News Update – 24/01/2025
Dear Parent / Colleague / Board Member,
Sympathies. We extend the sympathies of the entire school community to our secretary Rose and her family on the death of her uncle Ed Nugent, Dublin who passed away earlier this week. May he rest in peace.
The Weir. Tickets are on sale at the school or from any staff member for Brideview Players performance of The Weir on Fri 31st January at the Comm. Centre. They go on sale at €15 each. We ask as many as possible to come along and enjoy an evening’s performance. The school will benefit from any profits earned.
Grandparents’ Day. We had a very enjoyable day on Wednesday, when Fr Michael celebrated Grandparents’ Day with us in FMW Church. A very large gathering attended the public mass. Many of whom called to our school afterwards for some lovely refreshments. The grandparents got to mingle collectively initially and then venture throughout the school to see their grandchildren at work & play. Thanks to all who helped in any way including Rose, members of the PA, teachers, SNA, caretaker, Miss Kelly and members of the Banna Ceoil, and Mrs Byrne’s and her Rg 6 who lead with readings and reflections. Thanks to Johnny and McCarra’s who brought our infants to the church.
Rg 2 Mass. Rg 2 Boys and girls will participate in this Sunday’s 9 am mass in Fourmilewater in the lead up to their First Holy Communion in May. Please follow instructions given by class teachers Miss O’Keeffe and Mrs Coffey.
Blessed Carlo Acutis. Fr Michael was in touch to invite Rg 5/6 and indeed our entire school community to attend the mass next Wednesday evening at 7 pm in Ardfinnan for Blessed Carlo Acutis, led by Bishop Cullinan. He will call in next week with guests who are involved in the beatification process to give us more information on the teenage saint, who died in 2006.
Storm Eowyn. Met Eireann included all counties in a Status Red Nationwide Alert for today. We are required to close on receipt of such information. Class teachers emailed out work to pupils on Friday morning. The staff took the opportunity to work collectively and remotely on its upcoming Anti Bullying or Bí Cineálta Policy this morning. The Department had allowed all schools to take a half day later this year to do so. Ballymacarbry NS will now forgo this closure as a result.
Hot School Meals. Please be advised that if you need to change meal options you can do so anytime up until the preceding Friday. If you are happy with your choices, they will carry over indefinitely. However, if you want to sample the extended menu, you can switch and change as much as you like before Friday. The fact that we had no hot meal at school today was outside of our control and was relayed to parents a few hours after receipt of email.
Aladdin Connect. Thanks to those who have supported us in the upgrading of our school administration service to Aladdin Connect. This should help all families liaise with the school i.e. absences, health updates, school reports, parent teacher meetings, monies etc.
Ballymacarbry National School Infrastructure Dev Plan Sub-Committee Update. Ballymacarbry NS Infrastructure Development Plan Sub-Committee has been formed, and will meet soon in order to commence work on the preparation of a five-year Infrastructure Development Plan. The sub-committee has a total membership of ten, and will be independently Chaired by Dr. Don Thornhill. The sub-committee consists of three teacher reps – Louise Connolly, Michelle McGrath and Claudia O’Keeffe, two PA reps – Katie Ryan and Maurice Ryan, two BoM reps – Brendan O’Brien and Ned Moore and two reps with relevant sectoral knowledge – Gillian McGuinness and Ellenora Lynch. Throughout this process there will be a number of opportunities for parents, teachers, pupils and members of the wider community to contribute, with the plan timetabled to be completed by the end of the school year.
GAA Coach. Conor Prendergast will be along on Wednesday next so hurleys and helmets at the ready please.
Book Donation. We received book donations from two families in the last week. Go raibh míle maith agaibh.
Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.