December Bulletin to Parents

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Key Stage 3 – end of year trip.

MAGHERA

Message from the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

We are at the end of the first term in the academic year 2019-2020. As always in the
College, it has been a very successful and busy term for our pupils. We have a very
successful Senior Debating Team who are through to the next round of the All-Ireland
Concern Debate. Our team has been unbeaten to date. Our athletics team have had some
outstanding performances with Michael Watters receiving recognition for his success from
the Magherafelt and District Council. We have two Ulster Schools’ Football titles, the Corn
na nÓg and the Rannafast and I can share with you that they were two of the most exciting
matches that I have ever attended.

I had the privilege of travelling with our pupils to Krakow in October. If you ever get the
chance to go there, take it! What an experience!! The pupils were also fantastic. The
number of other visitors that commented on how well behaved and mannerly our pupils
were was amazing.

Our pupils and parents continue to be very generous when supporting our charities. We
were able to get a massive amount of food aid to the local community support group the
Link, when we had our 'Bring a Tin' campaign. Again, when we had our annual St Vincent
de Paul Hamper Appeal, we were able to donate over 50 hampers to local parishes.
Fundraising is also ongoing for our School Aid Romania campaign. It is amazing how much
is raised for this year on year. Thank you as always for your generous donations.

On a personal note, my husband has been very seriously ill and is still in the Royal Victoria
Hospital, which unfortunately means that I have not been in school since the beginning of
December. I really appreciate the prayers and messages of support that we have received
from the College community and ask that you would continue to keep us in your prayers. In
my absence the two Vice Principals Mrs Young and Mr McGale will ensure that the College
continues to be the great school that it is.

I wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy new year.

Mrs B. Mussen
Principal

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College Christmas Draw Congratulations…

Thank you to all who purchased tickets for our Congratulations to staff member Mrs Jackie Harkin.
College Christmas Draw, your help is greatly Jackie graduated yesterday from the University of
appreciated. We have made a profit of £7,000, Ulster with a Foundation Degree in Counselling. Well
which will be spent on resources for pupils to done Mrs Harkin.
use. Congratulations to the lucky winners
(£200 each).

Week 1: Genna O'Kane (Eva O’Kane)
Week 2:
Week 3: Mary McAleese (Lucia Doherty)
Week 4: Anne Fleming (Finbar Fleming)

Marie Muncey (L.J Muncey

The winner of our £1000 jackpot drawn today is
Callum Murray. Older sister Aimee is pictured
receiving a voucher and the cheque from Mrs
Young. Congratulations!

Congratulations…

Congratulations to Year 11 pupil Kaitlyn
McNally who has been named SuperValu
Young SuperStar. Kaitlyn provides support as
a Young Carer to her best friend, our Mary,
who suffered a brain injury as a result of a
traffic accident in 2017 and requires constant
care. They are both very special young ladies.
“Many people will walk in and out of your life
but only true friends will leave footprints in
your heart.” —Eleanor Roosevelt.

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Charity

70 hampers of food, which were donated by pupils and staff of the College, were
presented to members of the local St Vincent de Paul Society. These hampers will be
distributed to needy families in need in our local community. The College would like to
thank all pupils and staff who made such generous donations.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the 'Bring a Tin' Campaign, which was
organised by Maghera Cross Community Link. We are overwhelmed by your continuing
generosity. Local families will be so grateful.

We also welcomed very special guests to our College recently when old friends attended
our Annual Tea Party. Staff had a Christmas jumper Day and raised £130 for St Vincent
de Paul.

.

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Pupil Successes
DOUBLE ULSTER CHAMPIONS

Corn na nÓg Champions 2019-20

Rannafast Champions 2019-20

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Senior Debate Team

Our senior debate team secured their fourth consecutive win in the Concern All-Ireland
debate league. Pupils represented the proposition and battled against St Columba's
College on the motion: 'Volunteering abroad does more harm than good'. We are feeling
very proud! Well done to our opponents: an all-rounded, exceptional debate which was
fought until the end! They have qualified for the next stage of the competition. We wish
them continued success.

Congratulations to everyone who entered our Christmas card Design Competition. The standard,
as always, was very high. After much deliberation the judges awarded the following:
1st: Kora McSwiggan 10Al Kora's design will be produced
as the College Christmas card for this year.
2nd: Aoife Doherty 11Cl
3rd: Eimer Skelly 10Al
Highly commended:
Erin McLaughlin 10Al
Oonagh Cassidy 9Ar
Sallyann Quinn 9Ge
Katie O Kane 9Ar
Oliwia Piatek 9Ar
Codie Kelly 8Cd
Grainne Glas 8Cd

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Leonard Cup Final

Our lads reached the final, but came up just short against a very strong St Louis,
Ballymena team. Thanks to the team and their managers Mr Niall Higgins and Mr Sean
Martin Lockhart for their hard work this year.

Commiserations to our U16 ladies football team, who were defeated in their Ulster Semi-final by
Coláiste Cholmcille from Ballyshannon. We are still very proud of you all.

Our Year 10 girls football team took part in the Community Sports Network blitz and performed
brilliantly.

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NEBSSA Cross Country and Athletics

Congratulations to Luke O Doherty who produced a magnificent run today to win the Year
8 boys' race by an impressive margin. Congratulations also to Lucy McKaigue who placed
5th in a very strong Year 8 girls' race and the Year 9 girls (Eabha McElhinney, Eimear
Scott, Eimear Murray, Lara Scott, Cara Mallon and Roisin O Kane) who won silver i n the
team competition.

Michael Watters, who was recently recognised by Mid Ulster Council for his gold success in the
U14 boys’ long jump at the Athletics Ireland all-Ireland championships.
Congratulations to Luke O'Doherty (Year 8), who won the North West Cross Country
Championships in Derry recently.
Thanks also to Athletics coach Miss Mary Devlin.

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Pool and Jiu-jitsu

Dion Lynch has just returned from Cyprus. The team made it into the semi-finals and were
unfortunately beaten 8-5 by Malta.
Congratulations to brothers Christopher, Year 13, and Tiarnan Doherty of Year 10 who have been
awarded their black belts in jujitsu. Well done.

Christmas Bake Off

Six Year 9 pupils qualified for the final of the Christmas Bake Off. The standard of the festive

6fayre on offer was very high. Mr Lavery (Head Judge) had to taste everything times before he

declared Kate Bryson the overall winner. Congratulations girls on a terrific competition.

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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

We hope that you will continue to engage with the SIMS Parent app. We believe that this is an
innovative way that you can support your son/daughter in managing their homework. It is also
useful if they are absent from school or for communications from the College.
To access letters etc. which have been uploaded, it may be necessary to download any free PDF
reader app onto your phone.

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 with 1300 pupils arriving to and leaving the College. 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.

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Uniform

Standards of uniform and hairstyles are good this term. This represents the high standards that
we wish to maintain in the College. However, there are a small number of boys who need to ask
Santa for black socks! Thank you for your support with this.
Please encourage your children to wear the College uniform with pride.

 All shoes should be leather – canvas shoes or trainer style shoes are not permitted.
 Boys must wear black socks – white socks are not allowed.
 Girls are only allowed to wear one pair of earrings in the lobe of the ears.
 Girls must not wear nail polish or gel nails.
 Hair styles and colours must be acceptable.

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Environmental Work

Pupils in Key Stage 3 were asked to design a poster to encourage pupils not to litter as part of the
Eco School campaign. A lot of great entries were received, and the winners were:
FIRST Sinead Quinn 9Cr
SECOND Natalia Skurzewska 8Au
THIRD Mary McKenna 9Cr
RUNNERS UP:
Caoimhe McTaggart 9Ge
Cara Mallon 9Cr
Saffron Ledgewood 10Sn
Oliwia Iglinska 10Sn
Pauric Flynn 9Co
Rachel Higgins 10Cs
Odhran O’Kane 9Ge

Our Eco Schools Committee have made a plastic promise to reduce packets, wrappers and
takeaway cups in our school by June 2020.

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Holidays during term time

Parents/Carers are reminded that they are not permitted to take children out of school during
school term.
Medical and doctor appointments, where feasible, should be made out of school hours. Please
remember that appointment cards must be presented to Mrs Convery in the General Office/Mrs
McKeever in the St Mary Building at least 24 hours beforehand.

Attendance/ Punctuality

All students are expected to have 100% attendance and punctuality to school. This establishes
good practice for the world of work.
If a student (Year 9-14) is unable to attend school a parent/guardian must call the College’s
Attendance Officer
Tel 79642451 Option 1 by 10.00am.
If a Year 8 pupil is unable to attend school a parent/guardian must call the St Mary Building, Tel
79642464 or Tel 796 42451 Option 6. If no call is made the pupil must bring a note to their Class
Tutor on their return to school. If no contact is made from home the Attendance Officer will make
contact with home.

Stationery List

Please ensure pupils come to school equipped for lessons. Due to budget constraints we are
unable to provide any stationery for pupils. The recommended stationery list is:

Use a proper schoolbag big enough to hold your books and equipment
Bring a book to read
Bring a plastic coloured A4 folder for each subject
Remember to bring your PE kit on days when you have PE
Bring a pencil case to school with all the things you need, including the following stationery:

Black and red pens
HB pencil(s)
30cm ruler
Protractor
Compass
Colouring pencils
Rubber and sharpener
Pritt stick
Dictionary/Thesaurus (Small Collins or Oxford)
Small notebook or jotter
Calculator (preferably Casio)
A stapler and a hole puncher (for use at home)

Don’t:
Bring scissors to school

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Important Dates for Your Diary

Monday 6th January STAFF DAY

Tuesday 7th January Parents’ Day Years 12 – 14

Wednesday 8th January Year 8 pupils’ health reviews commence

Tuesday 14th January Open evening St. Mary Building

Wednesday 15th January Open evening St. Mary Building

Friday 17th January Year11 pupils’ immunisation

Saturday 18th January Open Day St. Patrick’s Building

Monday 20th January STAFF DAY

Tuesday 21st January Year 13 Work Experience commences

Friday 24th January Parents Day Years 8, 9 and 11

Monday 27th January Catholic Schools Week commences

Friday 7th February Castle Cup Athletics for Primary Schools

Saturday 8th February School Aid Romania trip departs

Sunday 9th February Music trip to London departs

Sunday 16th February Ski trip departs

17th - 21st Feb Mid-Term

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