attend Ballybrown Church at 7 p.m. on Wednesday December 8th. where Marguerite will meet you.
The Parents Association members are putting the final touches to the Bagpacking in Tesco. Volunteers are needed for the 5p.m. to 7 p.m. slot on Thursday December 16th. Please contact Rosemary at the school.

There will be a Colours Day on Friday December 10th  to raise money for the Parents Association. €1 per child is requested.
Last Friday, we had a Board Games Day in school. All classes brought in games and it was a great success. €340 was raised. I have since purchased Monopoly, Chess, Draughts, Snakes & Ladders and am on the look out for more bargains. These games are kept in the school and all classes have access to them.

There is still grave concern about parking and general driver behaviour in the vicinity of the school. Parents are using the disabled spots to drop off children and allowing children to run through the staff parking area. There have been several close calls lately. The Parents Association has decided to steward the Car Park in response to this. I am very grateful to them for this and ask all drivers to co-operate. The safety of children is our only concern.
Gach dea-ghuí

_________________
J.Lyons
Principal