If your child is due to start primary school in September 2021, and you missed applying via the online portal, you can still apply via paper application available from the School Office or download from our website... https://www.stcolumsprimaryschool.co.uk/admissions/

It you have any questions please contact the School Office 02870833010

Further information on the EA website under the Admissions section at https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/admissions

It's Mother's Day next weekend. Can't decide on a gift? The PTA have just twenty 85th Anniversary teatowels left and would love to sell-out. Available to purchase from THE SHOP on SchoolMoney.

Don't miss out on a lovely keepsake!

#85Anniversary #PTAFundraiser #teatowels #OurSchoolIn2020 #AlmostSoldOut #ShopLocal

LOOK the Children's Liturgy leaflet for the Third Sunday of Lent.

#ChildrensLiturgy #ThirdSundayOfLent

Good Afternoon everyone.

Fr Austin has released a provisional date for the Sacrament of Confirmation, Wednesday 26th May 2021 @5pm in Star of the Sea. Dr Greene will prepare the children who attend St. Colum's Primary School for this sacrament.

There will be a "Season of the Eucharist" this year for those children who will receive their First Holy Communion. Parents can book a date for their child's FHC through the Parish office. It is envisaged that like last year, small groups of children can receive the sacrament at the weekend Masses from Saturday 29th May onward. Please contact the Parish Office should you have any inquiries or if you wish to reserve your booking, 028 70832534. Mr Shaw will prepare the children who attend St. Colum's Primary School for this sacrament.

Thank you,

Mrs McCullagh

Principal

Break Hatch is open again next week.

As well as toast, bagels and muffins, Lynne's yummy homemade scones are available. Order from The Shop on our SchoolMoney online system.

If you have any problems accessing SchoolMoney, please contact the office 02870833010

#LynnesScones #StColumsCanteen #BreakHatch #yummy #CashlessSchool

Lunch menu for next week, from Monday 8th March 2021. 

Please book online through our new SchoolMoney system. School lunches should be booked by 11pm the previous evening. 

Follow the link for our Parents Guide to SchoolMoney...https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/st-colums-primary-school/UploadedDocument/5b9a7461fe0c47a89d5c1cfd4f09acc5/school-money-parent-guide.pdf   If you have any problems accessing SchoolMoney, please contact the office ☎ 02870833010

Direct payments in place of free school meals will not be made to pupils who are required to attend school(P1-P3). Free school meals will not be provided to children of key workers and vulnerable children entitled to free school meals when they are at school for supervised learning as their parents will receive a direct payment.

Any pupil at school who wishes, including vulnerable children and children of key workers, may purchase a meal. Otherwise they should bring a packed lunch.
 

Dear parents,

Please see open letter from the Education Minister on our newsletter page.... Open letter from Education Minister

Nursery and Primary 1 to Primary 3

Nursery and Primary 1 to Primary 3 pupils will return to school on 8 March. Between 8 March and 19 March pupils within this group who are entitled to Free School Meals will receive a meal in school but will NOT receive a free school payment.

For pupils who cannot attend school for medical reasons and who are entitled to free school meals, parents/ guardians should contact their school principal regarding food parcel entitlement.

From 22 March to 26 March online/ blended learning will return and a one week food payment will be made to families of pupils who are entitled to free school meal.

Primary 4 to Primary 7

For primary 4 to primary 7 pupils online/blended learning will continue from 8 March to 26 March and pupils entitled to a free school meal will continue to receive a payment.

Post Primary

Years 12-14 will return on 22 March for one week. Those pupils entitled to free school meals will continue to receive direct payment up to March 19. From 22 March to 26 March catering service will be available for years 12-14. Payment will continue for years 8-11 for pupils entitled to free school meals from 22 March to 26 March.

Special Schools and EOTAS

Special schools and EOTAS continue to remain open and pupils entitled to receive free school meal will receive a meal in school. For pupils of special schools and EOTAS who cannot attend school for medical reasons, parents/ guardians should contact the EA helpdesk, 02838 368186, to order their food parcels.

Vulnerable children and children of key workers

Any pupil attending school, including vulnerable children and children of key workers, may purchase a meal from the school meals service as normal or they can bring a packed lunch.

Payments

Any payments to be made for period 8 March to 26 March will be paid into nominated bank accounts on 18 March. If we do not have your nominated bank account a cheque will be posted on 16 March.

Our third Interschool Parent Wellbeing sessions run by Parenting NI for St. Colum's Primary School and Portstewart Primary School takes place next Tuesday, 9th March at 7pm via Zoom.

Our third online webinar is Children's Emotional Health.

The aims and objectives of the session are:

• To explore the importance of promoting children’s positive emotional health and wellbeing.
• To raise awareness on the effects on children with positive emotional health and wellbeing.
• To promote activities parents can use to enhance their children’s social and emotional learning.
• To equip parents with the skills to improve their children’s emotional health and wellbeing.

To register for this session click here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/139271235013

Please note that numbers are limited to 10 parents per school for each online session.

#MentalHealth #Wellbeing #SaveTheDate #resilience #resolvingconflict #emotionalhealth

Having a bit of a Spring Clean or a clear-out of old or unwanted textiles?  Our next Cash For Clobber collection is tomorrow, Wednesday, 10th March.

What can you put in the bag??

• All types of clothing (even with holes!)
• Bags and shoes (please tie shoes together with laces)
• Hats and belts
• Towels and curtains
• Bed linen (sheets, pillow cases, duvet covers)

** Remember all items must be clean.** 

Slightly different arrangements this year... bring your bags of unwanted textiles to school 8:30am - 9:15am on Wednesday and pass 'over the wall' to staff at the front of the school.  Remember to observe social distancing.

Please help us recycle and raise funds for our school.

Many thanks for your continued support.