Latest news
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Goodbye P7 - We will miss you!
Mon 29 Jun 2020Today we celebrated and said goodbye to a great group of P7 children! All children were presented with a Lockdown Leavers Plaque in appreciation of their personal growth and achievements at St Colmcille’s PS. There were balloons, ice cream, a leavers video, leavers jackets and speeches by the teachers. The presentation was held in the main yard due to current restrictions and guidelines. Our P7s will be missed by all in St Colmcille’s and we wish them all the very best for the future- no doubt they will all go on to great things.
Special thanks to school staff for all of their hard work in set up/organisation and to our PTA who were very generous in their support and assistance with this event.
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End of Year Reports & Return to School
Sat 27 Jun 2020End of Year Reports for existing pupils can be collected from school on Tuesday 30th June from 10am-12pm. An Information Note regarding September’s arrangements for a return to school will also be enclosed. Please return any school/ library books that you have at home when collecting reports. Senior Management Team and teachers will be on hand on this day to address any individual queries that you may have. We hope to see parents this Tuesday and thank you again for your continued patience and understanding at this uncertain time!
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🎈🎉 P7 Leavers Presentation 🎉🎈
Fri 19 Jun 2020P7 pupils and their parents are warmly welcomed to a special outdoor presentation in the main school yard next Monday 29th June from 12pm- 1.30pm. There will be light refreshments, prizes and a special video presentation. Leavers jackets and End of Year Reports for P7 pupils can be collected on this day. Social distancing will be adhered to and hand sanitiser will be available. We hope to see all of our P7 children and their parents then!
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Summer Reading Challenge 2020📚☀️
Tue 16 Jun 2020Libraries NI is delighted to announce details of ‘Silly Squad, Summer Reading Challenge 2020’ produced by The Reading Agency and delivered by libraries which will take place from Monday 15th June.
The Silly Squad, Summer Reading Challenge, is a free, exciting way to keep young people aged 4 - 11 years reading during the summer months.
Children can sign up for free at https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/Throughout the summer there will be online activities, videos, quizzes, games and rewards to unlock along the way. Every child who completes their own Challenge will receive a downloadable certificate.
Have fun reading!
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Road Safety Education - Week 2 Task
Tue 09 Jun 2020This week the focus is on pedestrian safety and you can conduct this whilst out on your daily exercise or visit to the shops. There are also follow up activities which can be completed by your child to reinforce the learning.
Pedestrian Safety ~ 4-7 year olds
The task concentrates on safe pedestrian practice and we hope that it will help your child develop positive habits as they learn from doing and following your example. Please talk to your child/children about and practise the following safe pedestrian habits:
• Holding hands with an adult or holding on to a buggy (shopping trolley if in a supermarket carpark);
• Walking on the footpath (on the inside of the footpath with the adult closest to the roadside);
• The simple message of STOP, LOOK and LISTEN:
o STOP behind the kerb;
o LOOK and LISTEN for traffic before crossing the road;
o LOOK and LISTEN for traffic while you cross the road.
Pedestrian Safety ~ 8-11 year olds
The task concentrates on safe pedestrian practice and we hope that it will help your child develop positive habits as they learn from doing and following your example. Please talk to your child/children about and practise the following safe pedestrian habits:
• The Green Cross Code – children are generally considered to be ready to judge speed and distance of traffic from the age of eight years. Knowing and being able to use the Green Cross Code is an essential life skill for all children:
o First find a safe place to cross;
o Stop with your toes behind the kerb (or grass verge on a country road);
o Look and listen in all directions for any traffic;
o If any traffic is coming, let it pass;
o When the road is clear, walk straight across the road;
o Keep looking and listening for traffic as you cross.
• Walking on the footpath (on the inside of the footpath with the adult closest to the roadside);
If practical, walk the normal route to/from school and decide upon the safest places to cross the road. Then, when school resumes, use this route each time you walk your child to/from school (or if your child walks without a parent then encourage them to use the same crossing points if at all possible). Focus on:
• Use of any pedestrian crossings in place (including where the Crossing Patrol normally stands);
• Good sight lines in any direction that traffic may come from;
• Any potential dangers along the route (e.g. cars reversing out of driveways, road works)
Enjoy going for walks with your child and remember to STOP, LOOK & LISTEN and use the GREEN CROSS CODE!
A new booklet has been developed for parents of 0-7 year olds: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/parents-guide-road-safety-0-7-years
For further information on pedestrian safety: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/be-safe-pedestrian
To view the road safety calendars issued to schools: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-teaching-aid-calendars
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Feast of St Colmcille
Tue 09 Jun 2020Today we celebrate the feast of St Colmcille, one of three patron saints of Ireland. He was born in Co. Donegal in 521 and founded monasteries throughout Ireland. He had to leave Ireland as an act of penance in 563 and settled with 12 companions at Iona, an island off the western coast of Scotland. He died in 597 and was buried by his monks in the abbey he created. St Colmcille is a very special saint to us as he did many good works and our school is named after him.
You may wish to say the following prayer with your family.
Prayer of St Colmcille
Be O Lord,
A guiding star above me,
A smooth path below me,
A kindly shepherd behind me
and a bright flame before me;
today, tonight and forever. Amen.
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Return to School Update
Mon 08 Jun 2020Advice regarding returning to school in August/September 20 is still unclear at this point in time. Statutory organisations (DENI, CCMS, EA, ETI) are in daily meetings and have indicated that information should be forthcoming towards the end of June. Naturally, we want to inform parents at the earliest opportunity of the next academic year’s arrangements but will hold off providing information regarding arrangements until confident that the information is as reliable and as up to date as possible. This may result in plans and information not being shared with parents until late June.
Our P1 teachers will be in contact via phone call with our new P1 parents on Monday 22nd June to discuss essential starting school information and induction arrangements.
End of Year Reports for existing pupils can be collected from school on Tuesday 30th June from 10am-12pm. An Information Note regarding September’s arrangements for a return to school will also be enclosed. The Senior Management Team and teachers will be on hand on this day to address any individual queries that you have. For any parent unable to attend school on this day a Return to School Note and Report will be posted out. If it is possible to update parents before the 30th of June I will endeavour to so at the earliest opportunity. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding at this uncertain time! -
Home Learning & Supervision
Mon 08 Jun 2020Zoom Lessons
Thank you to parents and teachers for facilitating Zoom Lessons- they have been a big success. Teachers are already in planning and looking forward to this week’s sessions. We will continue to invite those parents who have registered their child for sessions via email. Reminder: parents should not share their invites as this can compromise the security of sessions. If any parent requires an access code please contact your child’s class teacher directly.
Lending ICT Devices
I am aware that some children may not have access to appropriate ICT equipment to sustain home learning. If this is the case St Colmcille’s PS will endeavour to help by lending school devices. The lending of devices would obviously be subject to strict guidelines regarding usage i.e. devices would be purely for educational purposes. Please email me directly at saustin015@c2kni.net should you wish to find out further information.
Downpatrick Hub
St Colmcille’s PS is currently in a cluster partnership with OLSP PS & St Colmcille’s Nursery School to provide supervision to Key Worker & Vulnerable Children. There are currently a few places available at the Hub to aid working parents or those who require support. If you wish for your child/ren to avail of a place email me directly at saustin015@c2kni.net for further information.
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P7 Leavers Jackets
Thu 04 Jun 2020Please see the design for our P7 Leavers ¼ Zip Jacket. As the tops are fitted (tight fitting) in nature it would be advised to order a size slightly larger than what the children would usually be wearing to ensure longevity.
Sizes Available: Age 9-10, Age 10-11, Age 12-13, Small Adult
The jacket is available at a cost of £15. Thanks to our PTA who assisted the school by covering part of the cost to enable its availability at this great price.
Mr Clifford & Mr McReynolds will contact P7 parents on Monday 8th June to discuss size requirements, payment arrangements and other P7 miscellaneous information.
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Home Learning~ Zoom
Thu 04 Jun 2020See attached Zoom Timetable for June- sessions begin for all classes on Monday 1st June. Teachers are very much looking forward to catching up with all of the boys and girls again. Weekly Zoom Lessons will be a fun and educational way to catch up and continue learning within the home setting.
In order for your child to join the Zoom sessions you simply have to email teachers stating that you wish for your child to participate. Teachers will send Zoom invites to all parents who have mailed contact details the evening before the timetabled session. Please ensure your child is situated in a quiet place, free from distractions and has pencil/ paper close at hand. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support in involving your child in Zoom sessions.
