Donaghey Primary School
May 2017 Newsletter
Welcome to our May 2017 newsletter.
Mrs Slaine - Our P1/P2 teacher Mrs Slaine, has
decided to step down from her teaching post effective
from 31st August 2017. Mrs Slaine has served the
pupils of Donaghey Primary School for twenty-seven
years and in this time she has been a key teacher in the
educational successes our pupils have enjoyed. Mrs
Slaine’s commitment to the pupils and the school, her
expertise and the care towards pupils under her
tutelage has been exemplary. Mrs Slaine also carries
out a number of other roles in school. She coordinates Community Relations Education & Diversity
(CRED), Art and PE throughout the school.
Furthermore Mrs Slaine organises after school
activities, Eco Schools, Cycling Proficiency and she
helps with the organisation of various school
productions and Nativity plays. Mrs Slaine is also our
Deputy Designated Teacher for child protection and
she has served as a school governor.
The community that Donaghey Primary School serves
is indebted to Mrs Slaine. I would like to take this
opportunity on behalf of the pupils, staff and parents
to wish Mrs Slaine and her family the very best for the
future. You deserve it!! We trust that Mrs Slaine will
enjoy the remainder of the summer term and we look
forward to giving Mrs Slaine, Margaret and the P7
pupils a good send off at our P7 Leavers’ Assembly.
I would be grateful if all pupils went home at 1.00pm
on Friday 23rd June (the school bus will run at this
time). The staff would like to do something that
afternoon to celebrate Mrs Slaine’s and Margaret’s
time at Donaghey. Your understanding is very much
appreciated and I apologise for any inconvenience.
Staffing for September 2017 - You are aware that the
board of governors have identified the requirement to
continue the reduced staffing levels into 2017/18 (see
correspondence 10th April 2017). Governors will meet
on Thursday 25th May to finalise teacher cover for the
P1/2, P3/P4 and the P5/P6/7 classes. I will write to
you in due course to inform you of the teachers who
will be covering the classes from September 2017.
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Mrs Hardy will continue her role as Special Needs
teacher for ten hours per week from September 2017.
Bronwyn Burnside will replace Margaret Collins as
the P1/P2 Classroom Assistant from September 2017.
Tanya Hogg, Alanna Leslie and Glenda Scott will
continue to provide individual pupil support
throughout the school from September 2017.
I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to
the staff at Donaghey Primary School. Their sole
intention is to provide the best possible education for
the children of this school. The staff enjoy working
with your children and they give everything they have
towards their development. They do this in an
environment with inadequate budget and limited
support for training and resources from the
Department of Education. As Principal of Donaghey
PS and a parent of this school, I really appreciate their
deidication.
Donaghey Parents’ Association (DPA) news - The
Belfast City Marathon fundraising activities have
raised £3065.00. BCM entry fees will be deducted
from this total. After the DPA meeting on 1st June, I
will be in a position to inform you of the contribution
that will be made to Epilepsy Action and the general
state of the association’s finances. Thank you so
much for your contributions. Your support of the
school is appreciated!
The next DPA meeting will take place in the school
staffroom on Thursday 1st June at 8.00pm.
Stars of the Month Assembly for April – Assembly
Friday 5th May
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Academic: P1 Luke Hamilton, P2 Elen Irwin, P3 Mia
Greaves, P4 Maddison Badger, P5 Hannah Bovill &
Charles Acheson, P6 William Henry and P7 Aimee
Henry.
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Effort: P1 Thomas Buchannan, P2 Sophia Patterson,
P3 Rowan Brodison, P4 Daniel Blower, P5 Jack
Evans, P6 Bethany Gillespie and P7 Rachel Simpson.
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Manners/Kindness: P1 Anna Wilson, P2 Jack Wylie,
P3 Thomas Crooks, P4 Tom Irwin, P5 Jenna Greaves
and P7 Elena Wallace.
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Well done to all the Donaghey Stars of the Month for
April!!!! The Stars of the Month assembly for May
will take place on Friday 26th May at 1.10pm. Parents
and friends of Donaghey Primary School are very
welcome to attend.
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Happy May Birthdays to the following pupils - Kai
Harkness, James Henry, Jonah Davidson, Ryan
Loughrin, Ross Trainor, Bethany Gillespie and
William Henry.
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Other:
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Mr Nelson is not available on Thursday 25th
May for transfer class preparation.
The church at Desertcreat will be organising a
community play - Cinderella. This will take
place in November. Auditions will be held at
Desertcreat Church Hall on 6th June at
7.00pm. Children from our present P3-P6
classes are encouraged to attend the auditions.
For more details please contact Heather
McIvor.
Dates for you diary:
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P7 Post-Primary Placement Letters will be
issued (posted) by EA on Friday 19th May.
All the very best to our P7 pupils. The pupils
and staff are very proud of you.
Standardised Testing (P3 – P7 children) – w/b
Monday 23rd May.
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Non-uniform day, no theme. £1.00 per child
– Friday 26th May.
Last day of after school football – Tuesday
30th May.
Induction for children entering P1 at
Donaghey PS in September 2017 – Thursday
1st June and Friday 2nd June – letters with
more details to be issued this week.
DPA meeting in the school staffroom –
Thursday 1st June, 8.00pm.
Tennis Tournament, Ballytrea Primary School
– Friday 2nd June.
Science Week in school – Monday 5th June –
Wednesday 7th June. The pupils will be
participating in Science related activities
during this week. It would be great if parents
could get involved in this week. If you have
any ideas please approach your child’s
teacher.
General Election (School closed) – Thursday
8th June.
Sports Day – Friday 9th June. P1-P3 (9.30am
– 10.30am) and P4-P7 (11.00am – 12.00pm).
Refreshments for parents will be available in
the hall from 10.30am.
School Council and Eco Committee trip to An
Creaghan – more details to follow – Monday
12th June.
Induction for P7 children entering Cookstown
High School in September 2017 – Wednesday
14th June, 6.30pm at Cookstown High School.
Last day of after school multi-skills –
Thursday 15th June.
Last day of after school rugby – Monday 19th
June.
Super Six Football Cup at Dungannon Swifts
Football Club – Thursday 22nd June.
P7 Leavers’ Assembly – Tuesday 27th June,
10.00am. The P7 barbecue will follow at
12.30pm. Parents of P7 pupils are very
welcome to attend.
‘Hit the Surf’ at Portrush for P7 pupils –
Wednesday 28th June.
Last day of the transfer test preparation
classes – Thursday 29th June, 3.45pm –
4.45pm. Details regarding classes
commencing in September 2017 will be
forwarded in due course.
End of year community breakfast in the
assembly hall and last day of term – Friday
30th June. Breakfast commences at 8.00am.
Pupils go home at 11.30am. The school bus
will run at this time.
Thank you for your support this term.