Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Active Week – Week 9 has been a very busy week at our school. Children completed activities each and every day; Monday they went on walks, Tuesday they received coaching skills from local club members, they also got to hear about geology, rocks and our UNESCO site along Waterford’s Copper Coast from Tina Keating, co-sponsored by the Irish Heritage Council. Wednesday saw us compete in the Deirdre O’Ryan Blitz in Newcastle, where we were unlucky in the final. We also had ‘Circuits Day’ back at school. Thursday was ‘Inflatables Day’ and the entire event was sponsored by our Parents Association, including the organising of an on-site ice cream van and cone for everyone. Friday was Sports Day, a fun filled day of sports and activities. Even though the weather was inclement at times, we can’t complain, as May and June have been so good for tours and other activities of late. ‘Míle Buíochas’ to all who contributed in any way with the staging of the week’s events, including staff; Mrs Byrne and Mrs Mcgrath who led it, pupils, parents, visitors, and our past pupils who took the time to write, volunteering their assistance on various days, throughout the week. The children also got the chance to practise their percussion skills on the Djembe Drums with Miss Kelly. See our Facebook page for photos of the week.

Mayoral Visit – We welcomed Mayor of Waterford City & County Council, John O’Leary and his wife to Eileen to our school on Thursday. This was a special occasion, as it was the first time the City and County Mayor of Waterford officially attended our school. John in his role as mayor and public representative for this area, organised Senior Roads Personnel from WC&CC to travel to speak with Board of Management members and himself in an effort to improve Road Safety at our school gate and adjacent intersection. We hope something positive shall come of this visit in the not-too-distant future. We thank the mayor for his cooperation and attendance along with council officials. During his visit, Mayor O’Leary spoke to all pupils and presented ‘Amazing Attendance’ Certificates to some of our pupils. Please visit our Facebook page to see Photos.

Open Afternoon – We welcomed our new infant pupils and their families to our ‘Open Afternoon’ on Wednesday last. We will have a cohort of 21 new infants start with us on Wed 30^th August next. We look forward to seeing them again in “Big School”

School Reports – All school reports have been posted to all school families today. Attached to the reports, if applicable, are reports from Special Education Team and also a stationery list for all pupils, (bar the current Rg 6.) This list is the sum total of items to be purchased by families for each child attending our school. Reminder; The school will purchase all textbooks, workbooks and copies from the recently issued Dept. of Education Grant. We will no longer collect monies for the Book Rental Scheme from Sept 2023.Token booklists for each class will be published on our website at the end of June, for information purposes only.

School Concert DVD – Thanks to Ger McGrath, we have received our hard drive file of our School Concert nights which were held earlier this year. We would like to gauge interest before we transfer them to DVD. If you are interested, please complete the following short survey and we will revert to you, once we know the interest and hence the amount to be charged per unit. School Concert Interest Survey

Aladdin Connect – It is hoped to up our school administration package from ‘Aladdin’ to ‘Aladdin Connect’ to allow parents the opportunity of contacting the school in advance of planned pupil absences or following absences. This will reduce to need for absence slips and telephone calls. Parents can check the days missed, look at school reports from 2024 and correspond with teacher. This will be in the form of an ‘App’ which can be downloaded for free. There are other advantages which will become apparent in time and explained fully.

Tables & Chairs – Thanks to those who have purchased old tables and chairs from us in the past fortnight. Please contact us if you would like to see what remains on premises. We still have a few yellow and red tables, and some chairs suitable for ages 4-8 years.

Last Week of Term. – Reminder. We are closed on Monday next for teacher in-service. On Tuesday, our Rg 6 pupils will venture to the Nire lakes on a class excursion for the last time, learning about history, geography and having fun along the way. Fr Toomey will celebrate an ‘End of Year Mass on Wednesday at 10 am in FMW. Following on from this, Rg 5 will host our Annual Bake Sale at the school at noon and proceeds this year will go to C-Saw. Later that same evening, at 7 pm in the school, we will graduate our Class of 2023 and have some light refreshments for families afterwards. Pupils will go into holiday mode on Thursday next at 12:30 pm while the teachers continue with in-service Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’ Ryan.

Principal

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

School Tours – All our school tours are now complete and thankfully, we had wonderful weather throughout. We travelled to places as near as Lismore and as far as Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Co Clare and had four very good tours. Thanks to all involved; pupils, staff, parents and bus drivers.

Staffing – Our team is now complete for the year ahead. The missing personnel from previous published correspondence are; Miss M. Boyce will deputise in Junior Infants for Ms E. Dunlea. Miss C. Kelly will deputise for Mrs McGrath in Rang 5 and Miss S. O’Gorman will deputise for Miss S. Blain in Special Education. As mentioned last week, Ms M. Walsh also joins our Special Ed team for the year ahead.

Open Afternoon – Our Open Afternoon for new pupils and their parents will take place on Wednesday next at 1pm. It is hoped to finish at 2:30pm

Tables & Chairs – We still have some white, yellow and red tables and some white and yellow chairs for sale. Thanks to those families who have purchased items and taken them away. Please contact us asap if interested.

RSE – Ms Edel Harding facilitated us today in educating our Rg 6 students in matters relating to Relationship and Sexuality Education.

Bake Sale – Rang a 5 will organise an end of year School Bake Sale on Wed 21st of June in the Halla. All proceeds from the sale will go to the charity C-SAW who offer support and assistance to people who have been bereaved or in any way impacted by suicide. We encourage all classes to get involved and to bake something for the sale. It will take place after our end of year mass on the day. Bainfaimid trial as Gaeilge a labhairt agus beidh lá iontach againn gan dabht.

Booklists – Before school finishes, the relevant class booklists will be uploaded onto our school website for information purposes only. School, will we be acquiring all books, workbooks and copies for all pupils in our school. Families will be asked to purchase and fill pencil cases for each of their children in accordance with the wishes of their teacher for the upcoming year. This slip will be attached to all school reports from the current Junior infants to Rang 5 next week.

School Reports – These are being compiled at the moment and will be posted out from Thurs next 15^th June.

June Calendar – Attached to this email is a list of school events scheduled to take place during weeks 9 &10, the last two of term. This will be of interest to all staff, pupils and families connected to our school.

Active Week – This commences on Monday next, 12^th June. This is where, in addition to education, classes are encouraged to become active by doing activities each day. Reminder to bring more liquid refreshments, hats and perhaps sunscreen too. Children will need hurleys, helmets on Tuesday, if possible. Some past pupils have written to us volunteering their help. We appreciate this and will be in touch with anyone who did so, allocating days.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’ Ryan.

Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

School Tours – Our senior side of the school has been school touring these last few days. Rg 3/4 to Zipit, Cork on Thursday and Rg 5/6 to Craggaunowen, Bunratty and the Crescent S.C.on Friday. The weather has been exceptional for this year’s tours. I get the feeling that they all enjoyed their turas scoile. Thanks to all staff, all pupils, bus drivers and you the parents / guardians, for your cooperation with the scheduling of these. Don’t forget our Junior and Senior infant tour takes place on Tuesday next (after the bank holiday.) Pupils will leave the school at 9:30 am and it is anticipated to return to the school (Not the Comm. Centre) by 3pm at latest.

Medal Presentation – On Wednesday last, we took the opportunity of presenting the Hurling Plate Winners with their medals at a school assembly in the Halla. Mrs Byrne commented on each of the players as they received their medals. Mr O’Ryan presented them. It is always nice to be able to present medals to our pupils, as part of a school team.

School Timetable – The month of June is always a very busy month at school. A timetable has already been sent to Rg 6 families as they traditionally have most to get through at this time of year. We will publish a list of all important school related events next Friday.

School Uniform from Tuesday next, pupils are permitted to wear their P.E. uniform until the summer holidays. They can also choose to wear short navy, unbranded pants in line with school policy. We would appreciate your cooperation on this matter in the interest of uniformity.  Please ensure all jumpers are initialed. The P.A. will hold another uniform exchange at the Community Centre on the first week end in July. All unclaimed items at school on 23^rd June will be given to Aoife for this collection.   

Tables – Owing to the purchase of new tables and chairs for the infant classes, we would like to give the opportunity to families to purchase a ‘pre-loved’ table and / or chair from us in the next week or two. They are white / yellow / red in colour and may suit younger child to Rg 2 standard. Please contact, class teacher, Rose or myself on a first come, first serve basis, with no compulsion to buy. Tables €5 and chairs €2.

Staffing – We will be in a position to announce our entire team for September, in next week’s email. There are some vacancies in the published list to date, but interviews have been held and offers have been made. The full complement should be known ahead of our ‘Open Afternoon’ for new entrants which takes place on Wednesday 14^th June at 1:30 pm.

Bainigí taitneamh as an deireadh seachtaine agus an Lá Saoire Poiblí amárach.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan.

Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

GAA – Our boys were victorious in the Cumann na mBunscol School Hurling ‘A’ Plate Final against Cappoquin in Abbeyside pitch last night. It was a tight match but two goals in the second half helped in no small way to ensure victory on a scoreline of Ballymacarbry N.S. 3:3 Bunscoil Gleann Sidheáin 0:4. The game was level at the break. Brandon & Mikey received the Shield from Neil Moore after the game. It was a great evening, with a great crowd and a great achievement for our panel of 24, their manager Mrs Byrne and the club coaches who helped out along the way. Thanks to Ronan for the treats today at lunchtime.

School Tours – Currently our Rg 1&2 boys and girls are in Dublin and are running a little behind schedule after having a very enjoyable day at the Zoo. Their plan is to stop at Portlaois on the journey home and once loaded, parents will receive a text / whatsapp message with an estimated time of arrival at the Community Centre, anticipated to be between 7-8pm. Thanks to the Norris family for organising this with Dublin Zoo authorities in memory of Danny and for paying for all the children on board. Thanks too, to the teachers/ supervisors and bus driver for their assistance today.

Rg 3,4,5 & 6 School tours will take place towards the end of next week. Both these tours will depart from the Community Centre at the indicated times. Please ensure money is paid and that the permission survey is signed online. The relevant links are to be found here.

Rg 3 / Rg 4 School Tour Consent Form

Rg 5 / Rg 6 School Tour Consent Form

Testing – Our yearly standardised assessments are currently taking place, involving Rg 1-Rg 6, the results will be included on the Annual School Reports issued from mid-June.

Active Week – This year Active week will take place from Monday 12^th June. Relevant staff are putting together a programme of events in cooperation with Aoife and the PA. This will culminate on Friday 16^th with Sports Day, weather permitting.

WC & CC – Thanks to the staff at the local Council Depot for organising the cutting of the grass at the junction. The exceptional growth of late had reduced exiting sightlines considerably.

Trip to Church – Rg 6 participated in the local midweek mass on Wednesday morning and were given a tour of the church afterwards and an opportunity to “Ask Fr” questions they may have. This was earmarked as an activity for them, following the Sacrament of Confirmation received in March last. Thanks Fr Michael.

Rg 6 Timetable – The month of June is always a very busy month at school. It is especially busy for Rg 6 and their families and their teacher, considering it is their last month with us. A timetable of events particular to Rg 6 will be forwarded early next week, highlighting important dates to come in June. Please make sure who have returned your RSE Pack to your teacher and that you have also completed the Rg 6 Passport for Secondary school.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’ Ryan

Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Holy Communion – Well done to our Rang 2 boys and girls who made their First Holy Communion last Sunday in the Nire. Well done to their teachers; Mrs Coffey & Miss O’Keeffe who prepared them so well. Thanks to celebrant and school chaplain, Fr Toomey, who as always, made it such an uplifting ceremony. Thanks to Niamh Meehan and some pupils for providing the accompanying music along with the church choir in the Nire. Thanks to Nora, the sacristan, Enya the server and the Parish Hall Committee for providing refreshments afterwards. I hope the pupils and their families enjoyed the day / weekend.

Food Dudes – The children enjoyed fruit and vegetables this week as part of the Food Dudes programme. They got to sample carrots, cucumbers, courgettes, tomatoes, apples, bananas, blueberries and satsumas. These items are all part of a healthy lunchbox and are encouraged at our school. As junior infants were newcomers to our school, they received a Food Dudes lunchbox. Thanks to Mrs McGrath and all staff for assisting.

RSE – Our RSE Day for Rg 6 will take place on Friday 9^th June. Thanks to those parents who have completed and returned the relevant documentation. If you haven’t already done so, please do.

School Tours – Our 1^st & 2^nd Class School Tour takes place today week. The class teachers sent an explanatory email to relevant families on Wednesday last. The 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th & 6^th Class tours will take place the following week. Notices will be sent out next week in relation to these. Money is currently being collected. Please put it in an envelope with child’s name and family number.

Testing – Our yearly standardised assessments will take place from late May involving Rg 1-Rg 6, the results will be included on the Annual School Reports issued from mid-June.

Staffing – We will welcome Melissa Walsh, Ballydonagh to our staff from September. Melissa is a teacher with many years of experience and comes from a family steeped in education. Melissa lives locally and will have two children attend our school on her commencement. We hope to have our full complement of teaching staff for publication, by early June.

GAA – Our boys will contest the Cumann na mBunscol School Hurling ‘A’ Plate Final against Cappoquin in Abbeyside Pitch @ 5.45pm on Thursday 25^th May. Panel members are asked to be in the dressing room at 5:15pm and togged out. There is a €5 entry fee for spectators. Thanks to Mrs Byrne and our local coaches for their help. Congratulations to Aaron Wyse, Rg 6 who represented our school on the Waterford Primary Game team in Thurles on Saturday night last.

Aisling Kennedy Memorial Tournament – Our 5^th girls competed in the Aisling Kennedy Memorial Blitz yesterday. The girls had victories over Presentation, St.Oliver’s, Srs. of Charity of Clonmel and Newcastle. We topped our group and beat Srs. of Charity in the Semi. Unfortunately, we lost the final to Ardfinnan by one goal! All of the girls played absolutely fantastic and they really enjoyed their day out, remembering our past pupil Aisling Kennedy. Thanks to Mrs McGrath & Miss Kelly for their help.

New Goalposts – Thanks to past pupil, Richard Guiry who donated a set of goal posts to the school recently. They will be painted and secured in the near future. We appreciate this gesture from Dick and the Guiry family, Knockatrelaune.

Battle Group Centre – Today we had a display from Brendan O’Brien and his colleagues, on the Irish War of Independence, the First World War and the Second World War. This is very appropriate at this time as we come to the end of the Decade of Centenary Celebrations 2013-2023. Many items of memorabilia and artefacts of war including artillery, uniforms and even motor vehicles were on display. BGC returned to us after a gap of 7 years and for those of you interested, you can catch up with them tomorrow at Ballymacarbry Community Centre between 12 noon and 4pm where all their items will be on display for the general public.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’ Ryan.

Principal.