Dear Parents and Sponsors,

Thank you all for your support and help during the past year and of course for your participation in our Golf Classic and Fundraising event tomorrow in Douglas Golf Club. We have a few tee times left, but you can support in different ways. As part of our PBC Rugby Golf Classic & Fundraiser, we’re thrilled to announce a series of exclusive silent auctions and an exciting raffle draw taking place during the evening festivities. Here's what’s up for grabs:

Silent Auctions (Bidding Open on the Night)

1. Ireland vs South Africa VIP Experience

• 2 Premium Match Tickets
• Pre- and Post-Match Functions Included
• 2-Night Stay in Dublin
• Reserve: €1800

• By Peter O’Mahony
• Reserve: €180

• By Peter O’Mahony
• Reserve: €180

Bidding sheets will be available at the event or see below.

️ On-the-Day Raffle Prizes

• UCC Match Day Package
  • Tickets for 2 + Pre and Post-Match Function
• Ireland vs Australia – 2 CAT A Tickets
• Ireland vs Wales (6 Nations) – 2 CAT A Tickets
• Ireland vs Italy (6 Nations) – 2 CAT A Tickets

Raffle tickets available during the day. Winners announced during the evening event.

Your participation helps support PBC Rugby’s continued success and development. We appreciate your generosity and spirit — best of luck in both your golf game and the auctions!

Warm regards,
Willie O Keeffe and Brian McMahon

For further details please contact

Willie 0879973252 or Brian 0876435000

Waiver Form for Ballyhass 2024

Dear Parent

Please see attached class lists for Period 1 Tomorrow Morning, I will post half year modules tomorrow. If there is any confusion please ask your son to contact Mr. McMahon, Ms. O Donoghue or Mr. O Regan at 08.30 in the morning.

is mise le meas,

Brian McMahon.

As we approach Pres No Phone Day, there are a few things you might like to sit down and discuss with your son(s) so that we are all prepared on the day. 

·      All 1st Years, 2nd Years and 3rd Years have been told about Pres No Phone Day.

·      Visits will be made to Senior Cycle classes between next Monday and Tuesday.

·      This is a Well-being initiative to give your son the opportunity to enjoy time away from his phone – physically and mentally for the duration of 1 school day. Studies have proven that concentration levels improve when students are free from the distraction of their phones.

·      We want to emphasis strongly that it is not a punitive measure and we are framing it in the context of Why not? rather than Why?

·      We now know that young people feel a greater sense of isolation and disconnection in an age when they have never been more connected to their smartphones and social media.

·      We strongly believe that this initiative is necessary and we believe that it is a very beneficial and positive step we are taking here in Pres.

·      We are looking forward to your support and we know that you will let your son know that you support it and that you expect your son to support it too.

·      The finer details will be relayed to you nearer the time. In the meantime, you might like to discuss with your son if he would like to leave his phone at home for the day. If this is not possible and we appreciate it may not, you might like to provide labelling for your son’s phone. Each class group will have 1 box in which phones will be stored and kept safely until 3:15pm. First Years and Second Years who have lockers will store their phones in their lockers for the day.

Please find attached to this message, links to radio segments on the topic of smart phones/ social media.

If you have any questions, please do get in touch.

Many thanks for your continued support! 

Musician and Mental Health Advocate, Niall Breslin tells Brendan about his digital detox and the profound peace he has found by ditching his smart phone – entirely - one day a week.

https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22499456/

Growing number of parents reluctant about smartphones for children | Morning Ireland - RTÉ Radio 1

https://linklock.titanhq.com/analyse?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rte.ie%2Fradio%2Fradio1%2Fclips%2F22499633%2F&data=eJxVjEEKwyAURE8Td5VEreLCRTY5QUvX-hUiNTVVg-3t-zeFFgZmhjcMGDlZpcUZ5BicJ97sDk6Qy53GQDbD3vOrXbq6Pm-OVBNSsI9caLeprmoQY4SUD08hb6T8U4S_V4dZW9vrwOeBLajeOy0tIMJSrI_56xMGSBG3bGFMaC05x_gB7os3YA%%

Dear Parent,

Please find attached draft TY Calendar, There may be extra activities added or small changes to date the activities take place, in the event of change an updated version of the calendar will be published. Apologies in advance for any inconvenience. Please note, all activities are compulsory and participation is expected.

Is mise le meas,

Brian McMahon

Dear Parent / Guardian,

We have been informed by the Department of Education that the Inspectorate of the Department of Education will be carrying out an inspection in our school on Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th and Thursday 27th March. This inspection will be looking at the Evaluation of Provision for Students with Additional and Special Educational Needs.

As you will already be aware, from earlier correspondence, and from our school calendar, our school will be closed to students on Wednesday 26th March due to staff training.

During the inspection, inspectors will visit classes, engage with students and review some of their work and files. They will also look at teachers’ plans and assessment data and administer a parent survey.

During the inspection, the Department of Education looks for parents’ views. Therefore, some parents of students who are in receipt of teaching from a Special Education teacher, or who were in receipt of support teaching for a period of time will be invited to complete a survey.

Thank you all for your understanding and continued support.

Kind regards,

Enda

A film by Pres students, Adam Wieczork and Michael Dunphy “Caught Purple Handed“ has been selected for Ireland Young Filmmaker of the Year 2025 will be taking part in an online film final. 

This is a unique award, exclusively for virtual submissions; "Most Watched", it will be announced at the regionals, and announced online. If nominated, our film may screen at the Finals in Dublin. We need our school community to watch our movie!!!!!!  

Please get watching and remember to click the link and watch only our movie. Every movie clicked is a vote cast!!

This is show business and our boys need your help!!! “Caught Purple Handed” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzHaYztCneM&list=PLWk4vo7vxfWdsf5QeD79noXPwOt6I_FFz&index=14 

Please vote, we need as many views as possible!!! 

We celebrated World Book Day in our wonderful Reading  Room with a presentation of book vouchers to students and talks about books that have inspired them. 

Loughlain Cashman, Daniel Horgan and Ailbe Keane Kelleher spoke to Conor Barry for a podcast feature about books their parents and grandparents loved, while Pres Librarian Michael McCormack spoke about all the events and resources in the school to celebrate both writing and reading, including the pending publication of a book by the Pres Writers’ Club. 

A group of 1st years from the Writers’ Club also paid a visit to Waterstones today to cash in their vouchers and received free books. 

In further news, a new selection of books arrived in the Reading Room this week as we continue to create a wide and compelling catalogue for all interests and ages.