P1 and P2 had a busy morning during outdoor play. They had four main activities:-
den building
race track
building site
playing in the garden
The children all brought their teddy bears to school and after breaktime they had a delicious teddy bears’ picnic together. Thanks to Mrs Calderwood and Miss O’Boyle for organising this. Thanks also to some of our P7 children who helped with outdoor play today.
Yesterday, our P1 to P4 children had a super outing to Rosepark Farm. The children really enjoyed seeing the animals, and especially all the animals in the petting sheds. After a long walk around the farm and through the fairyland wood, everyone had lunch and then had great fun on the bouncy castles, swings and ziplines and pedal tractors. The boys really enjoyed using the diggers in the sand area. Thanks to our two guides who looked after us so well, and gave us lots of information about the animals.
Alexander and Sam went to Ulster University Jordanstown, to take part in the K’Nex Construction Challenge Final. Their brief was to design a Ferris Wheel for a new funfair. The Ferris Wheel had to be strong and it had to rotate using an electric motor. As you can see from the photo, they made a super Ferris Wheel and although they did not win, they had a great experience alongside the many other teams taking part. They also got a chance to look around the Sentinus Event that was taking place at the University. Thanks to Lorna Wylie for accompanying the boys to Jordanstown.
On Friday 21st June, our P5,6 and 7 children enjoyed a visit to CS Lewis Square in Belfast. This is a a public space commemorating the Belfast-born author, CS Lewis. The Chronicles of Narnia have been recreated with seven bronze sculptures from 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe', including Aslan, The White Witch, Mr Tumnus, The Beavers, The Robin and The Stone Table.
Afterward they went to the Ulster Museum and saw the famous ‘Mummy’ - Takabuti.
Congratulations to Jeorgia, Alexander and Hannah who received a goody bag each from Causeway Dental Practice. Their posters promoting ‘Visiting the Dentist’ were chosen as first prize winners at Ballymoney Show.
Congratulations to Joe and Peri who have read more than a million words this year, in the Accelerated Reading Scheme.
Congratulations to Hana P4, who was the winner of the Accelerated Reading Cup for this half term.
At the end of another busy year at our school, it was time to celebrate the many successes of our pupils at our annual Prize Day. P1 -P3 children sang the song ‘The Dandelion Clock’, and P4 - P7 - ‘A Whole New World’. Mrs Howe in her Principal’s remarks, highlighted the exceptional opportunities our children have been given, both in the academic learning environment, and in many other wider areas, which has enabled our children to have a well rounded education.
Mr Fred Corscadden was our special guest. He has been working with P6 and P7 on Map Reading and Orienteering skills over the past few months. Mr Corscadden spoke to our children about the opportunities they have here at Rasharkin Primary School, and he also spoke to the P7 children about moving on to their new schools in September. He reminded us that the best guide for our lives is the Bible.
Certificates and Prizes for Achievement in Literacy and Numeracy were presented, followed by Cups and Trophies. Rev Blue thanked Mrs Howe for her exceptional leadership at Rasharkin Primary School.
Thanks to the many parents and friends who came along to Prize Day. We wish all our P7 pupils success as they move to their new schools in September.
Thank you to our Scripture Union Team, Laura Calderwood, Bob Anderson, Lorna Wylie and Hazel Bamford who have come along to deliver the Scripture Union ‘It’s Your Move!’ programme to our P7 children. This programme is designed to help children to prepare for their move from primary school to secondary school.
Today a member of staff from Patrick Kennedy’s Pharmacy came to school. He talked to the P5 children about keeping safe in the sun and distributed leaflets about Sun Safety to them.
On Friday 14th June P5 -P7 pupils together with pupils from St Patrick’s Primary School went to Portglenone Forest. Here they used their map reading skills to find clues around the forest trails. Thanks to Liz who is the Forest Education Officer for setting the trail up for our children.
Congratulations to our special Lunchtime Award winners for June.
Assembly awards for June 2109 were presented for ‘Progress in Numeracy’, ‘Being Kind and Caring’, ‘Excellent Handwriting’ and Good Contribution to P.D.M.U.’
Sports Day was held on Tuesday 11th June. We were grateful for a dry afternoon which allowed our children to enjoy their races - beanbag, obstacle, running and egg and spoon. The golf equipment which we received as part of a grant for the Open Golf Championships, provided great entertainment and competition in the team games. Thanks to everyone who helped in any way, and a special thanks to some of our former pupils who came along to lend a helping hand. Thanks also to the many parents and friends who came along to support their children on Sports Day.
The children rounded off their very energetic week with challenging themselves on three different levels of the climbing wall and a second zip line session. They then enjoyed a BBQ lunch and some toasted marshmallows before returning to school happy, but exhausted!
Professor Alan Woodside presented the Barnabas Award for good character to Emily P7. He also shared a lesson from the Bible, illustrated by shoes. He reminded us that a shoe with a hole in it needs fixed or repaired. The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus can make us new.
We would like to thank all our children who entered art/ crafts/ computer art/ flowers for Ballymoney Show. We had many winners, and our school was 2nd overall in the Schools’ Section of the show. Thanks to all parents who helped their children to complete their entries at home. We appreciate your help a lot.
The children have enjoyed a very adventurous day. Climbing high for ‘Human Jenga’, ‘flying like a bird’ on the high ropes course, archery and then a canoe trip that included a massive water fight and some children jumping into the canal. We are finishing off a busy day with movie, after a trip to Kilrea for movie supplies'.
P3 and P4 from our school along with P3 from St Patrick’s Primary had a very wet, but enjoyable trip to Glenariff Forest as part of the Shared Education Programme. Shauna and Brendan had prepared a squirrel trail for the children. They were given lots of information about red squirrels and had lots of fun activities to do. After lunchtime, we all walked down to the waterfall. This was definitely the highlight of the trip. One benefit of having so much rain, was the force of water coming down the waterfall which the children really loved to see.
Best things so far (as reported):
Zip line
Bowling
Nature walk
Eating plants
Drinking like a cow
Crawling through the tunnel.
Today the children enjoyed some tunnelling and lighting cave fires. They then all did really well walking from Ballintoy to Whitepark Bay with smiles, even in the rain. Bowling tonight and McDonald’s for a treat has rounded off a busy day.
