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!

TESCO VISIT P4 AND P5

On Thursday 23rd February P4 and P5 had their visit to Tesco Ballymoney.  The focus of their visit was on healthy eating.  The children got to sample healthy options for snacks - carrot sticks, cucumber, pitta pockets, rye crackers, prunes and sunflower seeds.  They made their own muesli and then looked at the sugar content in cereals on the shop floor. The children also looked at the number of sugar cubes in white, milk and dark chocolate.  The children had a lovely healthy snack of pancakes and fruit.  Thanks again to Tesco for organising such a worthwhile programme for school children.

RNLI - BEACH SAFETY

On Wednesday 22nd February we had a visit from the RNLI - Royal National Lifeboat Institution.  Two lifeguards, Ray and Jamie came along to our assembly to talk to us about keeping safe at the beach.  They showed the children the different flags that they might see when they go to the beach.  The red and yellow flag indicates that there are lifeguards on duty and so it is safe to swim between the two flags.  Red is for danger and black and white flags show that only surfers or people with kayaks should go into the sea.  They also talked about the dangers of using inflatables in the sea.  Andrew and Jodie were chosen to dress up as lifeguards.  They were great models!

Ray and Jamie also told the children what to do if they ever get into difficulty in the sea between the red and yellow flags. - 'DON'T PANIC'  'HOLD ON TO SOMETHING THAT FLOATS'  'SHOUT FOR HELP'.  Finally they told the children how to keep safe on a sunny day at the beach-

SLIP - slip on a long sleeved T-shirt

SLAP - slap on a wide brimmed sunhat

SLOP - slop on suncream regularly

Now all we need is the summer to come!

QUIZ TIME

As a special treat on the last day of this half term, the teachers organised a table quiz for all the children.  We had ten teams, each headed by a P7 pupil.  Rounds included - books, famous people, music, blockbusters, logos, Geography, road safety, mental maths and general knowledge.  The teams had also created their own teddy bear mascot for their team.  After ten exciting rounds the scores were very close.  The winners were 'Bears of Intelligence' with 130 points, 'Seven Smarties' were 2nd with 124 points and 3rd were 'The Chosen Ones' with 116 points. Well done to everyone for taking part and making this such an enjoyable morning.

ACCELERATED READING

Congratulations to all the children who received certificates for reaching Accelerated Reading Targets for the past half term. Our cup winner for reaching her target and for having 100% accuracy in the quizzes taken was Erinn in P7. 

ONCE UPON A DREAM

P4 and P5 have been learning all about the techniques of writing poetry.  They have been looking at personification, similes, imagery, and onomatopoeia. Young Writers is currently running a competition called 'Once Upon A Dream'  and our talented P4 and P5 children have been writing their own poems.  Here is a small sample of their poems - we hope you enjoy them and we hope that all our children will do well in the competition.

TRANSFORMERS

There I was standing in the forest,

Ready to run the race.

And then I was a transformer megabot,

Never before in such a high place.

So there I was, facing a decepticon,

Fighting for peace and justice,

Offering help to humans.

Many decepticon to defeat

Eager to smash the decepticon into pieces,

Running so much to save the humans.

So there, my mission is completed!

When I wake I feel victorious and elated.

Champion of champions! Or was it all a dream?

Andrew P5

FAMOUS ATHLETE TEACHER

I fell asleep....

I was an athlete teacher

I was friends with a preacher.

My surname was Reacher.

I married the prince,

He was called Vince.

He gave me a kiss from over the fence.

I had a cat which was wild.

One day it was mild

The phone I dialled

Wait for them to pick up.

Listening carefully the phone I did cup

Then a voice said,

"Emily it's time to get up!"

Emily P5

DREAMLAND

Night is coming in dreamland.

Soon the stars will come.

The sun is fading in the sky,

The moon and stars to show,

Flash! it is a star!

Twinkle, twinkle.

"Where are you little star?"

I can see you,

Come to me little star.

Travel far with me.

Through dreamland we will go

And adventures will be

Around ever corner.

Peri P4

RAINBOW MAGIC

There was a fairy called Stella,

She had a sister called Ella.

They took me to their land.

I asked for their demand.

I jumped into the sand,

I fell into the river,

I felt I might shiver.

I had a little quiver.

We found a pot of gold,

I thought I had a cold.

I saw someone who never gets old.

I saw a unicorn

It had a shining horn.

I saw a fairy who said

She was just born.

It's all very crazy

In fairy dream land you see,

Anything can happen in it,

If you want it to be.

Ella P4

AMAZING MAN

On a dark night,

I had a fright.

On the roof I stood,

Superpowers in me,

To put me in the mood.

Let's start this adventure.

An evil man approaches,

"Help!" I plea

He roars at me,

His voice like thunder

Wakens the clouds.

They grumble "Go back to bed!"

With a twitch of my finger,

He grew a big head.

He turned all red.

"I am the one who invented the bed!" he boomed.

Power from my feet

Tingled out from my eyes.

The clouds they grew angry,

Turning all grey.

Filling with water,

Ready to burst.

Suddenly gush! A tsunami did start.

Gush went the water

Sweeping all evil away.

Now my nightmare is solved

I can sleep tight.

Alexander P5

CHOCOLATE CAKE

As the icing reflects the sun,

As the candles burn down to the brim.

The sponge as soft as a cloud,

The sweets around the cake sparkle blue.

Sweets as blue as the ocean.

The cream in the middle

Is as soft as a teddy.

The strawberries on top

As red as mummy's lipstick.

A mouth that's as dry as sand

Soon starts to flow a river of drool.

It drips onto my pillow like a tropical storm.

The puddle soon gathers to be an ocean.

When my wake up call sounds

My tummy is rumbling.

"What would you like for breakfast?" mummy asks.

"Chocolate cake!" I exclaim.

Harley P5

DREAMS

Mrs Henry has been reading Roald Dahl's novel, 'The BFG' to P4 and P5 children as their class novel.  Linked to this, they have been thinking a lot about dreams and the mystery and magic that dreams have.  They have written some wonderful stories about their dreams and they have now been displayed on dream jars on the display boards.  As well as this, during art classes they have been busy painting their own dream jars.

RASHARKIN AIRPORT? YOU DECIDE

Mrs Henry's P4 and P5 children have been working hard in their Literacy classes.  Since the beginning of this term they have been focusing on Persuasive writing.  Their topic was 'Does Rasharkin Need an Airport?'  We had some excellent ideas on this subject and some very convincing arguments both to and for having an airport. Who knows maybe we do need an airport in Rasharkin!