St Mary's Primary & Nursery School, Bellaghy, Magherafelt

Welcome

On behalf of the children, staff and governors of St Mary’s Primary School and Nursery Unit, I am delighted to welcome you to our school website.

St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School was established in 1964 and is situated in the middle of the town of Bellaghy. County Derry. Our Nursery Unit was opened in 2002, expanding our provision for the children of Bellaghy.

We believe that all children are life time learners. We know that children learn best when they feel happy, secure and well cared for. Therefore our first priority is the provision of strong pastoral care in a nurturing environment of catholic faith. We aim to develop in our children a passion and love of learning by providing an enriched, broad and balanced curriculum; that delivers a high quality, inclusive education for all, so that each may reach their full potential.

I sincerely hope that you will find our website to be an extremely useful resource, helping you to engage with your child’s educational journey through St Mary’s. Should you require any further information on admissions or would like to visit the school at any stage, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Mrs Mary McCann

Principal

 

Welcome

Dear Parents / Guardians

Welcome to our new St Mary's Primary School and Nursery Unit Website! We hope you can easily access lots of information about life in St Mary's.

Please be patient as new information and pages are transferred over.

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Latest News

28th Jan 2026
P.1/2 have been loving our Thursday Quiz challenges the last few weeks. We had great...
 
 
 
 
25th Jan 2026
P.3 took part in their carousel planning activity as part of their new WAU topic...
 
 
 
 
25th Jan 2026
P.3 had a fantastic time exploring and playing in the snow. The children enjoyed...
 
 
 
 
 
 

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P.1/2 Quiz Fun P.1/2 have been loving our Thursday Quiz challenges the last few weeks. We had great fun working in pairs to complete a Kahoot quiz based on all the phonics and number challenges. Pupils selected their answers on the iPads and enjoyed watching the leaderboard change on the big screen between each question. Great teamwork and revision boys and girls!
‘Build It’ Carousel P.3 took part in their carousel planning activity as part of their new WAU topic ‘Build It’. During the carousel, children explored a range of resources, pictures and hands on materials to help spark curiosity. They noted some questions they would like to investigate during the topic. This helps children take ownership of their learning and sets the foundations for an exciting term’s discovery!
P.3 Fun in the Snow P.3 had a fantastic time exploring and playing in the snow. The children enjoyed making footprints, discovering patterns and of course throwing snowballs! Back in the classroom, their snowy fun became the inspiration for their art. Children painted and crafted their own snowmen- each one unique, colourful and full of character.
Grandparents Day Our P7 pupils welcomed their grandparents and special people to St.Mary’s this morning for a special assembly in celebration of Grandparents Day as part of Catholic Schools Week. We were delighted to welcome so many grandparents and special people who play such an important role in our pupils lives.The morning was filled with quality time as grandparents listened to our special assembly , played bingo and had some lovely treats.We shared tea, coffee, scones, buns and plenty of smiles.Thank you to all the grandparents and special people who joined us to make the celebration so special. You truly are the best!!
Primary 5 Exploring 3D Shapes! Our Primary 5 class had a brilliant time on Thursday during a 3D Shape Carousel in numeracy. The boys and girls explored a variety of 3D shapes, learning their names and investigating the number of faces, edges and vertices each shape has. Through hands-on activities, pupils moved around different stations, working together to examine and discuss the shapes. Super work, Primary 5!
Catholic Schools Week 2026 - Primary 5 Primary 5 enjoyed a very special week celebrating Catholic Schools Week with the theme “Normal lives, called to holiness.” We discussed the importance of prayer and spending quiet time with God. As a class, we sat quietly in reflection before writing our own prayers, thanking God and asking for His help. For Grandparents’ Day, we typed our favourite memories on Just2Easy and created a thoughtful craft to take home, sharing the reasons “Why I Love You.” We learned about Saint Carlo Acutis and created fact files about his inspiring life. We also made a class friendship chain, writing ways we can show love and kindness to others. The boys and girls even had a go at drawing Luce, the anime mascot of the Catholic Church, which was great fun. A meaningful week that reminded us how we can live holy lives through our everyday actions.
A Sunny Wintry Take 5 For Take 5 on Friday, P6 enjoyed a snowy walk in the playground, a chance to chat with their classmates and observe our playground in the wintry light.
St.Conor’s College P6 and P7 were delighted to hear from Mrs Collins, the Principal of St.Conor’s College, about what school life would be like if they choose to attend after leaving St.Mary’s. It was a wonderful opportunity to find out the subjects, after school activities, trips, sports and the teachers that would be their guide in Year 8. Not forgetting about the brand new school that will be ready to move into when the boys and girls are in Year 9 and 10.
Winter in Nursery. The children in nursery have been exploring the season of Winter. The snowy start to our new term was the perfect opportunity to explore what happens when snow and ice melt. They have loved wrapping up in warm clothes and developing their independence and self help skills.

Latest Photographs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Upcoming Events...

Monday, 9th February 2026
Mid Term Break (School Closed )
Tuesday, 10th February 2026
Mid Term Break (School Closed )
Wednesday, 11th February 2026
Mid Term Break (School Closed )
Thursday, 12th February 2026
Mid Term Break (School Closed )
Friday, 13th February 2026
Mid Term Break (School Closed )