Security Incident in school Monday 24 January 

Dear parents,

You will be aware that there was a security incident beside school today.
I was on site with our incredibly calm and composed staff and could see that their actions ensured that our children, remained blissfully unaware, in most instances, of what was happening.

Since arriving home I have heard lots of exaggerated stories being circulated on social media and I am worried that if our children are taking those as their news source that they may become fearful about the safety of school. Therefore I urge you strongly to filter the social media that your children are accessing and reassure them that the PSNI had everything under control, that school is a VERY SAFE place and that our staff will always take care of them.

I thank you as always for working so well with us. Your children's well being is paramount and working together we can ensure that it is not damaged.

Finally I wish to thank you for your trust and co-operation on what must have been an anxious day for you, I also thank, once more, our devoted staff, they are magnificent and your children could not be in better hands.

We thank God for a good ending to this day.

Yours in thanks,

Mrs Monaghan

Parents and careers can register for the webinar through the link below.

https://bit.ly/stem4webinarsPMHD

Dear Parents,

Please find below the link that you will need when applying for a post-primary school for your son or daughter.

You must fill in the on-line application to ensure that your child receives a post-primary placement. These forms are not available in school.

The website will help you understand more about the process and what to expect when applying for a post-primary place. The Education Portal opens on February 1st and closes on February 23rd.

In the meantime, please study the Admission Criteria for the schools in this area. All the schools in the Newry area are listed on this website with their admissions criteria.

https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/admissions/post-primary-admissions-guide

Good Morning Parents,

Since returning to school last week our teachers, support staff and children alike, have put their heads down and got on with the work, putting aside the many challenges and changes that the pandemic has caused.

However, this week has been tinged with sadness as we learned of the deaths of Mrs Kathleen Gallagher and Mrs Mary O' Shea. Mrs Gallagher was a member of our ancillary staff who quietly and diligently went about her work. Mrs O'Shea, mother of Miss O' Shea our ECPD teacher, taught in St. Colman's Abbey Primary School for very many years and held the welfare of every pupil and family close to her heart.

Go ndéana Dia trócaire orthu

Catholic Schools Week

Next week is Catholic Schools Week and the theme this year is 'Living Life to the Full.'

If Covid-19 has done one thing it has forced us to reflect on the things that give our lives meaning. It has made us think of our family and friends and for many, their Catholic Faith and their relationship with God. As Catholics, we believe in fostering the holistic development of all our pupils. We promote their wellbeing and encourage them to learn and nurture their talent and skill. Each boy and girl in our school is talented and has the potential to change the world for the better, making it a kinder, more inclusive and more welcoming place. Next week we celebrate these gifts and talents as a community of faith and in doing so we live life to the full.

Seesaw

As children have returned to the classroom we continue to use Seesaw to support teaching and learning. Teachers have been posting pieces of work that have been marked or recordings/photos relating to learning that has taken place. This is being done so that you, the parents, can be part of this 'Feedback' process and reinforce the learning with your children. Please continue to reply to the teachers' posts. This is one of the ways where teachers and parents can work closely together.

Special Educational Needs

Any parent who requires information on Special Educational Needs and Disability can access it on our school website.

Application for Enrolment September 2022

Parents/guardians of children for entry to Nursery/P1 in September 2022 should register their child online through the EA 'Parent Portal' on www.eani.org.uk/admissions. This online system has been available from 12 noon on 10th January 2022. The closing date for all applications is 28th January 2022at 12noon. N.B. We urge parents to ensure their form is in by the deadline, as late applications cannot be considered in the event of over-subscription. Please pass this information on to anyone in your wider family circle it may apply to. Come and see what our school has to offer by viewing our Open Day Virtual tours on our school website

Have a good weekend everyone

Mr Sweeney