Congratulations to the children who won certificates for February 2019. The certificates were awarded for:- ‘Being Prepared’, ‘ Being Kind and Caring’, ‘Excellent Problem Solving Skills’ and ‘Excellent Knowledge of the World Around Us’.
There has been great excitement in school this week as the resurfacing of our school playgrounds has begun. We are delighted to see the amazing transformation from the rough tarmac to a new smooth finish in just a few days. The children have enjoyed watching the machinery putting down the tar and also the lorries coming and going with the tarmac. We are all looking forward to using the playgrounds again next week.
![IMG_2750[1].JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5684021ed8af10fc737c847c/1552054198511-L9SWBZYCA3M5AYVK2QYQ/IMG_2750%5B1%5D.JPG)
What a busy day we all had at school today! Even though we were all dressed in our pyjamas, there was no time for sleeping. Each class had a full programme of activities focusing on books. Thanks to our P6 and P7 children who read stories to the children from Playgroup. They did a brilliant job! Other activities included, book swap, quizzes, story time, guess the character from a book using objects and written clues, and a Scavenger Hunt for book characters with activities to do. Everyone had a really enjoyable day and got lots of ideas for new books to read.
Congratulations to Olivia and Lily from P7 who were the winners of the Anti Smoking Poster Competition run by Kennedy’s Pharmacy. Lily got 1st prize and Olivia was 2nd.
![IMG_1953[1].JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5684021ed8af10fc737c847c/1551885390952-6C4GNR01EFLDKA7BQZFE/IMG_1953%5B1%5D.JPG)
Today, Sam, Alexander and Grace from P7, took part in the Sentinus Primary STEM Challenge which was held in Ballymena. There were twenty eight teams taking part. The brief for the challenge was -
A lorry has overturned at the top of a hill and its load is on the road. Using the materials provided, design and build a vehicle to safely transport the load back down the hill to the marked zone.
Although our team did not get through to the final, they did really well and created an excellent vehicle.
On 5th March, Waterways Ireland hosted a series of visits to their workshop at Portna Lock, just outside Kilrea, to celebrate Engineers Week 2019.
P6 and P7 went along to the workshop, where they met some of the Engineering team employed by Waterways Ireland, who provided some insight to the type of work they are involved in on a daily basis. The children got the opportunity to see first-hand the engineering elements involved in the construction of new Lock Gates at Portna on the River Bann, including the installation process. They also got to see the lock gates working, and they watched a boat coming through the locks. They were given lots of information on the historical importance of the River Bann.
Thanks to Waterways Ireland for this excellent workshop which showcased lots of Engineering Careers.
We are delighted that a student from Jordanstown University, Julieann McClure, is coming in to our school on Friday mornings to take some ICT classes. Julie Ann is doing this on a voluntary basis under the Tutoring in Schools Scheme. This week she was working with the P2 children using the Beebots and then with P6 and 7 children as they started to use the ‘Scratch’ computer programme.
![IMG_1921[1].JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5684021ed8af10fc737c847c/1551447308534-M6EJUY0DEPVXD9FJEBD4/IMG_1921%5B1%5D.JPG)
![IMG_1922[1].JPG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5684021ed8af10fc737c847c/1551447340687-DWMUQI6ENV7RJJDWTFJE/IMG_1922%5B1%5D.JPG)
P1 and P2 children used sticks to make the first letters of their names during their outdoor play.
This year our school is once again working with St Patrick’s Primary School in a Shared Education Signature Project. Our P4 and P5 children will be working with the P5 class from St Patrick’s Primary School to create Interactive Books using Book Creator on the I-pads. Their subject is ‘History of Rasharkin Village’. Today they met for their first session which started off with an ice-breaker to get to know each other. They then went on a guided walk of Rasharkin with Liam McCart from the local History Group. The children were given lots of information about the old shops, churches and police barracks, and they were amazed at how many different shops used to be in the village. They are now looking forward to creating their books in future sessions.
We are delighted that the Education Authority has started work for resurfacing of the school playgrounds. The children are delightfully anticipating a smooth surface to play on and have displayed very mature attitudes to the disruption during the work. We ask that parents and carers also have patience when dropping off and collecting children during this time.
A letter has been sent to all residents in Bamford Park letting them know of the planned work and possible disruption. We wish to minimize this and ask that you help by thoughtfully choosing your parking space, or perhaps even arriving a few minutes early so you can park further away and walk to the school gate.
With special thanks to our Board of Governors for their support in this.
Children in P4-7 were thrilled with the opportunity to play a variety of games in school on Thurs 14th February and learn important messages about choosing games wisely and ‘stranger danger’ whilst gaming. The point was illustrated by asking the children the simple question, “What would you do if a stranger tried to talk to you / offered you a bar of chocolate at the park?”. Playing games with people you don’t actually know in person is similar.
Mike, from Godmodex, also spoke to some parents about how to set parental controls on game consoles and the importance of checking (and understanding) the ‘PEGI’ ratings. He suggested parents watch YouTube trailers of games to help them decide if a game is suitable for their child or visit the website commonsensemedia.org which reviews the ratings of games and offers feedback from other users.
On Tuesday 11th February in assembly we welcomed Olivia from the WE Charity. WE Charity, formerly known as Free The Children, is an international development charity and youth empowerment movement founded in 1995 by human rights advocates Marc and Craig Kielburger. The organization has development programs in nine countries, focusing on education, water, health, food and economic opportunity. Olivia encouraged our children to get involved in trying to improve the quality of life for children all around the world. After assembly, Olivia ran workshops for P5 children. Their focus was on ‘bullying’. P6 and P7 had a workshop on ‘Waste’ - wasting water, food etc.
A special thanks to two of the staff from Kennedy’s Pharmacy who came to school to speak to the P6 and P7 children about the dangers of smoking.
P1 and P2 have been learning about the work of Coastguards as part of their WAU topic - People Who Help Us. They designed and made their own boats and then had a very exciting boat race. Have a look at their fantastic designs and the competitive boat races.
Congratulations to everyone who received a certificate for Accelerated Reading this half term. We are really encouraged by the effort that our pupils put in to achieve their individual targets. We are also delighted that the Accelerated Scheme has developed a love of reading throughout our school.
Congratulations to Flora, P4 who was the winner of the Accelerated Reading Cup for this half term. Flora had achieved an amazing 43.8 points!
P6&7 have been looking at the topic ‘Thrills and Spills’ in World Around Us. As part of this they have been thinking about the different forces in play all around us. Hasson’s Engineering kindly invited P6/7 to view a bridge they had been working on, in the final stages of construction. The children enjoyed seeing first-hand the work that goes into the creation of a bridge and learning about the science behind it. Many thanks to Hasson’s for giving up their time to host our visit.
Congratulations to Ethan, Emma, Molly and Grace whose artwork was chosen to be displayed in Children’s Work on our website.
January assembly awards were presented for ‘Being Kind and Caring’, ‘Excellent Technology Skills’, ‘Excellent P.E. Skills’, and ‘Progress in Literacy’.
In assembly this week, Stephen, Grace, Alexander and Andrew were presented with their certificates and shields, following their success in the recent Road Safety Quiz. They are now looking forward to the Northern Ireland Final on 4th March in Belfast.
