As you will be aware from the media, the majority of the Teacher Trade Unions will be taking Industrial Action on Wednesday 30th November 2011.

This one-day strike will result in the partial closure of the school.

This means that pupils in the following classes should not come to school on this day:

·        Nursery 1

·        Year 3

·        Year 4

·        Year 7

·        LSC

For pupils not in the above classes this will be a normal school day and they should report to school as normal.

School meals will not be affected.

This decision has not been taken lightly but in this instance I have no choice but to take appropriate steps to ensure the health, safety and well being of all our pupils.

Year 5 Road Safety Walk

Year 5 have been involved in the Child Pedestrian Safety Training Scheme which involved close co-operation between the DOE Road Safety Education Office in Armagh and Ballyoran Primary to combine a practical training element with classroom instruction. On Tuesday 25th October 2011, Year 5 pupils undertook a walk on roads in the general area of the school where the associated road safety problems were encountered, negotiated and discussed.

The walk encompassed such issues as the Green Cross Code and Traffic Calming measures. The pupils were accompanied by DOE Road Safety Education Officers and school staff who ensured the children’s safety along the route.

This is the final year of this Programme and we are one of only fifteen schools in the SELB area selected to take part. Children have gained an increase in knowledge and skills concerning Road Safety through this Programme and any measure which has a chance of reducing child casualties on our road is surely to be commended.