Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague,
I hope you and your families are keeping well. Another week over and everything is as it should be for the most part. 10% of the year has passed without too much by way of incident, thankfully. “Tús maith leath na h-oibre.” On a point of information, the attendance rate for this past week has been 96.3% which thankfully is above our average, notwithstanding the fact that tests are ongoing but all are returning negative.

New website. Thankfully our new website is up and running. It is very bare at present but we will be adding to it over the next few weeks and months. It can be accessed at ballymacns.com I hope you find it useful and easy to navigate when fully operational.

Admissions Policy. What is up on our new website is our new Admissions Policy. Admissions for next year will open from Fri. 2″ Oct. If you or anyone you know of is intending to apply for a place at Ballymacarbry N.S., please inform them of this policy. All schools have to streamline policies from this October. The process is detailed within.

Deputy Principal. Currently the school is advertising for a new deputy Principal. The successful applicant will commence the appointment in Nov 2020. He/she will replace Mrs Catherine Ryan who has been a member of staff at our school since 1998 and Deputy Principal since 2012. We thank her for her sterling service and wish her well for her last month with us. More about this later, as we approach Halloween.

Arts & Crafts / Book Rental. Just a gentle reminder that A&C along with BR monies are due in September. Thanks to those who have already paid. Go raibh mile maith agaibh.

6th Class Confirmation. As discussed with Fr. Desmond and as publicised earlier this summer, it is our firm intention to carry out the Sacrament of Confirmation for those in the current 6th Class during October. This would maintain the two year cycle with Touraneena NS. Hence the Sacrament will be administered in both parishes for this class during the month of October. A separate letter on this has been emailed to the parents of Rang 6. Of course this is dependent upon “Living with Covid” protocol for the county remaining at level two or better.

Diocesan Changes. As you may be aware, our Board of Management Chairperson and Parish Priest has been appointed Parish Priest to Touraneena & the Nire. We congratulate him on the appointment. We thank Fr Garrett for his 12 years with us and also for his time on our Board, especially this last year as chairperson. We also thank him for his pastoral care at our school and his efforts to ensure that the sacraments are administered to our pupils before he leaves. We wish him well in our neighbouring parish, where we will combine again in meeting the pastoral needs of our families from the Nire, especially at sacramental preparation time.

Le gach dea ghuí,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Príomh oide.