About Us
There are currently 342 pupils divided among 14 classes within the primary school (two in each year group) and our average class size of 24 is both conducive to meeting the individual needs of each child while also enhancing the family atmosphere of the school. Unique in our ability to cater for children from 2¾ to 11 years old, Ballymacash Primary School also incorporates a thriving Playgroup and Nursery Unit.
We also are currently exploring the possibility of a four classroom extension to enhance our current facilities.
In the afternoons, a system of class exchanges utilises the specialist expertise of all the teachers when subjects such as PE, History, RE, Music, ICT, technology, craft or needlework etc are taught to the P4 to P7 children.
School Organisation:
Absences
If your child is absent from school for any reason please send a short note explaining the absence to the child's teacher on his/her return. If the absence is going to be lengthy please ring the school and let us know.
While we cannot endorse holidays during term time and do not provide work, we would appreciate prior written notification stating the dates your child will be absent.
Assemblies
As well as having hymn practice once a week, there is a whole school assembly every Wednesday morning. This is often taken by visiting speakers and local ministers although once a month we have a special celebration assembly. This is an opportunity to celebrate individual successes as a whole school, as various competition certificates are distributed to pupils for their achievements during the previous month. It is also a chance to further promote positive behaviours through our Special Mention Book. Pupils names are written in this when they display the types of behaviours and attitudes which we would like to see in all our pupils.
Book Fairs
During the year a number of Book Fairs are invited into the school. These offer a wide range of reasonably priced books and are a good opportunity for you to build up a small personal library and encourage your child’s reading.
Buddy System
Our Buddy system is well established and in operation in the playground. P7 children have the opportunity to interact with P1 and P2 pupils, playing games and helping them to play right, play safe and play fair (our playground code).
Car Parking
Parents are requested to exercise extreme care when driving into or out of the school grounds. Those parents who leave their children by car should use the upper car park next to the old school building and should on no account drive into either the nursery or main school staff car park.
Charities
Worthy causes are selected each year and your support of these is greatly appreciated. Previous charities have included Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice, Action Cancer and Livada Orphan Care. Through Tear Fund we also support a young Colombian boy called Fabian and a Ugandan girl called Ida. Each classroom has a ‘Hungry Box’ into which the children put small change and a cup is awarded at the end of each month to the class with the greatest amount.
Collecting P1 & P2 Children
A rule concerning the collection of these children after school is strictly applied. No P1 or P2 child will be permitted to leave the school building unless they are accompanied by an adult, preferably the child's mum or dad. This ensures the safety of these 4, 5 and 6 year olds and applies no matter how close they live to school.... the safety of your child is our main concern.
Day Trips
Day trips are undertaken by all classes during the school year and are connected to work carried out in the classroom. Voluntary contributions will be required to cover the costs of such trips.
Drinks
If your child is bringing a drink to school please make sure that it is in a screw-top, unbreakable container. Accidents do happen! With recent research on the positive effects drinking water has on brain activity, we also encourage the children to bring a bottle of water to drink throughout each day.
Friday Afternoon Activities – Summer Term
On Friday afternoons (2.00 – 3.00 p.m.) during the Summer Term all the P4-7 children take part in one of the following activities:
- Cricket
- Football
- Girls’ Hockey
- Athletics
- Rounders
- Netball
- Sketching
- Cookery
- Sewing and Knitting
- Line Dancing
- Gardening
- Touch Rugby
Health Matters
The school Doctor will examine your child in the infant classes. Please try to attend this examination. A mass check-up is carried out from time to time in school by both the School Doctor and the School Dentist and you will be advised of any treatment found to be necessary. If you are concerned about speech, hearing or sight defects speak to the School Doctor or the teacher and you will be directed to the appropriate health department. From time to time outbreaks of headlice occur; please keep a close eye on your child's hair and if you find that he or she has headlice please inform us immediately.
House System
Upon starting the school pupils are placed in either the Red, Blue, Green or Yellow house. Staff then award pupils house points for good behaviour, good manners, academic and sporting achievements and various other competitions. This forms a core part of our promotion of Positive Behaviour and at the end of each term the winning house receives a seasonal treat.
Morning Break
The children have a 15 minute break at 11.00 am when they have an opportunity to have a snack and a run around. We encourage the children to bring a healthy snack from Monday – Thursday, with Friday being a free choice day.
Music Tuition
In partnership with the Lisburn School of Music, our Primary 4-7 children have the option of receiving weekly instrumental tuition. Instruments currently being instructed are drums, guitars, flute, saxophone, piano and clarinet and parents pay the School of Music directly for the lessons.
P.T.A
A thriving and industrious Parent-Teacher Association provides opportunities for the parents to use the school premises for recreational and educational meetings, and at the same time provide vital funds for the purchase of equipment for school. They recently provided funding for our new outdoor play equipment and are currently focusing on providing further Interactive Whiteboards in addition to the four already installed. You, as a parent, are automatically a member of the P.T.A. and the Committee would welcome your suggestions and support.
PE Kit
All children participate in PE and it is expected that they change into appropriate clothing when doing so, and back into uniform afterwards. A pair of indoor gym shoes is necessary for such lessons along with a plain T-shirt and shorts. (Football shirts are not permitted in PE lessons.) Long hair must be tied back and jewellery must be removed.
Senior boys playing football must wear a pair of shin pads during practices and matches.
Pupil Council
Consisting of P4-7 representatives, our pupil council meet once a fortnight to discuss and implement new ideas for improving the school. Elected each year by their peers, they act as a voice for the pupils, assisting in the continual improvement of the school. In the past year in response to requests from other pupils they purchased new clocks for the playground, bibs for breaktimes and picnic tables. They also setup a stationery shop and organised a fund-raising day to purchase new football and hockey kits.
Religious Education
Religious Education is an integral part of our curriculum as it is a compulsory subject within the Northern Ireland Common Curriculum. The syllabus followed is Christian-based and non-denominational. Assemblies play an important part in the life of our school. Junior and senior assemblies are taken by classes regularly and our weekly school assembly is taken by a local minister or a visiting speaker. If parents wish to have their children excluded from R.E. lessons or from assembly they should make contact with the school and arrange to speak to the principal. A thriving Scripture Union also meets each week after school. Singing, games, quizzes and film shows make up most of the itinerary. They also have a trip to end the year.
Residential Trips
Another strength of the school is the strong emphasis placed upon developing children’s confidence through residential experiences. Commencing in primary 5, pupils spend one night away at an ‘Outdoor Pursuits Centre’. Primary 6 spend two nights engaging in similar activities, while primary 7 undertake a three night tour further afield. As residential trips normally take place mainly outside the school day, a charge will be made to cover the costs of board and lodging. Additional costs incurred (e.g. transport, admission charges, etc.) will involve requesting parents for voluntary contributions to enable the visit to take place. Primary seven children enjoying their four day ‘whistle-stop’ tour of Edinburgh.
School Fund
To help provide some of the numerous educational aids not supplied by our Education Board, each family is asked to support our school fund. A voluntary contribution of £5 is asked for, which may be sent with your eldest child in an envelope which will be provided. Your co-operation in this matter would be appreciated.
School Meals
Our cook and her staff provide excellent, nutritious meals, cooked on the premises. These may be purchased on Monday morning, or, if the child is absent on Monday, on the day on which he / she returns to school. Alternatively a lunchbox special has recently been introduced and has proved to be very popular. Monthly menus are sent home to each family and are also available on the website. Many P4-7 children bring packed lunches, which they eat in their classrooms – supervised by Lunchtime Supervisory Assistants.
School Times
Morning school begins at 8.55 am. Doors will be open for P1-3 children to come in from 8.50 am. All other children are expected to line up ready to enter the building when the bell rings. The playgrounds will be supervised from 8.45 am each morning. Please try to have your child in the playground on time, but not before 8.45 am as, even on a wet morning, there is no supervision and the doors will not be open before this time. Lunch for all classes is at 1.15 pm.
School ends for P1-3 children at 1.15 pm. These children may stay for school dinners but not for packed lunches. Children taking school dinners are ready for collection at their exit doors at approximately 1.35 pm. Afternoon lessons for P4-7 end at 3.00 pm.
Sport
As well as the compulsory PE classes the children are given the opportunity to develop their interests in other sporting activities. The senior girls participate in the Lisburn Schools' Netball League and in various local netball tournaments. The senior boys participate in the Lisburn Schools' Football and Hockey League and Cup competitions and in various local 5-a-side competitions. We have also taken part in various schemes, which involved coaches coming into school for football, basketball and tennis. Our P6 children visit the Sports Zone for hockey coaching.
We aim to provide all children with swimming lessons during their P6 or P7 year and to date the success rate of teaching children to swim has been very high.
The Performing Arts
From the very first days at school right through to P7, music forms an important part of our school curriculum. The children are encouraged to enjoy singing and playing percussion instruments and recorder lessons are provided from P5 onwards. Opportunities are also provided for singing and acting in religious services and dramatic productions (through class assembles and a Key Stage 2 play every three years.) Our latest production was Treasure Island in 2007, for which the school were awarded the Lisburn Arts Advisory Committee Primary School Production prize.
Our school choir meet on Monday afternoons and are trained by Mrs Brown and Mrs Taylor. Made up of P5-7 children they perform in our Assemblies, Harvest Services, Carol Services and School Productions as well as in local churches and residential homes.