March Newsletter

Trocaire

Worldwide, 783 million people do not have access to clean, safe water.
This year's Trocaire Lent Campaign is about the global water crisis. Drier climates across sub-Saharan Africa are leaving communities struggling without enough water for drinking, sanitation and growing food.

As in previous years each class and year group will be organising special money raising events throughout March in a bid to raise as much money as possible, concluding with a non-uniform day on Tuesday 15th April.

Each year we rely heavily on parental support throughout the Lenten period. We are acutely aware of the difficulties of the present economic climate but we hope that together we can raise enough money to make a difference. Your donation will help a community to install a water pump or a water irrigation system. This will free up children's time from fetching water so they can attend school, and will help families to increase their crop harvest and grow more food to eat.

Additional information about the campaign can be found at the Trocaire website at www.trocaire.org. Thank you for your continuing support.

Easter Holiday

School will close at 11.15am on Wednesday 16th April for the Easter Holiday. School is closed from Thursday 17th April to Friday 25th April 2014. School will reopen as normal on Monday 28th April.

Green Day

As part of our St. Patrick's Day celebrations Friday 14th March will be 'Green Day' at St. Mary's. All children are asked to donate £1 to Trocaire on the day.

Credit Union

The Credit Union continues each Wednesday morning. Application forms are available from the office for new members.

Thorntons

On Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th April 2014 all our children will have an opportunity to decorate their own Easter Egg with Thorntons. The cost for an individual Easter Egg and workshop is £2.50 per child.

Table Tennis

Well done to all our children who took part in the Banbridge Table Tennis Competition at Banbridge Leisure Centre. The children represented the school fantastically.

St. Patrick's Holiday

School is closed on Monday 17th for the St. Patrick's holiday and on Tuesday 18th March for staff training. School will reopen as normal on Wednesday 19th March.

Easter Disco

Our PTA Easter Disco will take place on Friday 11th April from 7pm to 9pm in the school hall. Admission £3 per child.

School PTA

A huge thank-you to all our children and parents for the fantastic support for our Coin Drive. A total of £1012 was raised for the PTA. Congratulations to Mrs Kane's P5 class who won the prize for the heaviest amount collected. Well done everyone!

The next meeting of the PTA will take place on Wednesday 11th March at 7.30pm. All support is greatly appreciated. Parents and volunteers can contact our PTA via email at stmaryspta1@hotmail.co.uk.

First Holy Communion

First Holy Communion will take place on Saturday 10th May at 11am in St. Therese.

Shannaghmore Visit

Well done to all our P7 children who attended Shannaghmore Outdoor Education Centre last week. Shannaghmore staff remarked on how polite, mannerly and well behaved all the children were. The boys and girls had a terrific time. Well done everyone!

Environmental Youth Speak

Congratulations Helen Vaughan and Aoife McNally who represented St. Mary's at the Environmental Youth Speak Competition at Banbridge Council last week. During the Youth Speak competition, school children were invited to speak for 3 to 5 minutes on environmental topics such as - Rethink your rubbish - reduce' reuse' recycle. Both Helen and Aoife did exceptionally well. Well done girls!
Extra Mass

Please note during Lent there will be an extra Mass in St. Therese's Church at 8:30am each weekday (Monday to Friday) and the usual 10:00am Mass in St. Patrick's on Saturdays.

Confirmation

Confirmation will take place on Sunday 23rd March at 3pm in St. Therese. Primary 7 children and their families should arrive in good time to ensure that they have adequate seats as seats are only reserved for participating children and their Sponsors.

International School Meals Day

International School Meals Day on Friday 14th March. Go to school dinners on Friday and you could win a Kindle Fire HD.