Today, Ryan, Tom and Alfie went to the Primary STEM Challenge 2020 which was held in Ballymena. The challenge for the teams was -
Build a lighthouse which will warn local shipping of the danger of rocks close by. The lighthouse must have a light which is capable of being switched on and off.
The boys had to design the lighthouse and then build it using only card and masking tape. As you can see they did an excellent job.
The following links give you some more information that the Public Heath Agency have produced for schools to share with regard to the Coronavirus. In summary, the importance of good hand washing and using a handkerchief for coughs and sneezes, which is then disposed of in a bin immediately, is emphasised.
Advice on COVID-19 for places of Education
Giant Sneezes Poster - What’s in a sneeze?
Horrid Hands - The importance of good hand washing.
A sports coach from Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is coming into school to provide coaching for Kurling, Archery, Boccia and Table Tennis for children in P4 - P7. The first session, which was on Wednesday, was Table Tennis.
The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (NI) has relaunched their safeguarding app for parents, carers and professionals. This is a very useful tool to have on your phone, giving instant access to local and regional support services, information on a range of safeguarding issues, access to the regional child protection policy and procedures, and a rang of resources.
The App provides regular ongoing up-dates and short videos on new, emerging themes and risks in the on-line world. It also provides access to Regional Policy and Procedure.
The free App is available in the APP Store for IOS and Android.
Protecting our children on line is fast becoming one of the biggest issues facing parents and guardians, in this ever changing age of technology. Dr Helen Dixon, Head of Creative and Innovative learning, NRC Ballymena, came to school on 24th January to give our P4 - P7 children lots of information about keeping safe online.
Since then, the children have been preparing questions on Internet Safety for parents and friends, in the form of a ‘Who wants to Be a Millionaire Quiz’. At a special parents’ evening, the children presented their quiz, and then Dr Dixon gave parents useful information on ‘Keeping your Children Safe Online’. Probably the most important message from the evening would be
TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN AND BE AWARE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING ONLINE
DON’T RELY ON AN ‘APP’ TO PARENT YOUR CHILDREN..
This can be summarised by using the letters of the word TEAM
Talk regularly
Explore together
Agree rules
Manage settings
Thanks to everyone who worked really hard to make this a very useful evening.
The four pupils chosen to receive a Lunchtime Award for this half term were, Annie P6, Dan P4, Ethan P2 and Thomas P5.
Once again we are delighted that so many of our pupils have reached their Accelerated Reading Targets for points and accuracy in their AR Quizzes. Certificates were presented in assembly to mark their achievement.
Not only was Sharon our Accelerated Reading Cup winner for this half term, but she also became a ‘Millionaire Reader’ as she has now read more than one million words since the beginning of September
Congratulations to Sharon P7, who was the winner of the Accelerated Reading Cup for this half term.
In the Wheelworks ICT sessions over the past number of weeks, P6 and P7 have been looking at filming News Reports. They have been learning how to use their Ipad cameras to take mid, long and close up shots. They have been taught how to assemble the Ipad tripods correctly, and how to use the microphones and outdoor soundbooms. In groups they have prepared storyboards for the New Report that they are going to be reporting on. Yesterday, they began filming their news report without any special effects. They had to decide on mid, long and close up shots. They used their storyboards to decide which scenes they were going to film. Special effects and editing will be done in the following weeks.
Today, four of our P7 pupils, Cameron, Isaac, Jack and Joe took part in the Primary Team Maths Challenge. This was organised by Mrs Kirstie Wilson, one of the Maths teachers in Ballymena Academy. There were 12 teams taking part and the competition had three very different round formats - Crossnumber, Shuttle and Relay. The children worked together in their teams, solving all sorts of mathematical problems. The winning team was from Kells and Connor Primary School. Well done to our four pupils who completed all the activities really well. A huge thanks to Ballymena Academy for organising and hosting this competition, and to their Upper Sixth Maths pupils who supervised the competition.
Emma P5, Ethan P5, Sam P5 and Lucy P6 received their Music Exam Certificates. They all got distinction in their recent Trinity College London, Initial Piano Examination.
Annie P6 and Harvey P1 were the two children whose names were chosen this month, to receive a lunch time award prize.
Certificates were presented in Assembly today for January 2020. Children received certificates for ‘Being Kind and Caring’, Excellent P.E. Skills’, Great Effort in ICT’ and ‘Great Listening’.
Today, four of our pupils, Isaac P7, Cameron P7 , Ella P7 and Annie P6, took part in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council heat of the annual Road Safety Quiz. There were 30 teams at the quiz which was held in the Lodge Hotel Coleraine. Although our team was not placed in the top three, the children still got lots of the questions right. Thanks to everyone for learning the Road Safety information over the weekend. The policeman reminded the children of the importance of knowing and using the Green Cross Code.
Here is a reminder of the 6 parts to the Green Cross Code
1. First find a safe place to cross
2. Stop just before you get to the kerb.
3. Look all around for traffic and listen
4. If traffic is coming, let it pass, look all around again and listen
5. When it is safe, go straight across the road - do not run
6. Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross.
As part of their World Around Us Topic - ‘Look at Me’, Mrs Calderwood arranged for Dr Shannon, Toby and Jacob’s mum, to come and talk to the P1 and P2 children about her job as a GP.
The children asked Dr Shannon lots of questions about her job. She told them about some of the equipment she uses at work:-
Blood Pressure Monitor
Stethoscope
Thermometer
Ear Torch
Dr Shannon also told the children some ways to keep healthy -
Eat 5 a day
Take plenty of exercise - even going to the park is great exercise
Play safely
Remember, sweets and crisps are only for treats!
Dr Shannon brought some wonderful doctor and nurse dressing up outfits, which the children used in their role play.
Thanks to Dr Shannon for taking time to come and give the children such a lot of useful and interesting information about her job.
The Family Support Hub have published a newsletter with helpful information of ‘Apps to be Aware of’. The page contains information about various apps children may be using and things to look out for, e.g. Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube. It can be found in the ‘For Parents’ section of our website, under ‘Other’.
Today P6 and P7 travelled to Cullybackey College for a special ‘IN-O-V8 day. The aim of the day is to encourage children to have an interest in Science subjects, through fun experiments.
On arrival we went to the science lab where one of the teachers talked to us about different scientific topics. The children also got to do some really fun experiments as well. The topics covered were:-
Light
Chemical reactions
Energy
Forces and pressure
After lunch, the children went to the Assembly Hall where ‘Scientific Sue’ put on a very interesting show, based on the book ‘ How To Train Your Dragon’. The children learned about different gases, gravity and flight.
Thanks to the staff and Sixth Form Pupils of Cullybackey College, for this very informative and well organised morning. P6 and P7 pupils are invited back to Cullybackey College on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st January at 7.30pm for their Open Nights.
Concussion is a brain injury which is usually caused by hitting your head or a fall. It can happen at any time, anywhere: for example during sports, in the school playground, or even at home. Concussion must always be taken seriously. It is really important to be able to recognise the signs and know how to respond.
This leaflet has been produced, by the Department of Education, to help everyone recognise the signs.
Our Christmas Concert was held on 18th December and we were delighted to welcome lots of family and friends to this special event. The concert opened with some musical items by some of our children who have been receiving lessons in school throughout the year. Our P1 - P3 play was ‘Everyone loves a Baby’ and P4 -P7 performed ‘ Countdown to Christmas’. For those of you who attended, I’m sure you will agree that the children put on an amazing performance. A special thanks to Mrs Calderwood for all her hard work in preparing the two plays. Thanks also to Rasharkin Presbyterian Church for the use of their halls for rehearsals and the concert and also to those parents who helped to serve supper on the night of the concert.
