Ballacolla NS open for enrolments for 2022-23 school year

    St Pius X National School in Ballacolla now accepting enrolments for the 2022-23 school year.

    St Pius X NS is a Co-Ed school and offers classes from Junior Infants to Sixth class.

    Mr Aidan Keenaghan (Principal) teaches 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th class, Mrs Frances Theloke teaches Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st Class and 2nd Class and Mrs Kay O’Connor is the Special Education teacher for Literacy and Numeracy based in St Pius X National School.

    The school is located in the centre of Ballacolla village, close to the local GAA grounds and community hall.

    Music is a key part of life in our school. Under the guidance of Mrs Nicola Kavanagh, all class groups undertake lessons of a very high standard.

    Since Covid started, all students in junior infants to 2nd class do Kindermusik and 3rd to 6th class have been learning the ukulele.

    As well as that 1st and 2nd Class pupils learn the tin whistle, 3rd and 4th Class pupils learn the recorder and 5th and 6th Class pupils learn the flute.

    The vast majority of pupils will leave our school with the ability to play three instruments and to read music.

    We have also built mindfulness and wellbeing lessons into the music programme.

    Similar to music, sport is seen as an important part of each child’s time in St. Pius X N.S. We field mixed boys’ and girls’ teams in hurling, football and soccer and have won competitions in all three sports over the past three years.

    Each child is encouraged to participate, regardless of their ability level, and every child from 3rd to 6th Class takes part in matches in both hurling and football.

    In recent years we have also taken part in handball and rounders activities involving other schools as well as having dedicated basketball and gymnastics coaches coming into the school while swimming lessons have also been incorporated – and the school aims to fully return to these programmes when Covid restrictions are eased.

    The hurling pitch, community hall and community walkway which are right beside the school and are used for both curricular and extra curricular activities?

    The school’s small numbers in the school have been a great help in controlling Covid with large rooms that are well ventilated.

    Another additional positive for parents is the Before and After School Den which operates on the school premises.

    It’s a separate company run by parents of pupils within the school and it allows children to be dropped off from 8 a.m. and it is also available after school. This is a great resource for working parents.

    You can check out the school website here and their enrolment page here. 

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