Latest News

Santa visits St Colmcille's on his sleigh

Fri 11 Dec 2020

There was a lot of excitement in the school today as Santa arrived on his sleigh which was towed along by a beautifully restored vintage red and white International tractor as his reindeer were having a rest.

Santa parked in the garden in front of the Parochial House and the children went across in their class bubbles to meet him.

Santa was brilliant, he spoke to the children in English or Irish depending on which class they were in. He called into the Nursery as well and even spoke with the Elf on the Shelf who told him how well-behaved the children were. He had a gift for each child and also two special presents for Orla McCartan and Francis Morris.

We would like to thank the children for contributing to the Christmas jumpers appeal for Save the Children. We hope that parents enjoyed seeing the photographs of their children on Seesaw. We would also like to thank everyone for making this a special day for the children; all the staff, the school Meals Service, the Friends of St Colmcille’s, Rock Community Association, Brian Begley and Colin Keenan.

Free Online Mindfulness Training for parents

Wed 09 Dec 2020

FREE ONLINE MINDFULNESS COURSES

Four-week introductory courses exploring what mindfulness is and how it can support and help you in everyday life. Each session will introduce a different practice and touch on various aspects of mindfulness, such as the body scan and mindful eating.

Monday 18 January 2021 10am-12pm for 4 weeks OR

Monday 18 January 2021 7-9pm for 4 weeks

Open to parents of 5-12 year olds in the Fermanagh, Omagh and Southern Health Trust.

for more information please email: sharon@aware-ni.org

Part of the Family Wellness Project

n partnership with Parenting NI

December Newsletter

Mon 07 Dec 2020

A copy of the recent Newsletter is available at: News & Events/ Newsletters.

You can use this link:

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

Mr Peter Weir, Education Minister visits St Colmcille's PS

Thu 03 Dec 2020

We were delighted when Mr Peter Weir, the Education Minister visited the St Colmcille's PS as part of his tour of the two schools in Carrickmore on Wednesday 2nd December.

Mr Weir was taken around the classes and school grounds where he observed the:-

1. arrangements for managing Covid 19.

2. innovative teaching despite cramped classrooms and

limited resource areas

3. inadequate traffic management provision

4. commitment to the Irish language from Naíscoil to Rang 7

5. opportunities for outdoor learning

He met with the Board of Governors' Development Sub-committee and discussed the school's successes, priorities and the protocol for selecting schools for Capital works.

Governors concluded that this was a very positive meeting and appreciated the candid manner in which Mr Weir addressed the issues discussed.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANNIE FOX-MCGLONE

Mon 19 Oct 2020

Massive congratulations to Annie Fox McGlone R6 whose entry for the ‘Slua le Bua na nÓg’ competition was awarded 2nd place in the final.

Annie’s video will be shown on the Cumann na bhFiann Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ColnabhF/videos/2758356567817669

Tá muid an bhrodúi asat. Maith thu féin.

DE Updated guidance Re: Covid 19

Wed 14 Oct 2020

Update: 14 October 2020

Statement from Education Minister Peter Weir on COVID-19 restrictions

Education Minister Peter Weir said that schools will:

have the half-term holiday break extended from 19 to 30 October and
reopen on Monday, 2 November.
be closed to all pupils during these two weeks including for children of key workers.
not be providing for remote learning as this is an extension of the half-term break.

Concluding Peter Weir said: “This year has been a stressful time for schools, pupils and parents. I want to thank principals, teachers and school staff for their dedication and commitment to keeping schools a safe and welcoming place for pupils to learn.”

Camowen Smart kids

Camowen Smart Kids aims to provide support for children throughout the half-term break. If you would like to register your child for this service, please contact Tressa on 079 0171 1180.

DE Updated guidance Re: Covid 19 Testing

Thu 01 Oct 2020

Further information can be found:

Main Menu / Key Information / Covid 19

From: Education Restart Programme
To: All Schools, Education Sector Partners
Date: 29 September 2020

COVID-19 TESTING

PHA have asked us to emphasise to schools that pupils and staff must only be advised to seek a COVID-19 test when they are symptomatic of the virus – that is a new continuous cough, a fever or a new loss of taste and/or smell. Early evidence from the Contact Tracing Service is that available testing capacity is being utilised to test many children and school staff who are showing no symptoms and in doing so make it more challenging for genuinely symptomatic individuals to access a test.

Tests must only be recommended for a staff member or pupil where they are clearly symptomatic or where PHA specifically recommend a test for any reason.

Update to Coronavirus (COVID-19) : Guidance for Schools and Educational Settings in Northern Ireland

On Thursday 24 September, schools were provided with updated guidance on managing the impact of COVID-19 within schools.

Subsequently as you have been advised, an issue was brought to our attention by school leaders in relation to the practical implications of several paragraphs in Section 8 of the revised guidance. These paragraphs had advised that schools operating classes in bubbles would need to protectively self-isolate whenever a class member became symptomatic. In practical terms this would have meant that anytime a child got COVID-19 symptoms, for most primary schools and many post primary schools, the entire bubble would have been sent home.

We have worked closely with the Public Health Agency who lead on public heath advice to rectify the issue. PHA has advised the correct position is that only when a positive case has been identified in a symptomatic child, young person or member of staff do schools need to consider self-isolating close contacts of that individual. Close contacts must stay in isolation for the full 14 day period. They should not return to school before the 14 day isolation period as they may still be incubating the virus – regardless of a lack of symptoms.

An updated version of the guidance is attached here and has been published on the Department’s website.

Regards

Education Restart Programme