February / March 2022

KEY DATES

Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 February                   Half Term Holiday

Thursday 17 March and Friday 18 March             St Patrick’s Day Closures

Friday 8 April                                                    Spring Term ends (12.30 & 1.00pm finish)

Monday 11 – Friday 22 April (inclusive)               Easter Holiday  

Post Primary Transfer Applications

Reminder – all Post Primary Applications must be submitted online before 4pm on Wednesday 23 February.  As I indicated during our telephone conversation, please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything you would like help with or clarification on.

Well done to all our Year 7 pupils who received their AQE results on Saturday 5 February.  The results were, as expected, excellent and shows how much hard work they (and their teachers) put in.  We are extremely proud of them all.

After School Activities

After School Activities continue after half term following a two week break for Parent Consultations and half term.

They will run on the following weeks:

• Week beginning – Monday 21 February
• Week beginning – Monday 28 February
• Week beginning – Monday 7 March

School Uniform

We will be returning to our normal school uniform arrangements from Monday 21 February 2022 given the reduction in Covid-19 cases within school and warmer temperatures.  Effectively this means all pupils wear their normal school uniform (shirt, tie, trousers/skirt/pinafore, jumper/cardigan) every day.

Year 1- 4 pupils may continue to wear their PE kit into school on PE days ONLY.  This marks a return to more normal arrangements

COVID-19 Arrangements

While we are waiting for updated guidance regarding Covid-19 restrictions we continue to request that self-isolation guidance of 5 days with negative Lateral flow test results on day 5 and 6 is followed.

It is essential that pupils displaying symptoms are tested and return a negative result before attending school.  This is to ensure the safety of all pupils, but also to help with staffing absences as teachers and classroom assistants will be absent from school for a minimum of 5 days if they test positive which causes disruption for everyone!

Schools NI App

We are beginning to send messages out on our Schools NI App.  This allows you to give permission for trips and receive information regarding school life via email or via the App.  It can be downloaded and an access code needs requested to be able to access the Private school messages we are sending out.  Currently School Holidays for next year (2022-23) have been sent via our School App.  If you wish to access these it is essential you use this App.  If you have any issues or need an access code, please contact the school office.

Bereavement Counselling

We have been able to organise Bereavement Counselling through a DE initiative.  This will be group based work and will be completed in a very child friendly way with pupils of a similar age.  I have already contacted a number of parents about this.  We may however not know about every families’ history and if your child has experienced loss of anyone special to them and you feel they would benefit from this, please contact me and I will help arrange it.

Election

I will do my best to refrain from talking about Politics given the current situation we find ourselves in!  However, please be advised that Gibson Primary School is a designated Polling Station, therefore we will be closed on the day of the next election which is scheduled for Thursday 5 May.

Mrs McMullin / Miss Ewing

Mrs McMullin returns from her maternity leave on Monday 14 February and will resume teaching Y4.  Miss Ewing, who has been covering this class since September will be remaining with us and will be taking some pupils in small groups to support their learning.