Dear Parents / Guardians,

It’s hard to believe that we’re almost at the end of yet another academic year. The following will bring you up to date on the latest events in our school. We’ve had some wonderful achievements this term and I’m only too delighted to share the good news with you in what has turned out to be my longest newsletter ever!

School Choir Success

Our School choir scooped first prize in the Junior Section of the prestigious AIMS Choir Competition in New Ross and brought home the Biddy McGuire Cup. This was a remarkable achievement, with stiff competition from well-established choirs from all over the country. The adjudicator, Róisín Blunny from DCU, told the audience that the choir gave her a “tingling” feeling. She highly commended the quality of the singing and noted the great chemistry between the choir and the very accomplished conductor, Mrs. Ann Brolly. I also want to thank Ms. Reidy, Ms. Kenny, Mrs. O’Sullivan and Mrs. Bowe for their assistance with the choir after school throughout the year in a voluntary capacity. Congratulations and well done to all involved!

Sport

Gaelic Football Victories

Our girls’ and boys’ football teams put in fantastic performances and achieved the “double” by winning both finals in the Glór na nGael Gaelic Football Tournament recently! The teams played St. Fiacc’s N.S. in two highly entertaining finals. The girls were thrilled to retain the cup for the second year in a row. Congratulations to both teams on their well-deserved victories.

Basketball Success

Our girls’ and boys’ basketball teams competed in the Primary School Division 1 league this summer. The girls had a great run, topping their group. They played Scoil Mhuire gan Smál in the final in a very competitive game and emerged as the champions. Well done, girls!

Hurling and Camogie

Our boys and girls entered the Carlow Urban Schools Blitz in Hurling and Camogie held recently in Eire Óg. Both teams performed well and had a great day out.

Cluster Blitz

Our annual Inter Schools Cluster Blitz with Tinryland National School took place again this year. This was facilitated by the County Board and was a most enjoyable event for all the participants in 3^rd and 4^th Classes.

Active Schools Week

All our pupils enjoyed thirty minutes of physical activities every day during Active Schools Week which was held in mid-June. Thanks to Ms. Cleary for organising the activities for the week.

GAA Coaching

A big thank you to our friends in Palatine GAA for the coaching sessions, equipment and the use of their facilities this year.  The coaching programme was part of the School-Club Link Partnership and our pupils benefited enormously from these sessions.  A special thanks to Martin Hosey for the excellent coaching sessions he delivered to the junior classes.

Thanks You

We are extremely grateful to Ms. Tomlinson for all the time, enthusiasm and the huge commitment she brings to training our school teams and co-ordinating our sports programme.  Thanks also to Ms. Kelly and Mr. Curry who have given their very valuable assistance in this area during the year. We are delighted that Mr. Corcoran continues to work with our school football and basketball teams and we greatly appreciate his valuable contribution to all the sporting activities in the school.

Community Games

Congratulations to all who won medals in the recent county finals of Community Games. Best of luck to the following pupils  who won gold medals and now go forward to represent County Carlow in the All-Ireland competitions - Eoghan Brennan, Seán Breen, John Hendricken, Ria Mullins, Maeve O’ Neill and Kate Walsh.
Christine Cassidy, Maiyah O’Dwyer and Dilinna Chukwujama won gold medals in the U-8 relay event.

Draughts News

Bennekerry entered four teams in this year’s All-Ireland Primary Schools Draughts Competition which was held in Limerick in March. Well done to the team comprising of Seán Breen, James Cranny, Marie Cranny and Lorcan Kelly who came second in the final. James Cranny came second and Seán Breen came third in the individual competition.
Bennekerry/Tinryland U-14 draughts team came second in this year’s All-Ireland Finals in Community Games.  Congratulations to Seán Breen, Conor Buggy, James Cranny, Marie Cranny, Martin Óg Hosey, Lorcan Kelly and Aidan Ryan on winning their silver medals. Many thanks to Ms. Mairéad Breen and to her Dad, Mr. Pat Breen, for all their great work with the draughts teams. There’s a great tradition of success at draughts in the parish and it’s wonderful to see the success passing on to the next generation!

First Holy Communion and Confirmation

Congratulations to the pupils in 2^nd Class on their First Holy Communion and thanks to the class teachers, Mrs. Murphy and Ms. Cleary, for all their hard work with the preparations.  Well done to the boys and girls in 6^th Class on the lovely Confirmation Ceremony; we were delighted that Bishop Denis Nulty could join us for this special occasion. Sincere thanks to the 6^th Class teachers, Ms. Kelly and Mrs. O’Sullivan. I also want to thank the choir for the beautiful singing at both ceremonies. 

1916 Proclamation

Our 1916 School Proclamation was chosen by Carlow County Museum for a ‘printing press workshop’ in association with Newark Press, Ballon in April. Damon Kelly and Lauren Ward attended the workshop where our proclamation was typeset using the same technique that was used to print the original proclamation in 1916. On Wednesday next, 28^th of June, a  framed copy will be presented to the school at a function in the Museum.

Our School Proclamation is a very impressive piece of collaborative writing involving all the pupils in the senior classes. This very worthwhile project was co-ordinated by Mrs. Murphy as part of last year’s 1916 commemorations.

Charity Events

Fun Day – The Sixth Class pupils organised a wonderful Fun Day this year. The event involved all classes participating in a wide variety of outdoor fun activities, in addition to a cake sale and a raffle. They raised €1,036 which will be shared between two very worthy causes - The Alzheimer’s Society based in Bethany House Day Care Centre and Carlow County Hospice.

The money which was very generously donated by the pupils in the Sacramental Classes will be shared between Dominico (the child we sponsor in Tanzania) and the two charities mentioned above.

Sunflower Competition - Thank you very much to everyone who bought sunflower seeds in aid of Carlow / Kilkenny Hospice. A competition for the tallest sunflower will take place in September. Mind those plants carefully over the summer!

Tours  

The following venues were chosen for school tours this year.

·        Junior Infants – Nore Valley Park, Co. Kilkenny

·        Senior Infants –Wells House, Gorey

·        1^st Class – Pirates Cove, Courtown

·        2^nd Class – Kilkenny Castle and ‘K Bowl’ , Kilkenny

·        3^rd Class – Wexford Heritage Park and Leisure Max, Wexford

·        4^th Class – Causey Farm, Co. Meath

·        5^th Class – Roll ‘n’ Bowl, Portlaoise

·        6^th Class – Dunmore East Adventure Centre

In addition to these tours, some classes were lucky enough to squeeze in an extra trip!

Senior Infants travelled to Carlow Fire Station and Carlow Post Office to enhance their understanding of these important services as part of their “Aistear” Programme.

Second and Fourth Classes enjoyed a trip to Carlow County Museum and an art exhibition at The Visual.

Third Classes attended a workshop on “The Science of Bubbleology” in Carlow IT and they got an opportunity to explore the scientific aspects of bubbles.

World Book Day / Book Fair / Author’s Visit

The pupils were engaged in a wide variety of activities to promote reading and celebrate World Book Day in March. Children wrote book reports, shared their favourite titles with friends and dressed up as book characters.

We were delighted with the terrific support for the Book Fair. As a result of the sales at the fair, the school received €2,400 worth of books which will top up the library stocks in all classrooms very nicely. Thanks to Mrs. Murphy who co-ordinated the event and to Zelma, Deirdre and members of the PA for all their help.

Mrs. Murphy also organised the popular children’s author, Oisín Mc Gann, to visit the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Classes; this proved to be a great learning experience for the children.

While I’m on the subject of books, we would be very grateful for the return of any books you find at home with the Bennekerry stamp on them. Simply drop the books into the boxes placed strategically inside the main doors as part of our “Book Amnesty” initiative. (I guarantee you that all will be forgiven as long as the books are returned!)

Competition Successes

Congratulations to the following pupils on their success in a variety of recent competitions:

·        Ria Mullins – Prize winner in Student Concept Competition organised by the local Enterprise Office

·        Brian Broderick – Bank of Ireland Enterprise Town Poetry Competition  - First Prize

·        Abigail Walsh – Fair Trade Art Competition – highly commended

·        Tara Webb – Glór Ceatharlach / Seachtain na Gaeilge comórtas ealaíne – First prize

·        Sarah Keenan – Glór Ceatharlach / Seachtain na Gaeilge comórtas ealaíne – Second prize

·        Ola Majka, Senan Kavanagh and Anya Li – prize winners in Permanent TSB colouring competition

·        Róisín Kennedy (1^st  prize), Sarah Keenan (2^nd prize) and Eddie Keenan (3^rd  prize) – Carlow Rotary Young Photographer of the Year Competition

·        Jade Ellis and Dara Hayden - Both won first prize in their respective categories in the Relay for Life Art Competition

Dragon’s Den 

Michael Dawson from Bank of Ireland worked with our two 5th Classes on a “Dragon’s Den” type training programme over a 4 day period. The children learned about setting up a business and they worked in groups to create their own companies. The groups then made a pitch to a team of “Dragons” from Carlow Chamber of Commerce with a view to gaining an investment for their company. This proved to be a very worthwhile activity for our students; the wheelers and dealers of the future clearly came to the fore during this particular activity!

Music Generation Recital 

We were delighted with the opportunity to partake in the wonderful Music Generation Programme again this year. Children in 3^rd and 4^th classes made great progress at learning the recorder with Gavin Barr and they gave a lovely recital for their parents in the PE Hall last week. A number of children from 4^thClass were selected to play in the recent Music Generation Gala Concert in The Visual in May.

Sixth Class Farewell

I want to take this opportunity to say good-bye and God bless to our sixth class pupils and their families. We wish them all the very best for the future and we are looking forward to welcoming their parents and guardians to a Farewell Ceremony at 2pm on Wednesday, the 28^th of June.

Report from the Board of Management

During this school year, the Board of Management commissioned a Master Plan for further development of the school grounds and play areas. The plan is now complete. In consultation with the PA, the first priority identified was an Infant playground and Kompan has now been given the go ahead to proceed with this project. It is expected that it will be ready for the new school year and this, no doubt, will be a great addition to the present facilities. Vivienne O’Neill deserves great credit for all her painstaking research into this project.

The Board has updated and ratified our new Code of Behaviour and Acceptable Internet Usage Policy (AUP).  It is very important to note the change in school policy in relation to mobile phones; pupils will no be longer permitted to bring phones or other electronic devices to school. The Child Protection Policy is scheduled for review at the next meeting.

Parents’ Association

The incoming officers are:

Chairperson                     Mrs. Michelle Mc Mahon            Vice- Chairperson       Ms. Georgina Brennan Stynes

Secretary:                        Mrs. Nicola Connolly                    Assistant Secretary           Mrs. Eileen Dowling

Treasurer:                        Mrs. Aisling Mc Connon              Assistant Treasurer           Mrs. Liz Doyle   

The big event this year was the “20K Drop” which proved to be a fantastic fundraiser and a great social occasion for the entire School Community.  The Committee presented a cheque to the school for a whopping €24,246.64. The Clothes Collection was also a great money spinner, bringing in a further €990. The funds raised will go towards the new Infant Playground.

Sharon Hayden from the National Parents Council gave an excellent presentation on Internet Safety at the AGM.

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the fundraising events and also to those who provided the refreshments for First Holy Communion, Confirmation, New Parents’ Induction Evening and Sixth Class Farewell ceremony.

School Reports and Booklists

Reports were posted last week. The results of standardised tests in Maths and English are given on the reports for pupils from 1^st to 6^th Classes. Please note that these results merely give a snapshot of your child’s performance on the day. Some variation in scores from year to year is to be expected. Further information on the format for school reports and the interpretation of standardised test results is available on www.ncca.ie/parents/assessment .

Booklists for all classes were distributed last week, together with application forms for book rental for pupils from 3^rd to 6^th Classes. (Jones’ Business Systems has been supplied with copies of all our booklists.)

School Charges

The School Contribution for Art and Craft, photocopying and personal accident insurance will remain at €30 next year for one child and €25 for additional siblings.

Drama : €15 per pupil.  Swimming : €50 (1^st to 5^th Classes).

Music Generation Recorder lessons will cost €25 per pupil in 3^rd and 4^th Classes for 30 recorder lessons.

These  lessons are subsidised by Music Generation and the Parents Association.

Uniform

When purchasing uniforms for the coming year, please remember that pupils must wear plain black shoes or boots.  The navy track suit bottoms should also be plain with no obvious stripes. (Small, discreet logos are acceptable.) Girls should wear navy socks / white socks / navy tights.

School sweat shirts are available from Nicola’s Embroidery, Johnstown, Bennekerry.Tel.086-6392184, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30 pm. The sweat shirts may be ordered by phone or by calling to the house but not by text.

1^st of August is the last date to place orders required for the beginning of the new academic year.

School Ties are available from Shaws, Tullow Street.

It is absolutely essential to have all coats, jumpers, sweatshirts etc. clearly marked with your child’s name. A laundry marker (available from the Wool Shop in Haddens) is a worthwhile investment as it will ensure that names won’t come off in the wash during the year.

Summer Stars Summer Reading Programme, Carlow County Library

The reading programme runs from the 1^st of July to the 30^th of August and this is an excellent way to keep your child reading during the summer holidays.  Children who participate will receive their own Summer Stars Reading Card and a reward stamp will be added to their card at the Library for every book they read. We highly recommend “Summer Stars” to all our pupils.

School Retirements

You have more than likely heard the news already that Mrs. Valerie Murphy and I intend to retire from Bennekerry N.S. at the end of August this year. Valerie and I met for the first time on our very first morning in St. Patrick’s College of Education and it’s quite a coincidence that we are now finishing in the same school on the same day!

Mrs. Murphy has been an extremely dedicated and inspirational teacher throughout her career. In addition to her class teaching duties, she was involved in a vast number of positive initiatives in our school including the co-ordination of our literacy programmes, school self-evaluation, promotion of science activities, book fairs, school visits from authors and engineers, trips to Carlow library and science workshops in the IT, school concerts, Maths and Science Excellence Awards, Green Schools activities, Eason Spelling Bee Competition, the Primary Schools Debating Competition  and the 1916 School Proclamation project ..……  to mention but a few!

She was extremely generous with her time and was always willing to share her many and varied talents with pupils and staff alike. On a personal level, I want to thank her for her friendship and support and I know she will be a huge loss to all in Bennekerry N.S. We wish her an abundance, health and happiness in her retirement!

Summer Holiday Arrangements

Bennekerry N.S. will close for the summer holidays on Friday, 30th of June at 12 noon.

Infants may be collected at 11.45am in order to alleviate traffic at the gate. 

The school will re-open for pupils on Wednesday, 30th of August at 9.20am

The reception of the new Junior Infants will take place between 9.45 and 10.15am.

Farewell

As I bid you farewell, I want to express my gratitude to the pupils, staff, management, parents and the wider school community of Bennekerry N.S. It has been an absolute privilege to work with the wonderful children and excellent staff here in Bennekerry since 2002, as class teacher, learning support teacher and principal. My time here has been hugely rewarding for me, both personally and professionally. I feel very proud to be associated with so many positive developments in our school since my appointment as Principal in 2011. I greatly appreciate the co-operation, support and assistance I have received from the pupils, staff and parents. The parents who served on the PA Committee have been a wonderful resource and a great asset to the school.

I am particularly grateful for the guidance, encouragement and support I received from the members of the Board of Management, especially the chairperson, Mr. Ned Burke and the patron’s nominee, Fr. Little.

I sincerely wish the newly appointed principal and everyone in Bennekerry N.S. the very best for the future.

Míle buíochas daoibh go léir as ucht an chabhair agus an tacaíocht a thug sibh dom agus guím rath Dé ar bhur gcuid oibre as seo amach.

Finally, I hope you all have a very well-deserved break over the summer months!

Beir bua agus beannacht,

Maria Doyle

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Principal