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about 1 hour ago St. Colmcille's Primary School, Downpatrick said
Donkey Assisted Learning Begins! We were absolutely delighted to welcome Gail and Rosie, our two new resident therapy donkeys, who joined us this week for the launch of our Asinine Assisted Learning programme! Over the next few weeks, pupils from across the school including our Specialist Provision class and LSCs will have the chance to spend time working with Gail and Rosie through a series of calm, nurturing, and confidencebuilding sessions. How can donkeys assist our pupils? Donkeys are naturally gentle, steady, and reassuring animals, making them wonderful partners for therapeutic and educational activities. Working with therapy donkeys can help pupils to: Build confidence and selfesteem Strengthen focus, communication, and emotional regulation Develop social skills in a relaxed, lowpressure environment Reduce stress and promote a sense of calm Encourage empathy, responsibility, and positive relationships We're so excited to see the impact Gail and Rosie will have as pupils get to know them and we can't wait to share more updates as the programme continues. Stay tuned for plenty of wholesome donkey moments!
about 2 hours ago St. Colmcille's Primary School, Downpatrick said
Safer Internet Day 2026 Today, we are celebrating Safer Internet Day at St. Colmcille's PS! We encourage you to join us in celebrating by continuing the conversation about AI technology at home. Here are some helpful resources: You can complete the UK Safer Internet Centre's interactive quizzes with your child. The UK Safer Internet Centre have created resources for use with children and young people about this year's theme. These were designed for learning settings but can be adapted to use with your child. You can find these here. Read the UK Safer Internet Centre's tops tips for parents and carers here. You can share the UK Safer Internet Centre's top tips for children and young people with your child. You can visit the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland's Online Safety Hub website for lots of advice and support about how to keep your child safer online. It is split into two sections, one for adults and one for young people. It signposts to local support if help is needed. The Department of Education also continues to fund the Safer Schools NI App which is available to all school communities and families to help them manage a wide range of safeguarding issues. You may also like to use one of these prompts to start a conversation with your child: What's your favourite thing to do online? Have you ever used an AI tool? How did it make you feel? What do you like about AI technology? Do you have any worries about AI technology? What advice would you give to your friends about using AI? Who would you talk to if you saw something worrying online? What more can I do to help you feel safe online? A key part of protecting children and young people from online harms is through preventative education. By talking about this in school and at home, we can all work towards keeping children safe when they are online. Celebrating Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity for you to re-emphasise the online safety messages we deliver throughout the year. If you have any concerns or questions about keeping your child safe online, please do get in touch with your child's class teacher, or one of our Safeguarding Team.
about 3 days ago St. Colmcille's Primary School, Downpatrick said
Valentine's Celebrations at School! We had a fantatsic run in to the Mid-Term Break at St. Colmcille's PS, with two days of Valentine-themed events: PTFA Valentine's Charity Bingo & Children's Movie & Game Night – Thursday 5th February A huge thank you to our wonderful PTFA for organising another brilliant Bingo night! The hall was buzzing, the prizes were fantastic, and fun was had by all. During our Movie & Game Night, pupils took part in an art competition, and we're delighted to announce our three winnerseach receiving a voucher for Mabel's Ice Cream, kindly provided by the PTFA. Well done to all who entered! Valentine's Fun Day – Friday 6th February Our celebrations continued with a joyful Valentine's Disco for P1–P3 & LSC1–3, followed by a special and exciting Valentine's Kid's Bingo for P4–P7 & LSC4beautifully planned and run by our PTFA. Thank you again for your continued support! A big shout-out to our P7 pupils, who operated a very successful Tuck Shop throughout the day. This was not only a treat for everyone but also a valuable learning experience linked to their work on financial well-being and the Junior Entrepreneur Programme. They did a fantastic job! Thank you to every pupil, parent, and staff member who helped make our Valentine's events such memorable occasions. Community spirit at its best!
about 3 days ago St. Colmcille's Primary School, Downpatrick said
Welcome Back! We hope everyone had a relaxing Mid-Term Break! We look forward to welcoming all pupils back on Monday, 16th February. Children should be in their classrooms at 9am for registration, with lessons beginning at 9.10am. Wraparound care returns on Monday, including: Breakfast Club After School Clubs Music Tuition Please make all bookings via School Money. Wishing all of our children a very happy and productive half term!
about 3 days ago St. Colmcille's Primary School, Downpatrick said
Safer Internet Day 2026 As Safer Internet Day falls this year during the Mid-Term Break, St. Colmcille's PS will be celebrating this important event on Wednesday 18th February! Safer Internet Day is a great opportunity to start conversations with young people about their online lives and to explore how we can support them. If you'd like ideas or materials to use at home, visit saferinternetday.org.uk for free resources and inspiration.
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