There was great excitement in school today when we noticed that a thrush has made her nest on top of the entrance to our sensory garden. When she was off her nest, we took a quick look and she is sitting on four eggs. We are hoping that she will be able to hatch her eggs, even with all the noise of the children in the playground. P4 and P5 have been learning about the ‘Lifecycle of Animals', so this is very exciting for them.
We are delighted to have a new outdoor classroom. This was purchased with earmarked funding from Education Authority, Health and Well Being Fund. Our children love outdoor lessons, so this will be a well used space. P4 and P5 had their World Around Us lesson in it today.
The Annual Report from the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) highlights the growing risk of children falling victim to internet predators, with young girls (11-13 years old) currently standing as the most vulnerable group. The criminals are known to groom, bully and coerce children into filming their own sexual abuse via internet-enabled devices, often from within the child’s own bedroom in the family home. The images and videos can then be shared widely online. In response to their findings, the IWF has launched a campaign, backed both by Microsoft and the Home Office, to empower girls through social channels such as Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube; as well as to arm parents against the risks posed by internet predators, preparing them with knowledge and information on how they can protect their child(ren) online. As part of the Home Truths campaign aimed at parents, a televised advert will depict a queue of adult sexual predators lining up outside a house before making their way upstairs and into a child’s bedroom, with the child’s parents remaining oblivious to the ‘open door’ to abuse in their home.
The campaign urges parents to T.A.L.K to their children about online threats:
Talk to your child about online sexual abuse. Start the conversation – and listen to their concerns.
Agree ground rules about the way your family uses technology.
Learn about the platforms and apps your child loves. Take an interest in their online life.
Know how to use tools, apps and settings that can help keep your child safe online.
Discuss and agree on privacy settings for the platforms and apps your child uses, and on more general settings for the family.
The winners of the Sustrans Poster competition promoting active travel were.
P6 - Ellen, Emma, Hana and Sam
P7 - Oliver, Lucy, Susanna and Annie
It is great to have everyone back in school. Children from each class received certificates for:
Always remembering to wear all your school uniform
Always remembering to choose a healthy break
Being Kind and Caring
Great presentation of work
This week, we have been taking part in the Sustrans Big Pedal. Sustrans Big Pedal inspires pupils, staff and parents to be amazing and take active journeys to school. Some of our children and parents have been cycling, walking, wheeling or scooting to school.
On Wednesday 21st April our children wore bright clothes to school and they had lessons on the benefits of active travel to school. Everyone did a poster to promote Active Travel, and four winners from each class received bells for their bikes. Everyone received a hi vis jacket and reflector for use on the road.
Probably the most looked forward to hour of the week in school, is Golden Time. The children are rewarded for good behaviour and great work throughout the week, by having an hour of free play on Friday afternoons. P4 and P5 had great fun outside on Friday.
Today all our children have been given some information and goodies produced by NSPCC. There is also ‘The Talk PANTS Guide for Parents’. NSPCC are working closely with schools to educate children how to keep safe from abuse. There are five simple steps to keeping safe. The letters of PANTS tell us what to do.
P- Privates are private
A - always remember your body belongs to you
N - No means no
T - Talk about secrets that upsets you
S - Speak up, someone can help
Robin, Jane, Beth and Isaac with their literature from NSPCC
The Marie Collins Foundation has announced a series of online workshops aimed at parents and carers to help them understand online harm. A flyer is attached containing registration links.
We are very sad that Mrs Louise Calderwood who is the Kitchen Supervisor is leaving us. The children will really miss her so much. Thank you Louise for your hard work over many years at Rasharkin Primary School. Louise received a gift from school, which was presented by Oliver her son. Best wishes Louise in your new job.
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Well done to Poppy, P6, who was the winner of the Accelerated Reading Cup for this half term. Poppy achieved 114 points in the last half term which is particularly impressive as we recognise that during remote learning it was harder for children to make the effort to keep reading at home.
Congratulations to Flora P6 who received her certificate for Initial piano exam. Sam P6 received his certificate for Grade 1 piano exam. Both Flora and Sam are pupils of Mrs McAleese who teaches piano in school.
Congratulations to Poppy, Emma, Grace, Hana and Sam, who have all become Millionaire Readers. This means that they each have read over one million words in Accelerated Reading this year.
We are delighted that over lockdown our children have worked really hard on their reading. Many of our children have reached their Accelerated Reading Targets for this half term and lots of children have got certificates for Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress. A huge thank you to parents who have encouraged their children to read at home.
We are delighted that each child can take home a Fit 4 Fun – Kids Activity Pack. This programme aims to assist pupils to meet the recommended guideline of 60 minutes of physical activity per day. The bags have been provided with the generosity of a partnership of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust, Northern Healthy Lifestyles Partnership and Community Sports Network. Staff also completed training around the Energise programme which links together sport & activity games with nutritional health messages.
In this fortnight’s edition of HIGH FIVE we are thinking about what it means to be patient. With Spring in the air, it's easy for us to look forward to the months ahead and be impatient for what is to come - whether it's schools going back, moving on to something new or looking forward to life being "normal" again.
Click on the link below to access this week’s edition of HIGH FIVE:
https://www.eani.org.uk/publications/issue-20-primary-behaviour-support-provisions-newsletter-high-five
Please click here for details of an art competition from UNISON.
Kilrea library are continuing to offer a book and collect service, where you can request books to be made ready for collection. It is a wonderful opportunity to get a range of reading material. The opening hours are available here.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to think up great photo shoots for our World Book Day challenge. It was lovely to see all the children.
Click here to download your World book Day Token. These can be used up to 28th March in store only. Supermarkets also accept them, as bookshops remain closed.
My latest home learning activity, ‘Local History Explorers’ is designed to help children investigate their own local history by going in search of the oldest buildings in their area as part of a family walk or bike ride! Families can watch the video beforehand, as I get on my bike and go in search of historical buildings near to where I live and are encouraged to do some detective work as they explore near to where they live also.
Suitable for P3-7
Learning themes – History, World Around Us, Outdoor Learning
YouTube link – Local History Explorers
