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TRULY FARE

Ormeau Road

MID TERM OPENING

CLOSED Tues 30 Oct - Fri 2 Nov

RE-OPEN Sat 3 Nov 10am - 5pm

All enquiries 02890 614447

Dear Parents and Carers of St Michael’s Primary School

We are excited to announce that we are introducing a great new way for our parents and teachers to communicate about fundraising and social events at our school. PTAsocial is a website that strengthens and grows our school community. It allows you to stay up to speed with the latest news, and can be viewed from your smartphone, tablet or home computer. It gives you control over what emails you receive, and protects your privacy.

It's easy for you RSVP to PTA events, or offer to help just a little, and make a big difference together. You can get involved as much or as little as you want, it’s up to you -- but you’re invited!

You can watch a short video here if you'd like to know more. (http://www.ptasocial.com/why-join)

Take a few seconds to join us now

• If you've provided your email address to the PTA previously, you'll be opted in to receive our updates via PTAsocial. You can change your notification preferences or opt out at any time.

• Please click this link to register with our community on PTAsocial: https://app.ptasocial.com/register/Stmichaelspta

• We hope to provide a PTAsocial button on our school website, where you can register or log in.

Let’s have some fun and raise money for the school while we’re at it!

Rachel McGonigle

PTA Chairperson

Nettlefield 2 St Michaels 5

Year 7 boys started the season in style with a very impressive 5-2 away win against Nettlefield P.S in the Belfast schools cup. The attendance of 60+ Nettlefield supporters did not distract the boys from the job at hand and we look forward to finding out our next opponents in the round 2 draw on Monday 22nd October.

Nettlefield made a quick start and went one nil up with a sweetly struck 25 yard curling shot into the top corner. From the kick off and following words of encouragement by Captain Marcus the boys responded with a slick move down the left flank which resulted in Conrad firing a first time shot into the top right corner. A similar move occurred 2 minutes later and St Michaels went 2-1 up.

From this point, the boys did not look back and a Fitzsimons brace made the score 4-1 at half-time. Along with Marcus (centre midfield) & Conrad (centre forward), a strong showing by Pau in the centre of defence makes for a very solid spine in this year's under 11 school team. A special mention also to Theo who chased down every ball and battled hard in the tackle to ensure the boys came out on top.

The second half was a calmer affair thanks to Tiernan finishing well at the start of the half. A goal for Nettlefield on the final whistle served as consolation to our hosts. St Michaels march on to round 2 of the Edco Belfast Schools cup and Mr Hunter has selection issues on his hands with every one of the 12 man squad putting in a shift their school and their parents should be proud of. Well done boys!!

GK - Josh

RB - Henry

CB - Pau

LB - Johnny

RM - Carter

CM - Marcus

LM - Conor

CF - Conrad

CF - Tiernan

Subs - Junior, Niall, Theo

Round 2 opponents to follow.....

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling on parents of pre-school and primary school children to get their kids vaccinated against flu. This will help protect not only them but also those around them, particularly older grandparents or relations with an underlying health condition. Children in particular can increase the spread of the flu virus in the community, but vaccination helps curb this.

Last year, seasonal flu activity was the highest seen since the 2009 pandemic, with 119 cases of flu in intensive care/ high dependency units (ICU/HDU) – more than twice as many as the previous year – and a total of 22 deaths in ICU/ HDU in which a diagnosis of influenza was confirmed.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said: “Last flu season, levels of the illness were higher than in previous years and uptake of the childhood vaccine was down slightly. Flu vaccination plays a vital role in limiting the impact of flu not only on individuals, but it also helps to reduce the spread of the virus among families and in communities.

“We are urging parents to get the free flu vaccine for their children to provide them with the best line of defence against the illness and to help protect their wider family and friends. It’s a quick, painless spray up their nose – just two seconds to provide them with the maximum protection against flu over the winter.”

The flu virus spreads easily and quickly, infecting both adults and children alike. This can lead to days spent in bed rather than being at work or school, causing considerable inconvenience for the whole family, not to mention putting more vulnerable family members at risk. Evidence shows that the flu vaccine for children can provide direct protection to them and will also reduce the amount of flu circulating, thus providing indirect protection for older people and individuals with underlying health conditions.

Dr Lucy Jessop, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, explained: “The flu virus spreads through the air when people cough and sneeze without covering their nose and mouth, and because young children don’t always cover their noses or mouths when coughing or sneezing, they can spread the flu virus very quickly, making them ‘super-spreaders’.

“Because the virus spreads easily, pre-school and primary school children are being offered the flu vaccine, giving them the best protection and also helping to protect more vulnerable members of their families too. We would ask parents not to forget to sign and send back the consent form to school for your primary school children, and to make an appointment with your GP for pre-school vaccination, or they may miss out.

“Everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated against flu should see it as a positive step in protecting their health and the health of others around them.

“With higher levels of flu activity last year and the potential for similar this year, it is more important than ever that everyone who is eligible gets vaccinated.

“We are fortunate to have a comprehensive flu vaccination programme, but the benefits may only be realised if a high proportion of the groups who can get the vaccine actually take up the offer.”

Pre-school children in Northern Ireland aged two years and over are eligible to receive the free flu vaccine through their GP. Meanwhile, children in primaries one to seven will be offered the vaccine in school. In addition, people over 65, ‘at risk’ children and adults, and pregnant women, can receive the vaccine at their doctor’s surgery.

Most children receive the vaccine via a quick and painless nasal spray. The nasal vaccine has been shown to provide even greater protection for children than the flu injection. There are a few children who cannot receive the nasal spray and they will be offered the injection instead.

Dr Jessop added: “Traditionally uptake rates for flu vaccination are high in Northern Ireland; however last year we saw a slight drop. We mustn’t become complacent – we need to maintain high rates of uptake every year to maximise protection for our community. It is important that everyone who is eligible for vaccination – whether they are two or 102 – takes up the offer.”

Some GPs may not invite all of their registered patients who are eligible for vaccination directly. If you, or someone in your care, is eligible to be vaccinated but does not receive an invitation, contact your GP to find out more about their flu vaccination clinics.

The vaccine changes each year to cover the strains which are likely to be prevalent over the course of the flu season, so it is important to get immunised annually. As it takes approximately two weeks following vaccination to develop maximum protection against flu, it is important to get vaccinated. If you wait until flu starts circulating, it may be too late for the vaccine to protect you, so get the flu vaccine and stay well this winter.

The flu vaccination programme is part of the wider ‘Stay Well this Winter’ programme operated by the Public Health Agency and the Health and Social Care Board which enables people to take simple steps during the colder months to look after their health.

For further information on the flu vaccine see www.pha.site/fluleaflets

For further information on how to help yourself stay well this winter visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/stay-well