Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Jolly Phonics
Mon 11 May 2020COVID-19 Update: Jolly Phonics for the Whiteboard free access
Access Jolly Phonics for the Whiteboard for free for a limited time
To support teachers and parents during these difficult times, we are offering our Jolly Phonics for the Whiteboard software for free until 31st July 2020.
The software can be accessed online without the need for a download. It will enable teachers to deliver lessons remotely to their children, ensuring they continue to build their phonics knowledge. It contains structured daily lessons, complete with teacher’s notes and guidance for each lesson. There is also an audio option for hearing the letter sounds, Jolly Songs, Jolly Jingles and story option. We hope this will help with all children learning remotely.
To request access to this software, simply fill in the form by clicking the link below. One of the team will then be in contact with you.
https://www.jollylearning.co.uk/covid-19-update-jolly-phonics-for-the-whiteboard-free-access/
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Virtual Sport’s Day
Sat 09 May 2020Virtual Sport’s Day
Healthy Kidz have set up a Virtual Sport's Day for all children to participate in. Sign up and you can compete against your friends from school. Follow the PowerPoint for instructions and remember to take videos or photos to share with us.
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Goodbye & Thank You from Mr Austin
Sat 02 May 2020Dear Parent/Guardian,
As many of you are aware, I am due to take up my new role as Principal of St. Comcille's PS, Downpatrick, next Tuesday 05 May. Before leaving for this new step in my career, I wanted to write to say goodbye and thank you sincerely for the care, kindness and support that I have received during my four wonderful years at Sacred Heart Primary School.
It has been a real privilege and an honour to work with your children, and I will cherish many happy memories of my time in Sacred Heart PS. They are very talented and hardworking young people who have always displayed high standards of behaviour and manners. These children are a credit to you and the local community, and I'm sure you are very proud of them. Sacred Heart PS is lucky to have such a dedicated, committed staff who work tirelessly for the children in their care. As parents, you have been exceptionally generous with your time and support, which has benefitted the school in so many ways. PoSH have been invaluable and given freely of their time, efforts and creativity to continuously fundraise to ensure children have access to the best possible facilities. The Board of Governors is unwavering in its commitment to ensuring that the school is always improving. They have given me immense support and encouragement, which I am truly grateful for.
The last four years have brought improvements to Sacred Heart PS and ensured that the school is well equipped to face the challenges of the future. Many new families and children have joined the school community and a significantly increased enrolment means that the school is flourishing. The enhanced and refurbished premises gives the children a fantastic environment in which to learn, grow and develop. Advances in the school's use of ICT provides the children with the most up to date resources to develop in all curriculum areas. The school has achieved recognition and awards for Global Learning, ICT, ECO School and Healthy Lifestyles, as well as excellent feedback from recent inspections. Strong links have been forged with local community groups such as Dundrum & Tyrella Parish, Sacred Heart SVP, Dundrum GAC, Dundrum Development Association, Dundrum Village Association and many local businesses who have supported the school in ways that we greatly appreciate. The school is well established as a central part of the local community offering a range of School Clubs, Parent and Toddler Groups, and Adult Art and Craft Classes. I want to personally thank every one of you for the ways you have helped to improve the school during my time here.
Until a new Principal is appointed, Mr Doyle will be Acting Principal. He is brilliantly suited to the role, and I know that you will join me in wishing him well and that you will support him as you have always supported me. In the coming weeks, parents will be updated about arrangements for returning to school and the new academic year. If you have any queries, Mr Doyle can be contacted by email adoyle622@c2kni.net or at the school on 02843 751293.
Despite the complications of the current Covid-19 crisis, it would be impossible to leave without saying a personal goodbye to the children. It is hoped that we will have a special Assembly on Friday 18 September to honour and celebrate our current P7 pupils, and mark their departure from Sacred Heart in a way that shows how much we value and appreciate them. I will come back that day to celebrate with the children and say a proper farewell to them.
I really feel privileged to have been part of the Sacred Heart Primary School Community over the last four years, and will remember my time here with great fondness. Thank you for making my time here so enjoyable and enriching. I wish the school and the wider community all the very best for the years ahead, and look forward to seeing the school prospering and going from strength to strength as it moves forward into an exciting future.
Yours faithfully,
Stephen Austin
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May the Month of Mary
Sat 02 May 2020May is a special month devoted to Mary, the mother of Jesus. This tradition originated in Italy during the Middle Ages (11th century) and eventually spread out all over the world. We honour Mary during May for many reasons. Mary is Jesus' mother and she is the first and most important disciple. She is also our mother who loves us very much.
There are many ways to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary in May. Here are some activities pupils can do at home:
- Create a May Altar with a statue or drawn picture of Mary, candles and flowers.
- Hold a May Crowning by presenting Mary with a crown made of blossoms or other hand-crafted materials to signify her queenship as the mother of Jesus Christ.
- Honour Mary by praying the Rosary.
- Create own prayer to Mary.
- Pray to Mary everyday.
- Learn or sing hymns of Mary, eg Lady of Knock, I'll sing a hymn to Mary, Mother of my God, As I kneel before you.
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Home Learning
Fri 24 Apr 2020Included below are links to fantastic Home Schooling Resources. Please take time to sample them with your children. Parent login information is included-enjoy!
Reading
Children should continue to read a range of fiction and non fiction texts as much as possible. The links below will provide access to ebooks two reading schemes we use in school.
Collins Big Cat
Click https://collins.co.uk/pages/big-cat-ebooks
Go to Collins Connect, choose Teacher Portal and enter:
Username: parents@harpercollins.co.uk
Password: Parents20!
Choose ‘Resources’ beside the Reading Book to find supporting worksheets.
Oxford Owl
Click https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/user/sign_up.html and create an account to access the ebook library and activities.
Visit https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/ where children can listen to extracts of books written by David Walliams read by the author himself!
Collins have made a range of their games, activities and worksheets available at https://collins.co.uk/pages/support-learning-at-home which may be useful to support home learning in Literacy and Numeracy
Music Express can also be accessed for free and allows children to listen to and perform a range of songs.
Go to Collins Connect, choose Teacher Portal and enter:
Username: parents@harpercollins.co.uk
Password: Parents20!
GoNoodle
GoNoodle engages children with dance, games and mindfulness activities. It is perfect for short breaks between learning activities or for meditating!
A sample (below) of some of the fun ways in which home learning is being continued at home. Well done to parents for all of their creativity and perseverance and to the children for being so sensible and listening to adult instructions.
A new Home Learning Pack is now available on the Class Pages section of the Website. Keep up the great work and continue to send photos of home learning. We hope you and your family remain safe and healthy.
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Key Worker Children Supervision
Fri 17 Apr 2020Dear Parent,
Due to Key Worker Parental requests- Sacred Heart PS is endeavouring to provide supervision to Key Worker children beginning Thursday & Friday 24th/25th April and subsequent weeks thereafter on a Wednesday to Friday basis. SHPS does not have a full staffing complement to provide supervision and therefore the proposed timetabling is what can be accommodated at this point in time and is hoped that will provide support and relief to our essential Key Worker Parents
in the weeks ahead.
Please see guideline below and thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
S Austin
School Guidelines for the Provision of Child Care
1. If your child has a temperature, he/ she must stay at home and not return to school for two weeks. We insist that you follow Public Health Advice.
2. If any family member or member of your household has the symptoms of the Coronavirus, your child must not attend school.
3. Each child should report to the Assembly Hall door upon arrival at school on Wednesday morning at 9.00am. Here, the children will have their hands sanitised before entering the school.
4. Children should be collected from the Assembly Hall door at 2.00pm.
5. Parents/ carers must not enter the building at any time.
6. Please respect social distancing for our staff and each other at all times.
7. Do not send written notes- communicate important information via phone or let leaders know verbally in the mornings.
8. The activities provided in school will be of a supervisory nature. Children may bring their Home Learning Packs and work through them.
9. School meals will not be provided. Children must bring their own snack/ lunch in a clearly labelled lunch box.
10. Any child needing help tying shoe laces should wear trainers with Velcro fasteners.
11. All children should wear a short sleeved t-shirt to facilitate regular hand washing.
12. If your child has long hair, please ensure it is tied back.
13. Nail polish is not permitted and fingernails should be kept short.
14. Jewellery of any description should not be worn.
15. On returning from school, please ensure your child showers and changes their clothing, washing whatever they have worn.
16. Please provide a change of clothing for younger children in case of a toileting accident.
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Easter Message
Sat 11 Apr 2020Dear Parent,
I would like to express my sincere thanks for all your hard work in establishing a good routine for the children and for your encouragement in helping them to continue with their learning at home during these very difficult times. I fully recognise that every family has to do what works best for them and school staff are extremely appreciative of all your efforts and support.
I am also very grateful to all of the staff who have been working from home, preparing home study packs and continuing work on school improvement documentation. Our new Home Study Packs (which should last until end of May) are available for perusal and download on the Class Pages of the Website.
Special praise must go to our pupils. We are very proud of how they have been adapting and coping with this very difficult situation and all of their efforts to complete their work and tasks at home, including those online. Thank you to everyone who has shared photographs and messages- they are proudly displayed on our school facebook page and website. We have really enjoyed seeing not only how children have been progressing with their tasks but also the many new skills they have acquired.
During the Easter Break it is important that the children and you have some time out, albeit in different circumstances. Hopefully the sun will shine and enable you to enjoy time in the garden and some form of outdoor activity.
We will be in touch after the Easter Break to provide you with further updates. In the meantime, please enjoy the Easter Break as best you can, stay safe at home and keep well. You and your families continue to remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Yours sincerely,
S Austin
Principal
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Holy Week
Fri 03 Apr 2020We are approaching a special time of year and it is such a pity that as teachers, we are missing the opportunity to tell our pupils the story of Holy Week. Many will already be familiar with the story but it is important to take our children through the events each year.
I have attached a document which contains well known images of the key events from that week. Use the images to tell your children each part of the story. They might like to draw their own images from the week. This is also a good opportunity for written work. From writing a simple sentence to a detailed recount, every child can have a go.
We will all miss attending our special ceremonies at this time but perhaps by focusing on the events of Holy Week with our children, it will go some way to bringing Easter home to us.
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Keep Fit at Home
Fri 27 Mar 2020Graham Crory from Actisport has produced a number of fun, interactive and educational Keep Fit Videos to keep children active and motivated when they are at home. Please consider making the content available to your child and thanks to Graham for his great work and creativity in keeping children remaining active.
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Sacred Heart Saint Vincent de Paul Assistance
Fri 27 Mar 2020Sacred Heart Saint Vincent de Paul have been in touch to offer their support to families or individuals who are experiencing significant difficulty during this challenging time. This support can include financial and pastoral support. Please contact Dan on 07538 638 550 for further information. Many thanks to SVP for this kind offer!
