St Columba’s PS wins Derrytrasna Award in recognition of outstanding Pastoral Care.

On Monday 22 April 2024, Paul Givan, Minister of Education and Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health, presented Awards to St Columba’s Primary School (Draperstown), Belfast Boys’ Model School and Knockevin Special School in recognition of their exceptional pastoral care of pupils and families.

St Columba’s Primary School was awarded the Derrytrasna Award in the Primary school sector. The ceremony was hosted by the Department of Education and the Public Health Agency. The annual award is for school communities that have demonstrated exceptional pastoral care in supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of pupils and their families.
Presenting the awards, Education Minister Paul Givan said: “Children and young people face many challenges as they grow up.  Over the last ten years, the Derrytrasna awards have recognised the exceptional contribution and support, provided to children and young people by schools, during what can be a difficult time in their lives.
“These award-winning schools have all demonstrated outstanding pastoral care, putting pupils’ needs to the forefront of school life. All three schools displayed a commitment and dedication to supporting the individual needs of pupils and their families. I am exceptionally proud of their efforts, which have made such an incredible difference to the lives of young people.”

The Derrytrasna Pastoral Care award was created by the Department of Education in collaboration with the Public Health Agency in 2014.  It seeks to recognise through nominations, those school communities that have demonstrated exceptional effort in supporting the pastoral care of pupils and their families.
Mrs Mc Alister Principal of St Columba’s PS commented “We are very excited about receiving this prestigious award especially when we found out that our school was selected as a winner out of 500 nominations. We feel very honoured. We pride ourselves on the excellent relationships between staff, pupils and parents in our school family. We firmly believe in the importance of a happy child along the journey of education.”
Mrs Mc Alister added that she would like to thank all the school team for their outstanding contribution to school life and concluded that they hoped to organise some fun events in school to celebrate this success.