Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• NEW SCHOOL DAY GUIDANCE

  Tue 30 Jun 2020

  Dear Parents and Guardians,

   

  Please see our current plans for our new school day beginning in August 2020. Please note this document is subject to change. https://www.stcolumsprimaryschool.co.uk/new-school-day-guidance-august-2020/

   

  We wish you all a relaxing, safe, restful and enjoyable summer break.

   

  Thank you to all our families, PTA and wider school community for all their support and good wishes throughout a very different school year. We really appreciate it. 

   

  Best wishes to Miss Plant who is leaving us. Many thanks for the contribution she has made to life at St. Colum’s and we wish her well for the future. We will miss her! 

   

  To our Primary 7 class... what a great bunch... best wishes to them as they continue their adventures in their new schools. Work hard and dream big! 

   

  Looking forward to seeing you in August.

   

  Take care. Keep Safe.

   

  Mrs McCullagh & Staff of St. Colum’s

  

• FIRST HOLY COMMUNION – A Note For Parents

  Sun 28 Jun 2020

  FIRST HOLY COMMUNION – A Note For Parents

   

  With the resumption of Sunday Masses we have the possibility of attending to the children who have been prepared for the reception of their first Holy Communion. If your child was ready to make their First Holy Communion last May, please choose one of the Sunday Masses and a date (starting 1st August), and contact Fr. Austin. Fr. Austin will get back to you and confirm or adjust your arrangement.

   

  Due to the current restrictions on the number who can attend Mass (50) please restrict your guest list to a maximum of ten. The number of children at each Mass will also have to be restricted to three.

   

  Contact details for Fr. Austin McGirr PP

  t: 0287083 2534

  e: pp@portstewartparish.co.uk

• RESULTS OF CONSULTATION ON FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT "for the return to the public celebration of Masses and the sacraments”

  Sun 28 Jun 2020

  The Irish Bishops issued a framework document “for the return to the public celebration of Masses and the sacraments” and our diocese has put it out for discussion in clergy conferences, Parish Pastoral Councils and the NI executive.

   

  The result of the consultation is as follows. Our first priority is the obligation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all people. The obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days remains suspended. You are discouraged from attending Mass more than once a week. We have our Covid-19 Committee of seven who have met. We will have public Mass for 50 parishioners recommencing next Saturday 4th July at 5.00pm, Sunday at 10.00am and 7.00pm. Weekday Mass will continue according to the schedule below from Monday 6th July. If you wish to attend any Mass please book beforehand by contacting the PP by phone, or by email. There can be no “block booking” (“we’ll be there every Saturday at 5”). Members of the same household are permitted to sit together without the need to observe 2 metre distancing. Please follow the direction of the stewards (we have eleven). Regarding the toilets being open during Mass: please notify the PP if you think you will have need of the toilet during Mass. A steward will always be available to open in an emergency. The toilet will remain closed for five minutes after use and otherwise remain closed.

   

  Due to the spread of droplets there will be no singing at Mass. Our projector will be used for the words of the Gloria and Creed, so there will be no need for missaletes. In order to keep the length of the celebrations to a minimum Priests are advised by the bishop to keep the Prayer of the Faithful and homilies short. During the distribution of Holy Communion, the celebrant will wear a visor. Holy Communion will only be distributed in the hand. We can leave the church by both doors, just as we can enter by both doors. Please observe social distancing outside before and after Mass.

   

  Despite all these terms and conditions those involved in these decisions are delighted that we’re taking this step towards normality and are able to welcome back our faithful and patient parishioners to the summit and source of our religious life. 

   

  Please contact Fr Austin(pp@portstewartparish.co.uk) or Emer O’Keefe (portstewartpastoralcouncil@gmail.com) if you can volunteer as a steward or as a member of the cleanup squad (we have six). A big thank you to all who volunteered. Your generous gift of commitment and time is greatly appreciated.

• COLLECTION OF BELONGINGS AND LOST PROPERTY

  Fri 26 Jun 2020

  Pupil belongings, books and lost property will be available for collection from the Assembly Hall next week, WEDNESDAY 1ST JULY - FRIDAY 3RD JULY, 10am-1pm. Please observe social distancing guidelines when collecting.📚👕👖👗🎒👞👟⚽🏐🎻🎺 😀

• FRIDAY ART CLASS WITH ADRIAN MARGEY

  Wed 24 Jun 2020

  Final Friday Art Class of the term at 10am this Friday, 26th June, with Adrian Margey Art.🖌🎨🖼 Most suitable for ages seven and up!

   

  Join in on Adrian's Facebook page or if you miss it in the morning, catch up later on on Adrian's YouTube channel.

  
  We can't wait to see your paintings of The White Rocks, Portrush.📷 Please send photos to our page or email to stcolumsoffice186@c2kni.net

   

  

• PARISH NEWS - Return to the public celebration of Masses and the Sacraments

  Tue 23 Jun 2020

  N.I. EXECUTIVE PERMIT RETURN TO PUBLIC WORSHIP (Parish Bulletin 21st June 2020)

   

  The Irish Bishops issued a framework document “for the return to the public celebration of Masses and the sacraments” and our diocese has put it out for discussion among clergy conferences and Parish Pastoral Councils. The result of the consultation will be published here.

   

  Last Thursday the NI Executive gave us Monday 29th June as the date when public worship could recommence.

   

  In our parish we will be doing our best to re-open on that day. There is a lot to be done in the meantime and if we don’t get it done we will postpone the recommencement. A quick reckoning of our safe-seating capacity in the church (within the current government guidelines) is 50 people. Couples, families, and other “bubbles” would mean more people could be accommodated safely. Our priority has to be the safety of people. We will need volunteers for all our Masses to help with stewarding and seating people. Training will be provided. Immediately, we will need to form a Covid19 committee and will need people with expertise in maintaining good hygiene in public areas. Please contact me, Fr Austin or Emer O’Keefe (portstewartpastoralcouncil@gmail.com) if you can volunteer as a steward or as a member of the Covid19 committee.

   

  During the pandemic, the Sunday obligation remains removed and if you decide not to attend Mass we support

  your decision.

• BIG WILD WEEKEND

  Sat 20 Jun 2020

  It's Day #20 of 30 Days Wild and the longest day of the year🙌🌞 What wildness will you get up to this weekend?

   

  • Paddle in rock pools?🦀🐚🌊
  • Find some mini beasts? 🐛🕷🦗🦋🐜🐝
  • Pick up litter? 🚮
  • Enjoy a walk in nature?🌳🌊🗻🌻🌱🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️
  • Watch the sunset?🌅

  📷 Let us know what you get up to... send your photos to our page or email to stcolumsoffice186@c2kni.net

   

  Have a Wild Weekend!! 😀

  

• SENTINUS CHALLENGE

  Fri 19 Jun 2020

  Final Sentinus Challenge of the week.... Explore under the sea.

  As always email your photos to stcolumsoffice186@c2kni.net or send to our Facebook page @stcolums.

  
  Have fun!

  

• THANK YOU ULSTER UNIVERSITY COLERAINE

  Fri 19 Jun 2020

  A huge thank you to The School of Education at Ulster University at Coleraine who kindly donated resources for Welcome Packs for our new Primary 1 intake.

  
  #StartingSchool #PrimaryOne

  

• SENTINUS CHALLENGE - COLOUR CHANGING FLOWERS

  Wed 17 Jun 2020

  Today's Sentinus Challenge is colour changing flowers.

  
  Follow the instructions and let us know how you get on. This may not be an instant result so set your flowers somewhere where they can reach the sunlight but you can also keep an eye on how they are changing.

   

  Why not take before and after photos to compare. Email to stcolumsoffice186@c2kni.net or send to our school Facebook page @stcolums

  
  Have fun!