For a contribution of € 2 to school funds, children may dress in costume or wear their own clothes on Friday 26th October. Since it is predicted to be much colder on Friday, please make sure that if children are wearing light/short costumes, they have plenty of warm layers and clothing for play times outside.
Titanic Play
We had a lovely morning today when Patsy and Margaret came along with their Titanic play. The children in the Senior Room got a shock when they realised that they were the cast and were not going to have time to rehearse! Well done to everyone for their efforts - the rest of the children were very well entertained and we learned a lot about the Titanic in the process. Our thanks to Patsy Cavanagh and Margaret. Have a look at the photographs in the Gallery.
Fundraising Sheets and Quiz
Please could we have the remaining sheets and money by Friday 26th October? The Table Quiz will be held in Ballintra Orange Hall on Saturday 3rd November at 8 p.m.
Half-Term & Punctuality
School will close at 3 p.m. on Friday 26th October and will open again at 9.20 a.m. on Monday 5th November. Please note that the official starting time of school is 9.20 a.m. and children should be in the building by 9.20 a.m. The beginning of the school day is an important time for the children as their teachers often need them to do reading, write down their homework, do corrections and receive feedback on their work. It can be difficult to fit these things in later in the day.
In our thoughts
We would like Mark Mahon, Nigel Morrow and their families to know that they are very much in our thoughts. We hope to see them both home safe and well soon.
Student Teachers
After the break, Miss Zoe Walker and Miss Zara Browne will begin their teaching practices. Miss Walker will be teaching in Miss Bustard's room. Miss Browne will be teaching in Mrs Somerville's room. Throughout the teaching practices, both Miss Bustard and Mrs Somerville will continue to be responsible for the children and will therefore deal with any queries or questions. We wish Miss Browne and Miss Walker a very happy time in our school and we know that you will make them feel very welcome.
DVDs of past events
I would like to apologise to those parents who asked for DVD copies of school events. It was my intention to make copies during the summer holiday but unfortunately the list of requested items has gone missing (my fault, not Cathrenas!). If you are waiting on a copy of the End of Year Show, parts of the concert or the wedding video, would you please ring or email Cathrena again?
Theatre Trip
Please could we know as soon as possible if your children are not going to the theatre in December? The cost of the trip has been set at €12 which has been subsidised by Fundraising money. We have sent the note out earlier this year but money need not be returned to school until November 30th.
School Equipment
Please make sure that the children's pencil cases are checked and refilled during the holiday. Children should always have several sharpened pencils ready for work. Please check that glues have not run out, rulers are still in bags, and that rubbers and sharpeners can be found. In the Senior room, please check that the children have several working dry wipe markers. These are used in almost every lesson and without a working marker, children are unable to take part in the activities.
P.E.
After the break, our P.E. days will revert to Tuesday and Thursday. This means that the children will be wearing their burgundy uniforms on the first day back.
A thank you...or two...or three...or four...or five!
On behalf of the children in the Senior room, I would like to thank Jonathan and Corrie Crawford for coming in to visit us on Tuesday morning. The children enjoyed hearing about Jonathan's grandfather John Crawford and his life story. Jonathan and Corrie had brought along a range of historical items which the children were able to look at. We thank them and their extended family for sharing these with us.
We would also like to thank Reverend Corrie for bringing in his photographs from the Somme and for sharing these with us.
Keith Mahon has also sent us photographs which the children have found fascinating, particularly those showing the trenches used in World War 1. We thank him very much.
Thank you also to Ezra and Muriel for the information they provided.
As part of our research, we were also delighted to receive very detailed information and photographs of two local men from Ballintra who served in World War 1. We would like to thank William Goodwin for this information. These two young men who went off to fight in the war are both recorded in our old school roll book which dates back to 1890.
We hope to produce some written work later in the term and display this information for anyone who is interested. On December 7th, the children from 3rd - 6th Class will be performing a short play based on World War 1.
Welcome back
We welcome Charlene Perry back to school. Charlene is on work placement in Mrs Gourley's room.