Antrim Primary

Tuesday 2nd March 2010

Open Night - Tuesday 9th March (any time between 6.30 pm
and 8.00 pm)

Open Night is an opportunity for our pupils to show parents
their school work which hasn't been taken home. It is not a
parent-teacher consultation but we welcome you to visit the
classroom. Work in children's books and folders is personal
to each family but please view all the displays in the
classroom and the corridors. The children may also take the
opportunity to demonstrate some of the practical work they
do eg computers and interactive white boards. Please also
pay a visit to our library. Please assist us by completing visits
promptly at or before 8.00 pm.

During Open Night the P.T.A. will be selling tickets for a fund
raising draw. Prizes will be drawn the next day in school.

Music Evening - Tuesday 16th March 7.30 pm
Our P6/P7 choir, orchestra and recorder group will be
performing for parents and friends on Tuesday evening, 16th
March. All parents are very welcome to attend.
All our P1 - P7 pupils will be treated to a full dress rehearsal
on the Tuesday morning and should not attend the evening
performance.

End Of Term
School will finish at 12 noon on Thursday 25th March (more
details later).

Dates for Your Diary (more details to follow in due course)
School Open Night Tues 9th March
Music Evening Tues 16th March
P5 Easter Assembly Wed 24th March

Re-Constitution of Board of Governors
The Governors for 2010-2014 are now in place and had their
first meeting last week. We are grateful for their voluntary
service to the development of Antrim Primary School.
Ven Dr S McBride (Chairperson), Mr S Porter
(Vice-Chairperson), Mr A Watson,
Mr G Savage, Mrs P Lewis, Mr N Simpson, Mrs L Smyth, Mrs J
Gillespie and
Dr M Cross.

Parking Outside School
The PSNI has asked me to remind parents that parking on the
zigzag lines outside school is strictly prohibited as it causes
a great danger to pedestrians at school arrival/departure
times. Officers inform me that they intend to monitor parking
on a regular basis and will issue fixed penalty tickets for
parking on the zigzag lines or parking on the double yellow
lines on the Tesco side of Station Road. Please assist our
Crossing Patrolman by avoiding these areas. Thank you.

Save The Children
Last week we presented a cheque to Save The Children for
Ł849.43, the proceeds of our Christmas Events. Their
representative, Mrs McClelland, was very grateful. This
organisation, like many others, is striving to support the
people of Haiti at this time of great need.

L Patterson

Policy for Emergency School Closure
There have been occasions when schools have been unable
to operate due to circumstances beyond their control e.g.
flooding, heating breakdown, extreme weather conditions. It
is advisable for parents to again be aware of the measures to
be taken if we found ourselves in such a situation prior to
school opening for the day.
If notice is possible, we will alert local radio and television
stations at the earliest moment. Hopefully they would
broadcast the information, but this cannot be guaranteed.
First thing (8.30 am), or earlier if possible, a notice will be
placed at the front gate to inform parents who transport their
children to school. Children who arrive at school on their own
or by bus will be supervised by staff until parents can be
contacted and the necessary arrangements made.

INFORMATION FOR ALL PARENTS
There have been several serious accidents in Northern
Ireland caused by jewellery catching on items of clothing etc
during play or PE and we have been advised that all items of
jewellery must be removed prior to PE lessons.
Advice to parents - where necessary ear piercing should take
place in the summer holidays to permit removal from
September.
It would, of course, be much safer for your child if all jewellery
was left at home during the school day. Earrings, if worn in
class, should be of the stud type only.
Please also note that pupils should not wear loose items of
clothing which would cause injury if caught on apparatus.
For PE lessons we feel that from P3 upwards a white polo
shirt with shorts (any colour) and gym shoes would be most
appropriate.

Bridge Orphans Ethiopia
Many, many thanks to all our families who supported our
chosen charity 'Bridge Orphans of Ethiopia'. At today's
Harvest Assembly we presented a cheque for the
tremendous total of Ł4,200. Every penny will be used to
benefit these very needy children.
Our Primary 6 classes made it a very special occasion with
their excellent Assembly for P1-P7 and later in the morning
for their parents and friends.

Cash for Clobber
In partnership with the Council and the Northern Ireland
Cancer Fund for Children, Cookstown Textile Recyclers is
once again running the 'Cash For Clobber' scheme.

For each bin liner sized bag of unwanted clothes and textiles
the school collects, CTR will pay Ł1 to the school and will
also donate 25p to the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for
Children. Bedlinen and curtains are also acceptable.

Please send bags to school from Monday 9th November to
Friday 13th November (morning). These will be collected by
CTR on Friday afternoon

Swine Flu Update
As we indicated in September circulars we are monitoring
pupil absences due to flu-like symptoms:- our thanks to
parents who are ringing school when pupils are off ill.

In recent days we have had a noticeable increase in pupil
absences. Since doctors are testing for swine flu only where
other medical conditions are present it will not be possible to
identify all cases of swine flu.

Since only a relatively small number of parents have received
confirmation of swine flu from their GP's, it is not possible to
give accurate figures for swine flu cases in school.
Fortunately, many of the pupils are recovering quickly and
are back in school within a few days.

Advice from the medical authorities remains as before -

"If children become unwell it is important that they stay at
home. If the illness is mild and there are no underlying risk
factors then it can often be managed like a normal flu by
staying in bed and taking over the counter preparations.
However, those with underlying conditions and with more
serious illness should stay at home and telephone their GP or
GP out of hours service"

One possible issue we must consider in the coming months
is the effect on staffing levels if a number of our teachers are
ill at any one time. We will endeavour to find substitute
teachers but there may be instances where classes may have
to be combined for short periods if substitutes are not
available.
Thank you for your continued support - we will continue to
keep you informed through school circulars.

SPECIAL CHARITY 2009/10 - BRIDGE ORPHANS ETHIOPIA
This term we ask for your support in helping a group of
orphaned children in Ethiopia.
A representative from the Charity visited Assembly last week
to tell the pupils and staff about the difficulties facing these
children.
We will be asking the children to learn a poem or song
(different for each year group) and ask friends and family to
sponsor them.
Sponsor sheets will be sent home on Wednesday and we
hope to present a cheque to Bridge Orphans at our Harvest
Thanksgiving Assembly on 27th October.
Every penny raised goes directly to supporting these
children as the volunteer charity workers do not deduct any
expenses.

PTA COMMITTEE ELECTED FOR 2009/10
During last week's Annual General Meeting the following
parents were elected onto the PTA Committee for this year:-
Mrs V Adams, Mrs A Creighton, Dr A and Dr M Cross, Mr S
Elliott, Mrs G Francis, Dr I Erskine, Mr S Hamilton, Mrs N
Monahan, Mrs G Montgomery, Mrs H Murdock,
Mrs S Porter, Mrs K Watt and Mrs S Whann.

We wish committee members the very best and thank them
for their support to our school.

ROAD SAFETY POSTER COMPETITION WINNERS
Congratulations to the following pupils who won prizes -
Joely Andrews, Rohit Christian, Stephen Gammon and Holly
Kane.

EMPLOYMENT - TEMPORARY POSITIONS IN SCHOOL
From time to time we require temporary cover for lunchtime
supervisory posts or kitchen staff due to illness etc.

If you are interested in adding your name to our register,
please contact the office.

For kitchen employment please contact the Cook on 02894
462052.

Swine Flu - Update on Vaccination Programme

The Department of Health has again written to schools and I
quote:-
"A department decision has been taken not to include all
school age children in the initial stages of the vaccination
programme. As a result we will not be progressing as
planned with the programme in schools prior to Christmas.
Some children with high risk clinical conditions will be
offered the vaccine through their GP Practice between
October and December 2009."
We will keep parents up to date with information when we
receive it.

School Recycling - Clothes Bank
Clothes bank has now been placed in school to encourage
the recycling of clothes which will in turn benefit charity.
Please leave any unwanted clothes in the foyer and we will
place them in the Clothes Bank. Thank you.

Contact/Health Information
In order to ensure we have the most up to date information re
contacts etc. for each child we would ask you please to
complete the attached slip and return it to the class teacher
as soon as possible. It is vital that we have contact numbers
and up to date health information. Please inform us
immediately of any changes during the School Year.

School Milk
Payment can be made for the year or per month.

Free School Meals
Forms are available in the School Office. If you feel you may
be entitled please make application as soon as possible.

Child Protection Procedures
Our prospectus and information letters to parents give details
re many aspects of our school's approaches to child
protection. Detailed policies are in place for Child Protection,
Positive Behaviour, The Internet, Anti-Bullying, Pastoral Care,
Health Education etc. and are available to parents on request.
If a parent should have a concern about the safety of any
child this can be brought to the attention of the Class Teacher
and to the Principal, Mr Patterson, who is the designated
teacher for Child Protection. Alternatively an approach may
be made to the deputy designated teacher, Mrs McGlaughlin.
If parents are still concerned they can talk/write to the
Chairman of the Board of Governors, Ven. Dr S McBride. At
any time parents can talk to Social Services or the Police.
Should we in school have any concerns about a child we
have an obligation by law to speak with Social Services.

Photographs of Pupils (still and video)
From time to time our pupils have photographs taken for local
newspapers and/or our web site e.g. concerts, fairs,
achievements, sports. We respect the right of parents for
children not to be photographed. If this is your wish please
write this at the bottom of the information sheet. Please note
that we cannot be responsible for photographs taken by
other parents at special school events e.g. sports days,
concerts etc.
Attendance at school (Morning awareness)
Many parents ring school or call at the Office to inform us of
children's absences. Please continue to alert us on the first
day of absence. Our phone is 'manned' from 8.30 am each
morning (94428226). Class teachers will be informed
accordingly.

School Attendance
The attendance target set for schools by NEELB is 96%.
Please continue to ensure your child attends school unless
when ill or in exceptional circumstances.
This School year we will again issue certificates to all pupils
whose attendance is on or above 96% at the end of June.
This will credit pupils who have had full attendance and also
those who have missed only short periods. In line with new
DENI Guidelines we will be recording unauthorised family
holidays, lateness in mornings and afternoon absences.
Please help by taking holidays during school closures and
ensuring pupils arrive in school promptly in the mornings. We
have to record attendance for both morning and afternoon as
separate sessions.

Road Safety
We again remind drivers and pedestrians of the need for
extreme caution at the front of the school and in the
playground at home times. Please drive very slowly and
cross with care. Please use our Patrolman at all times.

Vehicle Entrance Gates
In the interests of staff and pupil safety and security the two
vehicle entrance gates will be controlled from our office and
school kitchen. The 'top' entrance at the kitchen area will be
closed to all non-essential vehicles throughout the day.
Please continue to use the bottom entrance for child
collection at 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm.

L Patterson

Antrim PS Website - www.antrimps.org.uk
Our website has recently been updated by Mr Magrath and
contains lots of new material, please visit. Mrs Monahan, our
PTA Secretary, has also added a special PTA link to keep you
informed of all PTA activities.

Crossing Patrol at Front of School - Please continue to
ensure that children are collected at the front of the school at
hometime. Anyone crossing the road towards Tescos car
park should avail of the services of the crossing patrol.
Please do NOT use the kitchen entrance to drop off children
or to pick them up at hometime in cars. The bottom
playground entrance should be used by car drivers and taxis
at these times instead.

Allergies
We have a number of children with serious allergies - nuts
and latex have to be avoided at all times. Please do not send
to school any food items containing nuts or traces of nuts
(e.g. peanut butter). Please do not send balloons to school.
Thank you for your help in keeping these pupils safe.

L. Patterson (Principal)