ICSS Summer Service
Student Leadership Team 2020/21 announced!
Our new Student Leadership Team for the 2020/21 school year has just been announced
Well done to everyone - we are so proud of you and we have no doubt you will do a fantastic job
#leaders #lifeinCPC
Note to parents - End of remote learning June 2020
Dear Parents and Pupils
Since schools were instructed to close, our staff have worked extremely hard to ensure that learning opportunities continued for all pupils who could avail of them. It is clear, from the pupil work being produced and from the very positive feedback from our recent parental survey, that this has been effective in a great many cases. Thank you to everyone who replied to our survey, for your affirming and supportive comments and to those who pointed out some areas they would like us to continue to develop.
As we continue to plan for the new academic year, including waiting on further guidance from the Department of Education, it is imperative that we also refine and review the provision, focusing on building our skills and expertise and matching our curriculum to the potential for a mixture of face-to-face and home learning in the new academic year.
To that end, formal remote learning will end this Friday (19th June) and teachers will use the last week of school term, for staff training and curriculum development.
Staff will still be available for pupil contact, if required, and if any pupil would like pastoral contact or support, please ask them to contact their form teacher or year head by email at any time.
Next week, our final week of school term, I will be writing to all our students, as we mark the official end of what has been a very challenging academic year for everyone.
We will endeavour to communicate with our school community through the summer in relation to plans for the new year and I hope you continue to keep safe, during this time.
Best wishes
Paul McClean
Principal
Monday 15th June 2020
Lucia Quinney-Mee
Today is Lucia's 21st birthday, a sad day in some ways, but also the first step towards celebrating a wonderful life and the difference she continues to make to others. We will all get a chance to come together with her family and will indicate any news when possible.
Lucia Quinney-Mee
Our school community are heartbroken to learn of the sad passing of Lucia Quinney-Mee. Founder of the @livedonate campaign, Lucia embodied all the qualities each of us should aspire to develop. She was courageous, grateful, resilient and a great friend with a magnificent sense of humour.
Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord.
Have the conversation!
Update - 20/04/20
Dear all
I hope you are keeping well and that you and your loved ones are able to look after each other presently. Although there has been some positive news in terms of numbers of people afflicted with the Coronavirus in NI, there has also been tragedy and heartbreak for many families and our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost loved ones in these difficult times.
We begin Term 3 in very strange circumstances and there are some important updates for all year groups, detailed below. Information in relation to contacting school is also included at the end of this message.
GCSE, AS and ‘A’-Level Students
CCEA and Ofqual (the regulator for other examination boards) have both released information detailing how they intend to award grades to students, in the above categories, this year. There is important information for you to make yourself aware of and the links to both sets of information are below. We are still awaiting definite information in relation to Vocational qualifications.
Please note – our staff will be working extremely hard to ensure that every child who attends our school is treated fairly and is not disadvantaged through this process. We are still awaiting further information from examination boards, before we begin to collate and forward the information required.
CCEA Process (Vast majority of GCSE, AS and A2 qualifications)
Information on process and documents for all stakeholders (including messages for students and parents):
https://ccea.org.uk/news/2020/april/ccea-announces-how-gcses-and-levels-will-be-awarded-summer-2020
Ofqual Process (Qualifications from Pearson, Edexcel etc)
Information on process and documents for all stakeholders (including messages for students and parents):
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/how-gcses-as-a-levels-will-be-awarded-in-summer-2020
Students in Years 11 & 13
The process for awarding grades at GCSE and ‘A’-Level is now clear and whilst there is some information for pupils in Years 11&13, it is clear that we will have to seek further clarification, ensuring that pupils in those year groups are not disadvantaged, either this year or next.
That said, it is vital that our pupils in Year 11 and 13 engage with teachers and continue to complete some work each day, whilst they are at home. There are groups and online communications for all students to engage with and teachers continue to set and assess work for these pupils. I strongly encourage all pupils to engage with these learning opportunities as much as possible. If you are having trouble accessing this information, for any reason, please contact the school immediately, using the links at the bottom of this notice.
Students in Years 8 – 10
We recognise this is a very strange time for all our students, particularly our younger pupils. There are some brilliant examples of our young people continuing to commit to their studies, completing work on paper, or digitally, and asking questions from their teachers through MS Teams, Email or other methods.
Teachers are continuing to set work and communicate with classes online and are happy to get communications from pupils who are having difficulty accessing, completing or returning work.
Password and Technical Difficulties
If you are having challenges logging in, changing your password or accessing groups, please contact our IT team for assistance:
Bernie McAlister – bmcalister105@c2kni.net
Ciaran Clarke – cclarke866@c2kni.net
General assistance or queries:
For any other queries, questions or assistance, please email the school office at the address below (social media accounts are not routinely monitored presently). All queries will be forwarded on to the relevant member of staff.
Info@crossandpassion.ballycastle.ni.sch.uk
Thank you for your continued support. I hope and pray that our school community are well at present and look forward to catching up again soon. Please stay safe and look after yourselves and each other.
Best wishes
Paul McClean
Principal
