Update - 31/03/20

Dear all 

As we enter our second week of remote learning, I would like to highlight some important information that relates to our educational provision and the welfare of all our pupils and their families. 

Staff are continuing to set work and communicate with students through online learning platforms and a great many young people are engaging with this.  Our hope is that young people use this facility to continue some of their studies, as well as bring structure to their day – getting up in the morning, dressed and completing a couple of hours of work, if possible.  We are also mindful, that the health and well-being of pupils and families is the priority at this time and educational matters will be secondary to that. 

Form teachers and class teachers are available for communication each day and I would encourage our students to say hello to teachers, to keep in touch, and use the strong pastoral relationships that we have built up over the years. 

We are very aware that this is a stressful time for families, for young people and for us all.  To that end, I include some links to important and useful information, which I hope you will find of value. 

As we continue making our way through these challenging times, I hope you are keeping well, looking after yourselves and each other.  The school remains ready to respond to opening for children of key workers, should the demand arise, and we will continue to answer any questions, queries or provide technical support through contact with our school email address: info@crossandpassion.ballycastle.ni.sch.uk 

Best wishes and we are looking forward to enjoying normal school days again soon 

Paul McClean 

Developing Health Communities 

Our Hub provides information related to; supporting good mental health, changing circumstances for families and workplaces and community responses. 

https://www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/live/community-services/covid-19-community-support 

Mindwise – New Visions for Mental Health 

How to have an open conversation with young people about Coronavirus 

https://mentalhealth-uk.org/blog/how-to-have-an-open-conversation-with-young-people-about-coronavirus/ 

Bloom – Resource Library 

https://mentalhealth-uk.org/partnerships/bloom-resource-library/ 

Familyworks – Independent Counselling Service for Schools 

To refer a young person to the school counselling service, please click on the following link. Please note, there is currently a waiting list for this service, any urgent referrals should be directed to your family GP. 

https://mentalhealth-uk.org/partnerships/bloom-resource-library/ 

Education Authority Autism Advisory and Intervention Service (AAIS) 

Staying Safe – Dealing with COVID-19.  A booklet for Post-Primary Pupils 

https://www.eani.org.uk/services/pupil-support-services/autism-advisory-intervention-service-aais 

Update - 24/03/20

Dear all

As we face these unprecedented challenges together, the school building will be closing and our staff will be working from home for the next period of time.

Remote learning has been developing and should be available to all children who are able to engage with it.  We strongly encourage young people to bring structure to their days, by getting up, dressed, eating breakfast and completing a few hours of school work.

Other activities, such as playing games, spending quality time with family, cooking, exercising, learning a new skill, communicating with each other by mobile or online games, will be just as important.

As more information comes from exam boards, we will share it with pupils and staff to ensure we are abreast of relevant updates.

The school social media channels will not be monitored, whilst the school is closed, and all communication with school should be directed by email to info@crossandpassion.ballycastle.ni.sch.uk

Your email will be directed to the relevant member of staff.  Pupils may also wish to communicate with teachers by school email or through MS Teams.

Ongoing school updates will be posted on our school website and by parent text message.

Thank you to all our school community for your enduring dedication and support, all year round, but particularly as we work together to ensure we support our pupils, families and staff during this challenging time. 

We wish each and every one of you the very best, over the next few weeks and months, and look forward to being back together, in school, in the near future.

Cross and Passion College Staff

Telephone and Web Support for Young People

Information from the Education Authority showing the available support for young people

School Closure including possible Change of Use

Dear Parent/Carer

Cross and Passion College is now closed and will remain so until further notice.  Our building may be repurposed as an emergency childcare facility and our staff redeployed in a childcare role. 

This provision is only available for Key Workers, those maintaining essential services during the COVID-19 response, and should only be used as a last resort, when all other viable childcare options are exhausted.

If any parent needs to avail of this facility, they must first make an enquiry, by contacting the school at info@crossandpassion.ballycastle.ni.sch.uk

You will receive an application form, to confirm eligibility for this service, which must be returned 24 hours before the service is required.

The number of childcare places has been capped to ensure that staff and children are limited within the building.  This will enable staff and pupils to follow DE and PHA guidelines on social distancing.

The safest place for your children and school staff is at home.

Thank you to all our public sector Key Workers for their dedication and commitment during this challenging time and we wish them well as we face the crisis together.

Respiratory team's plea to NI public

The respiratory team at the Belfast Health Trust has issued an impassioned plea to the public to socially distance to help save thousands of lives.

Help Accessing Microsoft Teams

Please see the attached file below for some help on accessing Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft Teams Document

Update for Parents- 17/03/20

Dear Parent/Carer

The current, unprecedented circumstances we find ourselves in present us with challenges that we continue to strive to respond to in a co-ordinated, effective manner. As Principal of Cross and Passion College, my core responsibility is for the safety and well-being of all members of our school community.

Throughout this period, we have carefully, and fully, followed the directives and advice from both the Department of Education and the Public Health Agency. Following this guidance, I wish to re-state that we are not in a position to close the school, until we are instructed to do so. However, I acknowledge and understand the rising numbers of pupils and staff who are following instructions to isolate themselves for health reasons and the impact this has on their families, our school and their wider lives.

With this in mind, and after consulting with the Chair of our Board of Governors, the decision has been taken to move forward remaining INSET days, as well as one holiday, to Wednesday 18th March – Friday 20th March. The purpose of this is to afford teachers the time to prepare and disseminate materials that can be accessed remotely, in the increasingly likely event of a prolonged school closure.

These will be staff only days and pupils should not attend school on these dates.

I have previously mentioned that staff are taking a co-ordinated and pro-active approach to supporting pupil learning, in school and at home, and these staff days will allow this process to be accelerated.

I acknowledge, and apologise, for the short notice of this announcement, however you will understand the challenges that go with decisions of this nature and the very dynamic pressures that we are all faced with. I do not under-estimate the complications this will cause for families, in respect of arrangements for their children, but my decision is based on both planning, as well as the health and safety of pupils and staff.

The situation we all face is a fluid one and I ask you to continue to monitor the updates on our social media channels, website and parent text service. We thank you for your patience and support in these challenging times, as we make difficult decisions.

I wish all our school community well and ask you to continue to be vigilant in looking after your own health and for the well-being of those around you.

Best wishes

Paul McClean

Principal

Cross and Passion College

Update for Parents– 16/03/20

Dear all

We continue to follow all advice and guidance from the Department of Education and Public Health Agency. Whilst it is likely that schools will close at some point in the near future, we have received updated instructions from the Department of Education and currently remain open to pupils who can attend (school is closed for St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday 17th March).

Please note, BBC News had earlier mis-reported a fact in relation to our school, but immediately apologised and clarified the situation.

In light of the situation, which is changing daily, I have asked the staff to continue planning for sustained pupil learning in any eventuality.

Our immediate priority is to support pupils who are due to sit public examinations and complete qualifications in the summer. Teachers will be focusing on continuing provision for teaching and learning in school, whilst also making resources available online for those who cannot attend school for any reason.

My thanks go to our staff body, who are working diligently to ensure our pupils experience as little disruption as possible to their studies, given the unique challenges we are facing.

These arrangements are already being put in place in many subject areas, but will take some time to become fully operational.

If pupils or parents have technical or subject queries, they can contact the school by email info@crossandpassion.ballycastle.ni.sch.uk in the first instance.

I very much understand the anxiety and stress that the current situation has caused, right across society, and if you have any questions or queries, please direct your communications to the school through formal channels (either by phone, appointment or email).

Best wishes

Paul McClean

Principal

Cross and Passion College