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February

Our Betty meets the Queen

Mrs Elizabeth Hamilton, known to us as Betty recently visited Buckingham Palace to meet the Queen and receive her MBE, you can read more about Betty receiving her MBE here...or click below for photos of her visit to the palace.

Alexander Dickson Primary School Gets A Face Lift

Several weeks of work are finally coming to an end and Alexander Dickson Primary School is looking forward to an exciting future.

The grounds now incorporate a lovely garden for the children to grow flowers and vegetables and our outdoor play area has been upgraded to allow for use in all seasons.  To try and encourage local wildlife, we have also planted twenty native trees.

The School Council also asked from some redecorating and our P3 members requested new signs; this work is currently underway - new floors having been laid in January.

January

Ballycloughan Open Day - 7th of January - click here for more information

December

Intergeneration Project at Alexander Dickson PS

Alexander Dickson PS and Ballygowan Seniors Club successfully gained funding 
for an intergenerational project.  The project is designed to promote understanding 
and friendships across the generations.  The Seniors visited Primary Seven on 
Wednesday 18^th November; this first session was an informal information afternoon.  
The Primary Seven children presented short talks on their past times and hobbies and 
brought in a range of equipment which they used – ice skating boots, Scottish dancing 
shoes and motorbike helmets!  The Seniors in return brought in items from their 
childhood – china ornaments, wedding photographs and tradesmen’s tools were 
all keenly examined.

The programme will include six sessions; however this might stretch to more as 
Primary Seven are very eager to put on a talent show in the new year and a trip to 
the Seniors Club to sing carols has been planned.

A visit to the Somme Heritage Centre will conclude the activities as the Second World War 
is a topic Primary Seven are studying and an area where Seniors can provide original sources 
of information and artefacts.

Primary Seven would like to thank Betty Hamilton for instigating the project as they have really 
enjoyed teaming up with Seniors.

November

Ancestors MCC Christmas Toy Run

Our annual Christmas Toy Run starts as usual in Ballygowan at 1pm, heading to Sprucefield, then Custom House Square and finishing off at the Ulster Hospital. As usual it's £5 per bike and a toy if you can manage it, we know things are tight this year so if you can't it's ok. All proceeds and toys will be donated to the Childrens Ward. We hope to see you all there, we are all looking forward to it! (no soft toys for hygeine reasons please)

The run starts at 1.00pm 6 December but people will be meeting from 12.00pm. We also should have a couple of celebrities to start the run off in Ballygown but can't confirm at this time who they are.

Mini Marathon at Alexander Dickson PS

  The Primary Seven class organised a mini marathon in school on Wednesday 11^th November 2009.  
Unfortunately Mrs Balmer, our marathon medal winner, was unable to compete!

  The mini marathon was organised by the children 
to raise much needed funds for famine relief in Africa.  

The children selected the charity after studying famine as part of a World Around Us theme.

Primary Seven planned the event by researching information about the charity, 
setting a target to aim for and informing parents and children of the event.  
On the day, P7 were on hand to demonstrate the course and supervise completion of the marathon.

It was a great day, enjoyed by all while much needed money was raised for famine relief.

Ballygowan Parent and Toddlers Fun and Facts Open Day

Come along to our Fun and Facts day on Tuesday 24th of November 10am - 11.45am in Ballygowan Village Hall.

All are welcome on this Open day with childrens activites and infomation for mummies/grannnies/carers.

If you are unable to attend please drop in any other Tues morning to Toddlers!

BALLYCLOUGHAN  PRIMARY  SCHOOL 

CHRISTMAS  FAIR

THURSDAY, 19^TH NOVEMBER AT 7 – 9PM

Crafts, plants, jewellery, cosmetics and much more

Everyone welcome

If you have a child starting primary school next September do join us at our Christmas Fair
 or drop in at any stage to view the normal operation of our school.

For further information:-

email vthompson749@ballycloughanps.ballynahinch.ni.sch.uk

Alexander Dickson PS
Open Evening & 
PTA Craft Fair

Thursday 26th November 6.30 pm – 9 pm

Please join us on Thursday evening to sample life at ADPS. 
The classrooms will be open until 8 pm and the teachers available to answer queries. 
The choir will be singing and the PTA has organised a Craft Fair.

If this date is unsuitable and you would like to visit at a more convenient time, 
please contact the office to arrange an appointment – we would be delighted to meet you.

Principal: Mrs A M Craig
Comber Road
Ballygowan
BT23 5TN
Tel: 97 528651

e-mail: acraig471@c2kni.net

www.adpsprimary.ik.org

August

Country Music Charity Night
The Northern Ireland Cnacer Fund for Children is holding a Country Music Charity Night on Wednesday 7th of October 2009 at 7.30pm. It is in Queens Hall, Newtownards and features Eugene O'Dorman, Tony Kerr, Kathy Durkin, Johnny Carroll, Kenny Archer, Larry the Cowboy and the band Breakaway.

Tickets are £12, you can pay at the door. For more information contact Mary on 07729050404

The Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children presents  
The Quiet Man
at The Spence cinema
12^th November 2009 at 7.30pm
Tickets are £8 each and are available from The Cancer Shop, Castle street, Comber and Scrabo Electricial, Frances St, N’ards
*limited seating – get your tickets now * Refreshments available @ extra cost.

June

Mrs Jacqueline Olivia King of Magherscouse Road, Ballygowan has been awarded an MBE from the queen for her work in Northern Ireland with people with eating disorders, Click here to read more...

Mrs Elizabeth Hamilton of Prospect Road, Ballygowan has been awarded an MBE from the queen for her volunteer 
work in Ballygowan Community. 
Click here to read more...

May

The Mayor stops off at Ballygowan on his bicycle tour of the Borough. More...

Image courtesy of Ards Chronicle

Ballygowan and District Community Association held a Relaunching of their website night on Monday 18^th of May in Ballygowan Village Hall. Local businesses, groups and organisations were invited along with representatives from Ards borough Council and other Community Associations in the surrounding area. The deputy mayor Bill Montgomery attended the event where a presentation of the new website was given by Cat Cullen the website designer and manager. The presentation showed the aim of the new website, which was launched a month ago, to be a voice for the people of Ballygowan, to have a list of useful information for the public, and to be a showcase for local businesses and community groups. The website is interactive with a news/events page, a guestbook and a forum which is aimed at people from all walks of life. The Community Association stated that the website is an essential tool for community groups in this day and age where more and more people are going online and they are urging the Ballygowan public to use the website. The website presentation was followed by a history talk by local historian Raymond Patterson supported by a slideshow of Ballygowan past and present images. The talk supported the website presentation by proving that people no longer use the same social network that they used to reiterating that going forward on the web is the way to go.

Fitness Trail at Alexander Dickson PS

  The PTA are delighted that the children are now enjoying the fitness trail which they funded.  The children use the trail at lunch and break playtime as well as during supervised class activities.

Support the Mayor on his Bicycle Tour of the Borough!

The mayor of Newtownards is doing a Bicycle Tour of the Borough for Alzheimer's
The tour is on Sat 23rd of May and he will cycle past Ballygowan Village Hall around 9.40am.
Ballygowan and District Community Association are holding a coffee party with proceeds going to Alzheimer's also. 
Fee is £1 per person for Tea, Coffee and Biscuits.

April / March

April News

Flash Harry for Natasha Falls
Flash Harry is to perform at the Empire Music Hall on the Thursday 21st May
to raise funds for Natasha's Journey of Hope
Tickets are on sale through ticketmaster.ie or click here to visit Natasha's website.

Ballygowan Presbyterian Church PW
Cordially invites you to
An Evening of Drama,
a performance of one act plays
by Ballywalter Yfc and Moneyreagh Yfc
on Saturday 25th April at 7.45pm in the Church Hall, Comber Rd, Ballygowan.
Admission £6 Light supper
Proceeds go to Missions and YFC Charity.

Ballygowan Senior Citizens Celebrate Silver Anniversary
Thursday 12th February marked a special day in the calendar for Ballygowan Senior Citizens Club. Guests included the Mayor of Ards Borough, Ards Borough Councillors and representatives from senior citizens clubs in the Ards Peninsula joined in the celebrations. Ballygowan Village Hall was decorated beautifully for the occasion and a splendid three course lunch followed by an afternoon of entertainment. East Down Rural Community Network would like to thank everyone for their kind invitation to join in the celebration, and wish the club every success for the future.

March News

Baby clinic moved to Ballygowan Village Hall.
The baby clinic run by Health Visitor Margaret McMillian is no longer at the surgery in the Brae.
It is now in the Village Hall on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 2pm to 4pm.