Latest News
Welcome to the News section of the website. I hope you find it interesting and useful in keeping you informed of the many events that happen in Victoria Park School.
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Congratulations Mason
Tue 05 Oct 2021Congratulations to Mason in P5 Room 10 who was awarded Player of the Match on Saturday. Mason plays for the 2013 team at Knockbreda FC and during their match against Carryduff FC he scored twice. Well done, Mason!
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The school dinner menu for the next four weeks can be found below
Fri 01 Oct 2021
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Parking on Strandburn Street
Fri 01 Oct 2021We would ask that any parents parking on Strandburn Street make sure that they are doing so responsibly and not parking on the yellow zig-zag lines where stopping or waiting is strictly prohibited. We would also ask that common courtesy is shown to local residents so that they are to park in their own driveways or outside their own homes so they aren't blocked in. The situation is especially bad on Friday afternoons when all the classes are leaving at similar times. Please consider walking to school if you are able to do so.
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Junior Cross-Community League (JCCL)
Thu 23 Sep 2021If you have a child in P5-P7 and they enjoy basketball, they might be interested in joining the PeacePlayers Junior Cross-Community League programme. It starts on Wednesday evenings from 6pm-8pm with the first session on Wednesday 6th October. The venue is still to be confirmed but there is a free bus service available picking up close to the school. You can sign up using the link below or email Joanne Fitzpatrick (jfitzpatrick@peaceplayers.org) for more information.
https://tinyurl.com/jcclaw21
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DE Payment Schemes Survey
Mon 26 Apr 2021Dear Parent,
DE needs parent’s views on the Scheme to deliver Direct Payments in lieu of Free School Meals and the School Holiday Food Grant Payment Scheme.
DE Payment Schemes Survey Link Below
https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/de/free-school-meals-and-holiday-payment-plans-feedba/
The Department of Education is currently evaluating the effectiveness of the two similar but separate payment schemes: a scheme to deliver Direct Payments in lieu of Free School Meals and the School Holiday Food Grant Payment Scheme. These schemes have been providing financial support of £13.50 per child per week, as necessary, to families of children entitled to Free School Meals since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
I have been asked to forward you the attached link to a short survey which will also assist the Department of Education in planning for any future payment schemes. I would encourage you to complete the online survey - it should take no more than 2 minutes.
We are especially interested in the views of parents whose children are entitled to Free School meals.
Many thanks,
Mrs Gourley
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Friday Finish & Easter Holidays
Thu 25 Mar 2021Dear Parents,
School will close on Friday 26th March for the Easter holidays and will re-open on Monday 12th April.
Pupils will finish at their normal staggered Friday times and pupils should wear uniform as usual.
Have a lovely Easter.
Mrs Gourley.
P1 1.55pm
P2 1.50pm
P3 2.00pm
P4 2.00pm
P5 2.10pm
P6 2.20pm
P7 2.20pm
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Update on School Closures
Tue 16 Mar 2021Please be reminded that school is closed for all pupils tomorrow for St. Patrick’s day.
Schools have not yet been advised of any return next week for P4-P7, despite full social media coverage. If this decision is confirmed by DE today, information will be sent out on Thursday regarding pupils’ safe return to school..
Mrs Gourley.
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Extended Remote Learning January 2021
Wed 06 Jan 20216 January 2021.
Dear Parent,
I wish you a Happy New Year, but am aware it is certainly with mixed emotions and not what we had planned or looked forward to.
As you will be aware from the local news sources, the NI Executive has extended the closure of schools until after the half term break in February.
As a staff we are also devastated at the mess that our P7 pupils have been left in after the cancellation of AQE only to have another test put in its place. Our staff will continue to support remotely the children wishing to continue with this and will contact you directly.
Remote learning has already started in every class and you will have received communication from the teacher via email, SeeSaw or school app. It is vital that you are on these platforms and maintain contact regularly with the teacher. You have all of their emails should you need to contact them for any help or if you’re having difficulty accessing any of the communication programmes. Our IT Technician is also in school should you require technical advice in getting set up.
All children are expected to be following the curriculum provided on our website learning zone and they should send samples of completed work to their teacher via See Saw. Please try to maintain routines and set aside part of each day as learning time.
An extended closure is the last thing that our children needed and we must try to keep them working and maintaining some progress, but more important is keeping them safe to return to us in the near future.
I hope you all stay safe and well in these difficult days.
If you have any questions or worries, I will be in school every day and you are welcome to contact me at the school number.
Mrs A. Gourley
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January School Return
Thu 31 Dec 2020Dear Parent,
I have received communication this morning that there will be changes to the restart arrangements for school next week – primary school pupils will be taught remotely next week, returning on Monday 11th January to face to face teaching.
Minister Weir has indicated that this late change has been necessary due to unprecedented levels of positive Covid-19 tests since Christmas, and the pressure this applies to our health service”.
The communication also indicated that schools remain open for supervised learning for children of key workers only.
If you feel you have no other options and would like to request your child be sent into school, please email me on Monday morning by 10.00am. (agourley610@c2kni.net) I will then be able to spend Monday on our staff development day considering these requests. Please indicate in your email: your eligibility under the key worker definitions, your place of employment and which days you may require supervision.
Key worker is defined as “A child of a key worker for whom both parents (or a parent in a single parent family) is a key worker, with no other safe alternative.
On Monday, I will then confirm if we can facilitate your child in school for supervision. Please do not send your child to school on Tuesday if you have not received confirmation from me for attendance.
I must also stress, this is not active teaching. The children will be supervised only in their completion of the home learning activities that will be provided to all pupils. Teachers will be working in school to update daily lessons remotely for all children. Each teacher will contact their pupils on Monday morning via See Saw to outline the week’s remote learning plans that all pupils will be expected to engage in.
The announcement also indicated that exams due to take place “will be facilitated, compliant with public health guidance”. This would seem to suggest that AQE will proceed as planned for P7 pupils.
I have, however, been informed by DE that under no circumstances should P7 be brought in for AQE tuition.
Having our Primary 7s at home before the first test may actually ensure that more pupils will be safe to sit the first paper as the risk of a class having to self-isolate is removed. I know many parents had already considered doing this. Our P7 teachers will be working very hard to support the pupils remotely during this time, with the aim of keeping them feeling confident and calm for the assessments ahead.
While it is disappointing that we have had to change arrangements at this last minute, the levels of new cases in our community have made it essential.
I hope you have remained well over the past two weeks and continue to stay safe in these difficult days. Our children’s education is always our priority but we must also put the safety and well-being of the children and staff first.
Parents with any questions or worries are welcome to contact me at the school number 028 90471274 from Monday 4th January.
Mrs A. Gourley
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Welcome Back
Mon 02 Nov 20202nd Nov 2020
Dear Parent,
I am delighted to welcome our children back to school after the Halloween break.
You will be aware that last month was very challenging for all of us and we must ensure that all actions are in place to continue to keep our children safe.
Minister Weir has highlighted in the news the importance of keeping schools open and the risk of community transmission bringing the virus into schools is still too high.
We all have a part to play if we wish to keep our children safe and school open and I know you will continue to support us in doing this. May I remind you of a few things that we can do to help maintain our safety.
- Please drop your child off and do not congregate about the school grounds or gates.
- Keep a safe distance from other adults.
- Children in P4 to P7 should be left at the front gate and walk around to their classes.
- If your child must be accompanied, only one adult should bring them in and drop off.
- If you are self-isolating, you should not be in the school grounds dropping off or collecting children.
- Self-isolating children should not leave their house.
- Parents should not be in or near the children’s cloakrooms, nor call the teacher out of the room.
- If you need to speak to the teacher, please email them or leave a message for a return phone call.
- If you are waiting for any length of time at pick up, consider wearing a mask.
Parents with any questions or worries are welcome to contact me at the school number 028 90471274.
Mrs A. Gourley
