OUTDOOR LEARNING FINALE

Tuesday 16th May 2017 Shared Education Signature Project

Rasharkin Primary School and St Patrick's Primary School

Our final Outdoor Learning Session was held in Rasharkin Primary School.  This was an exciting celebration of all that we had been doing throughout the year.  We were delighted that lots of parents and some members of the Board of Governors joined us for this session.  Although the weather was a bit rainy we did not even notice, as the children got stuck in to building dens, making animal shelters, learning about camouflage and making bug hotels.  To finish our celebration, Mr Brian Poots from N I Forest School Association presented everyone with a certificate and a goody bag.

SUMMER BLOOMS

Now that the lovely Spring tulips and daffodils in the raised beds at school have finished blooming, we planted some Summer flowering plants today. All the children helped out with this job.  

P1 and P2 ASSEMBLY 'THANK YOU'

Today P1 and P2 classes took our assembly.  Miss Richmond had chosen the theme of saying 'Thank You'.  The children acted out the story from the Bible about the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus.  Only one of them returned to say thank you to Jesus. The children all read, acted and sang brilliantly.  Most importantly they reminded everyone to say thank you to others and also to thank God for all he has given us. 

17th May 2017

FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

On Tuesday 16th May P6 and P7 went to the James Elliot football tournament at the Joey Dunlop Centre.  There were over twelve teams from different schools taking part. Although Rasharkin teams did not win any medals, the children played exceptionally well and their behaviour and sportsmanship was excellent.

MATHS PROBLEM SOLVING

Today P4 and P5 met up with the P4 pupils of St Patrick's Primary School for a Maths Problem Session as part of the Shared Education Programme.  The children all worked together on various tasks which involved, weighing, measuring, creating tally charts and pictographs, and working logically to solve problems.  This was another very beneficial session for all the children involved.

MONEY MANAGEMENT

On Friday 5th May Mrs Jayne Kernohan from Danske Bank came to school to deliver the Danske SMART Programme. This programme aims to help children to become financially confident by helping them to understand the value of money and personal finance. There were three different talks for the different age groups. The children learned what banks are for - keeping money safe, lending money to buy a house or car etc, and foreign currency for holidays.  She also talked about earning money and saving money.  Each group was given a budget and the children had to decide what they could spend their money on without going over budget.  Jayne told the children about a great website called 'Moneyville' and we will be using this in class to learn more about money. Thanks to Jayne for making this such an interesting and worthwhile talk.

P3 ASSEMBLY - 'KEEP ON GOING'

This week Mrs Millar and her P3 class took our Assembly.  Mrs Millar had prepared a Powerpoint presentation focusing on how people have to work hard to achieve results.  This could be in gymnastics, football, swimming, reading and all sorts of school work.  Mrs Millar completed the Belfast Marathon earlier in the week and she told us how she had to run in all sorts of weather to train, so that she would be able to complete the race.  She then showed us the runner in the London Marathon who needed help to get to the finishing line.  This reminded the children that even when they put in hard work, there will be times that they will need help from their mums and dads and teachers or friends just to succeed.  The important lesson was to keep on going and keep on trying.  The P3 children acted out the story of the Hare and the Tortoise Race.  Thanks you to Mrs Millar and all the P3 children for such a great assembly. 

APRIL ASSEMBLY AWARDS

Congratulations to all the children who received certificates for April 2017.  Certificates were awarded for - 'Neat Work', 'Showing Great Effort' and 'Good Contribution to Class Discussions'.

Goodbye Miss Cubitt

Over the past seven weeks, Miss Cubitt, who is a third year student at Stranmillis University College, has been doing her teaching practice in our school.  Miss Cubitt was in Mrs Henry's class teaching P4 and P5 and then with Mrs Miller in the P3 classroom.  The children all loved her lessons and benefited greatly from them.  Miss Cubitt shared her musical talents in preparing the P4/5 for their Class Assembly and also the choirs for Easter.  Mrs Calderwood thanked Miss Cubitt for making 'Rasharkin's first time to have a Stranmills Student,' such a positive experience. Best wishes for your final year at Stranmillis.  We have prepared a short video of Miss Cubitt's time with us.  Click here to view video

EASTER FUN DAY

On the last day of this term we had our Easter Fun Day.  Everyone got the opportunity to participate in different activities throughout the day. These included - making Easter Krispie buns, Easter Games, Easter DVD, Easter Craft, Painting Eggs and meeting chicks and lambs. We finished off with an Easter Egg hunt around the school grounds.  Everyone had great fun and we want to thank all the teachers and classroom assistants for organising this day.  We hope you all have a happy and safe Easter. School will re open on Monday 24th April.

SWIMMING CERTIFICATES

P5 - P7 have been attending swimming classes in Joey Dunlop Centre each Monday morning from Christmas until Easter.  All children have made great progress.  Certificates were awarded a various levels -  Endeavour Awards right up to Gold Awards.  Well done to Lydia and Becca who both achieved their Gold Awards.

ACCELERATED READING CERTIFICATES

We are delighted that our children are still working hard to achieve their targets in Accelerated Reading. Our cup winner for this half term was Olivia in P5.  Well done to everyone.

MARCH ASSEMBLY AWARDS

Congratulations to all the children who received certificates for March 2017.  Certificates were awarded for - 'Great Investigative Maths Skills' ( Missing from photo is Harley P6) 'Good Recall of Number Facts' and 'Excellent P E Skills'.

EASTER ASSEMBLY

On Wednesday 5th April we were delighted to welcome many parents and friends to our Easter Assembly.  Our guest speaker was Rev Roland Watt from Killymurris Presbyterian Church.  P1 - P3 sang 'Deep Down in my Heart' and P4 - P7 sang - 'Jesus isn't dead any more' and ' Sing out an Easter Song'.  Special thanks to Miss Cubitt and Miss Richmond for all their hard work training the choirs.  Also thanks to Tyler and Samuel who played the Cajon drum box. The Parents' Association organised and served tea.  Thanks to all who helped make this a very special Assembly.  Click here to see a video.

"FOREST RANGERS" BY NATIONAL TRUST

On Tuesday 27th March our P1 and P2 pupils and P1 children from St Patrick's went to Downhill Forest. Staff from National Trust gave the children lots of information on life in the forest.  The children investigated trees, leaves and forest animals.  They also collected some twigs for a campfire and they toasted marshmallows and had some hot chocolate.  It was a beautiful spring day and the children made lots of new friends and had great fun being "Forest Rangers" for the day. 

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.