Schools

Saint Joseph’s National School

Ballybrown, Clarina, Co. Limerick.

Roll No: 19272O

Saint Joseph’s National School Ballybrown opened in 1976 when Tervoe Boys’ National School, Tervoe Girls’ National School and Lurriga National School were amalgamated.  The current enrolment is approximately 300 children.  The school has eleven mainstream classes.  There are four Special Educational Needs posts based in the school.

The school is fortunate to have enthusiastic, dedicated teachers on staff who are committed to enhancing the lives of the pupils in any way we can.

Literacy Lift Off was introduced in Easter 2016 in Infant Classes and has helped raise already high literacy standards even higher.

Saint Joseph’s Ballybrown National School received a Discover Science and Maths Award in 2016 in recognition of its excellence in STEM subjects.  In 2018, the children in Sixth Class took part in Junior Entrepreneur while Junior Infants took part in Junior Achievement.

The school has been fortunate to be successful in acquiring the services of an Artist-in-Residence on two occasions in recent years.  Such was the success of the artist working with designated classes that the Board decided to extend the scheme to all classes, paid for out of school funds.

The school has availed of the Visiting Author scheme run by Poetry Ireland and authors and storytellers such as Róisín Meaney and Gabriel Fitzmaurice have visited the school to conduct workshops and perform readings.  Children from the school have figured among the prizewinners in the Cuisle poetry Festival.

The school has a rich sporting tradition. The Olo Cup, the premier hurling competition in Limerick City Primary schools, was won by Saint Joseph’s Ballybrown National School in 2017 and 2018 while the school has been successful in Camogie, Gaelic Football, Ladies’ Football, Rounders and Soccer.  The school won the Best Girls’ School category at Limerick Cross-Country Championships in November 2017.

Active Week, which takes place in the third week of June, is a highlight of our sporting calendar.  Each day begins with Wake Up Shake Up and a range of activities including Zumba, Walking Buses, Walk On Wednesday and all manner of sporting activities are organised.  Children have Active Homework to do each night.  A non-competitive Fun Sports Day takes place on the Thursday while Active Week concludes with a Teachers v. Sixth Class Rounders game.

The school sees itself as being at the heart of the community.  We are fortunate to be located beside the Resource Centre and the school avails of its facilities for Information Technology classes with Whizzkids.  Events such as Graduation, Grandparents’ Day, Catholic Schools Week, Healthy Eating Week are celebrated by the entire community as the school welcomes people from the locality.  We are fortunate to have Fr. Michael Cussen as our school chaplain and he works closely with the school in preparing for First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

How can I enrol my child in Saint Joseph’s Ballybrown National School?

Call to the school any day between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm.  Alternatively, you may contact the school on 061-353276 or by email at principal@ballybrownns.ie

In mid-January of each year, the school contacts all parents who have expressed an interest in enrolling their child in the school and invites them to submit an application to enrol. The enrolment process is usually finalised by the end of February.

Staying in Touch:  Please check the school website www.ballybrownns.ie or follow us on Twitter @BallybrownNS to keep yourself informed on school news.

Sheila Hayes

Principal