We would like to wish all our students and families a very happy and safe summer holiday. We would like to thank all the parents for all their support during the year, especially during lock down. We hope school life will be a little more "normal" come September but either way, we look forward to welcoming you all back and meeting our new Junior Infants. A big thank you to all our wonderful staff who have gone over and beyond to make this year as happy and enjoyable for all the children.
As we finish up another school year, it is with a heavy heart that we are saying goodbye to Mr Gallagher as he will be relocating to another school in September. He has been a valuable asset to our school for the last 4 years and we know he has given all the children he has taught throughout those years lots of happy memories.
We wish him well with his career and hope he pops up to visit us again here in SS Peter and Paul JNS, Balbriggan.
We are also saying a fond farewell to our lollipop lady Joan, who has welcomed the children and their parents every morning. She always has a smile for each and every one as they make their way safely across the road. Good luck with your new posting Joan and keep up the great work!
On Friday the 25th June, we held our official Amber Flag raising ceremony. We are extremely proud to receive this flag as it focuses on young people's mental health and well being, something which is very close to our hearts here in SS Peter and Paul JNS.
We have worked hard all year promoting student well-being with various initiatives such as the Student Council, our Mindful Space and Buddy Benches, to name but a few. It seems like a very long time ago when we held our first well-being whole school event by hosting our fundraising Rainbow Day for Pieta. (http://www.sspeterandpauljns.ie/rainbow-day.html). Since then we've been through lock-down and distance learning, which made us realise how much we love being in school with our friends. We now have a wonderful Mindful Space where we can come to take time out from the classroom and take a moment for ourselves. (http://www.sspeterandpauljns.ie/mindful-space.html) We have lovely Buddy Benches on the yard, which have been getting lots of use during yard time and we have our fabulous Student Shout Outs every Friday, where Ms Whelan reads out over the intercom, the names of children who've displayed lovely kind behaviour throughout the week.
It really has been a busy year. Though it was all worth it today as we raised our Amber Flag in the presence of our chairperson, Mr Tony Murphy, our Principal, Ms Whelan, Deputy Principal, Mrs Bouzzah, Mrs Heffernan-our well-being coordinator, members of the Parents' Association and Student Council and our four 2nd classes.
Ms Whelan thanked all the students for all their hard work towards getting Amber Flag status for the school and presented certificates to the Student Council members from 2nd class. Then Mrs Heffernan and the Student Council raised the flag to thunderous applause from all the other students.
The Fingal Independent was there to capture all the action so keep an eye out for us in the local paper!!
For an end of year treat, the Parents' Association organised the ice cream van to come to our school. The children got such a surprise when they heard the familiar sound of the van rolling up into the school yard. There was great excitement in all the classes and they all really enjoyed eating their ice creams with their friends. It has been such a busy year with lock down learning and then back to school learning so the staff and parents all felt the children deserved something nice to finish off the year.
