Mid Term Newsletter (Please read)

Dear Parents,

A huge thanks to you all for your support throughout January and February!   I know it has been a difficult 6 week stretch for many families due to the high numbers of infections in the community.   We are very grateful that all classes have been able to remain in school and we hope that the virus will be less active as we move into the Spring time.

School will be closed for pupils next week for Mid Term and will reopen on Monday 21st February.  I would encourage you to keep an eye on the School Calendar on the website using the School App so that you can plan your holidays around Easter and for the Bank Holidays in May/June.

SPORTS AND CLUBS

Our pupils have enjoyed and benefitted greatly from the Health and Well Being Initiatives in School.  Our association with Healthy Kidz has been very well received and the children love the coaches who are coming into school.  There will be another After Schools Block commencing on Tuesday 22nd February which you can enrol your child for here:  https://healthy-kidz.com/product/healthy-kidz-afterschools-at-st-malachys-ps-ballymoyer-term-2-block-2/  (See the flyer attached for information).

(Please make sure you name each child separately when enrolling as the coach needs this for all lessons.)

St Killian's Club in Whitecross will be taking registrations for a new Football Team  for P3/4 girls (aged under 8.5).  Please contact:  Joel Teague  on 07814 292326 if you would like your daughter to join the team.

P1 AND P7  APPLICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS 2022

Thank you to all parents who recently submitted applications for Primary 1.  If you haven't yet uploaded your child's birth certificate please do so as soon as possible as this is essential before admission.  

Confirmation of Admission for Primary 1 pupils will be sent to applicants on 28th April 2022.

Parents who are applying for places in Post Primary School must complete an online application before 23rd February using the Citizens Portal.  (You can find out about this on www.eani.org.uk/admissions).

When applying:  please make sure you read the Applications Criteria thoroughly for the school.  This is extremely important!  If your online application doesn't refer specifically to the criteria your child may not be offered a place. 

Primary 7 pupil will receive confirmation of their places on 21st May 2022. 

UPDATE ON NEW SCHOOL PREMISES

Having applied for new school mobile classrooms in October 2019, we didn't expect a health pandemic to get in the way!  Thankfully we are now at the stage where contractors are visiting the site to make tenders to commence works.  This is very encouraging and welcome news, which gives us a degree of certainty that works will finally go-ahead.

You may be aware that a formal planning application was submitted last term for the building of new state of the art Modular Buildings where the school polytunnel is currently located.  A representative from the Planning Department has visited the site and we are now awaiting final confirmation.  When final approval is received, it is antipated that ground works will be able to commence after Easter.  We are very hopeful that a new triple modular building will be on site in early 2023 if things go according to plan.  This will deliver many benefits for the children of Ballymoyer including:

• State of the Art Classrooms with new Digi-panel boards.
• New furniture kits including desks for all pupils
• Larger playgrounds at the front of the school (after the old mobiles have been removed)
• Newly tarmaced walk ways and landscaped grounds.
• An outdoor lift for disabled access to the new classrooms
• Fibre Broadband accessible throughout the school. 

This is an exciting development for all in St Malachy's PS and one which one which will make a huge difference in the educational provision for all our children.

I wish you all a safe and healthy Mid Term Break.

Justin Toner

Principal