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

• Remote learning Packs: Collection Fri 22nd January

  Wed 20 Jan 2021

  Dear parents

  Return of completed work and collection of 2^nd pack:  Congratulations to you and your children for completing the first pack of work. Anecdotal feedback suggests that the vast majority of children are progressing well through their work. Staff are responding terrifically to this model of facilitating learning, supporting children at home remotely and key worker children in the school. We encourage you to continue with this mammoth effort.

   

  We ask that you

  • Please place the completed worksheets and reading books in your child’s labelled ‘Pack 1’ folder and return to the teacher’s ‘Return box’ on Friday 22^nd Jan and.
  • Collect the 2^nd set of learning packs. We’d appreciate if you would use the suggested time for collection:

   

  Surnames	Time slots
  A to F	1.00 pm to 1.45 pm
  G to L	1.45 pm to 2.30 pm
  M to O	2.30 pm to 3.15 pm
  P to S	3.15 pm to 4.00 pm
  T to Z	4.00 pm to 4.45 pm
  After 4.45 pm, packs will be available in the school's reception hall until 9.00 pm.

   

   

  Foundation Stage & KS1:

  Please return and collect packs at the covered area in the playground;

   

  Key Stage 2:

  Children return and collect packs in the child’s classroom using emergency doors, where they can select additional ‘Accelerated Reading’ books. KS2 teachers will send further details via seesaw.

   

  Engage programme:

  We are providing some additional learning opportunities for some children through the ‘Engage’ programme which is supported by Mrs Corey.

   

   Admissions:

  Please remember that the closing date for admissions is Thursday 29 January 2021.

  To apply go online on the Education Authority’s (EA) website: https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/admissions

   

  Catholic Schools’ week:

  The theme of Catholic Schools’ week which begins on Sunday 24th January is ‘Communities of Faith and Resilience’. This lockdown has certainly tested both our faith and resilience. I’d like to thank Mrs Donnelly for organising a special online assembly which will be broadcast on Monday 25^th January. Further details will be sent via Seesaw.

   

  In the interim, keep safe and thank you for your continued support in these most challenging times. If you would like further clarification on any aspect of the school’s provision, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

   

  Yours sincerely

   

  Peter Cush

  Principal

• REMOTE LEARNING

  Wed 06 Jan 2021

   

  6^th January 2021

  Dear parents

  It is with deep regret that we enter the second period of lockdown and acknowledge that this is a stressful time for everyone especially those trying to balance work and caring responsibilities with home-schooling. The guidelines from DE are changing daily but we will provide updates as the circumstances change. We aim to support your children through this period by building on the many positive aspects of the previous period of remote learning. To that end, we will:

   

  • Provide fortnightly printed packs with clearly labelled Literacy and Numeracy work for each day and Nursery children will receive weekly activity suggestions from Miss McElduff;
  • Share Reading books to specific year groups which will be exchanged each fortnight;
  • Post weekly schedules of work and daily instructions on Seesaw;
  • Support children through new concepts using tutorials and video messages, as appropriate;
  • Be available each day from 9.00am to 3.30pm via Seesaw for online support.
  • Respond to children’s work with praise and ideas for further learning.
  • Support keyworker children who have no alternative provision and vulnerable children. These children should bring their learning packs and packed lunches to school every day. School transport for key workers’ children is available at present but this may change.
  • Provide additional learning opportunities for children with Specific Literacy difficulties through the ‘Engage’ programme.

   

   We ask that parents:

  • Collect the first set of learning packs from the school on Friday 8th January from the covered area in the playground. To facilitate social-distancing, we have allocated times for collection:

   

  Surnames	Time slots
  A to F	9.00 am to 10.00 am
  G to L	10.00 am to 11.00 am
  M to O	11.00 am to 12.00 noon
  P to S	1.00 pm to 2.00 pm
  T to Z	2.00 pm to 3.00 pm
  Open session	3.00 pm to 5.00 pm
  After 5.00pm, packs will be available in the school's reception hall until 9.00pm.

   

  • Share your child’s progress at home via photos and videos;
  • Return worksheets and reading books to the school at the end of the two-weekly block when collecting the next work pack;

  • Don’t stress or worry if your child isn’t engaging well with the work sent home or if you feel we are bombarding you with work that you don’t have time to look at.
  • Look after yourselves and minimize stress as much as possible.

   

  In the interim, keep safe and thank you for your continued support in these most challenging times. If you would like further clarification on any aspect of the school’s provision, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

   

  Yours sincerely

   

  Peter Cush

  Principal