Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

School Tours.

The following is the itinerary for this year’s school tours.

Jun & Sen Infants – Tuesday 4^th June – Parson’s Green, Clogheen.

Rang 1&2 – Friday 7^th June – Activate, Waterford City.

Rang 3&4 – Friday 7^th June – Kilkenny Reptile Zoo and Bowling.

Rang 5&6 – Friday 31^st May – University of Limerick Activity Centre & Crescent Shopping Centre.

More details to follow very soon. Children can start bringing in money in small denominations if you so choose.

FYI.

Standardised testing will take place in late May and School Reports will issue to families, by post, in mid-June.

School Meals.

Schools who were selected late last year are beginning the rollout of the Hot School Meals programme from this week. No new schools were selected as of yet. Our situation remains the same, following a discussion at Board level, we expressed an interest in joining the scheme and will be notified of further developments in this regard. I again clarified this position from the relevant department earlier this week. Our position remains the same – we expect to be considered in the not-too-distant future and hear further details before the summer.

Our Shoes Charity.

As part of our green school’s campaign, we are connecting with our shoes.ie. This involves our school community gathering together pairs of ‘pre-loved’ sports shoes, ie trainers and football boots to donate to children / adults in South Africa. While you are decluttering, poorer children / adults are benefitting and our school is recycling. Such items can be brought to school next week, not forgetting to tie items together as pairs. Thanks in advance for your cooperation. Further information can be found here. https://www.ourshoes.ie/howtodonate

School Garden.

Well done to Rang 3 and Mrs Coffey for developing our school garden this week. Thanks to those families who helped out in any way especially by way of offering resources. Photos can be viewed on our social media.

School Transport Deadline.

If you have a child commencing with us in late August or indeed commencing secondary school later this year, please be aware that the deadline for applications is Friday next, 26^th April. https://www.buseireann.ie

Additional Caretaking Hours.

As informed last week, we have been allocated hours for additional caretaking duties under the Tús scheme. Adverts have been placed in prominent locations within the village. If you know of any interested person, pleaser refer them to the advertisement, or to us at the school for further information.

Primary Game.

Best of luck to Conal Sheehan and Anna Walsh who will both represent our school this weekend. Anna will line out with the Primary Game footballers on Saturday in the Fraher Field and Conal will line out with the Primary Game hurlers in Walsh Park on Sunday. We hope they enjoy the experience. Best wishes to our past pupils who play championship matches on both days also.

Is mise.

Michael J. O’ Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Welcome back.

Fáilte romhaibh ar ais. Welcome back one and all. Hopefully you had an enjoyable Easter, despite the inclement weather. We have to remember that ‘sweet April showers, do bring May flowers.’ Our pupils are expectant anyway, in that gardening has commenced around the school environs. We now enter Term 3, the busiest, but most enjoyable term of the school year.

Confirmation.

The highlight of the week was Wednesday, when our Rg 6 pupils received the Sacrament of Confirmation at both Fourmilewater and Nire Churches. Bishop Cullinan officiated at both ceremonies assisted by Fr Michael, with Fr Jim in the Nire. The children were very well prepared by Miss Byrne as class teacher, with assistance from Kay our SNA, Rose our Secretary and were accompanied by Miss Kelly and members of the school Band on the day. Thanks also to both sacristans, Brendan and Nora, both pastoral Council Chairs, Eileen and Micheal, Mikey, Noah, Enya and Lucy; the altar servers and indeed anyone from both parish communities who helped in any way to facilitate the staging of both ceremonies. Congratulations also to 6^th class pupils from Touraneena who joined us in the Nire on the day along with Mrs Houlihan and Miss Murray, their principal and teacher respectively. Could I respectfully ask that families involved, would return the envelopes distributed by Fr Toomey, as previously mentioned.

Rg 4 Blitz.

Today our Rang 4 pupils along with Miss Denmead & Miss Hanrahan travelled to Dungarvan to participate in a Hurling/Camogie Blitz. They played 3 matches each, showing great teamwork, sportsmanship and no little skill according to their teacher. They represented the school very well and well done to all involved.

Academic Calendar.

FYI. The calendar distributed in Term 2 is still applicable for Term 3. As of now, the only days the school will be closed will be the May and June Bank Holidays. Summer holidays will begin on Friday 21^st June and pupils will return to school on Wednesday 28^th August 2024. Open Afternoon for new infants will take place on Wednesday 12^th June between 12:45 – 2:45pm

Additional Caretaking Hours.

We thank Jim for his caretaking work at our school, along with Tina and Majella in their cleaning / supervising roles. However, our school has been granted permission by Tús to seek somebody who is interested in doing additional caretaking hours onsite, provided they meet the criteria as set out by Tús. We will direct the school community to the advertisement as soon as it is finalised, by their office. Any questions in the interim can be directed towards Mrs Connolly or myself.

Is mise.

Michael J. O’ Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Quiz – Firstly, thanks to the families who joined us for our Family Quiz last week. Thanks to all those who helped organise, host and cater on the night. Well done to our winners and those who collected raffle or spot prizes. Sincere thanks to our sponsors and guest Gavin Whelan. Hopefully you had an enjoyable night. The proceeds from this will no doubt help the school and its pupils in the year ahead.

Down Syndrome Day – Yesterday in school we marked World Down Syndrome Day when we asked pupils to wear odd socks. This was to highlight awareness of DS among our school community. This year’s theme is ‘End the Stereotype’, a message urging people to integrate people with Down syndrome in all aspects of life. Please check our social media page for photos of events such as this.

Ella from Rg 1 recently donated some of her hair to charity. She has also raised over €1,000 through the idonate platform, benefiting Rapunzel Foundation, Laura Lynn and childhood Cancer Ireland. For those interested in supporting this, please find more info here. https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/EllaArmstrong

Crazy Hat / Hair Day – Today a total of €288.45 was collected by the PA to contribute towards the Panda Playground at the Community Centre in Ballymacarbry. Go raibh míle maith agaibh, parents and pupils alike.

Uniform Exchange – The PA will hold another uniform exchange on Thursday & Friday 28 / 29^th March in the Community Centre. People are free to leave or collect school uniform items as they wish. The event will run throughout each day.

Book Club – Thanks to those who have purchased from our recent Book Club initiative, because of this we will receive book credit to add to our book stock / library.

School Transport – Reminder closing date for primary and secondary school students is Friday 26^th April https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=522

Enrolment Forms – Please return the enrolment forms at your earliest convenience, if you have a child due to commence in late August.

Head lice – Easter might be an opportune time to check your child’s hair for headlice. Some classes have received notes recently, so we will extend this call to all families over the holidays.

Reminder – Our school will be closed for the next two weeks for Easter. We will return on Monday 8^th April at 9:20 am. Confirmation in the parish will rake place on Wednesday 10^th April next. Rehearsals will take place on Monday 8^th in both local churches.

Beannachtaí na Cásca Oraibh.

Michael J. O’ Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

This Week

Our boys took part in the hurling 7 a side competition in Dungarvan this week. Well done to them on playing so well and reaching the semi-final. Congratulations to Conal Sheehan on being chosen for the West Waterford Primary Games Team.  He will represent our school at the half time interval of the Waterford V Cork match in April.

Maith sibh! to our Class Winners in the Panda Playground Competition organised by the Community Centre Committee, who drew, designed or indeed constructed model playgrounds during Science & Engineering Week to help them turn this dream to reality.

This week was a very busy week in our school. It was Seachtain na Gaeilge, so Irish language, music, song and dance were very much to the fore, with our Tráth na gCeist and our Annual Céilí on Friday. We had GAA coaching on Wednesday and our Rg 6 had a pre-confirmation retreat in the school on Thursday along with the pupils of Newcastle and Touraneena. Fr Michael asked us to deliver a letter to each of the families. Please check bags.

The pupils got dressed up for our Lá Fhéile Pádraig weekend on Friday when children donned the tri-colours as a nod to our patron saint and Irish heritage.

Today we also enjoyed a production from Wexford Studio Theatre based on the fable – ‘The Hare and the Tortoise.’ Please check out our social media page for photographs of the week.

The week is not over. We will host a Family Quiz night at the centre later. We are asking registered teams to be there by 7:20 pm. Maximum of 4 per team with two adults (max.) €15 per team. Thanks to all those families who have pre-registered and we are looking forward to an enjoyable family event.

If you are interested in our Scholastic Book Club, it is now online at https://schools.scholastic.ie Ballymacarbry Please place your order online by this evening, March 15th, 2024 if you so choose. Thanks to those who have ordered.

Uniform Exchange – Aoife and her colleagues on the PA will hold another uniform exchange on Thursday & Friday 28 / 29^th March in the Community Centre. People are free to leave or collect school uniform items as they wish. This again is a very good idea in advance of Term 3.

Enrolment Forms – Enrolment forms have been sent out to families who expressed an interest in enroling a child at our school from September. Please complete and return prior to Easter holidays, if possible.

Reminder – School will be closed on Monday next for the St. Patrick’s Holiday. School will close for Easter on Friday 22^nd March @ 12:30 pm. The after school will remain open until 4pm on the day. We will re-open on Monday 8^th April.

Crazy Hat and Hair Day – This Parents’ Assoc. event will take place on Friday next. More, early next week.

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Shona Daoibh go Léir.

Michael J. O’ Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

This Week

Penance – Our boys and girls in Rg 2 received the Sacrament of Penance on Tuesday night in FMW. They did very well indeed.  Thanks to their teacher Miss O’Keeffe and Miss Kelly and our Banna Ceoil. The children impressed Fr Toomey so much, he almost gave them today off, (inadvertently, it must be said.)

GAA Coach – Conor Prendergast visited on Wednesday to do hurling coaching with us and will visit again on Wednesday next.

World Book Day – On Thursday, we celebrated World Book Day. The staff and pupils donned the costume of their favourite book characters. Well done to all who participated. Please see some photos of the day on our social media page. Remember, ‘the more things you will read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more place you’ll go.’ – Dr Seuss, Author and Cartoonist.

On that note, don’t forget that our latest Scholastic Book Club is now online at https://schools.scholastic.ie Ballymacarbry There are hundreds of fantastic children’s books to choose from, and every €1 you spend on this month’s Book Club will earn 20¢ for our school in Scholastic Rewards. Please place your order online by March 15th, 2024 You can also choose to have your books delivered to our school which will reduce the need to pay individual delivery costs.

Engineering Week – This week we also liaised with The Panda Playground Committee of the Community Centre in helping design and in some cases construct a model playground. More about this in next week’s issue. This coincided with Engineering Week and all things STEM related.

Items to note for the week ahead.

Seachtain na Gaeilge – Next week we will celebrate our Irish culture, through our language, music, song, dance and faith in the build up to St Patrick’s Day. Watch out for our Céilí, Tráth na gCeist and Green, White and Orange Day on Friday. Bain trial as an Gaeilge a labhairt sa bhaile freisin.

Family Quiz – Green, White and Orange Day will conclude with our Family Table Quiz. to register your interest, please activate this link and answer the 3 questions. https://forms. Family Quiz Registration Thanks to those of you who have already done so. Gavin Whelan of WLR FM will be guest on the night.  Quiz begins at 7:30 pm. Maximum of two adults per table and costs €15 per table. Raffle and tuck-shop on the night.

Confirmation Retreat – On Thursday next, we will welcome members of the Holy Family Mission to our school to host a retreat for our confirmation candidates. Like last year, we will also welcome Rg 6 pupils from Newcastle and Touraneena N.S. on the day. We come together in an effort to reduce costs on families, by hosting it at our school, instead of Glencomeragh.

Wexford Studio Theatre – On Friday next, we will welcome John & Co from Wexford Studio Theatre to our school for the first time. It was traditional pre-covid, that a Drama Group would stage a production for us. The production is based on the fable, ‘The Hare and the Tortoise.’ This is scheduled for 12:30 pm. Thanks to those pupils who have paid the €3 cover charge.

Reminder – School will be closed on Monday 18^th March for the Bank Holiday. School will close for Easter on Friday 22^nd March @ 12:30 pm. We will re-open on Monday 8^th April.

Lá na Máithreacha Sona Duit! – Michael J. O’ Ryan – Principal.