Dear Parent / Colleague / Board Member,

Danny Norris.

On Monday 9^th last we marked the 2^nd anniversary of our classmate Danny Norris. Mrs Coffey’s class attended the Feast of the Immaculate Conception mass at Fourmilewater Church in his memory. Upon their return, we sang assembled to sing Christmas carols and songs at his memorial Christmas tree.

Christmas Concert.

Excellent reviews are coming back to us from the two concerts at the Centre. Well done to one an all for providing two excellent nights of entertainment. Again, I’d like to thank all who helped in any way; including our pupils, teachers, all staff, SNA’s, Rose, the Community Centre Committee, Johnny O’Brien, bus driver – McCarras, The P.A helpers, the raffle sponsors, Ger McGrath – DVD, Joes from DBL Lighting & Sound and the parking attendants, but most especially the pupils and teachers who put so much preparation into the entire project. Who knows we may have a ‘Saoirse Ronan’ or ‘Paul Mescal’ in our very midst.

Hot School Meals.

School meals will commence on Monday next courtesy of Dept. of Social Protection and Carambola Ltd.

Each child would have received a page with log in details to order food. Please do this on the website or download the Carambola App from your smartphone. This needs to be done by midnight tonight to ensure inclusion for next week. I enclose a link here https://system.carambola.ie/login.php Contact numbers are provided if you need assistance with this. I’m sure there will be teething problems early on, but hopefully they can be ironed out fairly quickly. We will take the opportunity of reviewing our Healthy Eating Policy in tandem with this new and worthwhile development.

BOM Sub Committee.

Terms of Reference have been decided as to the formation of a BOM sub-committee to assist the BOM with worthwhile projects. Details are currently being finalised and we hope to be in a position to give a more comprehensive update next week.

Christmas Mass.

Our school will collectively attend Fourmilewater mass on Wednesday next at 10 am in advance of Christmas. Thanks to Fr Michael for facilitating us.

Confirmation Preparation.

Our Rang 6 pupils will feature in this Sunday’s 9 am mass in Fourmilewater as part of their Confirmation Preparation Programme. Please follow instructions from Mrs. Byrne.

Nire & Ballymacarbry Newsletter.

This fine publication is on sale in the locality and our school in 2024 school features heavily by way of an annual report and a pictorial review. Well done to Claire Bridle and her team on continuing this festive tradition.

Maidin Caifé / Coffee Morning

Beidh an Coiste Gaelbhratach ag eagrú ‘maidin caifé’ ar an 19ú Nollag. Má tá aon tuismitheoirí ná seantuismitheoirí saor, tar isteach chun caint linn. Beidh tae agus milseoga againn! The Irish Committee is organising a ‘Coffee Morning’ on Thursday 19th of December. We are encouraging any parents or grandparents to come join us for a chat with cúpla focal as Gaeilge. There will be lots of tea, coffee and treats to go round. Bígí linn

Christmas Holidays.

The school will break for Christmas holidays on Friday next at 12:30 pm. Buses will run from this time. The After School Service will operate until 6 pm. The P.A. is actively planning events for the morning. Children will be permitted to wear their Christmas jumpers etc.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Colleague / Board Member,

Condolences.

Deepest sympathy to Eileen Condon and family on the death of her late father, Jack Gillen. Jack was a regular at our school at Christmas time over the years, donning the red and white costume with ease. Eileen served as BoM chairperson on the 2020-23 Board. Jack was buried today in Fourmilewater. May he rest in peace.

School Concert.

Our eagerly awaited concert will take place on Tuesday and Thursday next at 7:15 pm each night. Thanks to those who have purchased tickets for the show and indeed all those working behind the scenes such as pupils and staff. There are some few tickets left so please contact Rose asap. Reminder – Be mindful that the tickets are colour coded for each night. There will be two acts before an interval and two acts after the interval. The Banna Ceoil will entertain the audience between the junior and senior shows. A tuck shop and raffle will be held on both nights. The P.A. is seeking raffle prizes from those interested in donating. The infant teachers will email their respective families with further information in relation to the concert for their classes.

Dress Rehearsal Day.

The school will spend Tuesday next at the Community Centre for dress rehearsal day. We ask parents to drop and collect children there at the usual times. Buses will also drop and collect to and from the centre. Majella will be based at the Centre at morning and evening time. Both infant classes will return to school after their dress rehearsal and can be collected from the school at 2 pm. Children attending the Breakfast Club & After School Service on Tuesday will be brought to and from the centre by bus. Rose will be based in the school to answer any questions you may have throughout the day.

Hot School Meals Update.

The specialised oven was delivered today. Staff have been identified and are set to undergo training next week. Information has been distributed to families in relation to the rollout of hot school meals on Mon 16^th Dec. (Please check your child’s bag) Parents, your child can order their own lunch on-line at the Carambola website (www.carambola.ie) or by downloading the Carambola app from The App Store or Google Play Store. Parents are asked to download the Carambola App from the App Store or Google Play. By clicking on Parent Login and using each child’s own unique ID and password, each child will be registered. Once registered, you can use the dropdown menu to select your choices. Please submit your order in this method. Parents are asked to have this process complete by midnight next Friday. If you have any problem using the on-line system you can call 061 500 200 where a member of the Carambola staff will help you through the process. Changes made before 3 pm each Friday (or midnight online) will come into effect the following week.

Maidin Caifé / Coffee Morning

Beidh an Coiste Gaelbhratach ag eagrú ‘maidin caifé’ ar an 19ú Nollag. Má tá aon tuismitheoirí ná seantuismitheoirí saor, tar isteach chun caint linn. Beidh tae agus milseoga againn! The Irish Committee is organising a ‘Coffee Morning’ on Thursday 19th of December. We are encouraging any parents or grandparents to come join us for a chat with cúpla focal as Gaeilge. There will be lots of tea, coffee and treats to go round. Bígí linn

Christmas Holidays.

School will close on Fri 20^th Dec at 12:30 pm for the Christmas holiday. The After School Club will remain open until 6 pm on the evening. Children can wear their Christmas jumpers / red items to school that day. The P.A. is working behind the scenes to organise a special visitor on the morning. Enjoy the family time tonight, for the Late Late Toy Show. As we gather as families, we fondly remember, our pupil / classmate Danny, marking his second anniversary ‘away from home’ this weekend. Lisa, Lar, Charlie and Shay are in our prayers tonight and this weekend.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Colleague / Board Member,

R.I.P.

The school held a guard of honour on Wednesday morning as the remains of Dr. Bill O’Donovan passed the school gate on his final journey between his residence and Fourmilewater Church. We as a school community wanted to acknowledge the great work and service afforded by the doctor to the families of this community, since taking up residence in 1968. The crowds which turnout out over Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning were testament to this great work. Deepest sympathies to Christine, Annabelle, Catherine, families, friends and neighbours.

We also sympathise with our cleaner Tina Condon on the recent death of her uncle James O’Meara, Clonmel. James was buried in St. Patrick’s Cemetery on Monday last. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse.

Parent Teacher Meetings

Thanks to parents and staff who participated in our PTM’s this week.                                                                                                                                 

Christmas Annuals.

Christmas annuals have now been ordered and will be distributed later in December.

School Concert.

Tickets will be held for families until Tuesday. Tickets not availed of, may be reallocated to those who have expressed an interest in purchasing more, if available.

Parents’ Association

The P.A. will hold a Christmas Jumper Exchange on 5^th & 6^th December in the Community Centre. This will be a great opportunity for parents to kit out their children for Christmas dress-up day on Friday 20^th December. The PA will again help out on both nights of the Christmas Concert (11^th & 12^th Dec.) They plan on having a tuck-shop and a raffle. They are actively seeking spot prizes, from businesses, families or the general public. Please contact any member of the PA if you would like to donate a spot prize. In the new year, the PA will also join with other local groups to promote the staging of Brian McPherson’s ‘The Weir’ at Ballymacarbry Community Centre on Friday 31^st January 2025. More about this in a future email.

Grow in Love Mass

Rang 2 boys and girls will participate in this week’s Sunday mass at FMW. Families are asked to be in church for 8:50 am. Please follow any instructions given by Miss O’Keeffe / Mrs Coffey.

As we approach the season of Advent, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference warmly invites the school community to join in this year’s unique digital Advent Calendar for 2024, centered on the theme of hope. Each day, on the following link (Catholic Bishops.ie Advent Calendar ) a virtual Advent Calendar door will open to provide daily reflections, prayers, and activities that explore the theme of hope. These doors can only be opened on each day of Advent.

Nire Valley Fair.

This takes place on Sunday between 2-5pm in the Nire Hall. Hopefully, Santa can take time from his busy schedule to visit the Nire again this year.

General Election.

This week the senior classes spoke about politics and their local constituency. In 6/7 years, these boys and girls will be on the electoral register. To participate in the democratic process, exercise your vote by 10 pm tonight.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Hot School Meals.   

It is our intention to commence Hot School Meals on Mon 16^th Dec. We are in constant negotiations with Carambola Ltd and this date is achievable. It is our combined intentions to furnish families with individual codes on Friday 6^th Dec. We hope that all families will have downloaded the Carambola App by Friday 13^th December and made their order(s) for Monday 16^th, the first day of service. This will all be explained by Carambola in due course. All we ask is that you download the App and look at the menus by Friday 13^th Dec. Friday at midnight is the cut off to change order for the following week.  

Parent Teacher Meetings (PTM)                                                                                                                               

The PTM’s will take place in school next week. The following are the details.

Wednesday 27^th Nov. 3:10pm – 5:10 pm (Ahearne – Mulcahy inc.)

Thursday 28^th Nov. 3:10 pm – 5:10 pm (Norris – White inc.)

It is hoped that the PTM’s will be automated from next year and families will get the opportunity to book their time slot. This will dovetail with a move to Aladdin Connect, which is an upgrade on our current school administration package.

Christmas Annuals.

If you haven’t already booked your Christmas Annuals, please do so by Monday next. If you have, thank you.

School Concert.

Many tickets have been purchased already. We started distributing today. Families have been allocated two tickets for each night and can purchase up to four in total. (€30) We will hold these until 1^st December and reissue any surplus after this date. There is no compulsion on any family to buy all four, but please let us know. Tickets are not transferrable between dates. Tickets are colour coded; Wednesday – blue and Thursday – yellow.

BoM

The BoM is currently working on the Terms of Reference of a sub-committee to help with proposed developments at our school. They include the proposed perimeter walkway, part funded by Boston Scientific and any developments emanating from recent discussions with the neighbouring landowners and the local authority. This committee will be representative of the school community.

On a related matter, we kindly ask our school community, to impress upon any canvassers in the locality of the need for improved Road Safety and Traffic Management on the R671 junction, adjacent to our school. As the cost of any improvement would have to come from central funds through WC&CC, it is important to ask the question and hopefully garner the support of any potential T.D.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Hot School Meals.                                                                                                                                              

Now that the appeal period has passed, we are pleased to inform the school community that the Board of Management’s preferred provider of Hot School Meals is The Carambola Ltd, based in Annacotty, Co. Limerick. We have commenced contract negotiations and will work with them to allow technical and mechanical work to be carried out in school. We will pass on class lists to the company for them to establish family log-in details. More information will be sent to parents in relation to the ordering system and food choice available shortly. The company serves schools in the Clonmel area and their website can be accessed using the following link. https://www.carambola.ie/ The Board of management would like to thank all providers who tendered for the contract at our school. All going well we would hope to be up and running before Christmas. On a related matter, Food Dudes continues for the junior side of school this week and next.

Science Week.                                                                                                                                                           

Our pupils were engaged in science experiments this week to coincide with National Science Week. Photographs of these can be viewed on our Facebook page.

Parent Teacher Meetings (PTM)

A letter was distributed this week outlining the staff each family is required to meet on their particular evening.

Wednesday 27^th Nov. 3:10pm – 5:10 pm (Ahearne – Mulcahy inc.)

Thursday 28^th Nov. 3:10 pm – 5:10 pm (Norris – White inc.)

Christmas Annuals.

In the same PTM letter there was a Christmas Annual Slip. If your child / children is /are interested in ordering a Christmas Annual, please complete the slip and return it to the class teacher with the appropriate fee by Fri 22^nd Nov.

School Concert.

Tickets can be purchased from next week. Each family is entitled to purchase two Wednesday night and two Thursday night tickets. There are many costs associated with our biennial concert, such as hall hire, lighting, sound, transport etc. so we plan to set a price of €7.50 per ticket.

Reminder.

At a recent staff discussion, the importance of children wearing the approved uniform was discussed, which includes; plain navy trousers, or plain navy knee length shorts or indeed a plain navy knee-length skirt. We also ask that branded tracksuits not be worn. For safety reasons, only one small stud earring per ear is permitted, with no necklaces or chains allowed, as these can pose a hazard during activities. Make up, fake lashes and fake nails are also not allowed. It was suggested that this be circulated to all families, through the weekly email. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep everyone safe and aligned to our dress code.

Table Quiz                                                                                                                                                              

St. Mary’s N.S. Touraneena will host a Table Quiz tonight for pupils in Rg 4/6 in Touraneena Community Centre at 7:30 pm. Teams of four with a fee of €5 per pupil. Registration from 7 pm. Beir bua!

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.