SPORTS DAY

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.

Woodhall Thurs Activities

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!

BARNABAS AWARD

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.

BALLYMONEY SHOW

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.

Woodhall Wed PM

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'.

GLENARIFF FOREST

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.

Woodall Trip Tues PM

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.

Woodall Trip Tues AM

All the children settled quickly and have slept well. They have enjoyed a hearty breakfast of cereals, toast, bagels and bacon and are now getting ready to head out to Ballintoy for the day.

Woodhall Trip - Monday Update

We have all enjoyed an excellent first day of our residential trip. Making own beds and enjoying free time in the centre.

STRAWBERRY TREATS

Today was our last day for ‘Friday Fruit’ and we had strawberries and cream rather than the usual fruit. We wish to thank all parents who have come in to school throughout the year to prepare the fruit for us. A special thanks to Laura Calderwood for organising and coordinating the fruit rota.

THE OPEN

Our school has received a grant in connection with the upcoming golf Open Championships. This has been used for some golf sessions and also for golf equipment. Yesterday four of our children, Matthew, Harvey, Emily and Lily went to Portrush, for a golf promotion event for schools that had received grants.

ORIENTEERING COMPETITION

Our P6 and P7 children went to an orienteering competition at Coleraine College on Wednesday 29th May Here they were able to put into practice all the map reading skills etc. that they have been learning over the past few weeks. There were four schools in the competition. Congratulations to Andrew and Stephen who came first overall with a time of 9.01 minutes. Sam and Alexander were third overall with a time of 11.57 minutes.

ASSEMBLY AWARDS

Congratulations to the children who received certificates for April 2019. Certificates were awarded for ‘Progress in Reading’, Ability to explain Mathematical Thinking’, ‘Being Kind and Caring’ and ‘Sharing and Taking Turns’.

Progress in Reading

Ability to explain Mathematical Thinking

Kind and Caring Award

Missing from picture - Thomas P4

Sharing and Taking Turns

Missing from picture -Harley P7

CYCLING PROFICIENCY

Some of our P7 pupils have been enjoying Cycling Proficiency training over the past number of weeks. They have been learning how to ride safely, and how to negotiate left turns and right turns etc. It is important to learn these skills. However, it is very different carrying these manoeuveres out in a playground situation to actual road situations. We hope that they will be able to remember all they have been taught as they cycle safely on the road. The remaining P7 chlldren will start their training in the first week of June.

STREETWISE

Today, our P7 pupils attended the Ballymoney Streetwise event.  This event, for P7 pupils,aims to raise their awareness of how to keep safe as they take on more responsibility for their own safety as they move from primary school.  The event is delivered by a number of different organisations including  Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council, Dogs' Trust, Health Trust, NIE, Translink, Home Accident Prevention, Cancer Focus NI, Coastguards and Police Service Northern Ireland.  The children had a very good morning and received lots of valuable information.

AMBASSADORS FOOTBALL

Some of our P4-P7 children have been enjoying a four week football coaching programme run by Ambassadors Football. As well as teaching and building on football skills, each session has a short, interactive spot about the Christian faith. Thanks to the coaches for coming along to take theses sessions.

MUSIC SUCCESS

We are once again delighted that three of our pupils have received certificates for recent piano music exam success. Grace and Andrew did their Grade 2 Music Exam and Hannah her Initial Music Exam. All three are pupils of Mrs Heather McAleese who teaches piano in school.

LUNCHTIME AWARDS

Congratulations to Annie, Sam, Ruby and Ella who received Lunchtime awards for this half term.

COMMUNITY SPORTS

Yesterday, 20th May, P5,6 and 7 and P7 from St Patrick’s Primary School, had the opportunity to take part in a Shared Education, community sports taster session at the Community Centre pitches. A coach from Northern Ireland Football, Ulster Rugby and from the local GAA club, taught the children new skills for football, rugby and Gaelic football. The children then had short team games for each sport. Thanks to the coaches for this very enjoyable session.

Research Questionnaire: SEN in Mainstream Schools

We have received the following message from Stranmillis University College, inviting parents / carers to participate in a survey.

Dear Parent/Carer, Please follow this link to an online survey to explore the views of parents/carers about their experience of accessing or attempting to access services and support for their child’s special educational needs or suspected special educational needs in mainstream schools in Northern Ireland. The survey should take no more than 20-25 minutes to complete. The research has been commissioned by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People and is being led by a research team from Stranmillis University College, Belfast. Thank you.