‘ We want parents to give us a chance’
The Principal of Ballinlig National School has appealed to parents in the area to consider sending their children to the Beltra school in the new school year.
Patrick Patten has been principal for the last year and a half. Coming from a big Dublin school, he says there is an advantage to working with smaller numbers.
“This is a small two teacher school, I previously worked in a school where it was one year group per room and teacher. A small school does have its advantages.
“Those are things like one on one attention. It’s a very important time for us here in Ballinlig. We’d love for parents to consider sending their kids here.,” he told The Sligo Champion.
“We just want parents to give us a chance. We want five pupils starting every year.
He added: “If you are living within distance of the school then please give us the opportunity to work with your children.”
Mr. Patten says he tries to take inspiration from some of the country’s top schools in order to improve the education of his pupils.
“We’re big into sport, Irish, music. We try and give pupils a good mix. I’d like to think they’re all very happy here.
“We take into account children have multiple intelligence. From languages, coding, debating. Debating is great because children then learn how to do research. I’m trying to look at what some of the best schools are doing and replicate that here.
“My brother was talking to me about the importance of something like coding. In a few years time four out of five jobs will require some kind of digital learning. It will be on the curriculum soon. It’s important we teach children digital literacy to give them the best chance,” he said.
The school’s choir will be launching a charity album at the end of the year. They made it to the last 25 of the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show’s competition to have them visit the school with a tasy € 10,000.
“At the end of the year we’ll be revealing a charity album. We’re so proud of the choir, we’ve been invited to sing at the Sligo/ Leitrim Green School Flag presentation in May.
“We’ll be involved in the Junior Entrepreneur Programme in 2017 too in relation to the CD. Children will be learning how to set up a business, the costs involved and all of that. These are important life skills.”
The school is also placing further emphasis on science and technology.
“Last year we won a STEM award, which is ‘ Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths award’. My sister is an aero- nautical engineer and she came to us to speak to the pupils. So we put a huge emphasis on that.”
Mr. Patten says the school’s atmosphere, parents and Board of Management are huge assets.
“There’s a fantastic atmosphere in this school. We had a family day last week and the parents’ support was amazing. We have a super Board of Management who are so enthusiastic and supportive. Whatever resources we might need, we can get them.
Contact ballinligns@ gmail. com or 0719166883.