Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in St Colmcille's PS
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Naíscoil Cholm Cille, Assistant required
Sat 04 Sep 2021Naíscoil Cholm Cille, An Charraig Mhór require a Naíscoil Assistant for academic year 2021/22
Essential Criteria: Have or be working towards a QCF Level 3 Diploma or above in either Playwork or Child Care, Learning and Development or equivalent.
Preference may be given to applicants who have previous experience of working with children in an Irish medium setting and have some proficiency in Irish. For application & further details, email naiscoilcholmcille@hotmail.co.uk.
Closing date: 10 September 2021
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End of year Mass and Passing On Ceremony
Mon 28 Jun 2021On Thursday 24th June we celebrated the 'End of the school year' Mass in the chapel for our P7 and R7 children and their parents. Fr O'Neill paid tribute to the children, their parents and staff for their resilience throughout this difficult year.
The mass concluded with the very poignant passing on cerement, the children's favourite memories, Leavers' song and presentation of cups.
The John Gervin Cup was presented to Grace McCullagh and Ronan Hurson by Mrs Corey.
The Paddy Grogan Cup was presented to Katie Marley by Kathleen Grogan.
We were delighted to welcome Mr Conway back to the school for the presentation of the new 'Gerard Conway Cup' to Catherine Murphy.
We wish all our leavers every success in their new schools.
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Summer of Play Challenge
Fri 25 Jun 2021PlayBoard NI calls for children’s play to be prioritised this summer to repair some of the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic on children’s well-being to help bolster children’s mental and physical health as the Covid-19 restrictions ease.
As the children embark on their summer holidays, remember that play is vital for children’s physical and mental health and development. Help your children recover from the impact of repeated lockdowns by giving them opportunities to play and have fun.
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June Newsletter
Wed 23 Jun 2021Please use this link to open the June 2021 Newsletter
https://www.stcolmcillescarrickmore.co.uk/stream/newsletters/full/1/-//
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Summer scheme
Wed 23 Jun 2021Summer school will now operate for two weeks only in July.
Week 1 will operate from Monday 5th July to Friday 9th July and will be open to pupils currently in P/R1 to P/R3.
Week 2 will be from Monday 12th July to Friday 16th July and will be open to pupils currently in P/R4 to P/R6.
Spaces are limited and you should fill out the registration form (1 per child) using the link below to secure your place.
https://forms.gle/QqkxSqb3K5uGcQdN9
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1500 anniversary of the St Colmcille's birth
Thu 10 Jun 2021JUNE 9 is the feast day of St Colmcille and represents the saint’s 1500 anniversary of his birth.
Here are 11 facts about the Irish saint’s life, career and legend.
ESTEEMED COMPANY
St Colmcille is one of Ireland’s three patron saints. The other two are St Brigid and of course, St Patrick.
His feast day is June 9, the day he died in the year 597 AD – at the impressive age of 75.
PRIDE OF DONEGAL
Colmcille was born on December 7, 521 in Gartan, near Lough Gartan in Co. Donegal.
He was also known as Columba, a Latin version of Colum. The 'cille' suffix that was added to the end of his name means 'of the churches'.
On his father's side, he was great-great-grandson of the famed Niall of the Nine Hostages – an Irish high king of the 5th century. The modern day Donegal village of Glencolmcille is named in his honour.
HOLY MAN
A young Colmcille entered the priesthood at the age of 20 when he became a pupil at Clonard Abbey, situated on the River Boyne in modern day Co. Meath.
When a prince cousin gave him some land at Derry, he decided to start his own monastery. This allowed him to travel throughout Northern Ireland teaching the pagans about Christianity.
Colmcille founded some 30 monasteries in just 10 years, inspiring many people with his personal holiness.
TROUBLEMAKER
Nevertheless, Colmcille was no angel. His strong personality and forceful preaching ruffled feathers and in 563 AD he was accused of starting a war between two Irish tribes.
After the death of Prince Curnan of Connaught – who Colmcille was meant to protect – a number of clerics and scholars threatened to excommunicate him.
Instead, Colmcille was sentenced by the high king never to see Ireland again, and was exiled to Scotland with 12 companions. He settled on a bleak Scottish island called Iona where he would spent most of his remaining years.
PEACEKEEPER
In 575 Colmcille was persuaded to visit Ireland to mediate a dispute between the high king and the league of poets. Insisting on remaining faithful to the terms of his exile, that he never ‘see’ Ireland again, he travelled blindfolded.
His considerable reputation was respected by everyone in Ireland. He spoke to the assembled nobles and clergy with such force and authority that the king was persuaded to calm hostilities.
Colmcille spent the rest of his life on Iona praying, fasting, and teaching his monks to read and copy the Scriptures.
INTELLECTUAL
He was a renowned ‘man of letters’, wrote several hymns and has been credited with having transcribed over 300 books and manuscripts.
Colmcille died on Iona and was buried in 597 by his monks in the abbey he created.
In 794 the Vikings descended on Iona and plundered much of the relics Colmcille had procured in his life as an intellectual.
DISCOVERING NESSIE
On August 22, 565, St Colmcille is said to have encountered the Loch Ness Monster – which has been interpreted as the first ever reference to the mythical Scottish beast.
Traveling in Scotland, Columba had to cross Loch Ness, but Nessie had other ideas. Raising his hand to make the sign of the cross, Colmcille commanded the beast, saying, "You will go no further, and won't touch the man; go back at once."
At the voice of the saint, the monster fled as if terrified, "more quickly than if it had been pulled back with ropes.” The local pagans were amazed and converted to Christianity based on the miracle.
MIRACLE MAKER
A number of miracles have been attributed to St Colmcille – such as healing people with diseases, expelling malignant spirits, subduing wild beasts, calming storms, and even returning the dead to life.
He is also said to have performed ‘agricultural miracles’ that would hold a special significance to the common people of Ireland and the British Isles, such as when he casted a demon out of a pail and restored spilt milk to its container.
AN ICON
As well as being one of the three patron saints of Ireland, St Colmcille is also the patron saint of the city of Derry – where he founded a monastic settlement in 540 AD.
St Columba’s Church, Long Tower and the Church of Ireland Cathedral in Derry are also both dedicated to St Columba, as well as the many St. Colmcille’s Primary Schools throughout Ireland and the world.
Ireland's national flag carrier, Aer Lingus, has named one of its Airbus A330 airplanes St Columba (reg: EI-DUO) in commemoration of the saint.
AMERICAN CONNECTION
Throughout the US there are numerous parishes dedicated to Colmcille within the Catholic and Presbyterian churches. There is even an Orthodox Church monastery dedicated to the Irish saint in the Massachusetts town of Southbridge.
As of 2011, Canadians who are of Scottish ancestry are the third largest ethnic group in the country and thus Columba's name is to be found attached to numerous Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian parishes.
EMIGRANT INSPIRATION
As he spent much of the second half of his life there, St Colmcille has a strong connection to Scotland. The Clan Malcolm/Clan McCallum claims its name from Colmcille and was reputedly founded by his descendants.
Numerous Catholic schools and parishes are under the patronage of the Irish saint, with Church of Scotland, Evangelical Lutheran and Episcopal Churches also have parishes dedicated to him – showing the strength of his legacy.
As with Glencolmcille in Co. Donegal, the Scottish village of Kilmacolm in Renfrewshire also takes its name from St Colmcille.
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CANNABIS OIL DISGUISED AS CONFECTIONARY
Thu 10 Jun 2021The Department of Education has asked that we inform you of a warning we have received from the Public Health Agency that they are aware of products that look like familiar sweet products with colourful packets, familiar cartoon images and which are appealing to children, but that in fact contain cannabis extract, or THC (the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis).
A young child assessed in hospital had inadvertently consumed cannabis after finding what they believed to be a packet of sweets on the ground. While on closer inspection the sweet packet is labelled as containing THC, to all other purposes they look like a common brand of sweets which are marketed for children.
Please see the photographs of the seized products below. If you have any further information relating to these incidents or similar circumstances please contact the PSNI and forward any information to DAMIS@hscni.net.
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Special Thanks you to Creggan Community Association
Sun 30 May 2021We would like to thank the Creggan Community Association for generously donating £1,361.00 to the school's funds. This generous donation was the proceeds of the Drive-In Bingo on Sunday 30th May. The funds will be used to support our outdoor education activities and the transition arrangements for P7/R7.
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School Closure- Mid term Break
Fri 30 Apr 2021Please note that the school will be closed from Monday 3rd May to Friday 7th May.
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Return of P4-P7 (R4-R7) pupils
Fri 19 Mar 2021We are delighted that P4-P7 (R4-R7) pupils join P1 to P3 (R1-R3) will return to full-time face-to-face teaching from Monday 22nd March. Staff are looking forward to returning to more normal interactions with their classes, however, we are all mindful of the need for vigilance so that we can finally end this lockdown.
Drop-off and Collection arrangements
- Pupils should not be on the school grounds before 9.00am;
- If children are travelling by bus, it is recommended that they wear a face mask and sit with family members.
- If you are taking children by car; to ease congestion, we ask parents to park in the chapel carpark. Please enter the carpark from Rocktown Rd and leave via Creggan Rd from 9.00am and collect the children from the playground from 3.00pm to 3.15pm;
- On arrival, children walk directly to their classrooms via the Emergency doors;
- Children wash their hands upon arrival in the classroom;
- Parents escorting children to classes are asked to follow Social Distancing guidelines and wear masks.
- Children using Camowen Partnership will be collected by their staff in front playground.
- Bus children will be escorted to the buses by staff.
School Meals
School meals will be available, provided that they have been booked online and paid in advance. If a child’s meal isn’t paid in advance, parents are asked to provide a packed lunch. If you have forgotten to book dinner for a day, please ring the office, notify Fiona and send the money with your child on the day dinner is being taken No arrears on dinners is permitted by the EA.
- If you have arrears and have been notified about them, these arrears must be paid in full before any further dinners can be booked. In this instance parent should provide their child/ren with a packed lunch.
- DE advise that All Free School Meals pupils in P/R4- P/R7 MUST bring a Packed Lunch as payment has already been made directly to parent.
Children WHO ARE UNWELL
Children should not attend school if they display any symptoms of the virus, including a high temperature, a continuous cough and or a loss of taste or smell. If a child is ill in school, he/she will be taken to an isolation zone and parents will be asked to collect them. They must have a Covid test and if negative, stay off school for two days after the symptoms have subsided. If positive, parents must inform the school immediately and we will take the necessary actions. (See details overleaf)
Regarding ‘tummy bugs’, where a pupil displays gastrointestinal symptoms, such as vomiting or diarrhoea, they should not attend school until after their symptoms have resolved for at least two days (this means they should not have been sick or had diarrhoea for at least two days before they return.
Updated information is on the school website/ Key information /covid-19.
