Ballydown Primary School Banbridge

⭐️ Just three weeks to go until Starlight Seekers, Holiday Bible Club! 🌟

Join us from 17-21 August, 6:30pm to 8pm. There will be games, crafts, stories and lots of fun for all those who are entering P1 to P7 this September.

Pre-register at: https://ballydownpc.churchsuite.com/-/forms/xath77ib

Today marks the last day of school, but for Ballydown it also marks the end of a truly special chapter.
After an incredible 42 years of dedication and service, today we say goodbye and thank you to Mr Russell as he begins his well-earned retirement.
For generations of children and families, Mr Russell has been so much more than a teacher. He helped prepare Primary 7 pupils for one of the biggest milestones in their lives, creating memories that will last forever through school trips, performances and the countless moments in between. Many parents standing at the school gates today once sat in his classroom themselves- a true reflection of the impact he has had over the years.
Mr Russell’s contribution extended far beyond the classroom too. As the founding teacher of the PTA, he helped build something that remains such an important part of school life today and continued to support it throughout the years.
From all of us, thank you, Mr Russell, for your kindness, commitment and everything you have done for Ballydown over the last 42 years.
We wish you happiness, good health and many adventures ahead in retirement. Please don’t ever be a stranger- you will always be part of the Ballydown family.

What a fantastic day out for our Primary 5’s.

As tomorrow comes around, our P7’s will walk through the doors of Ballydown Primary for the final time as pupils!

Tomorrow marks your P7 Leavers’ Assembly- a moment we have been building towards for 7 incredible years.

It only feels like yesterday that many of you arrived with oversized uniforms, little hands and big personalities. Since then, we have watched you grow into confident, caring, funny and determined young people, each with your own talents, strengths and ambitions.

Over the years there have been friendships formed, memories made, challenges overcome, achievements celebrated and so many moments of laughter that we will never forget. You have represented Ballydown in your own unique ways and have left your mark on our school forever.

While saying goodbye is never easy, tomorrow is not just about endings- it is about celebrating everything you have achieved and all the exciting opportunities ahead.

As you move on to ‘big’ school, remember to be brave, work hard, stay kind and always believe in yourselves. Take every opportunity that comes your way and never forget how capable you are.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey. It has been a privilege to watch you grow and we cannot wait to hear about all the amazing things your futures hold.

Once a Ballydown pupil, always part of the Ballydown family!

We couldn’t be prouder of you all.

Parents… tomorrow’s assembly may require tissues!🤪

We have a total…

Although we still have some payments to come in, and our tuck shop will be selling tomorrow during school, we are absolutely thrilled to share that our current total raised from Ballydown Does Balmoral is an amazing £5,500!

To say we are delighted would be an understatement. Considering we had a last-minute date change and the weather wasn’t exactly on our side, this total is simply incredible and a true reflection of the generosity, and community spirit that surrounds our school.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who played a part in making this event such a success. Whether you took part, attended on the day, made a donation, volunteered your time, bought a coffee or treat, or simply helped spread the word, every contribution made a difference. Events like this can only happen when a community comes together, and we are so grateful for the support shown by our pupils, families, staff, friends, and wider community.

The money raised will have a real and lasting impact on our pupils. We plan to invest in improving our outdoor areas, updating and enhancing our sports equipment, and continuing to develop and strengthen our literacy programmes, ensuring our children have the best possible opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for helping us achieve this fantastic result. We are excited to put these funds to good use and look forward to sharing updates with you as these improvements take shape.

Thank you again for your kindness, generosity, and support of our school. We couldn’t have done it without you. ❤️

As we reflect on Ballydown Does Balmoral, we are overwhelmed with gratitude. This event simply would not have been possible without the support, generosity, and hard work of so many people.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated raffle prizes, helped source and erect gazebos, brought along animals and machinery, volunteered their time, and worked behind the scenes to make the evening such a success.

Special thanks to our wonderful local businesses who generously donated food and supplies, to the Martin family for allowing us to use their field for parking, and to all of our fantastic vendors who helped create such a brilliant atmosphere.

A very special thank you to James Rodgers, who kept the crowds entertained throughout the evening.

Thank you also to the Fire Service for taking the time to visit us and bring their fire engine along when duties allowed. It was a real highlight of the evening, especially for the children.

Most importantly, thank you to every person who came along and supported the event. Whether you volunteered, donated, exhibited, attended, or simply helped spread the word, you played a part in making the evening so special.

The sense of community on display was incredible, and we feel very fortunate to be surrounded by such kind and supportive people.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all. We couldn’t have done it without you!!

Want to spend less time queueing and more time enjoying Ballydown Does Balmoral? We've got you covered!
Some of our stalls on Tuesday evening will be operating on a token-only basis, so we're giving everyone the chance to get organised in advance.
Children can pre-purchase their tokens in school on Monday and Tuesday morning, directly from their classrooms. That means less waiting on the night and more time for games, treats and all the fun of the fair! 🎉
The price list is attached so you can plan ahead.
Get your tokens early and come ready for a fantastic evening-we can't wait to see you all there!

The countdown is on…

Ballydown Does Balmoral ⭐️
Tuesday 9th June, 5.30pm – 8.30pm

We’re looking forward to welcoming our school community for an evening packed with fun, food, shopping and entertainment.

We’ll have 30 external vendors joining us, selling everything from jewellery and artwork to baked goods, 3D-printed toys and much more.

Our PTA will be running a traditional tuck shop and pocket money stall. Please note that all PTA stalls will be cash only.

A huge thank you to Ballydown Milk for donating milkshakes for the PTA to sell, and to Blend & Batch, who will be serving tea, coffee and their signature brownies, with proceeds being donated back to the school.

We are incredibly grateful to the many local businesses, entertainers and members of our farming community who have supported this event through donations of raffle prizes, BBQ supplies, gazebos, equipment and their time. Their generosity and community spirit have helped make Ballydown Does Balmoral possible.

There will be plenty to enjoy on the night, including inflatables, festival games, pony rides, face painting, a tombola and a display of farm machinery.

Funfair attractions will operate using a token system. To help beat the queues, children can purchase tokens in school on Monday and Tuesday morning.

We hope you can join us for a fantastic evening. And, as always, it might be worth bringing an umbrella just in case!

Due to the weather, Ballydown Does Balmoral has had an unexpected date change to Tuesday 9th June- and unfortunately that means we’ve been left short on gazebos!

If you have one sitting in the garage, lying around at home, or maybe your workplace has one we could borrow, we would be so grateful.

Please get in touch with the office or a member of the PTA if you can help. Thank you so much!