"FOREST RANGERS" BY NATIONAL TRUST

On Tuesday 27th March our P1 and P2 pupils and P1 children from St Patrick's went to Downhill Forest. Staff from National Trust gave the children lots of information on life in the forest.  The children investigated trees, leaves and forest animals.  They also collected some twigs for a campfire and they toasted marshmallows and had some hot chocolate.  It was a beautiful spring day and the children made lots of new friends and had great fun being "Forest Rangers" for the day. 

FIRE SAFETY

Today our P5 children had a visit from Seamus, a fire fighter from Kilrea.  Each year the fire service speak to all P5 pupils about fire safety.  The topics they were learning about were, safe use of electrical devices and safe use of candles, matches and open fires.  They were also told how to check their home smoke alarms once a week and change the battery once a year. Finally they were told how to have a family fire safety plan so that everyone in the family would know how to get out, stay out and call the fire brigade out if a fire started in their home.

CARE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT

P4 and P5 have been learning all about 'The Environment' and this was the theme for their assembly this week.  The children reminded us that when God created our world he made it wonderful and beautiful. However people over the years have been spoiling it and now we have to look for ways to help care for the environment we live in.  They told us how we need to pick up litter, recycle, use less water, use less energy and use less fuel. 

Over the past number of weeks we have had Miss Kelsey Cubitt with us.  Kelsey is a third year student at Stranmillis and she has been teaching in the P4 and P5 classroom. Thanks to Kelsey for preparing the children for assembly and for using her musical talents to prepare songs for the children to sing.  One of their favourite recycling songs was set to the tune 'Hit the Diff'

Plastic bottles, paper, cardboard,

Glass and aluminium items.

Magazines and old newspapers,

Separate the rubbish out now.

CHORUS

 Rubbish, rubbish everywhere

You know what to do.

You put it in your hand right now

Throw it in the bin please do.

MINI GLADIATORS

Have you noticed over the past few weeks that on Wednesday afternoons your children have been coming home from school exhausted?  Well the reason for this is that they have been doing some very energetic training with Cara from Scott McGarry Health and Fitness under the title 'Mini Gladiators'.  The children all really enjoyed the sessions and were really excited when the Gladiator himself turned up for the final session.  Thanks to Cara and Scott for their hard work over the past number of weeks.

BUILDING BRIDGES

Today four of our P7's went to Ballymena Academy to take part in the Sentinus K'Nex Construction Challenge.  They were in two teams, Ross and Joe, and Gavin and Tom.  Twenty five teams were taking part in this Co Antrim heat.  The brief was 'Design and build a new and innovative bridge for your local area.  It can be a road, rail or footbridge, but is should be creative in its design and exciting to look at'.

They had an hour and a half to complete their design sheets and build their bridges from K'Nex.  Both teams did really well with Ross and Joe opting for a very strong road bridge and Tom and Gavin making a very impressive footbridge.  They were delighted when Mr Tom Keane from Sentinus announced that he had chosen Tom and Gavin's footbridge as the winning bridge.  Well done boys!  Gavin and Tom will now be going to Jordanstown on 12th June for the Northern Ireland Final of the K'Nex challenge

AFTER SCHOOL CLUB

The P2 and P3 children have been having great fun on Tuesday afternoons in their Multi Skills Sessions.  Diane, who is a sports coach from Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, has been teaching them lots of skills for PE.  Diane has also been taking the P4 and P5 children for Boccia, which is a bit like bowls and New Age Kurling.  There has been lots of competition between the red and blue teams and they have been steadily improving each week.  They are looking forward to having a go at Archery next week.

SCRIPTURE UNION

We would like to say thank you to Lorna, Hazel, Tracy, Shirley and Rebekah for coming into school over the past six weeks to take Scripture Union.  The children have all really enjoyed and benefited from the lessons they have been taught in the SU Club.

FAIRTRADE BREAK

Continuing on from their Fairtrade Assembly a couple of weeks ago, P6 & P7 organised a Fairtrade break day for 8th March.  They had made Krispie buns using Fairtrade chocolate and these were sold to some very hungry customers.  They also sold some Fairtrade bananas. The teachers were also treated to some Fairtrade tea and coffee.  They made a  profit of £51 which will be sent to Oxfam to help support families in poverty. Winners of the various Fairtrade competitions throughout the school received a bar of Fairtrade chocolate.  A special thank you to Mrs Wright for all her hard work in preparing for the assembly and also for the sale today.

ANTI-SMOKING POSTER

Congratulations to Lydia and Erinn who were the winners of the Anti-Smoking Poster competition which was organised by Patrick Kennedy Pharmacy in Rasharkin.  Both girls received a voucher each from the Pharmacy.  Thanks to Patrick Kennedy for organising this and also to Alison and Sarah who spoke to the P6 and P7 classes earlier in February about the dangers of smoking.

TEAM GAMES

On Friday 3rd March P6 and P7 along with the P7 class of St Patrick's Primary had a fun day out at Woodhall in Kilrea. The focus on the day was Team Building. The children all worked really well together as they completed the different activities.  These activities included, high ropes course, human Jenga, building bridges, archery and various team games.  Although it was a very cold day, the children all had a great day out and again we wish to thank the staff of Woodhall for making this possible.

BUG HOTELS

Tuesday 28th February was P1 and P2's visit to St Patrick's Primary under the Shared Education Programme.  This was another 'Forest Schools' day.  The children were given little pieces of birch branch and they used peelers to remove the bark. They put holes into the middle of the small pieces of wood. They then tied a few pieces together and hung them in our garden at school.  The smell from these will attract bugs into the bug hotels. Hopefully when the children check up on them in a few weeks time, the hotels will have some new residents.

WORLD BOOK DAY

Thursday 2nd March was World Book Day.  Over the past two weeks we have been receiving some super pictures of our children reading books in 'extreme places'.  The children had lots of fun telling everyone where they have been reading eg - up trees, in with calves, on top of sheds, in hot tubs, in swimming pool lockers and on holiday. Thanks to everyone for their pictures.

On World book day the P6 and P7 classes read stories to P1 and P2 and also to the children from Rasharkin Community Playgroup.  Throughout the day each class did various reading activities, in school, in the school grounds and also at the park.  Have a look at some of the photos - they say a photo is worth a thousand words!

FEBRUARY ASSEMBLY AWARDS

Congratulations to all the children who received certificates for February 2017.  Certificates were awarded for - 'Listening Well in Class' 'Great Writing Skills' and 'Respecting Others'.

FAIRTRADE

Today the P6 and P7 classes took our assembly and their topic was 'Fairtrade'. Becca, Lydia and Gavin explained that in many parts of the world where the foods that we love to eat are grown, the farmers and producers often do not get a fair price for their produce.  This means that many families have no money for food or schooling. By buying 'Fairtrade' produce we are helping to reduce poverty in these countries.  Next time you are out shopping, please look out for the Fairtrade Symbol.  Next Wednesday 8th March, P6 and P7 will be selling Fairtrade bananas and Krispie buns.  Don't forget your money!