Hallowe'en Dress Up

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.

Unfortunately we currently have cases of  head lice in school  Please make sure to check and treat the children's hair.  One untreated head can make it impossible for everyone else to keep their hair lice-free.   Long hair should be tied back and children should be free of head lice before returning to school.  The following document will give advice on treating head lice. 

Parent Teacher Meetings

Parent Teacher Meetings will be held in school on Tuesday 13th November.  Appointment times will be issued shortly.  If this date is not suitable, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can  try to arrange an alternative time.  In order to give parents as much time as possible, teachers may arrange meetings on other days.

Christmas Trip to 'An Ghrianán' 

We have arranged a visit to see 'Little Red Riding Hood' in 'An Ghrianán' Theatre in Letterkenny on Monday 17th December.  I will not be seeking signed permission slips as you have already signed a permission letter covering all trips this year.  I am still in the process of arranging the transport to the theatre and this will have an impact on the cost.  Please can you let me know as soon as possible if you are not intending to send your child(ren).  As we have more children this year than before, would you please let me know if there is anyone willing to drive their own children (and possibly cousins) to Letterkenny?  As you can imagine, the cost of hiring buses is very high and if we could avoid hiring a second one, it would save money and lower the cost of the trip for everyone.

Gaeltacht Trip for 5th & 6th Classes

I have been in discussion with the Board of Management and it was decided that for the first time, we would offer the children in 5th and 6th Class the opportunity to visit the Gaeltacht for a five day trip in May (if there was sufficient interest).  It is expensive but the payment could be spread over the period between now and May.  Contributions of birthday, Christmas or Confirmation money might also encourage the children to appreciate the cost and purpose of the visit.  Given that there is now an increased focus on oral Irish in secondary school, I feel the visit would be extremely beneficial for the children.  Your thoughts would be much appreciated as I will need to make a decision soon.  I would also welcome comments from the parents of 3rd and 4th Class children as hopefully this would be something we could continue to offer on alternative years and the cost could subsequently be spread over a longer period of time.  Please either leave a comment here or speak to me at school.  Click here for an information brochure.

Hallowe'en

On Friday, October 26th the children may dress in Hallowe'en costumes or wear their own clothes for a donation of €2 to school funds.  No masks or very scary costumes please.

School will close for the Hallowe'en Break at 3 p.m. on Friday 26th October and will open again at 9.20 a.m. on Monday 5th November.

Titanic Show

On Wednesday 24th October, the children will be taking part in and watching a show in school.  The show is based on the story of the Titanic.

Welcome back

We are delighted to have Joe Kennedy return to us again this year.  We have missed the lively singing and guitar playing.  


Fortunately he survived this attempt to silence him with darts!

It is Maths Week from 13th - 21st October.  This would be the perfect opportunity to do lots of maths activities at home and play games together.

Please click on the following links for information on how to help your child with maths at home:

• Pre-School Children
  
• Infants
• 1st and 2nd Classes
• 3rd and 4th Classes
  
• 5th and 6th Classes
  

Don't forget that all children from 1st - 6th Class can also sign into Mathletics.

For the official Maths Week website, please click here.

For those of you who would like a challenge, here is the puzzle the children in the Senior Room were trying to solve this week.       MATHS PUZZLE
We have real gold stars (and sweeties) for anyone who can solve it! 

Fundraising Quiz

A quiz has been organised by the Hilltown W.L.O.L. on Saturday 3rd November in Ballintra Orange Hall at 8 p.m. Both parents & pupils alike can attend; there will be prizes for the winning teams in both the adult & children categories. Some parents may remember attending this event last year. Proceeds on the night will be donated to our school and Kilbarron National School. Last year, we were very grateful to receive €700 from this event. We very much appreciate the efforts being made to raise money for us again and I would hope that there will be plenty of support for the event from our school community.

10 Nursery Rhyme Unscramble Sheets have also been sent home with each family.  The completed sheets and money can be returned to school or directly to Nan Leslie.

Shoebox Appeal

Mrs Russell launched the Shoebox Appeal in school on Thursday.  Please contact us if you would like a label for your box.  Details of the Team Hope Appeal can be found on their website:  www.teamhope.ie

Shoeboxes need to be returned to school by Monday 5th November.  A list of what to put and not to put in the boxes can be found on the Team Hope website.


Work Experience

We welcome Natalie Gibson to school  Natalie will be with us every Friday for work experience.

Today was National Tree Day.  Thank you to Mrs Gourley and Miss Bustard who went on a shopping trip to Kees in Laghey and bought four new trees for school.  This afternoon we planted the trees near the playground.  For more photographs, have a look on Mrs Gourley's page and in the Gallery.

As part of some work we are doing with the Ulster Scots Agency, we are seeking information about local people who served in the armed forces during World War 1.  This is a picture of the plaque at the back of Drumholm Parish Church.  If anyone has any information about the men whose names are on the plaque, we would love to hear from you.  Any other information e.g. photographs, medals etc. would also be very welcome.

As part of the project, the children in 3rd- 6th Class will be performing a short play, based on the Battle of the Somme, on Friday 7th December.  We hope you will be able to come along and watch.

Cross Country Running

Well done to the children who took part and those who won medals in the Cross Country running competition held in Finn Valley.  Conditions were a bit wet and muddy but the children enjoyed the races.  

Congratulations

We send our congratulations to Mr and Mrs Timothy and Charlene Perry who were married last Friday.  We wish them a long and happy future together.

Pencil Cases/Uganda

Thank you for your very generous response again to the pencil case appeal.  We would also like to send our best wishes to Mark, Edwin, Wayne, Colin and Nigel as they set off on their trip to Uganda.

Asthma Record Sheet

We are updating our asthma record sheets in school.  If your child uses an inhaler (either at home or in school), please let us know.  All children using inhalers in school must have a completed asthma form.  You can download one here or you can request a form from the office.   More information on asthma can be found on the Asthma in School page.

Board of Management Meeting

A Board of Management Meeting will be held in school on Thursday 4th October.

Sympathy

We would like to extend our condolences to the Johnston family on their recent bereavement. 

Welcome and welcome back

We welcome David McAllister to the team of visitors who will join us on Thursday mornings for our assemblies.  We also look forward to welcoming Joe Kennedy back on Fridays.

Thank you

On behalf of everyone in school, I would like to thank Ann Kelly for her visit last week.  She came in to present the school with a cheque for €400,  This is a share of money which had originally been used for the homework club which was organised in the Community Centre several years ago. 

Outing

On Friday, the children in 1st - 6th Class will be going to the Community Centre to watch a show.

Student Teachers

We welcome Zara Browne and Zoe Walker to our school.  They will be beginning 3 weeks of teaching practice after the Hallowe'en break but will be in school several times over the next few weeks to observe and get to know the children.