January 2026

Ballinure National School
January 2026 Newsletter

January has been a lovely month in Ballinure NS, full of warmth, activity and a wonderful sense of community as we settled back into school after the Christmas break.

One of the highlights of the month was our very special Grandparents Day on January 23rd. We were absolutely thrilled to welcome so many grandparents into our school. The children proudly stood alongside their grandparents on stage and spoke beautifully about them, sharing what makes them so special. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house! Afterwards, the children brought their grandparents on a tour of the school to show off their classrooms, their work and their favourite spaces. The morning was topped off with home-baked treats and tea and coffee, giving everyone a chance to chat, reminisce and enjoy time together. It was a truly heart-warming celebration and a lovely reminder of the important role grandparents play in our school community.

There has also been great excitement in the yard with our new balance cars for the Junior Room. They have been a huge hit at break times, with big smiles and plenty of active play. The Senior Room pupils have been just as enthusiastic and love taking turns on them too – proof that you’re never too old for a bit of fun!

In the classroom, the Senior Room have begun basic Spanish lessons, and we are already seeing fantastic enthusiasm, confidence and ability. The children have taken to it with great interest, and it has been wonderful to hear them trying out new words and phrases.

Our Irish dancing classes with Jackie every Tuesday continue to be a real highlight of the week. The children are having enormous fun learning jigs and reels while also gaining a deeper appreciation of our national dance. The energy, rhythm and smiles say it all!

Thank you, as always, to our wonderful pupils, families and staff for making Ballinure NS such a warm and welcoming place. We are really looking forward to all that the rest of the term will bring.

Warm regards,
Karen Bond
Principal, Ballinure NS