Dear Parents,
Well can you believe there is only one week to go! The kids had a super week in school this week, lots of outdoor play, sunshine and lots of treats too. Thanks to the Parents and Friends Group who kindly sponsored and delivered treats this week.
Few reminders and things to look forward to for our last week of school:
Booklists: These will be put up online on Monday on our website under Parents Area > Booklists 2021/2022. We have kept the cost at €90 per pupil. On Monday you will receive an Aladdin link to allow you to go online to pay. You can pay off a bit here and there. All payments must be made online. Last date for payment of school books in Friday Sept. 24th.
Staffing for next year: I put up 2 articles about this during the week - one with teacher updates and the other with SNA updates. See website or click here: http://ballymittyns.ie/News/Staffing-for-2021-2022/247727/Index.html As per letter that went out with reports last week, we hope to be able to hold information parent meetings for all class groups with their teacher and myself the week of the 13th - 16th September. This will be an opportunity for you to meet the teacher and to hear about school/homework for the year ahead.
For next year's 4th/5th class they will have Orlaith Keogh and Karen Robinson as their job share teachers. The girls have done a PowerPoint about their Job Share and what it means and they will meet the parents at the information meetings also. Click here for PowerPoint: JobShare 2021.pptx
School Calendar: available on website or click here: http://ballymittyns.ie/Content/2021/6/mp45-SCHOOL_CALENDAR_2021_2022.pdf
Board of Management Meeting: On Tues. June 22nd at 8pm online.
Hoodies for next year's 6th class. Please see my article this week re: pop up online shop for Hoodies: http://ballymittyns.ie/News/Bodibro-Hoodies-for-next-years-6th-class/247509/Index.html
Sports Day: This will be held over a few days next week to ensure social distancing and safety. Pupils will be in their own class bubbles but there will be plenty of competition between different pods!
School closes Friday June 25th: As all classes can't leave at the same time, these are the arrangements for collection next Friday:
6th class will exit at 11.45am
Junior/Senior Infants & 1st class and siblings: 11.55am
2nd & 3rd and siblings at 12 midday
4th & 5th at 12.05pm
We ask you to please remember these times as we do not want all classes exiting at the same time.
6th Class: We say farewell to our wonderful 6th class pupils next Friday. This is a big milestone and we will make sure to make it special for a group of pupils who have had a very unusual final year in primary school. We had certain events and activities planned but obviously Covid 19 arriving put a stop to those plans. It has to be said that every time the pupils heard of something else being cancelled or another disappointment sent their way, they never once complained. It was wonderful to see how strong and resilient and patient these kids have been all year and I say well done to you all. This resilience will stand to you in years to come. So how will we celebrate their final days in Ballymitty NS:
On Thursday the Parents and Friends Group are organising some treats for our 6th class at lunchtime. Following that, 6th class will once again try to beat the staff in the annual Rounders challenge!! Staff have not had a chance to gather their team and plan their strategies yet but we do feel we may be victorious again!!!
On Friday at 10am in the classroom Ms. Butler and some of the staff will host the 6th class Graduation Ceremony. This will be recorded and put up online later that day.
Final farewell: All of the school will do the usual clapping the 6th class down the path at 11.45am - this is earlier for 6th as we cannot have all pupils exiting school at the same time.
Finally, I am currently working from home and will unfortunately miss the last week of school. I absolutely love this time of the year in school and I am gutted to miss all the activities and events. I will certainly miss all the kids and their happy faces and in particular the 6th class celebrations as they prepare to leave Ballymitty NS next Friday for the last time. I also will be awaiting the score in the staff v pupils rounders match, safe in the knowledge that there is a very strong staff team going out there!! I am and will be in constant contact with Deirdre Franey who is acting up as Principal in my absence and is doing a mighty fine job! I will also send a video to say farewell to the kids and I hope that everyone enjoys the last few days of school!
Covid regulations for Sept: We have already been told that the same regulations will be in place for the new term regarding bubbles, pods, sanitising, hand washing, cough etiquette, social distancing etc. This effectively means that for the first full term, according to Dept. of Education guidelines, that whole school events and activities will be put on hold until it is safe to do so.
Here's to a great week next week!
Kind regards,
Audrey