CHRISTMAS CONCERT

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.

CAROL SERVICE

On Monday 16th December we went to Rasharkin Presbyterian Church for a Carol Service. Some of the children from St Patrick’s Primary were also taking part. P1 - P4 children sang ‘Christmastime is Here’ P5-P7 sang ‘He is Immanuel’ and then the combined choir sang ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’. St Patrick’s children sang ‘O Holy Night’ and they also had a lovely Christmas poem. Rev Blue closed the service by reminding us about the gifts the Three Kings had brought to Jesus. Thanks to parents and friends who attended this service.

P1 -P4

P5- P7

Combined Choir

St Patrick's Choir

MILLIONAIRE READER

Well done to Joe in P7 for becoming a ‘Millionaire Reader’. As the children take, and pass the quizzes on books that they have read for Accelerated Reading, the number of words that the children have read are added, and a total for the year is calculated. Joe has read 1,000,406 since September!

ACCELERATE READING CUP WINNER

Congratulations to Grace in P5 who was the winner of the Accelerated Reading Cup for this half term.

ACCELERATED READING

Congratulations to all the pupils in P4 - P7 who received certificates for reaching their Accelerated Reading targets this half term. It is always difficult to reach AR targets in this Christmas term because of so many Christmas activities and distractions. A really special ‘well done’ to everyone for putting so much effort into their reading.

P5 Certificate Winners

P4 Certificate Winners

P6 Certificate Winners

P7 Certificate Winners

SPECIAL VISIT FROM SANTA

A special visitor came to school yesterday afternoon - yes Santa!! There was great excitement as the children got to talk to Santa and tell him about what they would like for Christmas. He is going to be busy!

P1

P2

P3

P4

P5

P6

P7

CHRISTMAS DINNER

Yesterday was a very busy day in school. Following on from having Playgroup with us in the morning, we then had Christmas Dinner to look forward to. Thanks to the cooks in the Leaney kitchen in Ballymoney for providing us with a such a delicious Christmas Dinner. A huge thanks to Mrs Calderwood, Mrs Morrison and Mrs Wilson for serving and looking after the children in the hall. Everyone really loved their special Christmas Dinner. Thanks also to the piano players who played Christmas carols while the children were eating. We also had some very festive drawings on the paper tablecloths.

EVERYBODY LOVES A BABY

Yesterday we were delighted to welcome the children and leaders from Rasharkin Community Playgroup to watch our P1 - P3 children performing their Christmas Nativity, ‘Everyone Loves A Baby.’ Our children loved getting dressed up in their costumes, and it was amazing to see them all reading, singing and dancing so well. Come along on Wednesday 18th December at 7pm to Rasharkin Presbyterian Church Hall to our annual Christmas Concert to see them performing again, and also to see the P4-7 play ‘Countdown to Christmas’. Thanks to Mrs Calderwood for all her hard work in getting the P1 -P3 children ready for their performance today.

ANTI-BULLYING DAY

The focus of Anti-Bullying Week this year was on the theme ‘Change Starts With Us‘. Whether it is verbal, physical, online or in-person, bullying has a significant impact on a child’s life well in to adulthood. Today in school we were focusing on Anti-Bullying and in particular ‘How to be Kind to Each Other’. The children wore their Christmas jumpers to school to highlight the fact that we are all different. In assembly Miss Richmond spoke about being kind to each other. God has made us all different and he loves each one of us and he wants us to respect each other. P3,4 and 5 sang the song, ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’

Mrs Peden then asked for a couple of volunteers to decorate Christmas jumpers. Mark read a prayer and afterwards each child was given a little jumper to colour in, or write a kind or encouraging message on. The children passed these jumpers on to another child as a word of encouragement.

Keeping children safe online over the holidays

No doubt many of our young people have asked for some form of internet-enabled technology for Christmas. Here are some key tips from www.thinkuknow to help parents enable their child to enjoy these new devices whilst also protecting them.

 What parents can do:

• The Internet of Things: 9 ways of making your connected home more secure

• Seasonal Netiquette: 5 new parenting rules for screen time and tech when families gather (Parent Info)

BALLYMONEY HIGH TASTER DAY

On Monday 9th December P6 and P7 went to a ‘Taster Day’ in Ballymoney High School. They had a very interesting and informative morning as they participated in Science, Music, Home Economics and Technology activities.

SCIENCE - They had to examine evidence left at the scene of a crime. They examined fibres found on a tree, used microscopes to examine hair, and used Bunsen burners to see the colour element in a white powder.

MUSIC - They clapped rhythms and played Jingle Bells on keyboards and drums

HOME ECONOMICS - They designed and then decorated gingerbread men

TECHNOLOGY - They looked at samples of children’s work and then polished keyrings.

Thanks to the staff of Ballymoney High School for organising the Taster Day.

SCIENCE

MUSIC

HOME ECONOMICS

TECHNOLOGY

WHEELWORKS ICT

As you all know P6 and P7 children have been working on creating their own digital games using Sketch Nation Create, in their Wheelworks sessions. Their games are now fully finished and playable. The children have done an amazing job and have created wonderful games which they are now able to play and share with each other. This week they got a chance to review each others’ games, using ‘Two stars and a wish’. There were many positive comments about - excellent graphics, good characters, good use of colour, bonus levels and sneaky challenge etc.

We have included some screenshots from a few of their games.

Isaac P7

Jack P7

Molly P6

Cameron P7

Sharon P7

Oliver P6

TOY STORY

Today we went to Green Pastures to see the pantomime ‘Toy Story’. The children had a super time and were really impressed with the fantastic acting, singing and dancing from all the characters. At the end, we were reminded that God has made us all different. Just like the toys in Toy Story who belonged to Andy, we too are loved by God. Congratulations to the cast of the show for putting on such a great performance for us.

LUNCHTIME BIBLE CLUB

This week, Colin Tinsley from Hope for Youth Ministries has been taking a Lunchtime Bible Club. The children have really enjoyed singing new songs and listening to the Christmas Story.

MUSIC EXAM

Best wishes to Emma, Ethan, Sam and Lucy who are all doing their Initial piano exam today. Thanks to Heather McAleese, their music teacher, who has helped them so much to prepare for their exam.

EMMA, ETHAN, SAM AND LUCY ALL READY FOR THEIR EXAM

RADIO CRACKER

This morning some of our P5 - P7 children went to Ballymena to take part in the live radio broadcast on Radio Cracker. They were introduced on air by Billy Bell. The children sang three pieces, ‘Holly and Mistletoe’, ‘Countdown to Christmas’ and ‘He is Immanuel’. They sang really well and their performance will be available to listen to on Radio Cracker website from 6th December. Thanks to all the parents who came along to support us today. We are really proud of our School Choir.

Anti-Bullying Theme Day

In Rasharkin Primary School we will be focusing on Anti-Bullying on Wednesday 11th December. The focus of Anti-Bullying Week this year was on the theme ‘Change Starts With Us‘. Whether it is verbal, physical, online or in-person, bullying has a significant impact on a child’s life well in to adulthood.

By making small, simple changes, we can break this cycle and create a safe environment for everyone, where everyone is heard. Because together, we can end bullying.

Change starts here.

Change starts now.

Change starts with us.

To help children remember this important message, children are invited to change their school jumper or cardigan for a Christmas jumper, t-shirt or wear a casual jumper and a Santa hat, or tinsel on Wednesday 11th December. During this day children will be doing some work on this theme in school.

LUNCHTIME AWARDS NOVEMBER

The three pupils chosen to receive Lunchtime Awards for November were. - Lucy P6, Harvey P1 and James P5

ASSEMBLY AWARDS NOVEMBER

November assembly awards were presented for the following achievements ‘Being Kind and Caring’, ‘Honesty’, ‘Great Writing’, and ‘Always Remembering to Choose a Healthy Break’.

Demi P6, Kevin P2, Mason P3 and Emma P5

Susanna P6, Joy P2, Jane P3 and James P5

Evie P3, Jodie P7 and Charlie P2

Joe P7 and Alexander P5