Each Child Unique. Each Child Talented. All Children Cherished.
Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment. You can also find live updates on our school Twitter @StItasPS
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P6 Pupils attend United Nations Celebration!
Mon 25 Nov 2019P6 Pupils attend United Nations anniversary celebrations on the Rights of the Child
Thursday 20th November this year, was an extremely important date as it was the 30th anniversary of the UN General Assembly adopting the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UK government signed up to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1991.
The UNCRC is a list of 42 promises made by Governments from almost all countries (except the USA and South Sudan) in the UN to children and young people, including the right to education, equal treatment and the right to an opinion. All governments who have signed the UNCRC are supposed to work to make it part of their law.
The UNCRC has inspired Governments to change laws, strategies and policies as well as spending money so that more children get the services they need to live and develop. It also means that more children have their voices heard and are able to have a say in decisions that affect them.
Mr McConville’s P6 class attended the anniversary celebrations at the W5 Centre. Over two thousand children from schools throughout NI also attended.
Emily ,from Mr McConville’s class, presented a speech on Children’s Rights at ‘Speakers Corner’.
She was absolutely brilliant and she spoke with such expression and clarity. Those listening gave Emily a fantastic round of applause and she so deserved it. Her speech was well planned and she made her points so clearly. Well done Emily!
It was a great day and the pupils so enjoyed the celebrations. One child even remarked that it was the best day out that she ever had.
For more information on the UNCRC, please use the link below:
https://www.niccy.org/children-and-young-people/your-rights/know-your-rights
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Seven past pupils from St Ita’s Primary School and their P7 teacher, Mrs Maguire attended the launch of the Participation for Protection project (P4P) in Belfast.
Fri 22 Nov 2019Seven past pupils from St Ita’s Primary School and their P7 teacher, Mrs Maguire attended the launch of the P4P (Participation for Protection) project in Belfast. Our past pupils together with young people from Include Youth and Newstart Education Centre in Northern Ireland were advisors on the project. They helped design the survey and identify key messages to inform the training resources.
The P4P (Participation for Protection) training resource has been informed by the views and experiences of over 1,300 children and young people (aged 8-18 years old) across six EU member states, including Austria; Belgium; Germany; Ireland; Romania; and the UK. The research was carried out through surveys and focus groups.
The resource will help train professionals on children’s understandings of violence; barriers and enablers to disclosure; and what child-rights based responses look like from a child’s perspective. Over 350 professionals and trainees across the six countries have been introduced to the resources through training and teaching events.
The research was led by Dr Siobhan McAlister, Dr Katrina Lloyd, Professor Laura Lundy, Dr Michelle Templeton and Dr Karen Winter from the Centre for Children’s Rights and the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work at Queen’s University Belfast.
The children (and Mrs Maguire) really enjoyed participating in this research and we hope to continue our links with Queen’s University and to take part in any further child-centred projects.
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Aoibe, Seán and Tomás at Feis Bhéal Feirste 2019
Thu 14 Nov 2019Hundreds of children from seventeen different primary schools competed in Feis Bhéal Feirste 2019, the Irish Language competition at Corpus Christi College.
Mrs Gillespie entered three pupils, Aoibhe, Seán and Tomás.
St Ita's took home two first place medals and one second.
Well done to Aoibhe, Seán and Tomás. They were absolute stars!
Comghairdeas leo!
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St. Ita's is still the most prolific user of C2K Newsdesk
Tue 12 Nov 2019St. Ita's is the most prolific user of C2Newsdesk in Northern Ireland!
Amelia, from C2K Newsdesk, visited St. Ita's on Friday 8th November to present the boys and girls with a certificate for being the best users of Newsdesk in Northern Ireland during the month of October.
Newsdesk gives pupils an opportunity to engage with current news stories in a digital environment. They can be active users with opportunities to comment on stories and submit their own topical writing to a ready-made audience.
Newsdesk also gives pupils opportunities to practise talking and listening and reading and writing skills that they have learned in the classroom.
Last Year David Huntley, the Newsdesk editor, stated the following about the comments from pupils in St. Ita's:
‘We've been so impressed at the high quality of comments that have developed over the last year from St Ita's - it's so clear that your teachers encourage your pupils not only to send comments, but focus on the use of good vocabulary and insightful and informed opinions.’
At an ETI conference St. Ita's was congratulated for being officially and statistically the most prolific user of the Newsdesk in Northern Ireland!
David stated that the quality of comments and articles continues to impress - and we love getting them as there is so little editing required before publishing!
I was informed by Amelia last week that we are still the most prolific users of Newsdesk in Northern Ireland!
This is a tremendous achievement for the boys and girls in St. Ita's.
Thank you for your tremendous support.
It is much appreciated.
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Mary Kate and Mum set to Star in RTE Talent Show!
Tue 12 Nov 2019Mary Kate set to Star in RTE Talent Show!
The talent show is hosted by former Munster and Ireland rugby player Donncha O'Callaghan and airs weekdays on RTÉ. ‘Donncha's Two Talented’ is a family entertainment show, which features the best of Irish young talent. But there's a twist; not only do the young boys and girls perform, but they have to convince an adult to duet with them on the show. Mary Kate’s mum, Adele, is the chosen one and both will perform on RTÉjr on Wednesday 6th November at 6.30pm. Please tune in, get the popcorn out and enjoy the show!
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St. Ita's Student Council Visit Stormont
Mon 11 Nov 2019Student Council Visit Stormont
The student councils from last year and our current year enjoyed a wonderful day out in Parliament Buildings, Stormont. They learned so much about the history of the building and about the role of our MLA’s. The children participated in a lively debate in the assembly chamber and experienced how voting takes place to pass legislation. They also spent time in the very historic senate chamber. The children shone with their knowledge and participation. One MLA, Carmel Hanna, called in to see the children and explained the diverse job of an MLA. What a great day we had! Photographs will be uploaded on our website and twitter.
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Girls are Cumann na mBunscol Winter League Champions!
Mon 04 Nov 2019St. Ita's had the unique distinction of contesting both the boys and girls finals of the Division 1 Winter League at Rossa GAC on Wednesday 23rd October.
Click on the link below to see the photos of this wonderful occasion.
The girls played first and despite conceding two early scores, they rallied round and showed great attacking purpose. Excellent tackling from the midfield pairing of Evie McHugh and Hannah Cassin set up attack after attack in the first half with Orlaith McMahon scoring two great goals. There was also some great point taking and the girls deservedly led at half time.
Holy Trinity started well in the second half but St. Ita's stood firm and defended bravely. Emily McGreevy in full back and Niamh Lamont in goal tackled and blocked and worked non-stop to ensure the comeback never materialised. St. Ita's pushed for scores regularly and Rebecca McDonnell and Niamh Napier ran their socks off in half forward to set up attacks. The girls finished strongly to win the game 5-9 to 2-3.
The final whistle was greeted with great cheers from the players and all the St. Ita's supporters that travelled across to see the game.
Maith sibh cailíní!
The boys final was next, against a physical Bunscol Phobal Feirste team. St. Ita's began well and the full forward line of Fintan McArdle and Oliver White were looking sharp. Tom Hickson and Joseph Kerr were having a good battle with their midfield partners but St. Ita's had the better of the play. A fortuitous goal for BPF just before the half time whistle left the teams level after the first half.
The second half was hard fought and scores were hard to come by for both teams. Conall Vaugh and Fionn Dougan battled hard in and around the middle and St. Ita's were creating chances. BPF made it difficult to convert them however and going into the final 5 minutes, we only had a slender one point lead. Some excellent defending by Joseph Murchan and Rory McConnell, coupled with the blocking skills of Gabriel McGowan, meant that St. Ita's kept the Bunscol at bay for a good portion of the half. Then came another Bunscol goal that meant that our boys had to go and chase the game in the last few minutes. The boys from St. Ita's never gave up but just came up short by 2 points.
The boys should be proud of how they played. They played with fairness, skill and determination and everyone in school is extremely proud of them.
Expect to see more of this team in the new year when the Cumann na mBunscol Championships start.
