Archives 2014 - 2016

St. Brigid's National School, Ballysax

2015 - 2016 School News

Colm Keane from Suncroft brought his Live Crib to our school on the 18th December 2015. It is an occasion that is enjoyed by all each year.

The families in our school donated over 100 shoeboxes to TEAM HOPE to bring Christmas joy to children in other countries.

In November, two Gardaí from the Mounted Unit in Phoenix Park, visited our school with their amazing horses. Every class had a chance to come outside to see them and to ask questions about the work the Gardaí do while on mounted patrol. It was a brilliant experience!

Two Army Officers presented us with a National Flag and a copy of the Proclamation. We sang Amhrán na bhFiann and we had an Irish Dancing Display.

Every class had a skipping workshop in September. We learned so many tricks and different ways to have fun with a skipping rope!

2014 - 2015 School News

Fundraising for KARE

Naomi in 6th class organised a fund-raising event in school for KARE as so much good work is done in the local area by this organisation. €360 was raised through a t-shirt day. Thank you to all the families of the school who gave this support.

Write a Book Project 2015

This year all the children in 1st, 2nd and 3rd classes took part in the Write a Book Project in association with Kildare Education Centre. Each child chose a topic, made a plan, wrote their draft, edited it, made a final draft and edited it. The books were sent to Kildare Education Centre and from there were distributed to schools around the county for other children to read them. All the books came back to us then with a certificate for each child who participated. Some children got medals and rosettes. A presentation ceremony was held today and lots of family members were able to attend. Thanks to Ms O'Halloran, Ms Collins and Ms Fitzpatrick for all their help and hard work! 16th June 2015

Peace Proms 2014

Congratulations to the our school choir who took part in the 2015 Annual Peace Proms at the RDS in Dublin on 31 January. This was our school’s second year to participate in the Peace Proms.

The Peace Proms is a unique musical education programme in which 7,000 children from 250 schools throughout Ireland participate annually. It provides a unique platform for young people to showcase their talent while promoting peace, unity and tolerance through music.

A huge thank you to Ms Maria Fitzpatrick, who organised our participation in the event, taught the choir after school for many weeks of practice, and accompanied the children to the RDS last Saturday.

Christmas Shoeboxes 2014

3rd Class with Mrs Fox and Ms Fitzpatrick and the shoeboxes collected in our school

Our school takes part in the Team Hope's Christmas Shoebox Appeal. People get a shoebox and wrap it in Christmas paper. Then the box is filled with little presents for a boy or girl who lives in Eastern Europe or Africa where some of the world's poorest children live. These children get very few presents at Christmas time. We are delighted to share with them and bring joy to them at this special time of year.

Mrs Fox helps to organise the Christmas Shoeboxes. This year 126 boxes were brought in by families in our school. Thank you so much to all who filled these boxes and who are helping to make Christmas special for so many children.

Celebrating 175 Years of Education

On Friday 17th October 2014, wonderful celebratons were held in school to mark two very important dates. Our present school in Ballysax opened its doors twenty years ago in 1994 after years of hard campaigning and fundraising by the school community: parents, children, Board of Management, staff and former principal, Mr Michael Kelleher. 175 years ago in 1839 the first school in Ballysax was opened. At that time it was known locally as Cut Bush National School. It was a simple two-storied, four room building comprising of two classrooms and living accomodation for the teacher. Nowadays that building has been refurbished as apartments but the stone plaque remians to remind all of its original status.

"Erected by the Rev J Murphy CC June 1839"

A second school was opened in 1916 to accomodate larger numbers and the Cut Bush school was closed. This school building, although only around the corner from the first, was in a different townsland and became known as St Brigid's National School, Brownstown - or just Brownstown National School. Many parents and grandparents of children in school today can recall schooldays in Brownstown National School.

Our present school was opened in 1994. It is still St Brigid's National School, but again the townsland changed even though this building is very close to the 1916 building. The townsland now is Ballysax, so often our school is referred to as Ballysax National School.

On Friday, a Tree Planting Ceremony was held on the school grounds. We planted a beautiful oak tree. Our Principal, Ms Esther Reddy, told us that oak trees can grow for up to 200 years. We hope education in Ballysax is still as strong in 200 years time as it is now.

The tree was lifted into place by Mr Michael kelleher, former principal, Mr Lar Nolan, himself a past pupil and grandfather of Eoin in 4th class and Mr Christy Sweeney, our caretaker. Ms Monica Meehan from our Board of Management put the first shovel of soil in place, followed by Ms Esther Reddy, Principal and Ms Aelish Collins, Deputy Principal.

Then one person from each class shovelled in soil to help plant the tree: patrick from Junior Infants, Ciarán from Senior Infants, Dylan from 1st class, James from 2nd class, Seán from 3rd class, Ella from 4th class, Sophie from 5th class and Aoife from 6th class.

At 7pm on Friday evening, Fr Larkin celebrated mass in Suncroft Parish Church for our school.It was a beautiful ceremony. Symbols of the 3 schools were brought to the altar. Our school choir sang and children from 5th class read the prayers. At the end of mass Fr Larkin blessed a very special picture which contains the poem "Footprints" as a memoriam to Mrs Catherine Ryan, our teacher and friend, who passed away last March. The picture was then brought back to the school and placed on the wall. It is inscribed with Mrs Ryan's name and the words "Ár gcara agus cara na scoile".

We then had a party in the school! the Parent Teacher association had tea, coffee, diluted drinks and loads of goodies for everyone. People spent the evening chatting, admiring our work on the walls, looking at photos from over the years and also at a DVD which was recorded around the old schools 25 years ago. It was a wonderful evening and a great end to a full day of celebrating.

Croke Park June 8th 2014

Our school was invited to enter a team to play an exhibition match during half time of the Leinster Quarter Finals in Croke Park today. Ten pupils represented the school and the county in a match against a team from Louth. The Ballysax team did us proud and looked so well in the new jerseys for which the PTA attained sponsorship during the year. It was a huge honour for the school and parents and a great day was had by the team and all their supporters. Thanks to everyone who support the team. In the picture we see (back row) Marie Knight (coach) Jack, Jack, Eve, Seán, Dylan, Ms Collins (front row) Ben, Robbie, Ciarán, Adam and Tom.

Play, learn and grow together