Welcome | Ballyconnell National School

Fáilte chuig | Scoil Naomh Muire Baile Uí Chonaill

Ballyconnell National School, Ballyconnell, Tullow Co. Carlow R93VA44

Twelve teacher, co-educational school under the patronage of the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin

Upcoming School Events

Active Schools Involvement

Active Schools is a Department of Education initiative which aims to get the school children of Ireland more active on a day-to-day basis in school.

There are three main elements to this: Physical Education, Physical Activity and Partnerships.

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Principal's Welcome

As principal of St. Mary's N.S. Ballyconnell, I would like to welcome you to our school website. As a 14 teacher school in rural Carlow, (on the Carlow/Wickow border) we are immensely proud of our school community, (parents, children, staff, Parents Association and Board of Management). Please browse our website to see our many and varied activities and we plan to update the information on a regular basis.

Thank you, Mary Dolan

School Activity

School News

6th Class Hoodies 2024

2024-05-14T11:51:41

6th Class received their class hoodies on the 8th May 2024. They were overjoyed to put them on and show them off! We are very grateful that a group of local dairy farmers sponsored the purchase of these for 6th class.  

 

Warm thanks goes to all families of the locality that were involved in this sponsorship: Paul Keogh, Will Griffin, Peter Byrne, Hilton Dagge, Pat & Ann Whelan (Munny), Joe O' Grady, John Gahan (Boley) and Robert Keogh. 

 

The farmers of the locality have expressed their gratitude for all of our support through the consumption of Dairy Products and also the courtesy and patience we show to the farmers at busy times when we share our roads with farm machinery. It is the intention of the Ballyconnell NS Dairy Farm Families this sponsorship each year going forward.

 

Have a look at 6th Class sporting their lovely new hoodies!

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Eva Enjoys Success at the Wicklow Fleadh 2024

2024-05-13T09:36:45

Congratulations to Eva Willoughby who recently took part in Under 12 singing and took 1st place. Eva will now go forward to the Leinster Fleadh later in the summer. Best of luck at the next stage Eva!

 

Ballyconnell NS was well represented at the Wicklow Fleadh. Well done also to Sam Willoughby, Patrick O’Flaherty, Peter O'Shea and Paddy O’Shea who all did themselves proud!

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New School Building Opens!

2024-05-13T09:36:45

April 8th 2024 will forever be remembered as a red letter day in the history of Ballyconnell NS as it was on that date that children attended class in our new school building for the first time.

There was great excitement as the Easter holidays drew to a close this year. Yes, you read that correctly! This was because the children of junior infants, senior infants, 3rd class and 5th class would be returning to bright shiny new classrooms as our new school building opened to pupils for the very first time.

5th class and Junior Infants are now neighbours while Senior Infants and Rang a 3 now work side-by-side on the 2nd floor. Joining them on high are Ms Geraghty and Ms Dempsey in their lovely new room.

Here’s to a great term’s learning in our new rooms! The learning won’t just be confined to this term of course; these beautiful new classrooms will be centres of learning for generations of Ballyconnell children. What a privilege it is to be the first teachers and pupils to experience them.

Refurbishment work now begins on the lower part of the school.

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About Our School

The school endeavours to develop each child to their full potential in a happy, safe and secure working environment.

The school seeks to prepare its pupils for their academic lives and to prepare them for their full and active participation as citizens of their state. We feel that children should be aware of their responsibilities.

“Ón dearcán suarach a fhásann an dair ríoga”.

Information

School Hours

Upcoming Events

Class Activities

School Ethos

General Information

St Mary’s N.S. is a co-educational Catholic primary school, serving the people in the parish of Clonmore under the patronage of the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Bishop Denis Nulty.

The school has a commitment to diversity and inclusivity, while, at the same time, protecting the integrity and Catholic ethos of the school.

Our school caters for the full range of classes from Junior Infants to Sixth class as well as two Autism Spectrum Disorder Classes (one ASD preschool class and an ASD class for children aged 4-12).

Our Staff

Currently there are 12 full-time teachers on the staff, comprising of an administrative principal, 7 mainstream teachers, 2 learning support teachers, and 2 ASD class teachers.

Four full-time SNAs are employed in the ASD classes to assist the class teachers while 2 SNAs are employed in mainstream classes.

School Ethos

The school follows the curricular programme prescribed by the Department of Education and Science, which may be amended from time to time, in accordance with Section 9 and 30 of the Education Act 1998.

Within the context and parameters of Department regulations and programmes, the rights of the Patron as set out in the Education Act and the funding and resources available, the school supports the principles of:

Inclusiveness

Particularly with reference to the enrolment of children with a disability or other special educational need.

Equality

Of access to and participation in the school.

Parental Choice

In relation to enrolment.

Respect

For the diversity of values, beliefs, traditions, languages and ways of life in society.

School Opening Hours

The school’s doors open from 9.10am to receive pupils

9:20am – 2:00pm (Junior & Senior Infants)

9:20am – 3:00pm (All other classes)

Morning Break: 11:00am – 11:10am

Classes resume: 11:10am to 12:45pm

Lunch break: 12:45pm – 1:15p.m.

3:00pm classes finish. School close.