Information for parents and carers on AI generated and manipulated images involving young people

The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI), Education Authority (EA) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are issuing this joint letter to parents and carers via schools, colleges, youth clubs and other organisations working with children and young people. The letter highlights growing concerns about the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to create or manipulate harmful and sexualised images of young people.

Parents and carers are encouraged to speak with their children about safe online behaviour and to seek help if anything causes concern. Anyone affected by harmful or manipulated images, or involved in creating or sharing them, is urged to contact their school, college or youth club safeguarding lead, or the police.

Further advice is available on the Online Safety Hub, which includes guidance on AI and Emerging Technologies explaining the key safeguarding concerns to be aware of and how to respond. To assist professionals, the SBNI and partners have produced Child Sexual Abuse Material Generated by Artificial Intelligence: An Essential Guide for Professionals Who Work with Children and Young People.

Table Tennis' Team Victory

Our table tennis team delivered a fantastic performance to win the Ulster Schools’ Cup, Primary School Finals, at South Lakes Leisure Centre, Craigavon. Toby, Luke, Harvey, Minnie and Izabelle all played brilliantly, showing great skill, determination and teamwork throughout the competition.

We are incredibly proud of their hard work and sportsmanship on the day.

A big thank you to the parents for transporting and supporting the team, and to the dedicated coaches, Frank and Dianne, for their guidance and encouragement.

Well done to our champions—you’ve done our school proud!

Shared Education - W5 Coding and Electricity Workshops

Our P6/7 pupils had an exciting opportunity this term to take part in a series of Shared Education workshops delivered by the brilliant team from W5. Thanks to generous support from the Changemakers grant, our pupils were able to dive into hands-on STEM learning through the “Amped Up” and “Spike” workshops.

In the Amped Up workshop, pupils explored the world of electric circuits and renewable energy. Working together in Shared Education groups, they experimented with circuits, investigated how electricity flows, and even created their own powered models. The room buzzed with excitement as pupils tested ideas, problem-solved, and celebrated their successes.

The Spike workshop introduced pupils to the fun of robotics and coding. Using Spike LEGO kits, pupils designed and built their own programmable robots. They learned how coding instructions translate into movement and actions, using teamwork and perseverance to overcome challenges. The pride on their faces when their robots finally completed tasks was wonderful to see!

We are extremely grateful for the Changemakers funding, which made these engaging and meaningful learning experiences possible. Opportunities like these help inspire curiosity, develop confidence, and encourage pupils to see themselves as future scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers.

Road Safe NI Quiz

We are extremely proud to share the fantastic success of our quiz team at this year’s Road Safe NI Primary School Road Safety Quiz, held at the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine. The event brought together twenty teams from across the region, all competing in a fun yet challenging competition designed to promote important road safety awareness among pupils.

Our brilliant team members worked incredibly hard as they tackled rounds covering road safety, general knowledge, and even a special section on road signs. Their teamwork, focus, and enthusiasm were outstanding throughout.

Events like these, organized by the Road Safe NI Charity, play an important role in educating young people about road safety in an engaging and memorable way. We are grateful to the organisers for putting together such a valuable experience for all participating schools.

A huge well done to our wonderful pupils—you represented the school with pride! Thank you also to the staff and families who supported the team along the way.

P7 Hoodies

P7 pupils have been enjoying wearing their ‘leavers’ hoodies’.

P7 Pizza Treat

P7s enjoyed a surprise treat of pizza for lunch today, thanks to an anonymous donor. It was a great opportunity for the pupils to chat together as they enjoyed delicious food and celebrate all their hard work so far this year.

German Week - Author Visit

This week-long celebration of the German language, organised by the German Embassy in the UK, the DAAD and the Goethe-Institut UK, aims to make learning German more visible and engaging across schools. We were delighted to welcome children’s author, Viviane Schwarz, to our school for writing workshop.

Take 5 - Keep Learning

Today P1,2 and 3 travelled to Ballymoney Library to enjoy stories and book browsing. This was part of our series of activities based on Take 5, focusing on ‘Keep Learning’. The children saw so many beautiful books and had the opportunity to read them in the lovely surroundings of the library. If you do not have a library card you can call into the library and fill in an application form. It is free to use and great for helping your child to improve their reading skills.

Values Assembly

This week, our P1–3 children lead us in a wonderful assembly all about our core value of “prepare.”

The pupils worked incredibly hard to understand what preparation looks like in school life—whether that’s getting ready to learn, organising materials, practising skills, or supporting one another to be ready for new challenges. Their assembly included a great song, some very clear speaking, great acting and dancing and examples from their own classroom experiences, helping the whole school to think about how being prepared sets us up for success.

A huge thank you to Miss Rowe and Mrs Calderwood for their hard work in guiding the children and helping them share such an engaging and meaningful message with the school community. Their support ensured the assembly was both enjoyable and inspiring for everyone.

Well done, P1–3! We are very proud of you.

Jungle Trip

Celebrating Connection, Confidence & Community: Our Shared Education After‑School Sports Programme

Over the past few months, pupils from our Shared Education partnership have been taking part in a vibrant after‑school sports programme designed to build skills, teamwork, and—most importantly—friendships across school communities. In collaboration with the United Youth Initiative, Ireland, this programme has given young people a space to be active, grow in confidence, and experience the power of working and playing together.

To celebrate the end of the programme, we wrapped up with an unforgettable afternoon at The Jungle NI, one of Ireland’s most exciting outdoor adventure centres.

Many thanks for all who made this opportunity possible.

Golf

We are delighted to share that our school is exploring the exciting Golfway Primary School Programme, part of Golf Ireland’s Unleash Your Drive initiative. This programme introduces children to golf in a fun, active, and fully inclusive way—while also supporting their mental health and overall wellbeing with a ‘mental toughness tool’ each week.

STEM Visit at Cullybackey College

Our P6 and P7 pupils enjoyed a fantastic learning adventure this week as they visited Cullybackey College to take part in their exciting INVO8 Day. The event was designed to inspire creativity, teamwork, and problem‑solving and to offer pupils the opportunity to experience life in a post primary school day. and our pupils certainly rose to the challenge!

There was also plenty of time for fun! Staff from both schools commented on the excellent behaviour, teamwork, and positive attitude shown by all the children.

We would like to extend a warm thank you to Cullybackey College for inviting us and for providing such a memorable and inspiring experience to help the transition process.

Shared Education

We were delighted to be able to offer our pupils, alongside those from St. Patrick’s PS the opportunity to learn about the importance of keeping safe online. Deborah, Thrive academy came into school to deliver the first of four sessions, thanks to funding from ChangeMakers.

Celebrating Our Wonderful Christmas Performances!

This week, our school was filled with festive cheer as pupils from P1–P7 took to the stage for their much-anticipated Christmas plays. What a fantastic way to end the term!
Our youngest performers melted hearts with their delightful production of A Bundle of Joy. Their enthusiasm, confidence, and beautiful singing brought the true spirit of Christmas to life. From the charming costumes to the heartfelt lines, every moment was magical. A huge well done to all the children for their hard work.
The older pupils wowed us with their hilarious and energetic performance of No One Wraps Like an Elf. The play was packed with laughter, catchy lines, and plenty of festive fun. The teamwork and talent on display were incredible, and it was clear how much effort went into making this show such a success.
A big thank you to everyone who helped make these performances possible—our dedicated staff, led by Mrs. R. Calderwood and Miss Rowe, supportive families, and of course, our amazing pupils. You’ve truly made this Christmas season special.

We wish all our families a joyful holiday and look forward to welcoming everyone back in the New Year!

December Assembly Awards

Congratulations to so many of our pupils who have worked hard throughout December to receive awards for reading, maths, kindess and being successful.

NACN Suicide Prevention Grant – Shaken Programme for P6 & P7 Pupils

We are delighted that our school has received funding through the NACN Suicide Prevention grant to deliver the Shaken Programme to our Primary 6 and Primary 7 pupils. This innovative programme focuses on building resilience, promoting positive mental health, and equipping young people with practical strategies to manage stress and emotions. Through interactive sessions, pupils learnt how to recognise feelings, develop coping skills, and support one another, helping to create a safe and caring school community. We are proud to be part of this important initiative, ensuring our pupils have the tools they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom and celebrated with a delightful end of project visit to the Big House.

PeacePLUS Chargemakers Grant: Bringing Young Innovators Together Through Shared Education

We are thrilled to have received a PeacePLUS, Chargemakers Grant which has enabled our pupils to collaborate with their peers from St. Patrick’s PS, in exciting STEM activities delivered by W5, Northern Ireland’s leading interactive science centre. The first session was a special Christmas themed workshop where children worked together to explore science, technology, engineering, and maths in a fun, hands-on environment—building curiosity, creativity, and lasting friendships. This initiative not only sparked innovation but also promoted understanding and cooperation, helping to shape a brighter, more connected future.

P4/5 Shared Education Visit to Warm Hub

P4/5 recently came together with children from St. Patrick’s PS for a morning of festive cheer at the Rasharkin Warm Hub. Guests enjoyed beautiful carol performances by our talented children, who shared the joy of Christmas. Everyone was delighted by a special visit from Santa himself! It was a fantastic way to celebrate the season as a community.