Dear Parent/Guardian,

I hope you are safe and well and managing to enjoy the Christmas Break.

 In light of the Education Minster’s announcement this morning (31st Dec 20) regarding a delayed return to school until Monday 11th January, I wish to clarify a number of points and personalise the arrangements for the school community of St Colmcille’s PS.

-Having returned early in August 20, our school Holiday Calendar will stay the same and therefore children won’t be expected to engage in Online Learning until Wednesday 6th January.
-St Colmcille’s PS will be open on Wednesday 6th January to the children of Key Workers and vulnerable children. School Hours will be from 9.10am to 3pm for all children in attendance. In order to assist with staffing, please email me at saustin015@c2kni.net before 12pm on Monday 4th January if your child is attending school on these days.
- As before for those children who are not attending school, Microsoft Teams Lessons for all classes will be timetabled from Wednesday 6th January to Friday 8th January. A Microsoft Teams Timetable will be made available on Monday 4th January.
-For those children entitled to Free Schools Meals, it is anticipated that another payment will be made to parents on the week beginning 4th January.
- I would encourage the vast majority of pupils/parents to participate in Online Learning- however if Physical Work Packs are required for whatever reason please contact your class teacher via Seesaw and individual arrangements can be made for collection on the afternoon of Wednesday 7th January.
- Pre arranged phone parent/teacher meetings will take place as previously scheduled.

It is hoped with the release of new vaccines and greater awareness of Covid 19 that school operation will return to a greater level of normality and experience less interruption in the New Year.

Further updates will follow as and when I have them. In the meantime, I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year and once again thank you for your continued understanding and patience.

Yours sincerely,
Stephen Austin (Principal)