Broadbridge Primary School                        Thursday 30^th September 2021                                                   Note 4

Diary:  16^th-24^th October Mathematics Week at School

School Provision	Club	Cost
Mon 4th Oct – Fri 8th Oct	Morning Club – 8:00-8:45	(£1 PER CHILD)
	2-3 PM Club – 2:00-3:00	(£2 PER CHILD)
	Afterschool Club – 3:00-5:00	(£5 PER CHILD)

Please note:  All clubs must be booked in advance on the ParentPay App.  The closing time for the 3:00-5:00 club is STRICTLY 5.00 P.M.  Children must be collected before this time.  If you feel that this cannot be managed or it will be at a rush, we would advise that you make alternative arrangements for after school care.

 

The Afterschool Club 3:00–5:00 will no longer run after Friday 8^th October 2021.

 

Extra-Curricular Activities

Day	Activity	Time & Venue	Note
Monday 4th	Cross-Country P5, 6, 7	3:00-4:15      At School	Be prepared for wet weather.  Cross-Country, Gaelic & Soccer players bring boots/shin pads and trainers.     Please pick up sharply after all activities.
Wednesday 6th	Skill School P1 & P2	2:00-3:00       At School
	Skill School P3 & P4	3:00-4:15       At School
Thursday 7th	Netball P6, 7	3:00-4:15       At School
	Gaelic P5, 6, 7
Friday 8th	Soccer P5, 6, 7	3:00-4:15       At School

Children doing Extra-Curricular activities outside must have a change of footwear in case the venue changes due to weather conditions.

All activities MUST be pre-booked on the ParentPay App with the exception of Skill School.

 

COVID in School – If your child displays symptoms of COVID, the guidance remains the same, keep them at home and book a PCR test.

 

Reporting Sickness – If your child is absent from school due to any illness please contact the school office before the start of the school day.  The school office is open from 8:45 a.m. onwards.  If you wish to contact us before this time please send an email to info@broadbridgeprimaryschool.com stating your child’s name, class teacher and reason for absence.  If the absence is COVID related it must be stated in the email for attendance purposes.  If a child is absent for PCR testing, we would ask that an email of the test result is forwarded to the school at your earliest convenience.  Thank you.

 

Bike/Scoot/Walk to School Week – Congratulations to all the children who participated in walk, cycle , scoot to school week.  We noticed a large decrease in traffic outside the school gates.  No doubt the activity leads to a healthier lifestyle for our pupils and contributes to a much greener environment.  The class winners will be announced next week!

 

Peanuts in school – We have a number of pupils who have severe peanut allergies.  Please do not send peanuts to school in your child’s lunchbox or products that contain traces of peanuts.  Thank you.

 

NESSY – Pupils that have been signed up to the NESSY Programme must come in early on the mornings that they are scheduled for the computer suite.  The NESSY Programme is a two-way partnership between the school and home.  To maximise success children must spend time engaging in the activities at home.  If any children are experiencing difficulties at home logging in, please contact the class teacher.

 

Change of footwear – If possible please send in a pair of trainers that may be changed into for playing outside or PE purposes.

Parent/Teacher Meeting P2-P6 – Parent/Teacher meetings will take place from Monday 25^th – Wednesday 27^th October.  This year the meeting will take place by phone.  Your child’s teacher will give you a time that the call will be made on the Monday/Tuesday.  If that does not suit they will call you at a later time on the Wednesday evening.  A face to face meeting will only be available to parents that are required to sign educational documents.

Changing for afterschool activities – Children must come to school in a school uniform each day.  A change of clothing may be sent in for PE and after school activities.  Younger pupils may wish to wear shorts under their school trousers/skirt.  They do not need to change out of their red polo t-shirt.

 

Google Classroom – Please make sure you are able to access the Google Classroom assigned to your child. If at any stage your child’s class is asked to self-isolate school work will be sent using this platform. Teachers will use this as their main platform in communicating with parents. A separate note has been sent home with every child today with passwords and usernames for the various Apps they use in school, the Google Classroom code is on this note.

 

The Life Project! – Pupils have been tasked with collecting acorns over the weekend as part of The Life Project run by Derry City & Strabane Council. Pupils will collect the acorns, which will be planted out in beds. When they grow into small saplings they will be gifted to citizens who register a Birth, Death, Marriage or Civil Partnership in the Registrar’s Office

Broadbridge Primary School                        Thursday 23^rd September 2021                                                   Note 3

Diary: Monday 27^th September – Sustrans “Bike/Scoot/Walk to school week”

School Provision	Club	Cost
Mon 27th Sept – Fri 1st Oct	Morning Club – 8:00-8:45	(£1 PER CHILD)
	2-3PM Club – 2:00-3:00	(£2 PER CHILD)
	Afterschool Club – 3:00-5:00	(£5 PER CHILD)

Please note:  All clubs must be booked in advance on the ParentPay App.  The closing time for the 3:00-5:00 club is STRICTLY 5.00 P.M. Children must be collected before this time.  If you feel that this cannot be managed or it will be at a rush, we would advise that you make alternative arrangements for after school care.

 

Extra-Curricular Activities

Day	Activity	Time & Venue	Note
Monday 27th	Cross-Country P5, 6, 7	3:00-4:15       At School	Be prepared for wet weather. Cross-Country, Gaelic & Soccer players bring boots/shin pads and trainers.
Wednesday 29th	Skill School P1 & P2	2:00-3:00       At School	Please pick up sharply after all activities.
	Skill School P3 & P4	3:00-4:15       At School
Thursday 30th	Netball P6, 7	3:00-4:15       At School
	Gaelic P5, 6, 7
Friday 1st	Soccer P5, 6, 7	3:00-4:15       At School

Children doing Extra-Curricular Activities outside must have a change of footwear in case the venue changes due to weather conditions.

All activities must be pre-booked on the ParentPay App with the exception of Skill School.

 

COVID in School –  The guidance has changed on the role the school plays in relation to contact tracing if there is a positive case in your child’s class.  The PHA will contact you, they decide who the close contacts are, not the school.  The school now inform parents of a positive case in the class and send out an “Alert letter” as instructed by the PHA.  You do not have to keep your child off school.  Further guidance is available on the following link, https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/covid-19-coronavirus/information-schools-colleges-universities-and-parents/contact-tracing.  If your child displays symptoms of COVID, the guidance remains the same keep them at home and book a test.

 

Parents in School – Parents are asked not to enter the school grounds only if it is absolutely necessary to do so.  At present only parents of Primary 1 and Primary 2 are permitted on the school grounds.  Due to the increase in positive cases in school there will be no face to face meetings with the class teachers.  If you wish to talk to the class teacher request a call in your child’s homework diary or contact the school office, the teacher will get back to you at their earliest convenience.  Parents are asked not to exit their cars at the drop off zone, staff are there to offer assistance if your child requires it.

 

Bike/Scoot/Walk to School Week – This takes place Monday 27^th September – 1^st October.  We would encourage children to bike/scoot/walk to school next week.  This is a great opportunity to get fit and healthy whilst having a positive impact on the children’s health and well-being as well as on the environment.  Please wear a helmet if you are cycling or scooting.  Hi-Vis vests are highly recommended at all times travelling to and from school!

 

Hi Vis Vests – Thanks to Owen and Jacqueline Curry for donating 150 Hi-Vis vests to the school.  These will be distributed to our road users over the coming week as an added safety measure on their travels to and from school.

 

Change of footwear – If possible please send in a pair of trainers that may be changed into for playing outside or PE purposes.

 

Reporting Sickness – If your child is off school due to any illness please contact the school office before the start of the school day.  The school office is open from 8:45 a.m. onwards.  If you wish to contact us before this time please send an email to info@broadbridgeprimaryschool.com stating your child’s name, class teacher and reason for absence.  If the absence is COVID related it must be stated in the email for attendance purposes.  If a child is absent for PCR testing, we would ask that an email of the test result is forwarded to the school at your earliest convenience.  Thank you.

 

Primary 7 Gortatole – Gortatole for Primary 7 pupils has been provisionally booked.  Children will attend from Tuesday 21^st June – Friday 24^th June.  Payments for Gortatole can be made in instalments on Parentpay.  If you pay towards the trip and your child does not go your money will be returned to you.

 

Primary 7 Transfer – The closing date for applying for both Transfer tests is tomorrow Friday 24^th September 2021.  Times vary on closing, GL (2:00 p.m.) and AQE (5:00 p.m.), please check the AQE and PPTC website for further information.

 

Eglinton Scarecrow Competition

Congratulations to Primary 6 children who picked up “Winner of Best Community Group Scarecrow” at the Eglinton Annual Show.  Pictured below is Mrs Gillespie receiving the school prize from Mrs Hester Craig, Eglinton Annual Show Committee.

Broadbridge Primary School                        Thursday 16^th September 2021                                                   Note 2

Diary: Monday 27^th September – Sustrans “walk to school week” more information in next week’s note.

School Provision	Club	Cost
Mon 20th Sept – Fri 24th Sept	Morning Club – 8:00-8:45	(£1 PER CHILD)
	2-3PM Club – 2:00-3:00	(£2 PER CHILD)
	Afterschool Club – 3:00-5:00	(£5 PER CHILD)

Please note:  All clubs must be booked in advance on the ParentPay App.  The closing time for the 3:00-5:00 club is STRICTLY 5.00 P.M. Children must be collected before this time.  If you feel that this cannot be managed or it will be at a rush, we would advise that you make alternative arrangements for after school care.

 

Extra-Curricular Activities

Day	Activity	Time & Venue	Note
Monday 20th	Cross-Country P5, 6, 7	3:00-4:15      At School	Be prepared for wet weather. Cross-Country, Gaelic.& Soccer players bring boots/shin pads and trainers.
Wednesday 22nd	Skill School P1 & P2	2:00-3:00       At School	Please pick up sharply after all activities.
	Skill School P3 & P4	3:00-4:15       At School
Thursday 23th	Netball P6, 7	3:00-4:15       At School
	Gaelic P5, 6, 7
Friday 24th	Soccer P5, 6, 7	3:00-4:15       At School

Children doing Extra-Curricular Activities outside must have a change of footwear in case the venue changes due to weather conditions.  

All activities must be pre-booked on the ParentPay App with the exception of Skill School.

 

Covid in School  – The guidance has changed on the role the school plays in relation to contact tracing if there is a positive case in your child’s class. The PHA will contact you, they decide who is the close contacts not the school. The school now inform parents of a positive case in the class and send out an “Alert letter” as instructed by the PHA.

You do not have to keep your child off school. Further guidance is available on the following link. https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/covid-19-coronavirus/information-schools-colleges-universities-and-parents/contact-tracing  If your child displays symptoms of COVID, the guidance remains the same keep them at home and book a test.

 

Reporting Sickness – If your child is off school due to any illness please contact the school office before the start of the school day. The school office is open from 8:45 a.m. onwards. If you wish to contact us before this time please send an email to info@broadbridgeprimaryschool.com stating your child’s name, class teacher and reason for absence. If the absence is COVID related it must be stated in the email for attendance purposes. Any child that is absence for PCR testing, we would ask that an email of the test result is forwarded at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

 

School Uniform –  Children should arrive at school dressed in a full school uniform each morning. Children can change for PE or after school activities in the changing rooms. The younger year groups P1 & P2 do not need to change for Skill School.

 

Change of Shoes – Please send in a change of footwear for children to change into at break time and lunch time preferably an old pair that they can leave at school. Pupils should be wearing black shoes at all other times. Trainers are needed for PE times.

 

Fruit snack – All children should be sent to school with a fruit snack for their early morning break. As we are a healthy eating school, fruit is the only option at this time.

 

Children going home – Please ensure that your child/ren are aware of how they are getting home in the afternoon! The school office is constantly making/receiving phone calls during the school day to/ from parents. This causes a lot of disruption to the children in class.

Girls’ Football – Eglinton Eagles Girls Football Club is currently recruiting new members for the upcoming season. They’re looking for girls in P4-P7 classes who have played football before or would like to give it a go. Training takes place every Tuesday evening @ Campsie Indoor Football from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. For further details please contact: Lesley on 07716968003 or Mary on 07514730457. Check out our Facebook page: Eglinton Eagles Girls Football Club We’d love to see you there!

School Photographer – The school photographer will be here on Monday 20^th September for individual P1 pupils and P1 Class photographs only. All other year groups will be at a later date.

 

Planned Giving –  Thanks to the families that have signed up for planned giving this year and to those that continue to do so. The planned giving money is a great source of income to provide valuable resources and extra classroom assistants within our school to the benefit of all pupils. If you have not signed up, we would appreciate if you would do so. Thank you.

 

Primary 7 Testing – Primary 7 pupils have been given a separate note regarding registration for the Transfer tests and mock examination dates.

 

A message from Miss Doherty

 

I wish to convey my sincere thanks to all those who marked my retirement with good wishes via spoken words, written words, sent gifts and who gave monetary gifts to charities on my behalf.

In August I requested Father Patsy Mullan (who has since passed) to offer Masses for the following groups associated with Broadbridge Primary School since its inception.

 

1. Present and past pupils.
2. Present and past parents.
3. Present and past staff.
4. Present and past priests.
5. Deceased pupils, staff, parents and priests.

 

Our late father Mullan duly carried out my request informing me in a phone call. I would also like to express thanks to Father Mc Dermott for celebrating a Thanksgiving Mass for my career in the Master’s Hall on Friday 27^th August 2021.

It was a deep regret of mine that our pupils could not participate in this joyful occasion because of COVID. To mark my retirement a donation will be made by me for the education of children in Syria on behalf of our school.

Thank you all once again, God bless and please take care.

 

Miss D Doherty

It was with great sadness that we learned of the sudden passing of Fr Patsy Mullan on Thursday past. Not only was Fr Mullan a friend of our school and its pupils, he was a regular visitor who was never found wanting when it came to addressing the spiritual and sacramental needs of our pupils and staff. Mr McCloskey will particulary miss receiving his ashes from Fr Patsy at the beginning of Lent.

Fr Mullan also played his part in the management of our school, serving as Chairman of our Board of Governors until his retiremant as Parish Priest in 2016.

He will be sadly missed by our whole school community and the parish of Faughanvale and Lower Cumber.

Below is an extract from Fr McDermot’s Homily at Fr Mullan’s Requiem Mass.

Had he lived till next June, Father Mullan would have been here in Faughanvale and Lower Cumber for twenty-five years. He was appointed parish priest in June 1997, just one month after the untimely death of Father Jack Gallagher.

Maybe it is something that we take for granted but which I think is remarkable nonetheless is the fact that in his fifty-five years of priesthood, Father Mullan’s service was unbroken. He never took a sabbatical, he never took extended leave to do a course, he never took time off    except one day each week and the holidays that he was allowed to take – that is, to be absent from his parish for three Sundays each year.

When he retired from active ministry in 2018 we were delighted as a parish community that he decided to remain among us. In the gospel reading of this Mass (John 6:50-58) Jesus describes himself a s the Bread of Life. In a very real and radical way, Father Mullan dedicated his life to making Jesus, the Bread of Life, present and real in the lives of all to whom he ministered. In the Catholic tradition we speak of the Real   Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

The primary purpose of a priest’s life is to make Jesus present among the people whom he serves.

Father Mullan made Jesus present each and every day when he offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Each and every day! He made Christ    present in his unfailing, tireless and compassionate care for the sick, the troubled, the sad, the lost and the forgotten.

Even after his retirement he continued to minister to the sick in a very special way, but to all who continued to come to his door seeking prayer and blessing, encouragement and hope, a listening ear and a sympathetic heart. He was available to all regardless of who or what they were or their religious affiliation. He reached out the hand of friendship to everyone.

We thank God for his ministry and his witness to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.

Our prayer today is that Father Mullan has been reunited with his beloved parents Dan and Mamie in the blessed land of heaven where for all eternity they will rejoice in the presence of the Lamb of God, the One to whose gospel and glory Father Mullan dedicated his life. May his   gentle and faithful soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

(From the sermon at Father Mulan’s Requiem Mass).

May he Rest In Peace. Amen.