Latest News

⏰📲🖥 Remote Learning 🖥📲⏰

Sun 27 Sep 2020

Teachers will be in communication tomorrow morning via Seesaw with information regarding remote learning for all classes.

Each class will also receive two lessons via Microsoft Teams- please see Timetable below. There is no set up- just click the link which will be sent via Seesaw a few minutes before the session. If you experience any difficulty just contact the teacher via Seesaw and they will be happy to help

School Closure

Fri 25 Sep 2020

School will be closed until Wednesday 7th October. Please click link below for further information.

School Closure Information

⚽️🏐🥅 Coaching Sessions 🥅🏐⚽️

Sat 19 Sep 2020

We are delighted to be able to offer coaching sessions to our children from IFA, Burns Soccer School and Ulster GAA. The sessions which will take place in class bubbles will begin on the following dates:

⚽️ Monday 21st September ~ IFA

Soccer coaching for pupils in P5, P6, P6/7, P7 & LSC4.

⚽️ Thursday 24th September ~ Ulster GAA

Gaelic coaching for pupils in P2/3, P3, LSC3, P4, P4/5 & Nurture.

⚽️ Wednesday 7th October ~ Burns Soccer School

Fundamental movement skills for pupils in P1A, P1B, P2, LSC1 & LSC2.

In addition to the coaching sessions, each child will have another PE Day. Please see the timetable below for your child’s updated PE Day and Coaching Session. PE uniform should be worn on both days.

New Gaelic Kits

Fri 18 Sep 2020

A huge thank you to Conor Jennings of Nucoat Interiors for kindly sponsoring our new boys’ Gaelic kit. We would also like to thank St. Colmcille’s PTFA for their sponsorship of the new girls’ Gaelic kit. The new kits both look fantastic and we appreciate your support for our school teams.

Latest Guidance from the Chief Medical Officer

Thu 10 Sep 2020

Please visit ‘Newsletters‘ on our website to read ‘Letter to Parents and Carers from the Chief Medical Officer’ outlining actions which should be taken if your child or anyone in your household develops symptoms of Covid 19. A leaflet containing advice has also been issued and can be viewed on the same section of the website.

Bubble Club

Wed 09 Sep 2020

Education Restart Programme ~ Update

Mon 07 Sep 2020

At this time of the year children will pick up lots of colds as they return to school, especially this year after such a long break. We understand that this is a very worrying time for parents and staff making a call on whether a child should be in school. We really appreciate how vigilant you are all being. It is absolutely essential that we all follow government advice in order to keep our school community free from the spread of Covid-19. The latest guidance from the Department of Education below may help us all with our decision making.

Symptoms and Testing

In recent days the Public Health Agency has seen a significant increase in individuals requesting a COVID-19 test where they do not have COVID-19 symptoms. Testing is only available for individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been advised by the Public Health Agency Contact Tracing Service to have a test.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are:

• A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual); or

• A high temperature/fever – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature); or

• A loss of or change in sense of smell or taste.

If an individual does not have these specific symptoms, they do not require a test. Schools should not ask pupils or staff to book a COVID-19 test unless they have one or more of the symptoms above.

At this time of year, it is common for colds and similar viral infections to circulate. In many cases, children will be well enough to attend school and continue their learning with little or no interruption to their education. In other cases, for instance where they have quite a heavy cold, they may need to take a day or two off to recover.

If a pupil or staff member does not have symptoms of COVID-19 but has other cold-like symptoms, they do not need to be tested and do not need to self-isolate. The individual can attend school if fit to do so.

Additionally, where a pupil displays gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhoea, they should not attend school until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days. In these instances they should follow the school’s usual Attendance Policy in respect of these symptoms.

Where an individual has COVID-19 symptoms and they refuse to book a test, they should not return to school for 14 days.

Rearranged Sacraments ~ Update

Fri 04 Sep 2020

Dear Parent/ Guardian,

A meeting was held yesterday amongst the Downpatrick Priests and Principals regarding the finalised arrangements for the rearranged Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation. Our current Primary 5 pupils will celebrate their First Holy Communion on Saturday 26th September at 10am in St Patrick’s Church. The Sacrament of Confirmation for First Year children will be celebrated in St Patrick’s Church on Tuesday 13th October at 5pm.

Due to the current guidelines in respect of the Covid 19 pandemic, it will not be possible to celebrate the sacraments in the traditional way. The arrangements below have been agreed in consultation with the Downpatrick Priests and Principals.

Holy Communion Arrangements

The service will begin at 10am and all in attendance should be seated before 9.30am.
Children will be seated with their class and parents/ family members will be seated together.
Children are only permitted to be accompanied by two family members. Given the restrictions within the church, other family members may not attend. The service will be available to view on the parish website. http://www.parishofdownpatrick.com/
Priests will instruct and guide children from the altar as children are unable to attend practice in the church.
Photographs will be taken afterwards outside the church.
Readings during the service will be reduced.
Children should wear normal First Holy Communion attire.

Confirmation Arrangements

Your child’s Post Primary School has been contacted to ask them to release your child from school that day at 2.00pm to enable you to prepare for this special occasion.
As we are unable to prepare the children in the traditional way, your child’s Post Primary School has also been asked to share some preparation work with him/her and to provide a copy of the Confirmation Booklet which will be used.
A member of school staff will contact you next week via phone call to complete a Confirmation Card. This will include important information related to the sacrament including your child’s Confirmation Name (which should be based on a Saint’s Name) and the name of their Sponsor (who must be over sixteen and a Catholic).
Children are only permitted to be accompanied by two family members and their Sponsor.
Given the restrictions within the church, other family members may not attend on the evening. They will however be able to view the service on the parish website. http://www.parishofdownpatrick.com/
A seating plan will be in operation and staff who are in attendance on the evening will direct you to your assigned seat.
Children, parents and sponsors are to be seated by 4.30pm so that some instruction regarding the service can be shared.
Children should wear their new school uniform. (Post Primary)

***Adults and children should wear a face covering at all times whilst inside the church.***

I trust you find this information useful and appreciate your understanding regarding changes to the traditional way in which the sacraments are celebrated. If you require further assistance or have any additional queries, please contact the School Office.

Yours sincerely,

S Austin

Cookies

Cookies

Website CMS

Matomo

reCaptcha

Cookie notice