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

• Thank you Mrs Donnelly

  Mon 03 Jul 2023

  Members of the school's Board of Governors and staff attended a function in An Creagán to celebrate Mrs Donnelly's four years in St Colmcille's PS as Vice-principal and wish her every success in her promotion to Principal in St Lawrence's PS, Fintona.

   

  During the evening, Mrs Donnelly was presented with a gold Miraculous Medal by Fr O’Neill and a bunch of flowers by Mrs Ursula McElroy, Chair of the Board of Governors and a beautiful print of St Colmcille’s by colleague Orlagh O’Brien. Mrs McElroy and Mr Cush praised Mrs Donnelly for her professionalism, dedication to the Catholic ethos, discretion and commitment to the school. Parents had also presented Mrs Donnelly with a gift.

   

  Mrs Donnelly thanked the staff and governors for the four wonderful years in the school and the friendships she had made in the school and wider community.

  

• Rosmary retires after 36 years in St Colmcille's PS

  Tue 27 Jun 2023

  We had a lovely afternoon to celebrate Rosemary Mullin's retirement after 36 years as cook in the school kitchen. She was joined by many of her former colleagues and the children who sang for her.  Bettie McGurk read a specially composed poem about Rosemary's time in the school.  Rosemary was presented with flowers and a cash present. We wish Rosemary a contented and joyous life in her retirement.

   

  An Ode to Rosmary

  Among the pots and pans in St Colmcille's,

  There worked a woman of many skills,

  Her tenure there was 36 years,

  Keeping children fed as well as her peers.

   

  There's a lot of things that you should know,

  How teachers and kids are sad to see her go,

  Her canteen group too will miss this woman,

  Their dear friend and colleague Rosie Mullin.

   

  An impeccable record, she was rarely ill,

  Her shoes, they will be very hard to fill,

  For Mr Cush, the school headmaster,

  Her pending departure, a pure disaster.

   

  How will he survive the long school year,

  Without Rosie to keep him fed and full of cheer,

  Her recipies, whether roasted boiled or fried,

  Had as much variety as the hair she dyed.

   

  So to you Rosie, we say adios!

  For your retirement you should make the most,

  But don't forget your friends in here,

  And call in for a chat when you are near.

  

• June newsletter is now available

  Thu 01 Jun 2023

   

   

• Pre-publication consultation for Statutory Náiscoil

  Wed 05 Apr 2023

  ESTABLISHMENT OF AN IRISH MEDIUM NURSERY UNIT AT ST COLMCILLE’S PRIMARY SCHOOL AS A REPLACEMENT FOR VOLUNTARY NAÍSCOIL.

   

  CCMS has launched a pre-publication consultation process with staff, governors and parents/guardians which will be open until 19th May 2023 to consider the potential to establish an Irish Medium nursery unit at St Colmcille’s Primary School as a replacement for the early years provision at Naíscoil Cholmcille.

   

  The Board of Governors and Naíscoil Management Committee had previously sought the provision of a Statutory IMU nursery between 2015-2017 but disappointingly it was not approved. Since then, the Naíscoil has grown from strength to strength and we would really appreciate if everyone could contribute to this consultation process.

   

  The electronic consultation documents will be activated on the CCMS website accessible only to the school stakeholders.

  To access the consultation, click on the link to the Response Form:

  https://www.ccmsschools.com/Page/STCPS/72700/Index.html

   

  The main reasons why the Board of Governors, supported by CCMS is seeking a statutory Naíscoil:

  1. DE has a statutory obligation to provide Irish Medium provision on an equitable basis to English Medium.

  2. A statutory Naíscoil would have 26 full-time places rather than 24 part-time places.

  3. There is an increased demand for places in the Naíscoil which has been over-subscribed in recent years.

  4. A statutory Naíscoil would be included in the school’s new-build programme.

  5. We would seek to redeploy our excellent Naíscoil staff in the school.

    

  Kind regards 

   

  Peter Cush 

  Secretary to Board of Governors

  

• Holy Week: Minnie Vinnies Prayer Stations

  Tue 04 Apr 2023

  A group of 48 Mini Vinnies led the whole school, parents and parishioners through a series of Holy Week Prayer Stations. At each station, the groups had a chance to listen to Jesus' journey through Lent and Holy Week. Children listened to bible readings, joined in with prayers and interacted with reflective activities.

   

  Stations included:

  • Station 1- Journey through Lent  (Leah, Ava & Katie)
  • Station 2 - Into the Wilderness                                                           (Mary Kate, Niamh, Aoibheann & Grainne) 
  • Station 3 - Palm Sunday Hosanna to the King                                    (Erin, Leah, Caoimhe)
  • Station 4 - Last Supper Servant King (Dan, Ronan & Eoghan)
  • Station 5 - Last Supper Bread and Wine                                               (Éabha, Hannah-Marie, Sadhbh & Grace)
  • Station 6 - Jesus and Herod (Róisín, Siomha & Clara)
  • Station 7 - Jesus and Pilate ( Mia, Ciara & Marcelina)
  • Station 8 - Jesus is put on the cross (Conan, Brendan & Cahir )
  • Station 9 - Jesus' Sacrifice (Cassie, Iona & Cáit)
  • Station 10 - Jeus is thirsty (Mary-Anna, Caoimhe & Gabija)
  • Station 11 - The Cross/ Forgiveness                                                  (Annie-Kate, Chloe Mai & Annie)
  • Station 12 - The Tomb (Ana, Ciara, Alannah, Keeva)
  • Station 13 - Prayer Wall (Cassie, Elizabeth, Anna Kate & Caoimhe)
  • Station 14 - Easter Garden/ Alleluia (Cara, Grainne & Beth)

  

• Bronagh Starrs: Successful parents' information night

  Thu 23 Mar 2023

  A special thanks to all the parents and staff who attended Bronagh Starrs excellent talk about supporting anxious children. Bronagh provided an outline of the conditions which contribute to children's anxiety and how parents can both inhibit or help children to extend their comfort zone.  Bronagh referenced a number of strategies which can be used to support canxious children, including yoga.

   

  As a follow-up to this session, I would like to thank Tara-Lea McElduff who has volunteered to provide a session for parents in the near future.

   

  We would like to thank the Friends of St Colmcille's for their support for this event. 

  

• Turkey - Syria Earthquake Appeal

  Wed 08 Mar 2023

  Thanks to all the families who donated much needed provisions for the school's Turkey-Syria Appeal organised by the Minnie Vinnies. We would like to pay tribute to Peter and Lynette O'Connor, O'Connor Transport, Creggan for undertaking this mammoth task on behalf of the whole community. 

   

  

• Shared Education - Rugby taster sessions

  Wed 08 Mar 2023

  With the excitement of the Ireland rugby team’s current Grand Slam ambitions, girls and boys in Mrs Donnelly's class made history as the first children in the school to take part in Contact Rugby in McClintock PS with Darren McGuigan's, Ulster Rugby/Omagh Accies

  

• PARENTS' TALK: Bronagh Starrs in St Colmcille's PS 22nd March at 7.00pm

  Tue 07 Mar 2023

  Bronagh Starrs, internationally renowned psychotherapist & trauma specialist will give a talk in St Colmcille's PS on Wed. 22nd March at 7.00pm. She will provide parents with strategies to help them to deal with childhood anxiety.

   

  

• "Sounds Write" information night for parents

  Thu 23 Feb 2023

  A special thanks to the large number of parents who attended the very informative talk tonight by Louise McMullan on the "Sounds Write" Linguistic Phonics programme which is being implemented in Foundation Stage & KS1. 10 teachers have been trained in the "Sounds Write" teaching strategies.