Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in St Colmcille's PS

• Use of Face Masks on school buses: Update

  Wed 26 Aug 2020

  The Department of Education has revised the guidance regarding the use of face coverings on school buses. The revised paragraph now reads:

   

  It is mandatory for all pupils aged 13 and over to wear a face covering on public transport. It is also strongly recommended that all pupils regardless of age should wear a face covering on all buses, trains or taxis for the journey to school where it is appropriate for them to do so and they are able to handle them as directed.

   

  Kind regards,

   

  Education Restart Programme

• Restart Programme Update

  Tue 25 Aug 2020

  Dear parents

  Please follow this link for an update about the procedures in place for the restart programme next week.

   

  https://www.stcolmcillescarrickmore.co.uk/stream/newsletters/full/1/-//

   

• Minister of Education's letter to parents - 13th August 2020

  Wed 19 Aug 2020

  Please click this link to read the minister of Education's letter to parents / guardians dated 13th August.

   

  https://www.stcolmcillescarrickmore.co.uk/useful-information/

   

• UPDATE: Sacramental celebrations, Restart & SEESAW updates

  Fri 14 Aug 2020

  Please see information below regarding dates for First Holy Communion for Primary 5 /Rang a Cuig children and Confirmation for Year 8 students.

   

  Restart programme

  Following the Minister of Education's revised guidance the school will be opening for all children who are able to attend. 

   

  Primary Seven and Rang a Seacht children will be in school from Monday 24th to Wednesday 26th August from 9.30am - 2.30pm. Children are asked to bring a packed lunch and won't need to bring a school bag. Other year groups will start from 1st September. Teachers will inform you about your child's start date. Further details will be circulated next week. 

   

  Please remember to log into Seesaw for your children's new classes as teachers will be sending you information about the arrangements for the restart programme.

   

   

  

• Restart programme -update

  Wed 05 Aug 2020

  Dear Parents / Guardians

   

   I hope you are keeping well and making the best of our so called summer. You will probably be aware that the Minister of  Education wrote to schools this afternoon outlining a revised policy for reopening schools for all children in the autumn term. We will be opening the school on 1st September for the majority of children. Primary 7 and Rang a Seacht will commence on Monday 24th August.

   

  We all want children back in school as soon as possible and this news is welcomed but if we are to keep everyone safe there are a number of issues which remain priorities:

  • Preventing virus spread- hand hygiene, mask wearing, ventilation, and cleaning routines are more important with full classes.
  • Bubbles- children will stay in class bubbles throughout the school day. If a child gets Covid 19, only children and staff in that bubble will go into a fourteen day quarantine.
  • School transport - if class bubbles have to be protected then it would be obvious that children should be brought to school in cars at staggered times.
  • School Meals- children will have break and lunch in their classrooms.
  • Social distancing- the Minister has abandoned the requirement to limit the number of children in each room based on the size of the room and one metre per child yet requires staff to maintain two metres between them and children. The Minister needs to address this dilemma. 

   

  A copy of the Minister's letter  is available on this website / New and Events / Newsletters. He also indicated that further information will be issued next week. We will keep you updated about the implications of this information. God bless and continue to keep safe.

   

  Yours sincerely

   

  Mr P Cush

  Principal

• First Holy Communion preparation

  Wed 05 Aug 2020

  Dear parent/ guardian

   

  Please find below a link to a First Communion video resource produced by the Diocesan Pastoral Team. The video listed is part one of a series of videos exploring the Mass. The first video examines the gathering, the introductory rite and the penitential rite.  Three further videos will be published on the same web page in the coming days.  
  
  https://www.armagharchdiocese.org/holy-communion/  
  
  We encourage you to share this with your children as they prepare for the upcoming First Communion ceremony.   
  
  Please look out for the future episodes in this series which will be released soon.  We hope that these resources will assist as you prepare students for the reception of the sacrament.
  
  I want to take this opportunity to thank all those who were involved in scripting, filming and producing these videos. Their efforts to prepare these resources is essential in a time when gatherings are limited and schools, in particular, are under great pressure to prepare for reopening.
  
  God bless,

   

   

   

  Michael Router

  Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh