News 2025 2026
🏐GAA News 🔴⚫️
Our P7 pupils Hugh, Ayda & Emma attended the Cumann na mBunscoil an Duin GAA Skills Day in Hilltown yesterday.
They played in a series of Gaelic Football matches alongside boys and girls from primary schools across the county.
Well done to them 👏
Our School Council’s Easter Grand Draw and Guess the Sweets competition took place this week, and we were delighted to share the excitement with all our pupils. Check out the winners’ photos below 📸✨
A very special thank you to Mr Hardy’s wife, Noreen, for so kindly making up and supplying the wonderful prizes for our Easter Raffle. 🎁💛
And another big thank you to Emma in P7 for supplying the jar of sweets for our guessing game—your help made the event even sweeter 🍬😊
Wishing all our families a lovely Easter break filled with rest, joy, and plenty of chocolate! 🐰🌷💐
🐰✨ Exciting Morning in Primary School! ✨🐰 We had a very special visitor in Primary School this morning… the Easter Bunny hopped in to say hello 🐣💛 The children enjoyed a fantastic Easter egg hunt organised by our P7s first, and then welcomed the Easter Bunny for a magical visit. 🌷🥚🐰 Lots of smiles, giggles, and a brilliant start to the day. Wishing everyone a lovely lead‑up to the holidays. 🌼
Thank You for Your Kind Easter Donations
A massive thank you to Conrad Haughian of Conrad Developments and Joggy Dhillon from Red Box Kitchen for their incredible generosity this Easter.
Their thoughtful donations of Easter Eggs brought huge smiles to the children of Holy Cross, Atticall. We are also especially grateful to Red Box, who kindly provided lovely meals for our staff—a truly appreciated gesture of support and kindness.
Your generosity has helped make this Easter a little brighter for everyone in our school community.
Thank you for your continued kindness and connection with our school.
🌟 Spelling Bee Buzz 🌟
The school was buzzing with excitement this morning as our P2–P7 pupils took part in this term' Spelling Bee 🐝✨
A huge congratulations to our brilliant winners—you spelled your way to the top! But an even bigger shout‑out goes to every single child who joined in. From practising tricky words to stepping up with confidence, you all did amazingly well.
Well done, super spellers⭐💛
Big Walk & Wheels 2026
A massive thank you to everyone who took part in our 8 days of the Big Walk & Wheels. What a fantastic effort from all our pupils & families — and such a lovely sunny morning to finish on ☀️🚶♀️🚴♂️ A special shout‑out to all the parents who volunteered each day. Your time and support made the whole event run smoothly, and we couldn’t have done it without you. 👏
Children should continue wearing their hi‑vis vests and reflectors — it’s a great way to help keep them safe and seen on their journeys. 💛✨
Take a look below to see a selection of photographs captured throughout the week — so many smiles and brilliant moments! 📸
Thank you again for making it such a success 💚❤️
Council Environmental Youth Speak Competition
Congratulations to Hugh who was selected from 13 primary and secondary schools across the district took part in this year’s Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Environmental Youth Speak competition.
Irish Language Primary Schools Art Competition
Congratulations to the winners of the Irish Language Primary Schools Art Competition. A special thank‑you to Ruairí Ó Donnáin, Irish Language Development Officer, Conradh na Gaeilge Boirche Íochtar for organising the event.
KS1 1st Place Darcy P3 2nd Place P1
KS2 1st Place Mary Kate P7 2nd Place Ava P5
Our new Bug Hotel
Thank you to the ECO-Team for their hard work in creating this Beautiful bug hotel. They explored the kinds of habitats that different bugs like and then had a go at designing their own bug hotel. The team worked hard to make the environment accessible for all mini-beasts, using recycled and natural materials. The ECO-Team are excited to open the Bug Hotel to the entire school, with identification keys available, so that we can name the mini-beasts that come to stay. Over the next few weeks we will be adding flowers, to create a habitat for the bumblebees too.
😊 Healthy Kidz – Be Active in the Community Initiative 🏃♂️🏃♀️
This afternoon, our P4–P7 pupils enjoyed taking part in the Big Work Out Sessions 💪 led by Aimee from Healthy Kidz, as part of the Newry, Mourne and Down (NMD) Council’s Be Active in the Community Initiative 🌟 — fully funded by NMD Council.
The pupils had a fantastic time getting active and having fun together 🎉. We are now looking forward to the upcoming Colour Run later in April 🌈, where our P6–P7 pupils will take part in what promises to be another energetic and memorable event!
Masked Reader Reveal
Every valid entry is now locked into our 2 Winners Wheels for the prize!
(KS1 - P1-3 & KS2 - P4-7)
Thank you so much to everyone who entered.
Watch the reveal video below.
Masked Reader Competition 2026
As part of our World Book Day celebrations, we are excited to let you know that our Masked Reader competition video is now available to watch
Click the link below.
Thank you for joining in with the fun and helping us celebrate a love of reading.
Our Primary 7 student Emma shone at her recent gymnastics competition in Antrim, earning five medals and taking home the trophy for 1st place overall in her level and age group. This was her first competition on home soil—an incredible achievement.
Cumann na mBunscoil Indoor Camogie Final
A massive well done to our fantastic girls who played brilliantly at the Cumann na mBunscoil Indoor Camogie Final today in Portaferry.
The team showed incredible skill and determination, winning 5 out of their 6 matches.
Although they were narrowly defeated by Ballygalet, their performance throughout the tournament was outstanding, and we are incredibly proud of every one of them.⭐
Special thanks to Joggy & Cathy for transporting the girls today
Road Safety Visit – Delivered by Mr. Hardy
Our children took part in an engaging and informative road safety session led by Mr. Hardy.
The workshop helped pupils learn how to stay safe when walking near roads, the importance of being alert, and how to make sensible choices as pedestrians.
A big thank you to Mr. Hardy for delivering such an important message in a fun and memorable way.
Congratulations to our girls’ football team on qualifying for another All-County Cumann na mBunscoil Final!
We are incredibly proud of your teamwork, and determination. The girls went unbeaten all day and the final match decided who would qualify. The final match ended in a draw, as did extra time the match was then decided by the golden score a nail bitten finish the girls managed to get the winning score!!
Date of the final is to be confirmed, but we’ll be cheering you on all the way!
Congratulations to our girls and boys who achieved second place in the Kilkeel Credit Union Limited Quiz tonight. All our teams represented the school brilliantly.
A big thank their parents for giving up their time outside of school to take part in the quiz on such a bad evening.
Bee Safe Event 2026
Our Primary 7 class had an amazing time at the Bee Safe event on Wednesday 5th February 2026!
Throughout the day, our pupils learned so many valuable life skills to help keep them safe and healthy:
Online Safety - The children discovered how to stay safe while using the internet, social media, and gaming platforms, learning about protecting their personal information and recognizing potential online dangers.
Bus Safety - They explored important tips for staying safe while travelling on public transport, including how to behave responsibly and what to do in different situations.
Home Safety - Our pupils learned essential skills for keeping themselves safe at home, from fire safety to dealing with emergencies.
Mental Health Matters - A really important session focused on the “Take 5” approach to mental wellbeing, teaching our young people practical strategies to look after their mental health and when to reach out for support.
It was wonderful to see our P7s so engaged and enthusiastic throughout the event!
These are such important skills that will help keep them safe as they grow and become more independent.
A huge thank you to everyone who organized and delivered the Bee Safe event!
Congratulations to our girls’ camogie team on qualifying for the All-County Cumann na mBunscoil Camogie Final!
We are incredibly proud of your teamwork, and determination. Date of the final is to be confirmed, but we’ll be cheering you on all the way!
Grandparents Day2026
We were truly blessed to welcome our Grandparents to a special Mass as part of Catholic Schools’ Week. Grandparents bring such love, wisdom, and joy into our lives, and it was wonderful to see so many of them with us today. We hold in our hearts and prayers those who could not join us, and we lovingly remember all our cherished Grandparents and loved ones who now watch over us from Heaven. Special thank you to our Friends of Holy Cross for providing tea and refreshments afterwards.
A brilliant morning for Cumann na mBunscol indoor hurling at An Ríocht today. Great to see so many children attending and enjoying the games. Well done to all involved. Special thanks to Mr Hardy for coaching us this week in preparation.
Congratulations to Oisin in P4
We are delighted to announce that Oisin is the winner of the Christmas NI Water competition. Well done
🎄 School Council Christmas Hamper Raffle 🎄
A huge thank you to everyone who donated and supported our School Council Christmas Hamper Raffle! Your generosity has helped us raise an amazing £815 for school funds.
We would also like to give a special thanks to our School Council members for collecting tickets each day—it made all the difference!
Prize Winners
- Ayda O’Hare P7
- Reece Mallon P5
- Annie Grant P6
- Mrs Norris
- Bailey White P6
- Joanne O’Hagan (c/o Bernie)
- Brona Cunningham (c/o Joe)
- Odrian Sloan P2
- Aisling Rafferty (c/o Ollie)
- Clodagh Cunningham P3
- Katrina Donnelly
- Sierra O’Hare P1
- Eden Rose Sloan P6
- Chloe Mallon P4
Congratulations to all our winners and thank you again for your incredible support.
From all of us at Holy Cross Primary we wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year! 🎅 🎁
Our talented students have been learning the tin whistle at school, and today they were spreading some Christmas cheer with their festive tunes.
A big thank you to Mrs. Norris for her wonderful teaching and support.
Take a moment to listen and enjoy their holiday melodies in video link below 🎶
Christmas Jumper Day Presentation
A huge thank you to Aisling from Cancer Fund for Children for collecting the £70 raised during our recent Christmas Jumper Day. Included in the photo are Mrs Sloan, Principal, along with some of our P7 children.
Your support helps make a real difference for children and families affected by cancer.
A huge thank you to Atticall GAC G4MO members and organisers for your incredible generosity!
Your kind donation of £700 following the Christmas Bingo will make a real difference for our Primary School.
We truly appreciate your support and community spirit!
Included in the photo are some of the players’ children.
🎄Journey to Santa in partnership with Sustrans! 🚴♀️
Our pupils have been taking part in an exciting challenge called Journey to Santa in partnership with Sustrans! 🚴♀️👟
This programme encourages pupils to make more active journeys to and from school. Each active journey earns a stamp on their special stamp sheet, and as the stamps add up, tracking our collective progress all the way to the North Pole! ❄️🛷
✨ Congratulations to P3 pupil Odrian, who collected the most points and won a prize from Santa’s Workshop! 🎁🎅
🎄✨ Christmas Jumper Day Success! ✨🎄
A huge thank you to everyone who joined in the festive fun today!
Your amazing support helped us raise £70
for Cancer Fund for Children 💛.
Together, we’re making a difference for children
and families who need it most. 💕
The children had a fantastic time today enjoying their Christmas Party Boxes at school while rocking their festive Christmas jumpers!
Thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special.
Today we’re celebrating Ditch the Dark Day—an initiative that encourages all children to come to school wearing bright colours & reflective clothing. This helps raise awareness about staying safe on the roads during the darker winter months.
See our video below:
🎄 A huge thank you to all our amazing parents for your generous donations towards our School Council Christmas Hamper! 🌟 Tickets go on sale from Monday, 1st December, at just £1 per square.
Don’t miss your chance to win a fabulous festive treat!
Open Day Highlights
We were delighted to host our School Open Day today and welcomed prospective pupils and their families to our school. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our vibrant learning environment, dedicated staff, and the wide range of opportunities available to every child.
Visitors enjoyed guided tours of our classrooms and facilities, met with teachers, and experienced firsthand the warm and inclusive atmosphere that makes our school special. We are thrilled by the positive feedback and look forward to seeing many of these families join us in the future.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the day such a success!
On Tuesday, our P1/2 class welcomed Sean Rodgers from Kilkeel Credit Union, who kindly presented a £150 donation to support classroom resources. The pupils and staff were delighted with this generous contribution, which will be used to purchase materials aimed at developing fine motor skills. Pictured is Mrs Laura McComiskey, class teacher.
Woolly Hat Cheque Presentation
A big thank you to Danielle from Mourne Stimulus, who visited our school this morning to collect a cheque for £86 raised during Woolly Hat Day in November.
Blythswood Shoebox Appeal 2025
Holy Cross Primary School would like to thank everyone who donated to this year’s Blythswood Shoebox Appeal. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our pupils, families, 58 shoeboxes were collected and sent off today. Each box is packed with thoughtful gifts that will bring comfort and joy to those in need this Christmas.
The "Gaeilge speak Irish for a day 2025" event is Gaeilge24, a challenge to speak only Irish for 24 hours, took place today November 11, 2025.
A Thank You to Tesco Newry!
We are grateful to Laura Hudson, Community Relations Officer at Tesco Newry for their generous donation of toys.
Your kindness will bring joy to many and make a real difference in our school. We truly appreciate your support.
Congratulations to Lily-May (P3) and Georgia (P5) for winning 3rd place in their year groups, in the recent Kilkeel Credit Union Poster Competition, themed ‘The Future Is…’. (Missing from picture Lily-May)
A massive congratulations to Ava (P5) for WINNING the Newsdesk Adobe competition on Heroes and Heroines and earned her class a pizza party!
What an outstanding achievement!
We were thrilled to support the local charity Mourne Stimulus by taking part in their annual Woolly Hat Day!
This amazing organization makes a real difference for people in our community and beyond.
Some of the children joined in the fun, proudly wearing their colorful woolly hats to help raise much-needed funds.
Mourne Community First Responders
Our students, alongside Principal Mrs. C. Sloan, proudly presented a cheque for £1,539.01 to Helene Grant from Mourne Community First Responders.
This fantastic amount was raised during our Annual Sponsored Walk in September. The generosity and enthusiasm of our school community have made a real difference to this vital local service.
Thank you for helping us make this event such a success 👏
A huge thank you to Alanna for bringing in the very first shoebox for the Blythswood Appeal – what a fantastic start! Your generosity is helping us kick things off in the best way possible.
We’ll be collecting shoeboxes until 17th November 2025 morning.
Thanks again for spreading kindness and making a difference!
🎃 Thank you to everyone who joined our Halloween Costume Parade! 🧙♀️🦸♂️
The costumes were amazing, and the smiles made it even better. Wishing you all a lovely break—enjoy and stay safe! 🍂✨
🎃 Lucky Winners 🎃
Lucky winners of a Special Halloween Draw, conducted by Mr. Hardy in recognition of all the hard work and effort put in during his P.E. sessions.
A huge thank you to Mr. Hardy for this fantastic surprise and for making P.E. both fun and rewarding! 🏅👏
Happy Hallowe’en, everyone! 🎃👻
🎃Congratulations to All Our Halloween Smarties Tube Designers🎃
A huge well done to everyone who took part in the Halloween Decorate a Smarties Tube Challenge organised by our fantastic School Council!
The creativity and effort shown in every entry was truly spook-tacular.
Thank you to all participants for making this event such a success – you’ve made Halloween extra special this year! 🎃✨
Class winners
🐝 Congratulations to Our Spelling Bee Winners 🐝
We’re proud to celebrate the incredible talent and hard work of today’s champions. 🌟
Well done to all participants for making this event a success ✨📚
⭐Congratulations to Avery & Katie, winners of our Design Our School Star Awards ⭐
Well done and keep inspiring us all!
+-x/ Math's Week 2025 +-x/
Last week we have had the opportunity to work with St Louis, Kilkeel for Math's Week along with other schools and complete a Puzzle each day.
Congratulations to Primary 5 &6 who were the prize winners for the Wednesday's competition of the St. Louis math's week challenge.
Well done to all involved.
🌟 Welcome to Our Digital Leaders 2025 🌟
We are thrilled to introduce our new Digital Leaders for this academic year! These students have shown exceptional enthusiasm, creativity, and a passion for technology. They will play a key role in supporting digital learning, helping peers and staff.
Translink - Brand A Bus Competition
Cassy, Primary 5 was announced as one of the winners in a province-wide art competition.
Her design will be showcased on a fully wrapped Translink Ulsterbus, which was officially unveiled at a special event held at Belfast Grand Central Station on Thursday 25th September,
The bus will now tour across Northern Ireland, celebrating creativity and community spirit.
As part of her prize, Cassy received a £200 art pack to help her continue exploring her artistic talents.
A proud moment for Cassy, her school, and her local community!
Annual Sponsored Walk – A Beautiful Morning in Mourne Park
We had a fantastic time during our Annual Sponsored Walk on Thursday in the stunning surroundings of Mourne Park. The weather was perfect, making it an ideal morning to come together in support of the Mourne First Responders. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the day so special!
NICCY Event Newcastle September 2025
Representatives from our P7 class had the great opportunity to meet the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children & Young People in an event held in Newcastle to promote the work of NICCY and the rights of children. This was a fantastic, informative session and the children learned lots about the origins of NICCY as an organisation, the work they do and how they can get involved. Some great ideas for School Council initiatives in our school.
