Is your child just starting in Ballyconnell NS? Or are you thinking about enrolling your child for the coming academic year? Below you’ll find information which will help you and your child settle into life here in Ballyconnell NS.

How do I enrol my child?

Enrolment forms are available from the school secretary’s office. Please contact the school at (059) 9156226.

How long is the school day?

For children in Junior and Senior Infants, the school day commences at 9:20am and finishes at 2pm. For first class to sixth class, school commences at 9:20am and finishes at 3pm. Supervision is provided from 9:10am. Children who are being driven to school should not be dropped off before this time. There are two breaks in the school day: from 11:00 to 11:10 and from 12:45 to 1:15.

What uniform is worn?

Navy jumper with school crest, light blue shirt, navy trousers/skirt, tie. On PE days, children may wear navy tracksuit and light blue polo t-shirt. Tracksuits with stripes and large logos/crests are not part of the school uniform. Please write your child’s name on their uniform.

When is roll call?

The roll is called at 10am each morning. If your child is going to be late for any reason, please inform your child’s teacher in advance or failing that, leave a message with the office. It is imperative that children are punctual in the morning and collected promptly at home time.

What happens if my child is absent?

If your child is absent for any reason, you must provide written explanation. In accordance with the Educational Welfare Act, the school has a legal duty to report any child who has missed 20 days or more in one academic year. Obviously, children get sick from time to time. Please do not send a sick or still- infectious child to school as there are children in the school who are highly vulnerable to exposure.

What happens if my child gets ill/has a fall during the school day?

If a child falls ill/has a fall during the school day, their teacher will exercise their professional judgement in deciding whether or not the child is able to continue until home time. In making this decision, the teacher takes into account the health history of the child in question. If the teacher decides that the child is too ill/injured to stay in school until home time, the school secretary will contact the child’s parent/guardian immediately.

What do I do if my child has an underlying medical condition?

Inform the school immediately. If there is a possibility that your child will have to be administered emergency medication, a meeting should be organised with your child’s teacher and the Principal as soon as possible.

How can I learn about my child’s progress?

Parent/Teacher meetings for all students take place in mid-November. The exact date is given out well in advance of the meeting taking place. Written reports detailing all aspects of your child’s progress are given out in June each year, two weeks before the summer holidays. If you have any pressing concerns about your child’s progress, you should communicate this by writing a note in your child’s journal or by making an appointment to see you child’s teacher. This should be done via the school’s secretary.

How do I know what books my child will be using?

Booklists are given out in June each year for the following academic year. The school operates a book rental scheme which is €40 per child. It will clearly state on your child’s booklist which books are covered by the Book Rental Scheme and which ones are not.