News Update – 29/08/2025
Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,
A fíor failte romhaibh ar ais to staff, pupils and parents alike, but especially to our new cohort of Junior Infants and the new families who started with us yesterday. (Please see social media.) We hope you all had an enjoyable summer and are enthusiastic for the academic year ahead. We wish our graduating class of 2025 well in their chosen secondary school and congratulate our past pupils who received their leaving cert results recently.
New staff – We thank Mr. Travers and Mr. Coffey who have moved on to pastures new since last year and we welcome Miss Laura Duggan as our Rg 5 teacher and Miss Kayleigh Condon as Special Education Needs teacher. Congratulations to staff member Mrs McGrath on the birth of a baby daughter Ellie during the summer and also Miss O’ Keeffe on her recent engagement.
Sincere Condolences to the Tobin family, Newcastle and the entire Newcastle NS community on the tragic death of Freya during the holidays and also the Kavanagh family on the death of Danny Kavanagh who also died tragically some weeks back. Danny’s nieces and nephews attended our school up until the summer break. Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad.
Summer Works – I’m glad to report that a substantial investment by the Dept. of Education was made in our school over the summer months in what was a complete overhaul of the heating system. This surpassed all previous works in monetary terms. This was an enormous task which is 95% complete and a credit to Jake Moran and all his staff at KPH in getting this far, considering approval was only sanctioned circa mid-July. Some commissioning work continues around the boiler house for the next week or two and we expect the system to be operational by October. The department in its approval stipulated a conversion to gas so I would like to take this opportunity to thank PJ Ryan and all at Comeragh Oil, especially Caroline in the office and David on delivery duty, who always ensured we had oil, sometimes at short notice. Míle buíochas. Thanks as always to Tina and Jim who continued working at our school over the holidays and to the local Community Centre Committee who allowed us to hold staff meetings at their facility on Wednesday, to facilitate continued work at our school.
Subcommittee – The recently formed subcommittee tasked with assessing potential projects at our school commenced work over the summer. Work on an outdoor classroom is ongoing and should be completed in the next few weeks. Other projects are also planned subject to available funds / potential fundraising. Thanks to all who contributed in any way. A further update will issue in due course.
Academic Calendar – A hard copy of the Academic Calendar was distributed to all families today. I attach a link to it from our own website. It is also printed on the back of the homework journal for those in Rg2-Rg 6. As it is provisional in nature, changes to this, will be notified to parents as soon as possible. Please keep in a safe location. School Calendar 2025/26
Free Book Scheme – We are glad to report that this is up and running and that all children are in the process of receiving their books for the year. We ask you as parents, to encourage your children to keep these books in good condition, to pass on in September 2026.
Hot School Meals – The new junior infant families should have received their log in details for Carambola. Please make sure you have ordered the meals for next week before tonight’s deadline. Please see here for further information. https://www.carambola.ie/
Aladdin Connect – We introduced this last year to assist home-school communication. Families can now enter reasons for absences, pay monies owed, receive the Annual Report Card and from November, book for the annual Parent Teacher Meeting (PTM) among other things. The following are two links from our website which should help you in the process. More specifically those new to us. An introductory email was sent to new families yesterday and today; unique codes were sent to families of new junior infants.
Parent Signup for Aladdin Connect.
Monies Due – Thanks to all who have already paid the Insurance / Arts & Crafts / photocopying monies for the year ahead. Among other things, this entitles your child to full 24/7 insurance cover for; in school, school related and out of school activities. This can be paid through the Aladdin Connect App or via cash at the office.
Ballymacarbry Breakfast Club & After School Service is up and running again. We are asking parents to avail of this service if not collecting their children at school finish time (other than awaiting a bus). If you require childcare needs for your school-going children, please contact Helen on 083 2028749.
Swimming – Block A commences on Friday 12th September for Rg 4&6. Rg 3&5 will commence in late spring 2026. A link will open on Aladdin Connect for payment. A fee of €50 can also be paid to Rose in the office.
P.A. A.G.M. – A notice was sent to all parents that the Parents’ Association AGM will take place on Monday 9th September in the school at 7:00pm. All are welcome.
Is mise,
Michael J. O’Ryan
Principal.