September Newsletter 2010
Last Updated on Thursday, 02 September 2010 09:20
St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballynahinch
Newsletter
June 2010
www.stpatricksps.co.uk
Welcome Back
We welcome all of our pupils back after the Summer break, especially the boys and girls in Primary 1 who have joined St Patrick’s. We wish you all every success in this new school year.
Infant Entrance
Parents are reminded that if their child is late arriving at school they should gain access through the main school entrance. Please do not send your child up to the infant area if the playground has cleared and all of the children are in class.
Curriculum Meetings
Curriculum Information Meetings take place on 8th September 2010.
The P1-P3 meeting will run from 2.15 – 3.00pm and the P4-P7 meeting will run from 3.15 – 4.00pm.
Start of Year Mass
Our Mass to celebrate the Start of the School Year will take place at 9.30 a.m. in St. Patrick’s Church. All pupils are asked to leave their school bags in school the night before and go directly to the church on the morning of the mass. Should a parent have any problems with this arrangement please do not hesitate to contact the school.
New furniture
On returning to school for the new school year the children got a welcome surprise. All of our classrooms have been provided with new desks and chairs. It is hoped that they will enhance the learning environment for all.
Renovations to the Infant Play Area
Work on the infant play area was completed over the summer break and we are delighted with the improved provision. The new furniture, flooring, lighting and décor have greatly improved the play facilities for the children. Our thanks are extended to the maintenance department of SEELB who assisted the project and to the Parents Support Group who provided funding for the painting of the play area and a new LCD TV.
Parents Support Group
Thanks are also extended to the Parents Support Group for funding a new data projector for the ICT suite. This will allow teachers to demonstrate ICT skills to the children in a clearer and more attractive way.
An outside notice board is soon to be erected in the school grounds as another way of keeping parents informed. Again, this has been funded by the PSG.
The Parents Support Group will be holding a Fun Day in the school grounds on Saturday, 25th September from 1.00pm to 4.00pm.
After-schools Programme
Revision Club for P7 pupils begins on Wednesday 8th September 2010 from 3.00pm to 4.00pm.
Netball Club will begin on Monday, 13th September for P2 and 3 pupils form 2.00pm to 3.00pm and P4-P7 pupils from 3.00pm to 4.00pm. I would encourage boys as well as girls to come along as there are many skills developed that are used in other sports. The cost is £1 per week. The club will initially run for eight weeks and, whilst it can be paid weekly, it would be preferred if the full amount be paid up front.
Short Tennis will again take place on Thursdays. Details will follow.
'Red and Black’ Day
There is great excitement amongst staff and pupils following the success of the Down Senior Football Team. To show our support to the County team in the All-Ireland final Friday, 17th September will be a red and Black day in school. Everyone is asked to wear something in our county colours.
All-Ireland Final
We wish the county team every success in the final and with so many people travelling to the match on the 19th September it has been decided that the school will close on Monday, 20th September. Let’s hope that this will be a day when everyone can go to welcome Sam Maguire back to Down for the sixth time.
Please note that to make up for this closure the school will now be open on 21st April 2011.
Good Luck Robert
We hope that Robert Poland, P5, has a great day on 19th September as he has been chosen to be part of the Guard of Honour for the Down team as they make their way out onto Croke Park on All-Ireland Final day.
Official Opening of the New Playground and Drop-off point
The new playground and drop-off point will be officially opened by a special guest from the Department of Education on Friday, 8th October 2010 at 10.00am. More details will follow.
Sainsbury’s Active Kids Tokens
A big thank you to all of the parents who sent in Sainsbury’s Active Kids tokens. This year they have been used to buy, four scooters for the foundation stage outdoor play, hula hoops and skipping ropes.
Music Success
Congratulations to pupils who took part in Music Exams last term. Caitlin Stuart achieved a Grade 2 with Merit in flute, Hanna-Lambert-Keoghan gained Grade 1 with Merit in violin and Katrine Kelly achieved Grade 1 in violin with Distinction.
Cash for Clobber
You may have noticed a clothing recycle bin which has recently be installed in the playground. Please fell free to use this to deposit old and unwanted cloths. As well as helping our environment by recycling you are also making a donation as every bin bag deposited means the school receives £4.50.
St. Patrick’s is a Catholic Maintained Primary School situated just off the Main Street in Ballynahinch. Our existing school was built in 1958 to replace an old school (1864) on the site. In l981 a major extension was added to give a spacious, modern and well-equipped school.In 2000 a state of the art Nursery Unit known as Magheradroll Nursery Unit was completed to accommodate 52 part time nursery aged children from both communities.