Scealta Scoile!

Meitheamh 2015 It’s Summertime! School’s Out! Marymount Hospice Our rang a sé pupils gave us yet another reason to be proud by making a wonderful Confirmation commitment to improving the gardens around nearby Marymount Hospice. Gardening gloves, buckets, forks and hoes were to be seen in action on Friday mornings during the final term, in what is a heart-warming example of how young people can be a force for such good. Aside from the spectacular transformation of the beds and planted areas around Marymount, not to mention the addition of hundreds of euros worth of beautiful flowers, paid for by a cake-sale organised by the pupils, their lively presence around the facility was welcomed and enjoyed immensely by the community there. Sincere thanks to our trusty band of rang a sé parents who did so much to facilitate this work. Is álainn agus is iontach an saothar a deintear i Marymount. New Infants Induction Day / Ár Naonáin Nua The school welcomed in glimpse of “big school” while excess of forty incoming parents enjoyed a welcome junior infants to an “cupán tae” in the Scout induction afternoon recently. Den, courtesy of our PA. Ms. Cullen & Ms. Hourihan Céad fáilte romhaibh go gave their new recruits a very Scoil Bhailenóra, a pháistí warm Ballinora welcome agus a thuistí! and gave the children a

Scoil Bhailenóra, Waterfall, . Keep up to date with all the latest news and Tel: 021-4871664 information on our school website. E-Mail: [email protected] Ballinorans.ie or scan the QR code using a Twitter: @SBNORA smart phone. Many of my friends and colleagues willSúil know SiarRang a sé exit the stage next week with that I’m a fan of Twitter. My wife certainly does! pastures new awaiting them. Their time among A few years ago, I started a school Twitter us gave us cause to be very proud of them on account and in the section where you briefly many occasions, not least recently when they describe your organisation, I said of Scoil gave so much of themselves to Marymount Bhailenóra that it is “a happy, happening place”. Hospice. Go dté sibh slán a cháirde, agus go If I were asked to backup that assertion, n-eirí go geal libh. I might well produce this edition of Scéalta Scoile as proof! Brand new pastures of a different sort also await us all during the coming year, however! The briefest of glances through the pages of Our extension is rapidly taking shape and will our latest offering reveals many happy children welcome its first residents early in 2016. engaged in a myriad of activities. Children learn best when they’re happy and we try to We wish you all a long and sunny summer. do “happy” and “happening” a lot in our school. Re-charge those batteries and we’ll meet again It requires effort, energy and needs everyone in September for another happy, happening pulling in the same direction. Thankfully, we year, le cúnamh Dé. Bíodh samhradh have teachers, pupils, parents and a Board of sonasach againn uilig! Management who do that very well. Go maire sé i bhfad.

I hope these pages reflect the wonderful work of everyone in the school. It’s been a busy year Mícheál Ó with many accomplishments that we can all be proud of. Buíochas ó chroí libh uilig / Thank Draighneáin you all for playing your part in a memorable year. Priomhoide

We’re Building! / Cúrsaí Tógála! e Easter holidays nally building fund, which now heralded the beginning of our stands at €50k. Forms building programme. Having which allow those who secured additional funds from contributed during the 2014 the DES to meet the cost of tax-year to claim relief which will relocating prefabs elsewhere on benet the school, have been our school site, two large cranes sent to relevant parents. We moved in during the Easter would be delighted if those holidays and got things moving! in question would complete e project has progressed well and return to the school, in since then, with foundations order to allow the building poured and block-layers on site. fund to benet from the relief It is hoped that the recent ne available. New school parents weather will allow our of incoming junior infants are contractors to maintain their asked to contribute as per the recent rapid progress. information sheet which Many thanks to all existing was dispersed at the recent and recent contributors to our incoming parent information meeting. Communion / Commaoineach Confirmation / Cómhneartú

Forty-three rang a dó pupils celebrated the A special day in April saw our Rang 6 pupils receive sacrament of Holy Communion in May. All the Sacrament of Confirmation. In the presence of participated magnificently in a ceremony extended families, teachers and clergy, the pupils which will live long in the memory. Guímís participated in a ceremony rich in symbolism. Guímís gach rath agus beannacht Dé ar ár gach rath ar na páistí a chuaigh faoi lámh Easpaig. ndaltaí uilig. Ár mbuíochas le cuile dhuine Buíochas ó chroí le gach uile dhuine a chabhraigh a chabhraigh. linn. Nár laga Dia sibh.

Cúrsaí Creidimh

Each year, classes from Rang 2-6 prepare one religious ceremony loosely based around the significant themes in the church year, such as Easter, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day etc. The ceremonies are popular with the classes, who all sing and participate in solidarity with the organising class and whose parents often come along to witness the effort of the páistí.

Cuimhneachán Pioneers / Na Réadóirí

Representatives of the local Pioneer Rang a sé pupil Eoin Twohig represented our Assoc. visited our rang a sé pupils following school at a moving service in to the Confirmation ceremony. The mission of remember those from our locality who died in WWI the Pioneer Association is to help build a . Pupils from each of the surrounding schools society where people can live full lives read out the names of the fallen. It is known that without being dependent on alcohol or Jeremiah Henerty, John Mc Carthy and Robert drugs. This year, twenty-four pupils chose to Warner, who all hailed from this area, were killed in take the traditional “pledge” to abstain from action in WWI. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamnacha. alcohol. Athletics

Many parents will recall participating as children in what were known in yesteryear as the “City Sports”. Now titled the Cork Primary School Sports, this event still maintains its allure for over 6,000 primary pupils from over 350 Cork schools every year. The 91st edition saw the sports move to the CIT facilities, where thirty-two Ballinora pupils pitted themselves against eight other schools in the highest division of twenty-eight. After six weeks of before-school training, all were well prepared for competition and a number emerged from the individual events with silverware. Our four relay teams also acquitted them- selves extremely well by claiming three third place prizes while our girls senior relay team claimed a magnificent first place in the 4 X 100 mtr. event. Each year the Sports draw to a close with the running of the prestigious County Championship, which sees the 28 winners in each age-grade compete against each other in a “no-handicap” race for the title of County Champion . Clíona Dooley did Ballinora proud by becoming only the third pupil from our school in over ten years to claim the County medal in the U-13 category. Cómhgháirdeas to Clíona and to all of our pupils who represented Scoil Bahilenóra so well. Buíochas chomh maith leis na múinteoirí a d’ullmhaigh na páistí uilig.

Oíche Spóirt

Our sixth Oíche Spóirt was another resounding success, with large numbers turning out on the balmiest evening in May. As ever, competitors ranging from pre-schoolers to grand-parents and everyone in between, took part in all manner of events which focussed on fun, in the main. We also welcomed back our largest ever cohort of Transition Year past-pupils, whose invaluable help made everything run smoothly. The evening drew to a close amid great excitement as the parents took on the staff in a closely fought tug o’ war! While the jury remains out on who actually won, the staff have retained possession of the annual trophy. Possession is nine tenths of the law!! Scoil Bhailenóra enjoyed an unprecedented which demanded customary Ballinora year on the GAA playing fields. Our triumph at defiance and determination to see us over the the Sciath na Scol hurling and camogie line! The historic “ré órga” (golden era) which finals in CIT of late represented our seventh the school is currently enjoying is the result of successive final win! Our latest raid on the hard work of many, including dedicated Sciath na Scol silverware saw ár gcailíní blitz teachers, Ballinora GAA youth development Whitechurch NS in the camogie final, having coaches, and our joint school/club skills gone through the league section undefeated, programme. Go maire sé i bhfad! Heh “King while ár mbuachaillí got the better of Gaelscoil Henry”, we’re closing in on the “Cats” record! Charraig Uí Leighin in a pulsating encounter Bailenóra abú!

Infant Sports Day / Lá Spóirt na Naonáin Our infant classes were treated to their annual Fun Day in the GAA pitch of late. Ms. Cullen and Ms. O’ Mahony laid on all sorts of fabulous attractions for the páistí, including no less than TWO bouncy castles, a disco with a DJ, games and activities! Ba mhór an craic a bhí ag gach éinne – idir daltaí agus daoine fásta! School Tours / Turasanna Scoile

The more things change, the more they stay the same….For generations of Irish school children, “school tour” day was without doubt, the highlight of the year and nothing has changed! This year, classes charted a course for various destinations and had the proverbial “ball”!

Green Schools

Our Green Schools commitments continue to see us all make efforts to preserve our environment for future generations. Having already been awarded two flags in recognition of our efforts to reduce waste and to reduce energy consumption, all were delighted to be awarded a third flag recently for our water conservation measures. An ongoing challenge is to maintain the level of commitment required, whilst also broadening the scope of our conservation efforts. However, with three flags to our name, we don’t appear to be doing too badly! Leanfaimíd lenár n-iarrachtaí! Music / Ceol Music-making continues to go from strength to strength in the school. Be it at Seó na Nollag, Feis Maitiú, religious ceremonies in the church or in the classrooms, music is to be heard every day. Additionally, after-school classes continue to see large numbers attending to learn the various instruments. Our School Band was unfortunate to lose out on yet another first place at Feis Maitiú this year ach beidh lá eile. In the meantime, ar aghaidh leis an ceol! Chess / Fichille

Chess continues to be a popular pursuit for many in the school. Our annual Craobh Fichille Championship resumed in January with a record entry of over seventy pupils.Cómhgháirdeas le gach duine a ghlac páirt. Shane Kingston eventually emerged as our 2015 champion, following a titanic battle with Stephen Forde. Scoil Bhailenóra also took part in Primary School’s Chess Blitz events in Greenmount and in recently and claimed a creditable third place. We hope all of our enthusiasts keep up the playing habit over the summer holidays and we look forward to some more “battles royal” i mí Meán Fómhair!

Computing / Ríomhaireacht Vex Robotics Unsurprisingly, the computer room is one of the most popular rooms in the school! The children of Mr. Hegarty’s second class created Irish projects there recently, using SCRATCH. SCRATCH is a new programming language that facilitates the creation of interactive stories, Our well-documented Vex animations, games, music and Robotix challenge brought our art. Irish was integrated with the two ranganna a cúig on an computer programme to create amazing technological journey, conversations as Gaeilge which was of huge value to the between characters. The pupils pupils. The stated aim of learned how to type, spell and promoting learning in the STEM enjoyed many fun interactive subjects of Science, Technology, lessons there. Engineering & Maths was achieved spectacularly by our participants, whose enthusiasm for the various elements of the Schools History Project / Cúrsaí Staire project knew no bounds. The success of the experience in This year 4th class took part providing a platform for pupils in the Cork’s History Heritage to exploit and develop their own Project. We decided to focus on the particular strengths was also magnificent journey of our school’s noteworthy. Some pupils history from about 1848 to 2015. discovered a personal flair On our way we learned how for cracking engineering much everything has changed. conundrums, while others found Some things have faded away but their niche in the area of some elements are still standing, presentation skills etc. We have even today! The history of our already committed to the coming school, is quite amazing and we school year’s event and look were pleasantly surprised by the forward to taking on the next marvellous facts and information series of challenges! Ní fada we discovered along the way! go mbeidh innealtóirí, meicneoirí agus leictreoirí an lae amárach ag gabháilt timpeall na scoile arís! Health Matters / Cúrsaí Sláinte Our Health Promoting to be seen bringing their and discovering School committee has had a classes out to exercise or to why we need to be busy year organising do some laps of the pitch as very vigilant and various activities. We kicked part of our SPRAOI SUN SMART every off in September with the commitments. day, even when it is very successful Food Dental Health Week cloudy! Dudes Programme, which returned after a break of a aims to increase children’s few years and was an consumption of fruit and outstanding success. We vegetables. As a result, learnt all about our teeth and Right: many pupils now include how to care for them Our SPRAOI both fruit and vegetables in properly. Energiser, Yvonne, their lunches every day. At the moment we are leads by example, Yvonne, our PROJECT encouraging everybody to playing hockey for SPRAOI Energiser for this be Sun Smart. We are Ireland! year, encouraged everybody discussing the various ways to increase our school-based we can protect our skin from activity, daily. Teachers are lasting sun damage

Slán le Rang a Sé! Our departing Rang a sé encounter come September. pupils learned much from the The school sincerely thanks visit of parent and secondary our Rang a sé pupils for school teacher, Aelin Holmes, the wonderful contribution recently,who arrived with six which they made to Scoil past-pupils to help our Bhailenóra. The pupils in this daltaí prepare for the class can be extremely proud transition to secondary of their time with us. All are a school. Aelin and her credit to their families and to companions offered very their school and we rejoice in sound advice in respect of their “wonderfulness”! many of the changes which Buíochas ó chroí libh a new “furries” as they’re cháirde. Rinne sibh gaisce! known, can expect to Ballinora Pupils Past & Present / Ár Scoláirí Cómhgháirdeas le Jennifer Greally, who at the Munster Championships in May. has proved to be quite the all-rounder, by Gymnasts Nessa Kingston (rang a trí), following up on her previous success at the Juliette Blake & Laoise Murphy (rang Irish Science Olympiad with a gold medal for a ceathar), won gold medals at the outstanding results in last year’s Junior Cert International Acro Cup in Geneva. Past pupils business exam! Cómhgháirdeas ó chroí - Sophie Crosbie, Jenny Murphy and Roisin leat, Jennifer! Rinne tú gaisce! O’Shea were also among the travelling group. Stephen O’ Mahony – Rang a cúig , All are members of Ballincollig Gymnastics whose HomeTouch team project received a Club. runner-up prize in the Hardware Category Rang a sé pupil Clíona Dooley, who was at the CoderDojo Coolest Projects Awards selected on the both Cork U-14 Ladies 2015. At a Dojo, young people, between Football & Camogie teams, also helped our 7 and 17, learn how to code, develop school win the Sciath na Scol Camogie title, websites, apps, programs, games and before beating all before her to win the County explore technology in an informal and 100mtr. Championship at the Primary School creative environment. Maith thú, Stephen! Sports. Wow, Clíona! Nár laga Dia thú! Harry Twomey – A rang a cúig pupil, Our show-jumping team of Harry’s first love is sailing. Harry has Chloe Dineen, Orlaith O’ been selected to represent Ireland and Shea, Denise Murphy & will compete for his country at the 2015 Clíona Dooley did us proud Volvo Gill Optimist British National & at Cork Summer Show by Open Championships. Cómhgháirdeas winning the Primary School agus gach ádh ar an bhfarraige, Harry! competition. Bailenóra abú! Harry sailing his way to second place