Many children and young people will receive new devices and computer games for Christmas, PSNI have produced this letter with advice for helping to keep them safe.
With thanks to Coaching for Christ for their support, we have been able to enter a school team in a local football tournament. The team below played against five other schools, and we were delighted when they were second overall. Well done!
They are all looking very well in their new kit. Harry (P7) had previously won an art competition and spent his ‘school prize money’ on new kit. Many thanks.
With the cost of living crisis impacting families across Northern Ireland, PlayBoard has developed a new resource highlighting a range of low-cost play ideas.
Play is central to children’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. All children have a natural urge to play and that need will remain, even during times of economic hardship. Play activity does not need to be expensive or involve costly toys and gadgets - there are many ‘free and found’ play opportunities that already exist within our schools and other settings.
Play in times of hardship has practical play ideas and activities which can be enjoyed at little or no cost. https://bit.ly/playintimesofhardship
We were pleased to recognise children’s efforts to be ‘Kind and Caring’ and ‘Remembering to Choose a Healthy Breaktime snack’ in our November awards. As lots of our children do make efforts in both these areas this was a very hard choice for teachers to make. Well done to those children who got awards.
At this assembly, Lynda McAuley, CEF, shared a Christmas assembly with children and very kindly gave each child a calendar.
With the help of expert musician, Anne McCambridge, and in conjunction with the Rasharkin Village Association, P6/7 have been busy preparing for community carol singing in Rasharkin village. Anne has worked with the children to sing in parts and rounds. It seems like we will be in a for real treat on Friday 16th December.
We were very pleased to have Eve and Katie (Scripture Union staff) with us during anti-bullying week. They shared the story of the Good Samaritan and helped children to see the importance of helping others. Some pupils were our fantastic performers in assembly.
The theme for Anti Bullying week this year was “Reach out”. Key stage 2 children looked at ways they can reach out, not only if they were being bullied but also to help someone else. They discovered the different roles involved in bullying and discussed how they could help in different scenarios.
EA have produced two new resources to help parents support their children at home. Click here for information on supporting creative writing, or click here for the latest edition of ‘High 5’.
P6/7 enjoyed the chance to help keep our school looking good and be outside whilst, planting some bulbs violas and ornamental cabbages in the front bed.
P6/7 have enjoyed starting work on their Shared Education project. With support from ‘IntoFilm’, they will be working with children from St. Patrick's PS to create film reviews. They started their project with a trip to see ‘Asterix’.
We are delighted to be able to continue with this scheme that raised money for our school. Filled bags can be left outside the front door or in the disabled toilet area.
Many thanks to our P6/7 ‘poppy shop staff’. The ‘Poppy Shop’ has been busy and we were delighted to raise £81 for this good cause.
Last week P4 and P5 together with the P5 children from St Patrick’s Primary school enjoyed their trip to the People’s Park in Ballymena. Our children had their break at the park. Afterwards they had time to play with the friends they have made from St Patrick’s, through the Shared Education project.
They then went by bus to Ballymena library. Here are a few things they learned at the library:-
How books are organised and how to find them.
They were shown the different sections of the library.
Given the opportubity to borrow or browse.
They were shown how to join the library.
Road Safety Week is 14-18th November and this is a good time to have a chat with your child about simple things they can do to help keep themselves safe.
Promotion & Outreach Branch, Safe & Sustainable Travel Division, Department for Infrastructure (DfI) have a variety of road safety leaflets that parents can refer to. Here is a sample of some of them:
Parents’ Leaflet (0-7 and 8-11 years)
This has advice for parents on safe forms of transport and how to teach their children about road safety.
Bus Safety (Primary)
Road safety education leaflet on-bus safety.
Be Safe, Be Seen
Advice to make sure you are seen both day and night.
These can be viewed and down-loaded here.
Our ‘Poppy Shop’ will be available in school each day this week Tues - Fri at lunchtime. Click here for prices and details of what is available. Paper poppies are also available (suggested donation 50p).
Harvest Fun!
All the children had a wonderful time at our ‘Harvest Hoolie’.
Drama with Mr Montgomery. Chocolate Apples with Mrs Howe. Harvest Craft with Mrs Henry. Harvest Quiz with Mrs Peden. Harvest Games with Mrs Gray.
What a fun morning!
Well done to these children who received awards for good presentation: Ted, Penny, Jack, Holly, Daniel, Minnie, Erin, Lily, Bethany, Hollie, Tilly and Wiktor.
Well done to these children on receiving an award for being kind and caring: Lily and Ruby (Kevin and Aoife absent)..
We have been eagerly awaiting the EA’s launch of an online payment system. They are now seeking parental input with a survey.
Have your say and help shape the EA’s new online payment solution for families and schools.
An online payment solution is an app or web link which enables parents and carers to make secure payments for school related activities such as school meals, school trips, school milk, music and recreational activities.
Tell us your experiences with online payments for school related activities by completing this short survey before Friday 4 November.
Congratulations to the joint winners of the Accelerated Reading Cup for this half term, Joy and Robin
