Celebrating Our New Pupil Leadership Teams

At Rasharkin Primary School, we believe that every pupil has the opportunity to make a positive contribution to school life. We are delighted to introduce our newly appointed School Councillors, Digital Leaders and Playground Buddies for the year ahead.

Our School Councillors were elected by their peers through a democratic voting process. Candidates delivered speeches outlining their ideas for improving our school and representing the views of their classmates. We were extremely impressed by the confidence, enthusiasm and leadership shown by all those who put themselves forward.

Applications for the roles of Digital Leader and Playground Buddy were equally impressive. Interested pupils completed application forms explaining why they would be suitable for these important positions. Staff carefully considered each application before selecting pupils who demonstrated responsibility, commitment and a willingness to help others.

Our School Councillors will work with staff to share pupil voice, suggest improvements and help organise initiatives throughout the school year. Our Digital Leaders will support the use of technology across the school, assist with digital learning activities and promote safe and responsible online behaviour. Our Playground Buddies will help to create a happy and inclusive environment during break and lunchtime, supporting younger pupils and encouraging positive play.

We are incredibly proud of all pupils who applied for these leadership opportunities. Their willingness to take on responsibility and contribute to school life reflects the values we seek to nurture in all of our children.

Congratulations to our newly appointed pupil leaders. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make throughout the year and thank everyone who participated in the selection process. Well done to all!

After-School Bible Club

Our After-School Bible Club has got off to a wonderful start, with pupils enjoying stories from the Bible, games, discussions, and opportunities to learn more about Christian values in a fun and welcoming environment. The club provides a time for friendship, reflection, and learning outside the classroom.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Christina for giving her time each week to lead the club. Her enthusiasm, dedication, and care are greatly appreciated by both the children and staff.

Prize Day 2026 – Celebrating Success and Farewell to Our P7 Leavers

Rasharkin Primary School recently came together for a very special Prize Day celebration, recognising the achievements, efforts and talents of our pupils throughout the year.

The ceremony was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the many ways our children have demonstrated our school values of Respect, Prepare and Succeed. Awards were presented to pupils across the school for academic achievement, personal progress, sporting success, leadership, kindness and perseverance. We are incredibly proud of all that our pupils have accomplished during another busy and successful year.

We were delighted to welcome parents, families, governors and our special guest speaker, Mr Frank Shirley from Table Tennis Ireland. Mr Shirley shared an inspiring message about the importance of commitment, practice and determination in achieving success.

A highlight of the afternoon was the celebration of our Primary 7 leavers. As they prepare to move on to post-primary school, we reflected on their many contributions to Rasharkin Primary School. As they leave Rasharkin Primary School, we encourage our P7 pupils to continue living out our school values—showing Respect for others, being well Prepared for new opportunities and striving to Succeed in all they do. We are confident that they have a bright future ahead and wish them every success in the next stage of their educational journey.

Congratulations to all of our prize winners and award recipients. We thank all our staff, who have worked tirelessly throughout another year to give the pupils the best opportunities. Thanks to parents and wider school community for their continued support and wish everyone a happy, safe and relaxing summer break.

Whole School End-of-Term Trip to Portrush

Our whole school enjoyed a fantastic end-of-term trip to Portrush. The children had an excellent day, making the most of the fresh air, seaside attractions and time spent with friends. It was wonderful to see pupils from across the school playing together, having fun and creating special memories to end the school year.

The behaviour of all our children was exemplary throughout the day, and they were a credit to themselves, their families and our school. We are very proud of the respect, kindness and good manners they showed. A wonderful day was had by all!

Church Visit

Pupils from P6/7 recently enjoyed a special visit to Rasharkin Presbyterian Church as part of their Religious Education lessons. During the visit, the children had the opportunity to explore the church building, learn about its history and purpose, and gain a deeper understanding of Christian worship in a real-life setting.

The visit was led by Rev. James Porter, who warmly welcomed the pupils and shared insights into the different aspects of church life, including the significance of key features within the building and how services are conducted. Pupils engaged enthusiastically, asking thoughtful questions and taking part in discussions that further developed their learning from the classroom.

This valuable experience helped bring their lessons to life, encouraging reflection and supporting their understanding of faith and community. We would like to thank Rasharkin Presbyterian Church for their hospitality and for making the visit both informative and enjoyable for all involved.

Supporting P7 Transition

Our Primary 7 pupils have recently taken part in the It’s Your Move transition programme, helping them prepare for the exciting step to post-primary school. Through engaging lessons, the children explored topics such as managing change, building new friendships, staying organised, and developing independence.

We extend our sincere thanks to Eve, SU (Scripture Union) and our local church for their support in delivering these valuable sessions. Their contribution has helped equip our pupils with confidence, reassurance, and practical skills as they look ahead to the next stage of their education.

Sports Day 2026

Our annual Sports Day was a fantastic celebration of teamwork, determination, and school spirit! Pupils from all year groups took part in a wide range of exciting events, from traditional races to fun team challenges, showcasing not only their athletic abilities but also their enthusiasm and resilience.

The day was filled with cheers from classmates, staff, and families, creating a vibrant and supportive atmosphere throughout. It was wonderful to see everyone encouraging one another, demonstrating true sportsmanship, and celebrating each other’s achievements.

A big congratulations to all our participants for their effort and commitment, and a special thank you to staff and volunteers who helped make the day such a success. We are incredibly proud of all our pupils and the positive, inclusive spirit they showed.

P6/7 Residential – Day 3 Update

Day 3 began with some tired faces, but that didn’t stop our pupils from learning new skills! The children did a fantastic job stripping their beds and making them up again with fresh, clean linen.

Later, the group enjoyed a visit to the beautiful Mussenden Temple, taking in the stunning views on yet another glorious day.

A lovely end to a brilliant trip, with great effort and enthusiasm shown by all. Such high standards of behaviour that it made it a pleasure to be with all the children.

P6/7 Residential – Day 2 Extra Fun

The fun continued with a water version of “Duck, Duck, Goose,” bringing lots of laughter and energy to the group. A big thank you to Miss Rowe for organising such enjoyable games!

P6/7 Residential – Day 2 Update

Day 2 has been another fantastic and action-packed day for our P6/7 pupils! After an early breakfast, the group set off for an exciting trip to Rathlin Island, enjoying calm seas and beautiful sunshine once again.

While on the island, the children visited the lighthouse and the bird sanctuary, where they were delighted to spot all of the famous “Big 5” birds; Atlantic Puffins, Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake and Fulmar. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience the island’s wildlife up close.

The group then returned to Church Bay for a well-deserved picnic lunch before heading out on a walk to see seals in their natural habitat. The day continued with some fun rock pool fishing, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all, with great excitement over finding ‘the biggest’ crab.

On the journey back, there were even a few well-earned catnaps on the bus following such a busy day! The evening is currently being rounded off with quiz games and fun challenges, bringing lots of laughter and friendly competition.

We are especially proud to share that the children received many lovely compliments from members of the public about their excellent behaviour throughout the day. A pleasure to be out with.

Another memorable and enjoyable day for everyone involved!

P6/7 Residential – Day 1 Evening Update

This evening, our P6/7 pupils enjoyed a glorious time at Benone Beach, making the most of the beautiful weather. There was plenty of laughter and friendly competition, including a “slowest marble” sand sculpture challenge and a “dig the deepest hole” contest, followed by some energetic races along the shore.

The evening was rounded off perfectly with hot chocolate as the sun went down, giving everyone a chance to warm up and relax after a busy day.

A great evening full of fun, teamwork, and smiles — the children are having a fantastic time!

P6/7 Residential – Day 1 Update

Our P6/7 pupils have had a fantastic start to their residential trip! Safe travels on the train and then, the children enjoyed exploring the shoreline at Magilligan, where they had great fun finding and identifying a wide variety of shells. Their curiosity and teamwork were wonderful to see as they learned more about the coastal environment. Later the group visited a Martello Tower, discovering its fascinating history and how it was used in the past. The visit sparked lots of interesting questions and discussions.

After a well-earned tea, the children are now heading back to the beach for some games and a cosy hot chocolate to round off the day.

All of the children are happy, settled, and thoroughly enjoying their adventure — a brilliant first day!

Celebrating Reading Success – Term 3B

We are delighted to recognise our outstanding readers this term! Congratulations to all pupils who have achieved Accelerated Reading Certificates, demonstrating excellent commitment and progress in their reading journeys. A special well done to those earning 100% Accuracy awards, reflecting both careful reading and strong comprehension skills.

We are also proud to recognise pupils receiving Special Mention for Points, highlighting consistent effort and enthusiasm in building their reading totals.

A huge congratulations goes to our Term 3B Trophy Winner – Top Achiever, whose dedication and determination have set an exceptional standard for others to follow.

Well done to all of our reading champions—keep turning those pages!

Coaching for Christ Football Tournament!

What a great day of football! With four draws, a win and one loss at the group stage our team from start to finish showed amazing effort, teamwork, and big smiles all around. Every match was full of energy, with determined defending, and fantastic teamwork on display. The children supported each other, celebrating successes and encouraging one another. It was so lovely to see their confidence grow with each game. Most importantly, they played with great sportsmanship and made wonderful memories together— Well done to all the players! A big thanks to Coaching for Christ for hosting a wonderful day!

Literacy Workshop for Parents

We were delighted to welcome parents and carers to our recent literacy session, which focused on practical ways to support children’s reading and writing at home.

During the workshop, we shared a range of simple and effective strategies to help build children’s confidence and enjoyment of literacy. Parents explored ideas such as making reading part of everyday routines, developing vocabulary through conversation, and encouraging early writing through fun, meaningful activities. We also demonstrated some of the approaches used in school and discussed how these can be easily adapted for use at home.

We were particularly pleased to introduce our new short-read resources, which have been purchased thanks to funding from the CYPSP grant (P1/2) and Causeway Coast and Glens Festival of Learning (P3, P4 and P5). These engaging materials are designed to motivate readers and provide accessible, enjoyable texts for children at different stages.

Thank you to all who attended — we look forward to continuing to work together to support every child’s literacy journey.

Coaching for Christ Festival Day

We were delighted to host a Coaching for Christ Football Festival Day. Children of all abilities took part in exciting games, skill sessions, and friendly matches led by dedicated coaches.

The festival focused on teamwork, respect, and encouragement, helping young players grow both on and off the pitch. It was a fantastic opportunity to enjoy football and be part of a positive, uplifting environment.

The school would like to extend a sincere thank you to the coaching team for their time and patience throughout the year, supporting and encouraging every child. Thanks also go to parents for their generous donations to the sponsored non-uniform day in support of Coaching for Christ.

It was a great day of sport, fun, and community spirit enjoyed by all!

The importance of Sleep

DE have recently published some interesting information on sleep. You can read the full article on their website. Below is a brief summary.

Students who sleep well consistently learn better and achieve more.

In one of the most comprehensive reviews to date, Dewald et al. (2010) conducted a meta-analysis of over 19,000 participants and found that sleep quality, sleep duration and sleepiness were all significantly related to school performance.

Similarly, Okano et al. (2019) tracked older students using wearable sleep trackers. They found that sleep consistency was a better predictor of academic performance than just sleep quantity and that sleep duration and quality in the week leading up to tests, not just the night before, were strongly associated with better results.

RNLI Water Safety Visit

We were delighted to welcome members of the RNLI to school for an engaging and informative session on beach safety. Pupils learned how to stay safe by the sea, including how to spot hazards, understand beach flags, and what to do in an emergency. The visit helped raise awareness of the important lifesaving work carried out by the RNLI and gave children valuable knowledge they can use to keep themselves and others safe. We would like to thank the RNLI team for their time and for delivering such a memorable and educational experience.