Dear Parents,

As you may be aware, we have received some communication from the Education Minister, Peter Weir, that schools will not be opening as expected this week.

I understand that this follows the Minister receiving updated advice on the current public health situation, the deteriorating nature of the pandemic and the risks to public health.

In line with the advice received:

• Wednesday 6^th January will be used by staff for planning and preparation of remote learning via Seesaw for all pupils

• Children will be taught online from Thursday 7^th January 2021; their attendance percentage will not be affected. Please ensure that your child logs on to Seesaw on Thursday morning, if you have technical difficulties please contact me by email or telephone.

• The Minister anticipates that face -to-face teaching will resume on Monday 11^th January for all primary school pupils.

Schools have been instructed to accommodate vulnerable children and the children of key workers for supervised learning from the original start date of Term 2. Pupils who avail of this will be engaged in the same activities and tasks as those at home, there will no face-to-face teaching. This is to facilitate teachers providing remote learning for those at home.

As the health and safety of our school community remains our priority, we ask that you explore any other options you have and only use school as a last resort.

If your child meets the criteria and you wish to avail of the supervised learning, please email me before 12 noon on Wednesday 6^th January 2021

(kowens615@c2kni.net) so that arrangements may be put in place.

While this is not the New Year message I had hoped to be writing, I hope it clarifies what we have been instructed to do as a school.

On behalf of the whole school community, I pass on our best wishes for a happy, healthy, brighter 2021,

Mrs K Owens

Acting Principal

We were so delighted that one of our P6 pupils was chosen to represent Northern Ireland in the BBC Children in Need Choir this year. She worked extremely hard over the Hallowe’en Mid-term and really enjoyed the experience of studio recording. We are very proud of her and the BBC crew were very impressed with how well she conducted herself throughout the whole project.