Management
and Parents

Hospice Garden Diary

Newsletter

Welcome back all pupils and parents ! It is particularly good to be back in our lovely new school building without the additional complications of relocation, site meetings and snag lists! We would particularly like to welcome all new families who joined our school in September. Our Junior infants are adjusting well to their new school routines. We look forward to another happy and productive school year.

Lynn Robinson, our secretary is off work temporarily. We wish her husband, Charlie a speedy recovery following his recent operation in Dublin. We look forward to having Lynn back with us again but in the meantime we are very grateful to our temporary secretary Mrs. Kay Kelly who is looking after the office in Lynn's absence.

Our school continues to grow, building a sense of community. Thank you for playing an active part in that community.
...with your words of encouragement ...with your cheery greetings ...with practical offers of help and support ...with 'acts of kindness' that help to make our day ...with your sense of fun and friendship

Infant collection Parents are requested to: Collect pupils from their classroom promptly at 2pm Notify the class teacher if someone else is collecting Parents/guardians who remain in the school car park for 3 pm. collection should ensure that infant pupils are under their supervision at all times. For security reasons, the doors will be locked when infant classes are dismissed Under no circumstances should infant pupils climb/stand on walls, run in the car park or play in the school playground after they have been dismissed These rules are to ensure the safety of all pupils.

Farewell We say farewell to pupils who have moved to new schools this month. T.D.- Letterkenny S. and N.O. - Tullamore S. and R. W. - Sligo A.S. - St. Johnston Z. and N. A. - Portlaoise A.A. - Co. Meath We hope that you all enjoy your new schools and that you have enjoyed your time spent in Ballyraine NS. Do keep in touch via our website, and let us know how you are doing!

Alan Doherty Appeal There were lots of mad hair styles... Hair gel, hair spray, hair dye but all in a good cause. Thank you for your generosity and contributions to the Alan Doherty Appeal Fund. A total of €635.98 has been lodged to the 'Friends of Alan Doherty' Appeal Fund.

To see some more photos taken on our Sports Day click here

New Appointments! We welcome 3 new teachers to our school this September ! David Barnes has joined us to teach 4th class as Ms. Moore has moved to 1st class. Andrew Hogg is a temporary language support teacher, replacing Ms.Norma Nash who has sadly left us. Mrs. Aoife Mustapha is filling in for Mrs. S.Kelly as resource teacher while she is on maternity leave. We send our best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Kelly on the recent birth of their baby daughter Sarah

Goodbye We wish Ms. Carey every happiness and success as she takes up her new challenge as Principal teacher in Gartan N.S. Ms. Carey has been an excellent Infant teacher ensuring lots of learning through fun ! Carol also made a significant contribution to fostering home school links during her time as staff representative on the Parents' Association. We also say farewell to Ms. Norma Nash who has been Special Needs Assistant in our school since 2004. Norma has been an excellent S.N.A., going about her daily tasks in a calm, efficient manner. Norma we wish you every success in your future career and thank you for the care and kindness you have shared with pupils and staff.

		Our Family Fun Day in Ards Forest Park was a great success To see more pics click here
having a swinging time	Look who's smiling now !		Parents enjoying a well-earned rest	Practising our football skills

We had a very special visitor in the summer term ! Our taoiseach (leader/prime minister) Bertie Ahern called by to see our lovely new school during his flying trip to Letterkenny just before the election. We must have given him some extra luck as his party have done very well !
Mr. Oliver welcomed Mr. Ahern and visiting politicians	Parents came to share the special occasion	Mr Ahern was given Irish t-shirts and footballs for his new twin grandchildren! Our own identical twins G.L. + R.L., and O.C. + C.C. made the presentation.	Another reason to celebrate! We've just got the news that our school has been awarded the green flag for another year	Our new hall is well able to accommodate everyone! While we awaited our visitors we were royally entertained by the seniors playing tin whistles.

We had a very special school assembly in our new P.E. hall on our first day together again in Ballyraine. The size of the hall was such that there was even room to spare! Mr. Oliver spoke about the great effort that had gone into the lovely building we all admire, and used a Russian doll to illustrate the layers of effort, support and beneficiaries contained within the endeavour. We sang together and tried, (and failed, thankfully!) to lift our new roof then we thanked God for his help and goodness.

School Access The new school is fitted with door locks to ensure pupil and staff safety during school hours. All parents and visitors who call after 9.40am are required to enter via the front door and ring the door bell to gain access. Doors are opened during break and lunchtime but will be closed at 3.15pm. Please ring bell to gain access. This new system is required by Department of Education and Science and does not in any way change our 'Parent friendly' Open Door policy at Ballyraine NS! Parents are reminded however of the importance of contacting the secretary on 9124758 to arrange an appointment with the teacher.

PE Hall All pupils must have a pair of non-marking plimsoles or runners for PE classes. No blacksoled shoes will be allowed on the new wooden floor surface.

The prefab will remain on-site and is 'transformed' into an Art room and a Science room.

			Thank you to all the helpers who accompany classes on their various outings. It would be so difficult without them.



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