Latest news from our school

• Healthy Snack Week

  Wed 31 Jan 2024

  As part of our work with Eco Schools we want to try and promote healthy living in our school. To help promote this, we will be having a "Healthy Snack Week" where we are encouraging children to bring in a healthy snack for their break. This will take place from Monday 5th February to Friday 9th February. At the end of the week, the Eco Council will tally up the results to see which class were the healthiest. We can't wait to see everyone's healthy snacks!🍎🍏🍓

  

• Transition to Year 8 information

  Wed 31 Jan 2024

  31st January 2024

  Information for Parents for transition to Year 8.

   

  Thursday 11 January 2024	Admissions criteria for Post Primary Schools published on the EA website.
  Tuesday 30 January 2024 - at 12 noon	EA Connect opens for online applications for Post Primary.
  Thursday 22 February 2024 - at 12 noon	EA Connect closes for online applications for Post Primary.
  Monday 4 March 2024 - by 4pm	Final date for late paper applications.
  Saturday 18 May 2024	Parents/carers will receive application outcome via email (where one is held) or by letter.

• Autism NI Superhero Day

  Tue 30 Jan 2024
  

• Service of Light and Commitment

  Tue 23 Jan 2024

  24th January 2024.

  
  Dear Parents and Guardians,
  
   In preparation for your child’s Confirmation we intend to hold our Service of Light and Commitment on Wednesday January 31st 2024 at 930am in St Mary’s Church Greencastle.

  
  This is an important step in your child’s sacramental journey and we would appreciate your attendance.
  Best wishes.
  Gerard Barrett

  Principal.

• Service of Light and Commitment

  Tue 23 Jan 2024

  24th January 2024

  
  Dear Parents and Guardians,
  
   In preparation for your child’s Confirmation we intend to hold our Service of Light and Commitment on Wednesday January 31st 2024 at 930am in St Mary’s Church Greencastle.

  
  This is an important step in your child’s sacramental journey and we would appreciate your attendance.
  Best wishes.

  Gerard Barrett

  Principal.

• Grandparents Mass Cancelled

  Mon 22 Jan 2024

  Dear parents/ carers,

  There are increased numbers of Covid 19 in school at the moment therefore we have made the decision to cancel the Grandparents Mass on Wednesday 24th January.

  This will be rescheduled at a later date.

  Thank you for your understanding.

  Mr. Barrett

  

• Take care in Storm Isha

  Sun 21 Jan 2024

  https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/warnings/weather
  Please be careful on your way to school tomorrow as there is heavy wind and rain forecast.

• Take care in icy conditions- 19th January

  Thu 18 Jan 2024

  Please note that the school will be open as normal tomorrow, Friday 19th January.

   

  Drivers should be extra vigilant as road gritting will be limited due to industrial action.

  Allow extra time for travel, as conditions will remain icy.
   
  Take special care on all roads and footpaths on your way to school tomorrow.
   
  Thank you.

• Courses for parents

  Wed 17 Jan 2024
  

• School closed 18th January

  Mon 15 Jan 2024

  January 15th 2024
  Reminder.
  
   Dear Parents/ Guardians,
  A full day of strike action by teachers, school leaders and other public sector workers will
  commence on Thursday January 18th .
  I am writing to you about forthcoming strike action by the five teaching unions and other public sector workers in Northern Ireland. You may have seen coverage of this in the news, and I wanted to inform you about the impact this is likely to have at our school.
  Why?
  Education in Northern Ireland has been systematically defunded in recent years, resulting in decimating reductions in support, resource, and capacity.
  •The teaching profession has filled in the growing gaps, holding the fragmenting system together and protecting children from the impact of the cuts.
  • Pay paralysis, when set alongside the working conditions of the teaching profession in Northern Ireland, is having a devastating impact on the profession, with clear evidence that we will not be able to recruit or retain teachers and school leaders in the future if these issues are not resolved. Education is in crisis.
  • Other public sector workers in Northern Ireland have also received limited pay increases during this time.
  • Teachers across the UK and Ireland have received their normal pay increases, several times over the last three years. Teachers in Northern Ireland have received nothing.
  • All five teaching unions have been in dispute for over a year, during which time no offer has been made.
  • During this year of dispute, action has been gradually escalated, in the hope that an offer of resolution would be forthcoming.

   • Taking strike action is the last resort.
  This could have been avoided and, indeed, can still be avoided.
  • The responsibility to resolve this dispute lies squarely with the employing authorities and the Department of Education.
  When a strike takes place, those taking strike action stop work and withdraw their labour.
  How will strike action affect St Mary’s Star of the Sea Primary School?
  A detailed risk assessment has been conducted which considers the impact that the action will have on the health and safety of pupils, staff, and visitors, and whether the school can run a full or amended curriculum, to determine whether it is possible to operate the school safely during the strike.
  As the Principal, I [and the Board of Governors] have determined that the school will be:
  Closed to all pupils on January 18th 2024. After School Clubs will not run.
  There will be no breakfast club.
  We sincerely regret any inconvenience.
  Thank you for your continued support,