ST COLUMBA'S PRIMARY SCHOOL in Tyrone, Strabane

Education Centre Information: St Columba's Primary School:

Institution Type:Primary school
Status: Open
Board: WESTERN EDUCATION & LIBRARY BOARD (WELB)
Management: Roman Catholic Maintained
Delivery: Internet
Total Pupils: 116
Admissions: Comprehensive
Age Range: 4-11
Gender: Mixed

Background:

St Columba's Primary School, Clady was built in 1967. It is situated on the outskirts of Clady. It is a small rural Catholic school and serves families in the village and the surrounding area. French and Irish are included in the curriculum. The school has four times received the gold award in the Health Promoting School Awards and eight times received the Smart Snacks Award for its promotion of a healthy lifestyle. The school has a role to support specific charities including Mencap, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the Northern Ireland Meningitis Society. There is also ongoing support for Bosnian refugee children. The school has links with the parish community and pupils participate in church liturgies through dance, music and scripture readings. The school provides after-school activities including: basketball, dance, drama, mini-ball games, Gaelic football (including with local GAA coaches) and Irish, monkeynastics. For the past five years it has been participating in the pilot of the enriched curriculum in early years. It's LEA and the department of education has acknowledged the good practice of its implementation. The school choir has participated in several competitions locally with great success. The ethos of the school is central to the whole development of the child. It seeks to facilitate a positive environment in which pupils and teachers feel valued and their views and contributions are respected. The school's vision is 'from tiny acorns, grow mighty oaks'. Every child who attend the school is like a tiny acorn which needs to be nurtured and cared for emotionally, physically, educationally, spiritually. When the child leaves the school he/she is like a mighty oak because strong foundation has been laid for the future.