Thursday, January 31, 2019

School note January 31st

31-1-2019

Dear parents,

                         Today has been another busy day in the life of the school. The children in Fifth and Sixth classes invited their grandparents to visit as part of Catholic Schools Week. Mr Barry and Ms Gibbons have been busy ensuring a real Ballybrown welcome for these important guests. Great credit is due to the boys and girls who worked so hard to ensure everything went without a hitch on Grandparents Day.

                        Communication: I am a firm believer in the importance of good communication. Parents are reminded that the class teacher is the first person you contact if you have concerns about your child. Rosemarie will make an appointment for you to meet the teacher. Teachers will do everything to put your mind at ease. Parent and teacher working together for the benefit of the pupils is the ideal situation.               

                        Parking:  At the end of the school day, children exit by the gate nearest the Resource Centre. I appeal to parents not to ask their children to walk through the Staff Car Park.   In bad weather, small children running through the car park is very dangerous. There is plenty of parking space in the Resource Centre and at the Church. If you park between the school and Hayes's shop, please collect your child at the main gate in front of Reception. Grandparents who collect children need to be aware of this.

                             Mr Keoghan's class hosted the January Assembly today. They sang, recited poetry in both English and as Gaeilge  and told us all about Italy. The hard work and practice paid off and they did themselves proud.

                         Quiz: Seven quiz teams from Ballybrown NS will represent the school in the MPCC Table Quiz in Mungret GAA club tomorrow night. They have been preparing diligently. Last week, one of our teams finished in fourth place in the county final of the Community Games Quiz.

                   Ballybrown GAA club: u 8s,10s and 12s will return to training on Friday February 8th in UL. We will train in the new McGuire pitches and ball walls, the cost per child is fifteen euro for six weeks. There will be more details from the management teams soon.

Thanks to everyone who attended  our registration night last Friday , the second and last juvenile registration night will take place next Monday 8 to 9 in the clubhouse.

Gach dea- ghuí,

 

J. Lyons

Principal

 

Friday, January 25, 2019

Schhol note Friday January 25th

25-1-2019

Dear parents,

                      Due to electrical problems, we have been without access to computers and internet since Wednesday. Thankfully, the problem is now resolved. 

                       We had an unexpected visitor to school on Wednesday when Julie from Gas Networks Ireland arrived to reveal that Mathew Collins and Mark Doolan were winners of a nation-wide poster competition on the dangers of Carbon Monoxide.The competition was run in partnership with Junior Achievement. The prize was an ipad for the school. Well done to Matthew and Mark.

 

The Hedge School in Newtown featured on Nationwide on RTE last Monday. There was a great reaction to the appearance of Fifth and Sixth class pupils and teachers.

                The school entered two quiz teams in the Community Games West Limerick quiz on Thursday January 17th. 47 teams took part and the Ballybrown NS teams finished in First and Third places. A great achievement.

                 The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) are currently reviewing the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum for both primary and post primary schools in Ireland. As part of that review , they have compiled a survey in order to gather parents' views and would appreciate it if you could complete this survey. The closing date for this survey is the 27th of January 2019. To complete this survey please click this linkhttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Review_of_RSE_Curriculum

 

Mungret St Paul's ladies footballers: underage training will resume tomorrow
Saturday 26th January 11am- The Village Pitch, Mungret.

 Sporting Limerick rounders team based in Ballybrown:  We are having a table Quiz in Ballybrown GAA clubhouse Friday 1st February at 8.30pm.  

Ballybrown/Clarina Community Games – Upcoming events

Draughts  We have our first competition last week. Our U14 team our 2 under 12 teams and 1 under 10 team qualified for the next round. Our other U10 team were in a three-way tie so they will have to play again next week.

Art Competition The date for this completion has changed to Saturday 16th February with venue to be confirmed.Please note that children have to bring whatever colours they plan on using in the competition with them, paper will be provided

Hand Writing The date for this completion has changed to Saturday 16th February with venue to be confirmed

 Swimming B Competition Sunday 3rd February 2019 – Askeaton Pool from 4-6pm

Swimming A competition Sunday 3rd March 2019 – Askeaton Pool from 4-6pm

Talent – closing date for entries is 13th of February.

Contact Pauline on (087) 8365545 or Aine on (086) 2070889 if you have any interest in the above events

Gach dea-ghuí, 

J. Lyons

Principal

 

Thursday, January 17, 2019

School note January 17th




17-1-2019
Dear parents,
                   News reached school on Tuesday of the death of Tiny, mother of Riyana, Second Class and wife of Cyril. Our sincere sympathy to all her family and friends on this sad occasion. Mass in Patrickswell Church today at 4 p.m. Reposing in Patrickswell Church until 7 p.m. tonight.
                  Jim O Farrell has informed me  that 'Nationwide'  on RTE One will feature Ballybrown and the Hedge School in Newtown  on Monday January 21st.
                   Is your child starting school in 2019? The closing date for Application forms is  3 p.m. tomorrow Friday January 18th.
                  Morning Supervision: Mrs Hodgins is currently on sick leave. Mrs Millar, Assistant Principal, is supervising the Junior Yard each morning from 9 a.m. to 9.15 a.m.
                  Safety of children: Children should never walk through the teachers' car park, even if accompanied by an adult. All classes exit via the gate near the Resource Centre except for children using the school bus service. It would be appreciated if parents did not use the teachers' car park.                 
                   Parents Association: The Minister has extended closing date for the consultation period on the proposed changes to the exemption from Irish until Thursday the 17th of January.  To complete the survey please click this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Exemption_from_the_study_of_Irish

Drama classes will resume in the Community Centre on Friday 18th January.  For more information,Contact Carol on 0878171814.
 Breska Rovers Underage Registration night for the 2019 season will take place Jan 28th at 7pm to 8:30pm in the Community resource centre. Open to children over the age of 4. Registration fees will stay the same. New players always welcome.
Ballybrown GAA: Underage Registration night for the 2019 season will take place  on Friday Jan 25th from 7p.m. to 8:30pm in the clubhouse. New players always welcome. 
Ballybrown/Clarina Community Games – Upcoming events:
Draughts  We have our first competition this coming Saturday evening at 5pm in Ballybrown Resource Centre. Good luck to our U10 team, our 2 u12 teams and our U14 team.
Art Competition is being held on 26th January with venue to be confirmed. Can you please let us know if your child is interested in taking part.
Hand Writing is being held on 26th January with venue to be confirmed. Can you please let us know if your child is interested in taking part.
 Swimming B Competition Sunday 3rd February 2019 – Askeaton Pool from 4-6pm
Swimming A competition Sunday 3rd March 2019 – Askeaton Pool from 4-6pm
Talent – closing date for entries is 13th of February.
Contact Pauline on (087) 8365545 or Aine on (086) 2070889 if you have any interest in the above events. Check out our facebook page for more details https://www.facebook.com/ballybrownclarinacommunitygames/?ref=bookmarks

Le dea-ghuí,
J. Lyons
Principal    

Thursday, January 10, 2019

School note January 10th 2019

10-1-2019

Dear parents,

                     All children from Junior Infants to Fourth class began a five week programme of gymnastics with  School Fitness Ireland on Tuesday.

                     The boys and girls in Third class began a six week programme of swimming lessons in Askeaton Leisure Centre yesterday.

            Seasonal  advice: The HSE has issued advice for parents on preventing the spread of influenza and infectious diseases in schools.  

http://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/influenza/seasonalinfluenza/guidance/schools/ 

The advice re chicken pox is : To prevent spreading the infection, keep children off nursery or school until all their spots have crusted over. Chickenpox is infectious from 1 to 2 days before the rash starts, until all the blisters have crusted over (usually 5 to 6 days after the start of the rash) .

  In brief:  If your child is sick, he/she should not be at school!            

Attendance: In the event of any pupil reaching a total of 20 days absence from school in a school year, the school is required by law to make a report to Tusla. Parents are advised to be aware of this and to be mindful of their child's attendance record.

 

Parents Association News: NPC has been asked by the Minister for Education and Skills to make a submission on the future direction of policy and practice in relation to the granting of exemptions from the study of Irish in primary and post primary schools.
The Minister has launched a consultation paper on this issue.
NPC has compiled a brief survey to get the views of parents on the key changes proposed, based on the questions asked by the Minister regarding the proposed changes.
To complete the survey please click this linkhttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Exemption_from_the_study_of_Irish 

Please complete a separate survey for each child. The survey will close at 10 a.m. on Friday the 11th of January.

The next Parents Association meeting will take place on Wednesday 16th January at 19.30 in the school hall.  All parents are welcome to attend. We are always looking for new ideas and suggestions so your input would be very welcome.

 

Mindfulness, Self-awareness classes to help and support children 5 - 12 years, who may be feeling anxious, lacking in self- confidence, self esteem. Teaching them tools and techniques that they can use daily to build resilience and confidence. Classes starting end of January in 11 Thomas St. For more information contact Therese 087 7531979.

 

Gach dea-ghuí,

J. Lyons

Principal