The following links will allow you to download policies which have been approved by the Board of Management.

Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) says that children and young people should have a say in decisions that affect their lives so we got proactive here in Ballybay and set up a new school council.

What is a School Council?
A school council is a group of pupils, normally elected by their peers, who act as representatives for their classmates and school. A school council will discuss, and give their views, on a range of issues. It is a good way for adults to pay attention to pupil voices. A school council also gives pupils a good understanding of elections and democracy which reflects our practice as a democratic island.

Ballybay N.S School Council.

The school council for the academic year 2025/2026 was formed in October 2025. We carried out a school council election and each class from 3rd to 6th class voted for the nominees. The council consists of The Chairperson – Ms. Hughes, The Secretary,  Third Class Representatives – Lochlainn Collins and Fiadh Connolly, Fourth Class Representatives – Daithi Kilkenny and Aisling Henry, Fifth Class Representatives – Carlos Garcia and Laura Meeley and finally Sixth Class Representatives Senan Conlon and Sadhbh Mannion.

The AIMS AND OBJECTIVES of our School Council in Ballybay are:

• To provide opportunity for pupils to become partners in their own education, and to make a positive contribution to the school environment and ethos.
• To develop and promote children’s self-confidence, social skills and their responsible behaviour towards each other and towards their teachers and adult members of staff.
• To develop the pupil’s knowledge, skills and understanding of how to contribute to their local community and society as a whole, and what it means to be an active citizen.
• To develop pupils recognition of themselves as worthwhile individuals with a right to have an opinion and for those to be heard.
• To allow children to have a ‘voice’ and to share their opinions and ideas with others.
• To allow children to become more responsible and actively involved in the decision making process of the school, and to be involved in decisions that directly affect them.
• To develop important life skills that promote positive mental health and social welfare, emotional literacy, critical and moral reasoning, self-esteem, self-awareness, communication skills, relationship skills and assertiveness.

Green-Schools is Ireland’s leading environmental management and education programme for schools.

Promoting long-term, whole-school action for the environment Green-Schools is a student-led programme with involvement from the wider community. The programme is operated and coordinated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce (FEE member for Ireland).

Our Green Schools’ Committee has been working hard to gain our 12th green flag. Our project is Primary Climate Ambassador and this year we have chosen to work on the theme of biodiversity by increasing awareness and improving our school environment to make it more attractive to plant and animal species.

Our committee is made up of children from 4th – 6th classes. Fionn and Seán from 6th class, Annie and Esme from 5th class and Aisling and Nicholas from 4th class have worked alongside Ms Connolly and Ms Kelly since 2024 and we are proud of their efforts to make our school a more welcoming place for wildlife.

Some activities we have been involved in:

• We visited the Lidl Farm in Kildare to learn more about where our food comes from.
• We took part in biodiversity workshops with Martina Butler and Siobhán Sloane.
• Asfand from SEAI spoke to us about sustainable energy.
• We have installed a water butt and compost bin.
• Ms Shine and the children from 5th class designed and created Trash Fash outfits from recycled materials.
• Geraghty organised the installation of solar panels on our school.
• This year we are planting a variety of crops in our school garden, including carrots, beetroot and barley.
• Our Parents’ Association have created an insect friendly flower bed at the entrance to our school.
• The Student Council and Green Schools’ Committee are collaborating on a day of action for the National Spring Clean.

We will be having our renewal visit in March and hopefully will have good news to announce! We are grateful for the continued support of staff, parents and students in continuing this worthwhile project.

Ms Kelly, Ms Connolly and GS committee.