In St Colm’s High School, Draperstown, staff and pupils firmly believe in the importance of health and well-being. Following discussions with Malachy, Margaret and Karen McGuigan from S.T.E.P.S and Draperstown’s Men’s Shed the Eco-group decided on a programme to enrich the health and well-being of staff, pupils and the local community. They were successful in being awarded a Workspace grant to run an eight week ‘Exercise in the great outdoors’ exercise for staff and pupils. This was held every Monday and Wednesday after school. In addition they received £20,000 from the Challenge Fund 2016-17 to develop a community health walk through Susan’s trail, the School’s biodiversity trail.

CCMS recently welcomed Nursery and Primary School Principals from across the Catholic Maintained Sector to two conferences in Derry and Lisburn.

Several serving Principals and Vice-Principals spoke about the great work they are doing in relation to Special Needs Provision and Safeguarding.

Clare Evans and David Ryan (EA) also spoke as did Dr Lynne McMullan, Education Associate for CCMS.

A group of sixth form construction pupils from St Malachy’s High School, Castlewellan, accompanied by their teacher Mr Gary Mason, were informed by a ‘Construction and the Built Environment’ representative from Birmingham University, Nicki Schiessel Harvey, on potential career paths open to them. During her visit, the pupils were able to experience an interactive 3D modelling app, which allowed a typical site to be brought in the classroom.

The highly successful choir of Holy Family Primary School, Derry are on their travels again over the St Patrick’s Day holidays. This time the Aileach Road school will make the long journey to London to be Northern Ireland’s sole representative in the Barnardo’s National Choir of the Year Finals which will be held in the Royal Festival Hall, South Bank, London.

It's nearly time for the annual Balmoral Show and as principal sponsors Ulster Bank are working in partnership with the Health & Safety Executive NI, the Farm Safety Partnership, and the Ulster Farmers Union to encourage children to be more aware of the risks that can arise when playing on a farm.