Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Hot School Meals.                                                                                                                                              

Now that the appeal period has passed, we are pleased to inform the school community that the Board of Management’s preferred provider of Hot School Meals is The Carambola Ltd, based in Annacotty, Co. Limerick. We have commenced contract negotiations and will work with them to allow technical and mechanical work to be carried out in school. We will pass on class lists to the company for them to establish family log-in details. More information will be sent to parents in relation to the ordering system and food choice available shortly. The company serves schools in the Clonmel area and their website can be accessed using the following link. https://www.carambola.ie/ The Board of management would like to thank all providers who tendered for the contract at our school. All going well we would hope to be up and running before Christmas. On a related matter, Food Dudes continues for the junior side of school this week and next.

Science Week.                                                                                                                                                           

Our pupils were engaged in science experiments this week to coincide with National Science Week. Photographs of these can be viewed on our Facebook page.

Parent Teacher Meetings (PTM)

A letter was distributed this week outlining the staff each family is required to meet on their particular evening.

Wednesday 27^th Nov. 3:10pm – 5:10 pm (Ahearne – Mulcahy inc.)

Thursday 28^th Nov. 3:10 pm – 5:10 pm (Norris – White inc.)

Christmas Annuals.

In the same PTM letter there was a Christmas Annual Slip. If your child / children is /are interested in ordering a Christmas Annual, please complete the slip and return it to the class teacher with the appropriate fee by Fri 22^nd Nov.

School Concert.

Tickets can be purchased from next week. Each family is entitled to purchase two Wednesday night and two Thursday night tickets. There are many costs associated with our biennial concert, such as hall hire, lighting, sound, transport etc. so we plan to set a price of €7.50 per ticket.

Reminder.

At a recent staff discussion, the importance of children wearing the approved uniform was discussed, which includes; plain navy trousers, or plain navy knee length shorts or indeed a plain navy knee-length skirt. We also ask that branded tracksuits not be worn. For safety reasons, only one small stud earring per ear is permitted, with no necklaces or chains allowed, as these can pose a hazard during activities. Make up, fake lashes and fake nails are also not allowed. It was suggested that this be circulated to all families, through the weekly email. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep everyone safe and aligned to our dress code.

Table Quiz                                                                                                                                                              

St. Mary’s N.S. Touraneena will host a Table Quiz tonight for pupils in Rg 4/6 in Touraneena Community Centre at 7:30 pm. Teams of four with a fee of €5 per pupil. Registration from 7 pm. Beir bua!

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Water Update.

Thankfully the Boil Water Notice has been discontinued at our school.

MMR.                                                                                                                                                                         

Thanks to the Junior infant parent cohort for their cooperation with the HSE and ourselves this week.

Food Dudes.

We are happy to participate in this initiative this year. Pupils get to enjoy fruit and vegetables each day. While the senior side of the school will avail of this for five days, the junior side will continue for a further two weeks. Please note we encourage all pupils to bring healthy lunches to school.

Confirmation Times.

While the dates have already been published, we now know that Confirmation will take place in Touraneena on Tues 29^th April at 9:45 am and in Fourmilewater on the same day at 12 noon.

Parent Teacher Meetings. (PTM)

Our Annual Parent Teacher Meetings will take place on Wed 27^th and Thurs 28^th Nov in the school. A pack will issue to each family next week with details of teachers to be met. The following is the breakdown of each afternoon;

Wednesday 27^th Nov. 3:10pm – 5:10 pm (Ahearne – Mulcahy inc.)

Thursday 28^th Nov. 3:10 pm – 5:10 pm (Norris – White inc.)

Christmas Annuals.

Families will receive an order slip for these annuals in their PTM packs next week. If you are interested in ordering all / any, please complete slip, returning it with the required money without delay. There is a closing date of Friday 22^nd November for ordering.

School Concert.

As previously advised, our Christmas concert will take place on Wed 11^th and Thurs 12^th Dec in the Community Centre. All classes will perform each night. As we have over 100 families connected to the school, each family will be entitled to purchase two tickets for each performance. This will comply with capacity limitations at the Centre. There are many costs associated with our biennial concert, such as hall hire, lighting, sound, transport etc. We will advise of ticket prices at a later stage.

Parking Progress

Having met with all neighbouring landowners throughout 2024 and previously, we are happy to announce that we have come to an agreement with the Byrne family of Clogheen, Ballymacarbry in relation to acquiring land adjacent to our school in the interest of facilitating staff parking across from the school gate. We feel that by accommodating this, we will make the junction safer for all who use it.

We thank all landowners for their interaction with us down through the years; especially the Byrnes, Lizzie, her son Michael and his brothers and sisters for their cooperation. We would also like to thank Eamon Costigan and Paudie Halpin for their assistance throughout the negotiation period.

We acknowledge the work of current and former, chairs, principals and Boards of management in seeking a solution to this ongoing problem. Ned Moore and the principal have been part of a BoM subcommittee working behind the scenes these last few years and were joined by Brendan O’Brien in December last. They have dealt with landowners, various levels of council officials and members of the Garda Síochána.

While we have known of this for some weeks, we progressed it through proper channels. We mention it now with full permission of the Byrne family, having discussed it at a recent BoM meeting. Even though years of preparatory work have gone into this development, the hard work starts now, it will not happen overnight, but thankfully it will happen and it will mark a seminal moment in the development of our school and its environs. We will keep the school community informed as necessary.

We will continue to work with the Garda Síochána, Waterford City & County Council in emphasising the importance of Road Safety and Traffic Management at the junction. Nothing can improve in this regard, without their lead and enthusiasm. We will also work with the recently formed Ballymacarbry Road Action Group (BRAG) with whom we have exchanged emails to advance this necessity.

In the interim, I would ask all those who drop and collect, to continue to utilise the one-way system in operation, to make the junction as safe as possible. Sometimes it is better to leave collection until 3:05-3:10 pm when all buses have departed and the initial rush has passed.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Water Update.

The Boil Water Notice continues at our school.

GAA.                                                                                                                                                                      

Well done to our boys who won the Roinn A Plate final when beating St Joseph’s Dungarvan on Saturday last. Joint captains Darragh and Hugh accepted the Shield on behalf of the school and their teammates. We presented the medals on Tuesday morning at a school assembly. Thanks to all who were involved in the team’s development including internal and external coaches. Thanks also to the PA for their goodie bags after the match. On Wednesday the girls contested the 7 a side Semi Final, while the boys contested the Quarter Final. GAA coach Conor Prendergast called this week and will also be with us on our first Wednesday after mid-term.

Rg 2 Blitz                                                                                                                                                              

On Monday our Rg 2 participated in a Blitz in Dungarvan. They were split into different teams along with pupils from many other schools. They had numerous games and enjoyed meeting new teammates in what was a very well-run event. Thanks to all involved.

MMR                                                                                                                                                                          

Thanks to those parents who have returned the HSE packs in relation to their junior infant child.

Hot School Meals                                                                                                                                                      

The application has been submitted and the Board of Management has selected its preferred supplier. All tendering providers have been notified of the result. We can commence contract negotiations with this supplier once the appeal standstill period has expired. We will update the entire school community again once the contract has been negotiated and signed. This is all in compliance with lengthy and onerous School Procurement Unit protocol. Sincere thanks to the sub-committee members, who put in many many hours of deliberation to fulfill the obligations of the award criteria.

Halloween                                                                                                                                                              

Well done to all who made the effort to dress up today. We had an assembly where each class got to perform for the school. A total of €480 was collected for the ‘Do it For Declan Campaign’ Go raibh míle maith Agaibh arís. Don’t forget that the Parents’ Association will host a disco tonight at the Community Centre from 6:30 pm. We will meet again on Monday 4^th November, le cúnamh Dé. Oiche Shamhna Shona daoibh go léir.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Water Update.

The Boil Water Notice continues at our school.

Sympathies.                                                                                                                  

We extend the sympathies of the entire school community to Mrs Claire Byrne and her family on the death of her aunt Rose O’Brien last weekend. Rose was laid to rest in Dungarvan on Tuesday. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sí.

Child Safeguarding Statement. (CSS)

Like all schools at this time, we are currently reviewing our CSS at class and staff level.

GAA.

Our boys will contest the Roinn ‘A’ Plate Final tomorrow when we take on St Joseph’s Dungarvan at the Dungarvan GAA Club grounds at 11:20 am. All players are asked to be onsite at 10:45 am Eircode = X35 K258. Our assigned GAA coach, Conor Prendergast will call to our school on Wednesday next. Gum shields at the ready please. Rg 2 boys and girls will participate in a blitz on Monday next, please refer to Miss O’Keeffe / Mrs Coffey’s e-mail / letter in relation to same.

Swimming

Rg 3/4 have completed their 6-week swim session today. Rg 5/6 will commence their 6-week programme on Friday next.

Ethos.                                                                                                                                                                                 

Our Rg 2 boys and girls will commence their Sacramental Grow in Faith programme this weekend, in preparation for their Communion in May 2025. They will be involved in Sunday morning’s 9 am mass in FMW. Our Rg 6 pupils completed their Enrolment & Commitment Ceremony at FMW Church on Wednesday night. Fr Toomey has informed us that, our Confirmation Day is scheduled for Tues 29^th April at both Touraneena and FMW churches.

Athletics.

On Wednesday, we participated in the Clonmel Athletic Club – Primary Schools Cross Country Races at the TUS Sports Hub. We had some exceptional performances, none greater than winning both the girls Rg 3/4 and Rg 5/6 team events. (We had 7 girls placed in the top 10 in their respective races.) The Rg 5/6 boys took home the bronze medal in the team event. We also had some exceptional individual performances. Ellen, Eimear, Emily, Áine, Saorlaith & Ciarán. Thanks to the Parents’ Association who have kindly sponsored the race costs for each individual. Thanks also to Stephanie Byrne Fitness for sponsoring Athletics singlets for the school. They were used to good effect and undoubtedly added to the occasion.

HSE – MMR

Junior infants have received their packs today. Please read and complete, returning them to school by next Friday.

Congratulations.

Well done to our past pupils Anna-Mai Condon and Clodagh Desmond who this week were crowned ‘2024 European Youth Entrepreneurs of the Year’ at an award ceremony in Berlin. Both girls presented their business idea to our senior classes last spring. We wish them well with their sporting invention called ‘stick-it’ Hard luck to our men and women of the area who were unlucky in their respective quests for sporting glory last weekend. ‘Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach’ as they say.

Halloween Break.

Children are encouraged to wear Halloween costume on Friday next. They are also asked to bring a small contribution with proceeds going to the “Do it for Declan” local fundraiser. The P.A. will hold its Halloween Disco in the Community Centre from 6:30pm. School will close for mid-term next Friday at 2/3 pm and will reopen on Monday 4^th November.

Breakfast Club & After School Service.

I have been informed that this service will not be available on Friday 8^th Nov. This is the day school will close to facilitate staff training on the new maths curriculum.

Reminder

Our proposed School Concert is scheduled for Wednesday 11^th and Thursday 12^th December at the Community Centre.

Is mise, Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.

Dear Parent / Guardian / Colleague / Board Member,

Water Update.

The Boil Water Notice continues at our school.

Junior Cert Results.

Congrats to all our past pupils who received their results this week. We wish them well in their senior cycle.

Enrolment Sept 2025.

Please complete Form 1 and return it to our school if relevant to you and your family. Admission Application – Form 1

GAA.

Our boys qualified for the Roinn A plate final during the week when we overcame Garranbane NS in the semifinal. We will now meet St. Joseph’s, Dungarvan in the final on Saturday week in the Dungarvan GAA Club Grounds, timed for a 12:00 noon start. Hard luck to our girls who lost out to a very good Scoil Gharbháin team in the Roinn A semifinal. Thanks again to our staff and coaches, who help us with the promotion of sports.

Ethos.

Our Rg 6 confirmation students will participate in their Enrolment & Commitment Ceremony at FMW Church on Wednesday night next at 7 pm. This will involve all the pupils from both FMW and Nire parishes. Sacramental Programme 2024/25.

Athletics.

Next Wednesday we will participate in the Clonmel Athletic Club – Primary Schools Cross Country Races at the TUS Sports Hub, Clonmel. Thanks to the Parents’ Association who have kindly sponsored the race costs for each individual and also Eamon Costigan & family for kindly allowing us to use their field for trials and training.

Gráinne O’Flynn R.I.P.

Condolences are extended to the O’Flynn family of Croughclooney, Ballinamult on the death of their sister Gráinne last weekend. Gráinne, along with her siblings attended our school. A teacher by profession. I for one, have fond memories of her, teaching us here, for a short period in the mid 1980’s. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sí.

Hot School Meals Update.

The application period for electronic tenders has now closed. A BoM sub-committee is going through the lengthy adjudication process in line with Schools Procurement guidelines. This representative body is comprised of BOM officers, school senior management and officers from the Parents’ Association. We appreciate their time and effort immensely. A recommendation will be brought to BoM shortly.

Sport this Weekend.

Best wishes to Ballymacarbry LGFC and our many past pupils who play the Senior County Final tonight against Comeragh Rangers in Dungarvan at 7;30pm. We donned our blue and white today in support of their endeavours. Also, to our Intermediate footballers who play Sliabh gCua in Dungarvan at 2pm on Saturday and our Seniors who play Rathgormack on Sunday at 2:15pm in the County semifinal.

Halloween Break.

The school will close for mid-term break on Friday 25^th October and reopen on Monday 4^th November. As is tradition, pupils will dress up on the day and this year the proceeds will go to the “Do it for Declan” local fundraiser. The P.A. will hold its Halloween Disco later that night in the Community Centre.

Is mise,

Michael J. O’Ryan – Principal.