October Bulletin to Parents

ST. PATRICK’S SPC Review
COLLEGE
MAGHERA October 2019

Message from the Principal

Dear Parent/Guardian,
We have half a term completed already. We started this term by celebrating the
achievements of our examination pupils. Last year we celebrated our best A Level
results ever, but this year they were even better! Our GCSE and AS results also
improved and we had some outstanding individual results, which we recognised at our
Annual Prize Giving ceremony. Mr Derek Baker, Permanent Secretary to the
Department of Education was our special guest. He was very impressed by life in the
College recognising the wealth of talent, ability and caring amongst our pupils. We
prepare our pupils for the future, whether it be in the world of work, or for further and
higher education. This year 12 of our past pupils achieved First Class Honours degrees
that we know of. Two of our pupils have gone to Cambridge University to further their
studies. Congratulations to these young people.

Some of the many prizes that our fantastic pupils received at prize-giving.
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Cont’d

I am delighted to say that the new pupils that have joined the College family, both in
Year 8 and Year 13, are well settled into College life. I wish them well in their College
journey.
On a different note - Last term we said goodbye to some of our colleagues:
Amongst our retirees were:

Mrs Anne Quinn the Head of our Learning Support Centre.
Mr Brendan Coyle who was the Head of Science.
Mr John Hendry who was Head of the History Department.
Mrs Patricia Mallon who was Head of Department for Psychology and
Sociology.
Mrs Mary McNicholl who was a member of both the Learning Support and
Home Economics Departments.
Mrs Bernie McKeefry Home Economics technician and Mrs Annie Burke long
serving secretary.

Mrs Jaymie Crawford who was a member of the Maths Department has moved to a
school closer to her home and has taken on a new role as Head of Department.

Everyone will be sorely missed by both students and staff alike.
We wish all of our departed staff well for the future.

We have welcomed some new members to our St Patrick’s family:

Miss Niamh Doyle to the Home Economics Department.
Miss Emma Devlin to the Maths Department.
Miss Ciara Teague and Dr Jenna Shiels to the Biology Department for 1 year.
Mr Karl O’Hagan to the Business Studies Department for 1 year.

We are delighted to have them on board and wish them well in their St Patrick’s journey.

We plan to launch a new house system around St Patrick’s Day 2020. We have
consulted with staff and pupils and now we want to consult with you. Please refer to the
relevant section in this bulletin.

Thank you for the continuing support that you provide to me and the staff of the College.

Best wishes,
Mrs B Mussen

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Key Guidance for Pupils:

Core Values

Last year we formulated some new guidance for pupils. This is summarised as Ready, Respectful
and Safe. The artwork was designed by our pupils.

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Uniform

I appreciate that parents/carers have spent a lot of money on new uniform items and students are
expected to wear their uniform with pride and to be smartly dressed every day.

Reminder regarding the expectations of the College:

Plain low heeled, black dress shoes are the recognised footwear and parents are asked to
ensure that this type of footwear is provided. The following must not be worn: platforms;
wedges; high heels; stilettos; sling backs; coloured shoes; shoes with steel heels/toes,
metal strips or ornamentation; trainers or shoes that resemble trainers, Converse and Vans
are not permitted.
Combat trousers, black denim jeans or corduroy trousers, are not
acceptable.
Boys socks must be black. White or brightly coloured socks must
not be worn with the school uniform. Socks must be an appropriate
length.
Girls must wear black tights.
School scarves, if desired, are available from Official Supplier.
Hairstyles must be acceptable to the College Authorities. Extreme
hair colouring is not acceptable nor are styles which reflect street culture, such as shaven.
NB Stripes or patterns cut into hair are strictly forbidden. Hair must not be cut below a
number 2.
Boys are not permitted to have styles which are long and unkempt.

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Girls may only wear a watch and one pair of small plain earrings, (to be worn on the lobe of
the ear). No other piercings are permitted. Other jewellery must not be worn.
Make-up, fake tan, nail polish, gel or acrylic nails, false eye lashes or eyelash extensions
must not be worn. HD eyebrows are not acceptable.
Boys may not wear earrings or any other item of jewellery, excluding watches. No other
piercings are permitted.
Boys should be clean-shaven.
To avoid embarrassment / unpleasantness please ensure that the College uniform as
outlined above is worn at all times throughout the school year.
To promote a high standard of uniform, clip on ties MUST be worn by all pupils.
To promote modesty and a high standard of uniform, all female pupils will be expected to
wear the College skirt (available from the official supplier). All skirts must be knee length.

ALL UNIFORM ITEMS MUST BE CLEARLY LABELLED WITH THE PUPIL’S NAME.

School Fund

Now more than ever it is extremely important that all School Funds are paid. As a College we are
facing extremely challenging times with regards to budget. Like most other schools in Northern
Ireland we are now in a deficit. Every penny counts, and all donations are gratefully accepted.
Thank you to those parents who have made very generous donations to the College. These are
really appreciated.
Thank you to those who have paid their School Fund. Payment is extremely important as it helps
the College with the cost of resources (including replacing out-dated computers), transport, pupil
rewards, building maintenance, extra-curricular activities and educational visits. If we are to
maintain the quality of this provision, we ask that all outstanding School Fund payments are made
during the week beginning 4th November. It is possible to pay instalments. Please contact the
College Bursar to arrange this.
Amount payable:

1 pupil (Year 8 −12) £30
2 pupils (Year 8 −12) £25 each (Total £50)
3 or more pupils (Year 8 −12) £20 each (Total £60)
Sixth Form pupils £60 each
All Sixth Form students should have paid their School Fund

THANK YOU
This turned up in a blazer pocket YESTERDAY.
The cheque inside was dated 16th September!

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College Christmas Draw

We will be running our Christmas Draw again this year. This provides much needed funds for the
College. This year we plan to use the proceeds to purchase ICT, Literacy and Numeracy
resources. We ask that every pupil sells a minimum of 4 tickets each. Tickets will cost £5, which
enters you for all 5 draws, including the Super Draw. Draw dates are:

Friday 22nd November - £200
Friday 29th November - £200
Friday 6th December - £200
Friday 13th December - £200
Wednesday 18th December - £1000

Tickets will be issued after Halloween and we hope everyone will support this venture

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Communication from Parents

We welcome open communications with our staff. You can contact us by email on the College
Info Account

[email protected]
OR by phone during office hours (8.30am to 4.00pm) when you can ask to speak to your child’s
Head of Year.

SIMs Parent App and SIMs Student App

All parents will have received their invite to download our new parent app. Track 1 data for
all year groups has been uploaded – This is the only platform on which parents can access
Assessment Data for their child. Please ensure you have downloaded the accept and
follow the link on the invite you receive.

All pupils have been logged onto the SIMs Student App before the Halloween break with
instructions available on ShowMyHomework.

From the week beginning the 11th November, ShowMyHomework will be turned off and all
data will be shared across the SIMs platform making communication simpler by giving
parents and students access to everything they need in one single place, across any
device.

SIMs Parent App SIMS Student App
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College House System

The main aims of a College House System are to:
provide each pupil with a sense of belonging within the College community.
be FUN and EXCITING through competition.
be a POSITIVE experience.
be fundamental to pastoral care and melted into the fabric of the College.

You have a chance to vote for the names of the 4 houses.

Shamrock – OPTION 1

House of Faith, House of Love, House of Hope, House of Charity

Local Rivers – OPTION 2

Bann House, Moyola House, Roe House, Agivey House

Qualities of a St Patrick’s student – OPTION 3

House of Loyalty, House of Honour, House of Truth, House of Wisdom

Alternatively, you can make a suggestion of your own.
Please email your choice to [email protected]

Text help

All pupils in the College can access free software provided by the Education
Authority. This is designed to support research, revision, modern language
learning and to provide support to pupils’ literacy development. A help sheet
will be available on SIMS Parent App after Halloween and we would encourage
as many pupils as possible to download it on to a home computer to support
with a wide range of work from KS3 to A-level research.

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Sport

Congratulations to the Athletics group, who won 8 Gold, 13 Silver and 18 Bronze medals at the
Co. Derry Sportshall Athletics Championships in Magherafelt.

County selections will be made in the forthcoming week, with the Ulster Finals taking place in
December.

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Our MacNamee hurlers lost their semi-final to a very strong Cross and Passion College,
Ballycastle side, but battled bravely to the end. Thanks to the boys and their mentor, Mr Niall
Higgins. Congratulations to Mr Higgins on his double success with O’Donovan Rossa GAC,
Magherafelt (County Senior and Reserve Champions)

Our Junior 7-a-side Camogie team performed brilliantly in their Ulster Blitz. They were narrowly
beaten in the A final

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There are many teams in active competition. In football, our MacRory Cup,
Rannafast Cup, Corn na nOg and Ladies U16 and U20 competitions have
all started. Our Mageean Cup hurlers and Senior camogs have begun their
campaigns also.
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Pupil Successes

Our senior debate team secured their second consecutive win in the 'Concern: All Ireland Debate
League'. Pupils compete in a league against 163 schools in an All-Ireland debate competition. Our
English and Geography department work closely with pupils to ensure they are ready for battle
Pupils faced Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana for a fantastic hour of debate. Our pupils represented the
opposition against the motion: 'Nuclear power is essential for a clean energy future'. Pupils
responded skilfully with an array of knowledgeable rebuttals and refutations. We are feeling VERY
proud.

Caitlin Dunne has just returned from the WKU World Championships in Bregenz Austria. She
fought her way to 3 finals in light contact, team event and kumite and claimed 3 silvers and a
bronze. Alex Moore, Year 10, also continues to bring home medals from every championship she
attends.
Year 13 History A-Level students recently attended a studio recording of BBC's 'The Top Table',
hosted by Stephen Nolan. The live (and sometimes lively) debate was a Brexit Special and
discussed issues relevant to young people.

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We appointed our Key Stage 3 Junior leadership team:

Head Girl: Head Boy:
Anna Deehan Eoin O’Donnell
Deputy Head Girls: Deputy Head Boys:
Mary-Kate McNeill, Shannon Hackett Finbar Mc Ivor, Dominic McMullan

Prefects: Prefects:
Kate Marron, Louise Hasson Dara McPeake, Pádraig Quigg

A group of 44 students and 4 members of staff travelled to Poland to participate in the first History
Trip. The first stop was food in the City Centre followed by a guided tour of the historic city
including the Jewish quarter and the famous square. Monday started with an opportunity to do
some shopping in the Krakow Shopping Centre. After lunch the group met for the bus trip to
Auschwitz and Birkenau. Words cannot describe what the children saw and the stories told by the
excellent tour-guide. A memorable tour for everyone. As darkness set in the group departed for
the hotel.

An early rise on Tuesday morning with bags packed and passports sorted saw the group visit the
world famous Schlinder’s Factory in Krakow. So much information and visual evidence for all
concerned.

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There certainly was a buzz in the air when the College launched its annual Scholastic Book Fair
with pupils from Years 8, 9 and 10 during National Book Week 2019.
'A book is a dream that you hold in your hand'

Comhghairdeas lenár ndaltaí a fuair dara háit ag an Tráth na gCeist (Gael Linn) san Óstán
Glenavon ar An Chorr Chríochach Dé Céadaoin. Congratulations to our pupils who got 2nd place
at the Gael Linn Quiz in the Glenavon Hotel in Cookstown

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Year 12 Revision Classes

Maths Physics Maths T&D Geog
Friday Tuesday Monday Monday Monday
Room 12 Room 39 Room 82 Room 26 Room 14
12P/M6 Combination 4 pupils Combination 12S/P
combination
Mr C Lavery Mrs S Bell Miss M Devlin Miss K Mrs M
Period 4E After School McGuckin
Cunningham Period 4E

After School 12:05 – 12:35

Primary Schools Science

The Science Department continue to deliver a programme to local primary schools. Today we
welcomed the ghosts, ghouls, zombies and clowns from St. John’s PS, Swatragh. Didn’t they look
amazing.

Health and Safety

We ask your support in not driving into the school grounds in the mornings and evenings. These
are very busy times in the College for buses. We ask if you are dropping your son/daughter off or
collecting them that you please arrange to do so outside the school grounds. Unfortunately, we do
not have space on site for parents’ cars.

Pupils must not dismount from the school buses in Maghera, or anywhere other than in the school
grounds. Once off the bus pupils must remain on site. In the afternoon, pupils must mount the
buses in the school grounds. Drivers have been directed by Translink not to pick up pupils
anywhere else.

Reminder – pupils are not allowed to bring scissors to school.

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Hair styles Page | 14

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Important Dates for Your Diary

4th November LINK Centre ‘bring a tin’ collection commences.

4th, 5th, 6th, 11th and 12th November GCSE Food and Nutrition practical assessments.

11th November SVP collection starts

5th - 12th December Whole school exams

17th December Year 9 Bake Off

17th December (7.30pm) Christmas Carol Service - A College Gift to the
Community in St Mary’s Chapel

18th December Christmas Jumper Day (fundraiser for SVdP).

Christmas Dinner day.

19th December Track 2 Data for Years 12, 13 and 14

7th January Parents day Years 12, 13 and 14

9th January Track 2 Data for Years 8, 9, 10 and 11

20th - 24th January Year 13 Work Experience

24th January Parents Day Years 8, 9 and 11

Contingency Day Years 11 -14

Examination candidates should be aware that the exam boards have designated Wednesday 24
June 2020 as the Contingency Day. This day may be used in the event that examinations are
cancelled on a day during the main exam session by the examination boards at national level. All
candidates should be available on this day.

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