Dear Parents,

We have had such a lovely calm, kind, hardworking week back at school. The Halloween break seems to have provided a great rest for us all.

Christmas support:

I am aware that Christmas is now the next thing on everyone’s mind. I would urge any family who feels that they could do with a helping hand to organise Christmas, to make contact with me. Please know that I will handle any conversation in the utmost confidence. Please contact me via phone 02830262175 or by email mmonaghan771@c2kni.net. I do not use Seesaw for messaging.

I would also encourage families who may need help with First Holy Communion and Confirmation outfits to reach out to me and do so early to avoid unnecessary financial  stress and anxiety.

In November, we remember our loved ones who have died:

The children have been praying throughout the week for our dearly beloved who have passed on from this life. They know how important it is that we remember. Perhaps you can speak as a family about your own relations who have died and the children can add them to our intentions in school as the month of November unfolds. We have a beautiful altar in our Foyer and prayer spaces within the classrooms. If you have a memory card or mass booklet from the funeral of a loved one, your child might like to write his/her name and class on it and bring it in to school for the month of November to be placed on the altar or prayer spaces. Once again, the respect and reverence of our children as we pray and sing is deeply touching, they are very caring!

Family Mass:

Canon Brown has asked me to promote the second parish Family Mass scheduled for this Sunday at 12pm  in Newry Cathedral. Our pupils will be leading the liturgy. I truly urge you to attend this week’s, especially if you have a child of P4 age or older. It will be a lovely celebration suited to the age of your children.

School Council update:

The final count raised at the Halloween Disco was £945!!!!!!!!!! That was incredible and once we deducted costs for refreshments and a small donation to the fundraising effort of St Mary’s School council, we hope to have almost £700 toward our own charities for this year.
Thank you for your generosity!!!

Yours in partnership,

Mrs Monaghan

I really need your help parents and remind you:

That we operate a 'drop off zone' and a one way system. We have had a few 'near misses as parents have not followed the one way system and have 'cut off' across the flow of traffic, to park in the area beside the canteen. I am very fearful that we will have an accident.

1. That you need to be so careful when dropping off children. Pupils should disembark onto the pavement- not onto the road/ car park side, where cars are busily trying to depart.
2. When driving off from your'drop off position' that you need to be mindful of other cars coming up from behind. We have had a few 'near collisions' re this.
3. That buses are being held up when some of you stay too long in your 'drop off' position. I have frequently seen the bus unable to take the bend to get to its drop off position because some of you have left your car unattended or are delaying your departure to make phone calls etc, unaware that your vehicle is blocking the way.

I know that with your support we can make the process safer for our school community.

Mrs Monaghan 

At the time of amalgamation it was agreed that funerals of staff of the former schools would not be attended by pupils from the newly amalgamated school. This was to avoid anyone being overlooked due to current staff being unaware of former connections with the schools.

That seemed like an appropriate arrangement at the time. However, having personally attended recent funerals of deceased former staff, I have become uneasy with this arrangement. Therefore, it will be modified as indicated below.

The family of a deceased member of staff of Abbey PS or St Clare’s PS, who retired from either school may request a school representation at their loved one’s requiem mass. If the mass is taking place during school hours and in a local church, we will try our very best to facilitate the request.  Requests may be made via telephone 02830262175.

We cherish the contribution that former staff made to both schools, from which we grew.

Mrs Monaghan