Latest news from our school

• Catholic Schools Week - Grandparents Day Mass 24th January 2024

  Mon 15 Jan 2024
  

• Do this in memory masses

  Fri 12 Jan 2024

  Dear Parents and Guardians,

  The next Do this in Memory Mass is on Saturday January 13* at 630pm.

  Any Parent-Guardian of a child preparing to receive the Sacrament of Penance or Sacrament of First Holy Communion are invited to attend the 'Do This in Memory Masses'.

  This is a parish-based invitation for you the parents to support your children's preparation for these sacraments in a meaningful way and in a way which demonstrates your commitment to the process.

  You have chosen these sacraments for your children and therefore it is fitting that you lead by example and are visible in your commitment to your child's sacramental journey.

  We have noticed a drop off in attendance and would encourage you to make a renewed effort.

  The Mass Times are as Follows:

   

  2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time St Mary's Greencastle 13th January 630pm

  St James', Whiteabbey 14th January 24 11am

   

  1st Sunday of Lent

  St Mary's Greencastle 17th February 24 630pm

  St James, Whiteabbey 18th February 24 11am

   

  Palm Sunday

  St Mary's Greencastle 23rd March 24 630pm

  St James, Whiteabbey 24th March 24 11am

   

  3rd Sunday of Easter 

  St Marys Greencastle 13th April 24 630pm

  St James, Whiteabbey 14th April 24 11am

   

  Corpus Christi

  St Mary's Greencastle 1 June 24 630pm

  St James, Whiteabbey 2nd June 24 11am

• After school football cancelled tomorrow 12th January

  Thu 11 Jan 2024

• Strike Action 18th January

  Wed 10 Jan 2024

  January 10th 2024

  
  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.
  We regret any inconvenience.
  Thank you for your continued support,
  Gerard Barrett
  Principal

• Applications for primary school place for September 2024.

  Mon 08 Jan 2024
  

• January Return Note

  Fri 05 Jan 2024

  8^th January 2024.

   

  Dear Parents and Guardians,

   

  I want to take this opportunity to wish you a peaceful and healthy new year. We are delighted to welcome our children back to school and look forward to a successful and productive 2024.

   

  Attendance has improved post covid in our school but this could improve even further.

  A day of school missed is a day of your child’s education which is lost.

   

  Please aim for 100% attendance as we move forward into 2024.

   

  School uniform is our badge of identity, we must wear it with pride, it sets us apart from other schools.

   

  Please ensure that your child wears full school uniform every day.

   

  No coloured trainers please, shoes should be black. Grey or Black tights for girls; no sports gear or football shirts should be worn to school.

   

  School Dinners will be free to ALL of our children in the month of January. This is thanks to a very generous donation from the Belfast Charitable Society.

   

  As always, we are very busy and I have included some dates to make you aware of important sacramental times.

   

  First Penance for Year 3: Tuesday March 5^th 2024 at 11am. Greencastle.

   

  Confirmation for Year 7: Wednesday March 13^th 2024 at 11am. Greencastle.

   

  Communion for Year 4: Friday May 31^st 2024 at 11am. Greencastle.

   

  Gerard Barrett

   

  Principal.

   

• Free School Meals for all children for month of January

  Fri 05 Jan 2024

  8^th January 2024.

   

  Dear Parents and Guardians,

   

  We have received a very generous donation from the Belfast Charitable Society.

   

  As a result of this all-school dinners will be free for all children in St Mary’s Star of the Sea Primary School for the month of January.

   

  I should like to put my gratitude for this very generous donation on the record and thank the BCS for their donation and wish them continued success for the valuable philanthropic work they do.

   

  Best wishes.

   

  Gerard Barrett

   

  Principal.