Antrim Primary

Wednesday 21st May 2008

REMINDER - SCHOOL CLOSURES (2 DAYS)
School will be closed this Friday 23rd May (staff
training) and Monday 26th May (Bank Holiday).

CLASS TESTS
At this time of the year P1 - P6 pupils sit annual
class tests. The completed tests are moderated by
year group staff. Results, together with the class
teacher's assessment of the child's work
throughout the year are used to complete the end
of year report. During June tests are sent home for
your perusal. Please sign and return them to the
teacher.
This year Pupil Profiles, a new type of report, will be
completed for pupils in the Foundation Stage, P1
and P2, and also for pupils in P5. Pupils in P3, P4,
P6 and P7 will receive the normal style of reports.

PRIMARY 7 CONCERT - "TIME TRAVEL"
Thanks to all the family and friends who supported
the P7 pupils and staff in their concerts last week.
Again many congratulations to everyone for the
excellent performances.

POST PRIMARY EDUCATION AND TRANSFER
As you are aware the decisions regarding post
primary provision and the method of transfer from
primary school from 2010 onwards have not yet
been made. In this period of uncertainty it is
important that we continue to work with parents in
ensuring each pupil strives to realise his or her full
potential through P1 to P7 and is therefore ready
for transfer to the most suitable school.
Some of our local politicians have organised a
Public Meeting to discuss the future provision.
They invite all interested parents to attend the
Templeton Hotel on Thursday 5th June at 7.30 pm.

P7 PUPILS' SCHOOLS FOR SEPTEMBER 2008
Primary 7 pupils will receive details of their new
schools on Saturday 31st May.

P1 - P4 SPORTS
These will be held on Wednesday 4th June (reserve
day Thursday 5th June).
P1 and P2 10.00 am to 10.45 am P3 and P4 10.45 am
to 12 noon.
Fingers crossed for continued good weather.

JUMPER/CARDIGAN ORDERS - Reminder
Orders with payment for 'School Trends' by Wed
28th May at the latest. Order forms are still available
from the office. Garments will be continue to be
available for purchase from Select Kids in
Ballymena, or Wallaces in Antrim.

TESCO VOUCHERS
If you have any Tesco "Computer for Schools"
vouchers, please send them into School by the end
of this week. Thank you.

FRENCH ASSISTANT - MARIE
Our French Assistant Marie will complete her time
with us this week. Classes have enjoyed her input
and we wish her well for her return home to France.

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS
These have now arrived in School and can be
collected from the Office.

BUS FARES
For those children getting the bus after school - the
Ulsterbus fare is 55p. Please try to bring the
correct change if possible to facilitate the bus
driver!

OPEN NIGHT
Many congratulations to staff and pupils for all the
excellent work on display at Open Night. Thank you
to the many parents who attended on the evening.

PTA Draw at Open Night
1st Prize Smoothie Maker Robbie Watt P5
2nd Prize Basket of Fruit Adam Crawford P3
3rd Prize Voucher - Hilton Meal for 2 Rebecca
Milliken P5
4th Prize Easter Egg Adam Pearce P3

MUSIC EVENING
Congratulations also to P6 and P7 pupils for the
very high standards set at the Evening of Music last
week. Special thanks to Mrs Reed and Miss Reid for
all their hard work and to families who supported
the event. Ł145.23 was raised for our music fund.

TEMPORARY POSTS - LUNCHTIME
SUPERVISORS OR CLEANERS
If anyone would be interested in placing their name
on the School Register please contact the office.

BOYS HOCKEY TEAM
We congratulate Mr Hill and the boys on qualifying
for the N I Finals in April - Callum Archer, Daniel
Carlisle, Reece Devine, Aaron George, Stephen
Houston, Adam Monahan, Patrick Mooney and
Christopher Petticrew.

Car Drivers
Please do not use the lower entrance/staff car park
in the mornings; this use causes congestion and
delays staff arrivals in the classrooms. Thank you.

School Book Fair
Your support for our annual Book Fair has again
been most generous. A total of Ł2346.38 was spent
on books and we hope the children will get great
enjoyment from them. Thanks to your purchases
we will receive Ł1347.80 worth of free books for our
classrooms. We also received 10 books for our new
library sponsored by parents. My thanks to
everyone and to staff and P.T.A. for all the hard
work. We again thank Mrs Grant and Mr Magrath for
the organisation.

Policy for Emergency School Closure - Annual
Winter Reminder
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.

School Carol Service
A 'Full House' joined staff and pupils for this
special Christmas celebration - congratulations to
pupils and staff for making it such a successful
occasion. Thank you for your support and for the
donations of Ł319.70 to Save The Children Fund.

Retirement of Patrolman Mr Kelly (Oriel Road)
Mr Kelly retired at Christmas. We are very grateful
for his cheerful service given to the NEELB for 23
years (15 years at Oriel Road and 8 years at
Rathenraw). Mr Kelly joined us for a presentation at
a special Christmas assembly.

We would ask that children use the crossing patrol
at Centra when we resume next term. The NEELB
will be carrying out a review of crossing points on
Oriel Road in January.

Tesco Sports Vouchers - 64,500 in total
Thank you for this marvellous total. We look
forward to ordering new equipment. Thanks also to
Mr Hill and his P6 class for all the counting.

Congratulations to Emma Houston who won
second prize in the Christmas Art Competition at
the Forum.

Grand Opera House Panto
Congratulations to Alex (P7) and Sarah (P4)
McFarlane who were selected for the cast of
Cinderella for the Christmas pantomime. Well done!

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.

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 attached 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 record
attendance for both morning and afternoon
sessions.

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.

Vi-Sport - School Website www.antrimps.org.uk
Please note parents are NOW able to access
Vi-Sport on-line sports service by clicking on the
icon on our school website. Items of sports goods
can be purchased online and delivered to homes
(delivery charges apply). Our school funds will
benefit by a percentage of total purchases. This
facility will be available on a trial basis, any
communication should be made directly to
Vi-Sport.

L. Patterson (Principal)