23rd June, 2020

Dear Parents,

As I sit ready to put pen to paper – what do I write is the question. The school year of
2019/2020 is drawing to a close. The strangest year thus far in our teaching careers, the
strangest year in your lives as parents and in your children’s lives as pupils.

Being with children everyday keeps you young-at-heart! Their spirit, enthusiasm, joy and
positivity is boundless – children do not look at a problem or dwell on it. They seek a
solution. They adapt, they are resilient. Never has this been as evident as in the last few
months.

Yes, it has been difficult, unusual, strange, worrying But! But! Look at the positive. All our
children will look back on this time in years to come and what will they remember??

The good time, the fun, the laughter, the best days they had during lock down. We have all
had a chance to reset, re-think, resolve and become more resolute. We have made
memories for our children, we have given them the grateful gifts of all our love and our
time.

No, we do not know what is going to happen in September, how school will be, what changes
we will have to make. We will all know when it is announced by the leaders of our country.
We would wish that it would be sooner rather than later. We do not have any control over
when/how it will be but we will do what will be required when the time comes.

I wish to say thank you to Teachers, Parents, Students, Staff of Ballymacward N.S. for all
you have done. You put your shoulder to the wheel and we have all moved forward. The
work everyone has put into the online learning home schooling etc has been awesome and
humbling.

Well Done Everyone!

I want to thank the Board of Management, the Parent Association, the Pearses Club, Fr.
Sweeney, Carol (Irish Dancing Teacher), Fiona (Yoga), Brian (Hurling Coach) for all their
help and assistance during the year.

To the Junior class who we will welcome when school begins the new school year. We look
forward to meeting all of them.

Our sixth class will return to new schools in September. We wish them all the very best
as they move to pastures new - secondary school. Lily Blade, Niamh Kennedy, Lily Mannion,
Ally Nutley, Jamie Nutley, Dillon Roche and Padraic Kelly.

To the sixth class, a parting quote:

Life is a dream, realise it

Life is a challenge, meet it
Life is a duty, complete it
Life is a game, play it
Life is a promise, fulfil it

Good Luck and God Bless Always.

Wishing everyone a Happy, Healthy and Safe Summer Holidays.

Kind regards,

________________________
Maura Hardiman
Principal