Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Catholic Schools’ Week – We had a lovely gathering on Wednesday to celebrate Grandparents’ Day. It began with mass at FMW Church at 10 am celebrated by Fr Michael and lead by Rang 5 and members of our Banna Ceoil. Later grandparents and others came back to the school hall for some light refreshments and treats and visited their grandchildren at their place of work. Thanks to all who participated and helped out including staff, pupils and members of the Parents Association.

Pre-Communion Mass – Rg 2 will participate in the next series of the Grow in Faith Programme at this Sunday’s 9 am mass in FMW. Please follow class teacher’s instructions for the ceremony.

Chess Competition – The pupils of Rg 6 are looking forward to their upcoming chess tournament. It is a national ‘Ficheall’ event and will take place in the Centre on Tuesday next. Mrs Byrne will give instructions for those involved.

Congratulations – to Alan Whyte of Ballymacarbry, who has been voted as ‘Tontix Lollipop Person of the Year’ on Beat FM today for his work ensuring the safety of children at Presentation Primary School, Clonmel.

Appointments – If you are seeking a meeting with either a class or special education teacher, please do so outside of class time. Email contacts for all staff can be found on our website. https://www.ballymacns.com

Sept 2024 – This week an email was sent to all parents who applied to have their child enrolled at our school from September. Form # 2 will be sent out in early March. Open Afternoon will take place on Wed 12^th June between 1-3pm.

Reminder – The school will be closed on Monday 5^th February, owing to the relatively newly formed St. Bridget’s Holiday.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’ Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Sympathy – We extend the sympathy of the entire school community to Miss Kelly / Mrs Kelly and indeed the entire Halpin family, Clogheen Ballymacarbry and Rathmines Dublin on the death of Clodagh’s uncle and Anne’s brother Johnny in Dublin last evening. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.

Grandparents Day – As part of Catholic Schools Week 2024. We will be participating in Grandparents Day on Wednesday next. This will commence with a public mass in FMW at 10 am followed by refreshments for grandparents in the school hall immediately afterwards.

Attendance – Please continue to notify relevant class teacher of reason for absence going forward.

Bank Holiday – The new St Bridget’s holiday will occur on Monday 5^th February. The school and attached Before and After School Service will be closed on this day.

Family Quiz – It is our intention to hold a Family Table Quiz in the Community Centre on Friday 15^th March, subject to interest from school going families. We had hoped to stage this last term as a follow on from our initial quiz in Nov 2022. We will gauge support after mid-term in February and revert to you in due course.

Chess Competition – The pupils of Rg 6 are looking forward to their upcoming chess tournament.  It is a national ‘Ficheall’ event and will take place in Ballymacarbry Community Centre on Tuesday, 30th January.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’ Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Parent of Past Pupil / Colleague / Board Member,

Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Daoibh – I hope you all had a lovely Christmas 2023 and I take this opportunity to wish you all a prosperous 2024.

Bishop William Lee – We convey our sympathy to the family of Bishop William Lee, Bishop Emeritus of Waterford & Lismore and indeed patron of our school during the period 1993-2013 who died on Jan 5^th last. Bishop Lee would have confirmed many of our past pupils and visited the school in the past. Condolences were sent to the current Bishop on behalf of our school community and we were represented at the funeral on Monday evening. We also remember our late colleague Mr. Paul Brunnock, whose first anniversary occurred last weekend and Michael Lavery, on the recent death of his dad Tony in Antrim. Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad.

Pre-Confirmation Mass – Rang 6 pupils receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at FMW in April are asked to be in FMW church at 8:50 am this Sunday to participate in a pre-confirmation mass.

Grandparents Day – As part of Catholic Schools Week 2024. We hope to participate in Grandparents Day on Wednesday 24^th January next. More information in next week’s issue.

Grants Update – It is envisaged that all schools in Ireland will run a ‘Schools Meal’ programme within a few years. DEIS schools are up and running. Like many other schools, we hope to apply when the opportunity arises and more information is known re: the delivery of this service, the space and personnel required, the hardware and extra resources needed.

It was announced recently that we would benefit from two substantial grants following our applications last autumn. One will allow us to purchase €10,000 worth of S.T.E.M. equipment for the school and secondly a PV Solar Grant which will allow us to install a 6 KW system on our roof. Expect to see movement on these two grants during this term and next. Our caretaker Jim installed two additional solar lights over the holidays this should help those families availing of the After School service.

P.A. Meeting – The P.A. will host a meeting on Wednesday next in the school at 7 pm. All are welcome.

Academic Calendar – This week an academic calendar for the remainder of the school year was distributed to each family. Please store safely replacing older versions.

Attendance Logging – Schools are obliged to keep an Attendance Register (Rolla) for all pupils and a rationale for all absences. An onus is also placed on schools to inform the Child and Family Agency’s Educational Welfare Services Department when a child reaches 20 days absence in an academic year. To this end, we plan to email families informing them if their child /children has /have reached 10 days or over at this stage in the year. There are many genuine reasons for pupil absences, we do this merely to keep you aware of the situation.

Enrolment – Our enrolment process remains open. Please direct any interested families to us at 052-6136349 or encourage them to visit our school website at https://www.ballymacns.com/enrolment/ for further information. I plan to contact all those who have already registered an interest by way of email next week.

Is mise, – Michael J. O’ Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Advent – This weekend we light the last purple candle, representing love and on Monday next the white candle will be lit to represent to birth of our Saviour. I attach a link for the Bishop’s Christmas message to all schools – Bishop Cullinan’s Christmas Message

Carol Service – Our senior classes performed their Christmas Service last night entitled ‘Hosanna Rock’ at FMW Church. Thanks to all staff for their help in this production, all pupils for their performance and families for their attendance. Thanks to Fr Toomey for use of the Church and Brendan as sacristan. It was great for our pupils to be able to perform at both local churches this Christmas. Both services were very enjoyable and very warmly received, kudos to one and all.

Cluiche Ceannais na hÉireann – Congrats to Miss Boyce and Ballymac ladies on reaching the All-Ireland Club final last Saturday. Commiserations on being narrowly beaten by the now 3-time champions. They can take many positives from their odyssey this year including another County Final medal and a second Munster medal in quick succession. Well done to our school community who turned out in droves to support them.

Arctic Excursion – Thanks to parent Jamie Byrne, who called to school this week to detail his upcoming trip to the Arctic Circle, to witness the first sunrise of the new year all in aid of Sightsavers and the First Light for Sight campaign. Jamie plans to revisit us and regale his journey following his return. Please see his social media page for further details.

Red & White Day – Thanks to you and your child’s efforts today we collectively raised €345 for local Christmas Hampers in the West Waterford Area over this festive season.

Santa Visit – Thanks to Aoife, Kate and the PA today who organised for Santa to visit our pupils. Thanks to Santa for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit us. Each child got a selection box to start off the Christmas period. Please see a selection of photos on our social media site.

Christmas Holidays – The pupils and staff are now on holidays for Christmas. The school will reopen on Monday 8^th January 2024. All that is left for me to do is to thank you for your cooperation during 2023, extend compliments of this Christmas season to one and all and look forward to collaborating with you in the New Year – Le cúnamh Dé.

Some Christmas Trivia – St. Francis of Assisi, set up a Christmas nativity scene the woods of Greccio, in Italy on Christmas Eve in 1223. We continue this tradition 800 years later. Cribs are a central part of Christmas in Churches, schools and homes for many people. Long may this tradition continue.

Is mise, Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Advent Update – This week we light our third candle. This candle signifies joy. The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday. The theme of the day expresses the joy of anticipation at the approach of the Christmas celebration and the birth of Christ.

Pre-Confirmation Mass – Please note that Rang 6, as a class are not required to participate in this Sunday’s 9am mass. We await further details from Fr. Michael.

Sight & Hearing – These rearranged tests will take place at school on Monday by HSE staff for Junior Infants.

Carol Service – Thanks to pupils from Juniors to Rang 2 and their teachers who presented their carol service in the Nire last night. It was a lovely occasion in a lovely setting. Well done to one and all. Our second carol service entitled ‘Hosanna Rock’ will take place on Thursday next at 7 pm in FMW Church. This will involve all those pupils from Rang 3 – Rang 6 inclusive.

Christmas Holidays – Reminder, school will close on Friday next at 12:30 pm. The Breakfast and After School Club will remain open until 3:30pm later that evening. We will also have Christmas dress up on the day and as of now we are anticipating a special visitor. We will collect money for the Dungarvan Lions Club Christmas Hamper Appeal on the morning, through the non-uniform day. Thank you for your continued support.

Cluiche Ceannais na hÉireann – Best wishes to Miss Boyce and Ballymacarbry Ladies as they take on Kilkerrin-Clonberne of Galway in the All-Ireland Club Final at Croke Park tomorrow evening at 5 pm. Excitement has been building all week in the lead up to this day of days. Damien Tiernan of WLR visited us on Wednesday and did a short segment for his show, Deise Today, and another for upload on their social media, which we shared on ours. Today we hosted Blue & White Day to highlight this great achievement and lend the ladies our support. You can lend them yours, by travelling to Croke Park and/or going to the Community Centre at 11:15am tomorrow, complete with flags etc to see them off. All are welcome. Ballymacarbry have won this title on ten occasions, let’s hope that Miss Boyce and her colleagues can make it number 11. Beir bua!

Family Day – The following day, Ballymacarbry Community Centre will host a Christmas Family Day on Sunday between 2-5 pm. They will have bouncy castles and games in the Astro Turf, tea and refreshments for the parents, and a visit from Santa. They will also host a raffle on the day, with proceeds going directly to the Playground Development Fund. All are welcome.

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.