We are very sad that Mrs Louise Calderwood who is the Kitchen Supervisor is leaving us. The children will really miss her so much. Thank you Louise for your hard work over many years at Rasharkin Primary School. Louise received a gift from school, which was presented by Oliver her son. Best wishes Louise in your new job.
![IMG_1413[1].JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5684021ed8af10fc737c847c/1616759197749-RGXZ8VAX6FD4Y1KYPMVX/IMG_1413%5B1%5D.JPG)
Well done to Poppy, P6, who was the winner of the Accelerated Reading Cup for this half term. Poppy achieved 114 points in the last half term which is particularly impressive as we recognise that during remote learning it was harder for children to make the effort to keep reading at home.
Congratulations to Flora P6 who received her certificate for Initial piano exam. Sam P6 received his certificate for Grade 1 piano exam. Both Flora and Sam are pupils of Mrs McAleese who teaches piano in school.
Congratulations to Poppy, Emma, Grace, Hana and Sam, who have all become Millionaire Readers. This means that they each have read over one million words in Accelerated Reading this year.
We are delighted that over lockdown our children have worked really hard on their reading. Many of our children have reached their Accelerated Reading Targets for this half term and lots of children have got certificates for Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress. A huge thank you to parents who have encouraged their children to read at home.
We are delighted that each child can take home a Fit 4 Fun – Kids Activity Pack. This programme aims to assist pupils to meet the recommended guideline of 60 minutes of physical activity per day. The bags have been provided with the generosity of a partnership of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust, Northern Healthy Lifestyles Partnership and Community Sports Network. Staff also completed training around the Energise programme which links together sport & activity games with nutritional health messages.
In this fortnight’s edition of HIGH FIVE we are thinking about what it means to be patient. With Spring in the air, it's easy for us to look forward to the months ahead and be impatient for what is to come - whether it's schools going back, moving on to something new or looking forward to life being "normal" again.
Click on the link below to access this week’s edition of HIGH FIVE:
https://www.eani.org.uk/publications/issue-20-primary-behaviour-support-provisions-newsletter-high-five
Please click here for details of an art competition from UNISON.
Kilrea library are continuing to offer a book and collect service, where you can request books to be made ready for collection. It is a wonderful opportunity to get a range of reading material. The opening hours are available here.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to think up great photo shoots for our World Book Day challenge. It was lovely to see all the children.
Click here to download your World book Day Token. These can be used up to 28th March in store only. Supermarkets also accept them, as bookshops remain closed.
My latest home learning activity, ‘Local History Explorers’ is designed to help children investigate their own local history by going in search of the oldest buildings in their area as part of a family walk or bike ride! Families can watch the video beforehand, as I get on my bike and go in search of historical buildings near to where I live and are encouraged to do some detective work as they explore near to where they live also.
Suitable for P3-7
Learning themes – History, World Around Us, Outdoor Learning
YouTube link – Local History Explorers
Road Safety Education - Task (Hazards 4-7 year olds)
Dear Parent, this task is designed for you to work alongside and complete with your child/children in relation to a key road safety issue. The focus is “Hazards”. A hazard is a danger and it is something we may come across when we are out walking or cycling. Some hazards are there all the time, such as a lamp-post, litter bin, electrical box, guard rail or a bad bend in the road. These are permanent hazards. Other hazards may only be there for a while such as traffic cones, mobile traffic sign, wheelie bin or bad weather. These are temporary hazards. In either case, hazards may reduce the space for walking/cycling and may even force pedestrians onto the road to pass by. They may also distract us, limit our vision or even affect our ability to hear. It is important to be alert at all times to help prevent injury and to keep safe. There are also two follow up activities (always or sometimes/circle the danger) which can be printed out and completed by your child.
When you are taking your child/children out walking or cycling, why not play a game of “Spot the Danger!” Ask your child/children to look out for dangers along your route. When they spot one you could ask the following;
�. Why do you think this is a danger?
�. Is this danger there all the time or is it only there sometimes?
�. What could you do to make sure the danger doesn’t harm you?
You could also discuss what other types of dangers they may come across at different times, for example;
�. Rainy weather might mean people are wearing a coat with a hood. This will make it more difficult for them to see or hear especially when they are crossing the road.
�. When the sun is rising/setting this can cause glare on windscreens and spectacles making it more difficult to see other road users. This could easily result in a collision.
�. A pothole might cause a cyclist to wobble or fall off their bike.
�. A car parked up on a footpath may result in less room for people/prams to pass and may mean that someone has to go out on the road to get past.
�. Windy weather could mean that branches or other debris is lying on the footpath and if you are not paying attention you may trip.
�. Bin day means that wheelie bins are out on the footpaths and it may be more difficult to see cars coming out of driveways. Wheelie bins also reduce the space on the footpath for pedestrians.
�. Icy/snowy weather may make footpaths more dangerous for walkers and may mean that vehicles take a longer time to stop safely. Be especially aware of this when using pedestrian crossings.
�. People working eg cutting a hedge, may mean that you have very little room to pass and people can be easily distracted by watching what the working people are doing rather than where they are walking.
For further information, why not have a look at the following resources to assist you in teaching your child how to use our roads safely and effectively as they develop:
Watch the following short video: https://youtu.be/-HlOJqqL56U
To view the teaching aid calendars that are issued in hard copy to every primary school across Northern Ireland providing each class teacher with a weekly photograph, message and discussion note on a road safety theme: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-teaching-aid-calendars
A recently produced guide for Parents of children aged 0-7 years:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/parents-guide-road-safety-0-7-years
General road safety information for parents of young children: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-children-under-seven
Road Safety Education - Task (Hazards 8-11 year olds)
Dear Parent, this task is designed for you to work alongside and complete with your child/children in relation to a key road safety issue. The focus is “Hazards”. A hazard is a danger and it is something we may come across when we are out walking or cycling. Some hazards are there all the time, such as a lamp-post, litter bin, electrical box, guard rail or a bad bend in the road. These are permanent hazards. Other hazards may only be there for a while such as traffic cones, mobile traffic sign, wheelie bin or bad weather. These are temporary hazards. In either case, hazards may reduce the space for walking/cycling and may even force pedestrians onto the road to pass by. They may also distract us, limit our vision or even affect our ability to hear. It is important to be alert at all times to help prevent injury and to keep safe. There are also two follow up activities (temporary or permanent/spot the hazards) which can be printed out and completed by your child.
Hazards (8-11 year olds) – Task
When you are taking your child/children out walking or cycling, why not play a game of “Spot the Hazard!” Ask your child/children to look out for hazards along your route. When they spot one you could ask the following;
�. Why do you think this is a hazard?
�. Is this hazard a permanent or temporary hazard?
�. What could you do to make sure the hazard doesn’t harm you?
You could also discuss what other types of hazards they may come across at different times, for example;
�. Rainy weather might mean people are wearing a coat with a hood. This will make it more difficult for them to see or hear especially when they are crossing the road.
�. When the sun is rising/setting this can cause glare on windscreens and spectacles making it more difficult to see other road users. This could easily result in a collision.
�. A pothole might cause a cyclist to wobble or fall off their bike.
�. A car parked up on a footpath may result in less room for people/prams to pass and may mean that someone has to go out on the road to get past.
�. Windy weather could mean that branches or other debris is lying on the footpath and if you are not paying attention you may trip.
�. Bin day means that wheelie bins are out on the footpaths and it may be more difficult to see cars coming out of driveways. Wheelie bins also reduce the space on the footpath for pedestrians.
�. Icy/snowy weather may make footpaths more dangerous for walkers and may mean that vehicles take a longer time to stop safely. Be especially aware of this when using pedestrian crossings.
�. People working eg cutting a hedge, may mean that you have very little room to pass and people can be easily distracted by watching what the working people are doing rather than where they are walking.
For further information, why not have a look at the following resources to assist you in teaching your child how to use our roads safely and effectively as they develop:
Watch the following short video: https://youtu.be/-HlOJqqL56U
To view the teaching aid calendars that are issued in hard copy to every primary school across Northern Ireland providing each class teacher with a weekly photograph, message and discussion note on a road safety theme: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-teaching-aid-calendars
General road safety information for parents of 7-11 year old children: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/road-safety-seven-11-year-olds
Click here to register for the parents session as detailed below on 11/3 @ 7pm.
The Menssana team are providing a 1 hour webinar via zoom specifically aimed at parents and carers of children of primary age.
The session aims to:
• Start a conversation about mental health
• Raise awareness of signs/symptoms of mental ill-health
• Teach self-care techniques for building resilience and confidence
• Show you how and where to access support and further information
If you are interested in attending, please register using the link above.
Please see links below to assemblies shared by Scripture Union, NI.
Key Stage Two
Jesus Calms the Storm
Optional Song: My Lighthouse, Rend Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeJvKkBV6rY
He knows my name
Optional song: He knows my name
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHSAVXxeq_w&t=0s
St. Patrick
Optional song: Love light, Brentwood Benson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSCvvfgpNvo&list=RDBtDH_yBUcsM&index=2
Easter
Optional Discussion Questions:
-Do you have any ways/tricks to help you remember things?
-The bread and wine were symbols to help Jesus’ followers remember what he did on the cross. Are there any symbols you can think of that help us remember important events or people?
-Why might Christians think it’s important to remember what Jesus did on the cross?
The ‘Sustrans Bicycle Board Game’ is simple and fun activity that pupils can use as a ‘brain break’ at home in between tasks.
Land on a green and you’ll have made a good cycling choice like ‘you planned a great route using a map’ and you’ll jump forward spaces, but land on a red and you might have made a poor choice such as forgetting to wear your helmet and of course you’ll have to go backwards!
See poster attached for more information
Creative Earth is an art competition for people aged 16 and under from across the UK, run by the UN COP26 Climate Change Conference in collaboration with WWF.
Whether it’s green forests and garden cities, clear skies and wind turbines or oceans teeming with life – you can paint, draw or design a piece of art that shows how you’d like our planet to look in the future.
Enter the competition to be in with a chance of having your artwork displayed at COP26 and show the rest of the world your vision for the future.
Submit your entry by 5th April to be in with a chance!
Click here for the February edition of the EA’s High Five newsletter. This issue focuses on ‘Take 5’ and has lots of good ideas.
‘Pedal-Powered Poems’ encourages pupils to practice their creative writing by penning their own acrostic poem about their favourite active way to travel! We encourage you to go for a family walk, scoot or cycle first to get a little bit of inspiration for their poem!
Share: We’d love to hear your brilliant poems. Share pupil poems (or even recitals!) with Sustrans as per details on leaflet, or email them to rhowe432@c2kni.net and I will send them on. Some might even be included in the next regional newsletter! The worksheet (attached) contains an example that I wrote myself to help give pupils some ideas to get started.
Please click here to read the latest information from ThinkUKnow.
