Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Christmas Devices from Santa ...

  Fri 22 Dec 2023

  With Christmas only days away, it won’t be long before lucky children across the land are gleefully opening the new devices that Santa’s delivered. Chances are they’ll want to dive straight in and see what their new present can do. But with any device that connects children with the digital world, adults should invest some time putting safeguards in place so their young ones can learn and play in safety. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide is our rundown of online safety tips for ensuring those new devices only bring the joy they were intended to.

  Whether it’s their own phone, a tablet or the latest console, Father Christmas will soon be furnishing many children with a shiny new device. So what do parents need to know in advance? How do we make sure children can use these devices safely? And how do we keep their screen time down? Our guide has the answers.

  This guide is a useful starting point for parents and carers whose children are about to get an internet-enabled device.

  

• Board of Governors

  Tue 24 Oct 2023

  19.12.23 PARENTS WE NEED YOU
  
  Dear families
  We are seeking interest in becoming a parent Governor in Rathcoole Primary School and Nursery Unit for the new term 2024 (Sept) to 2028.
  
  We have 2 Parent reps on our Governors.
  
  We currently have Mr Paddy Smyth as our only Parent Governor when Mr Graham's daughter moved on in Primary 7. We would like to thank both gentlemen for their service and for the continued support as secretary to Mr Smyth.
  
  Please find the link below to complete a short form about you and how you could help support your child and the school moving forward. Although there is a process to follow, please don't be put off by the forms and formality.
  
  We need anyone who has a passion for education and supporting children and young people. We need you!
  ____________________________________
  
  https://forms.gle/VZ4Woz7TUu8oru8x9
  
  If anyone would like to find out more please let me know or follow the link to the information above.
  
  Closing date is 15th January 2024.
  
  Many thanks
  
  Emma Quinn

   

  24.10.23 Board of Governors Reconstitution 2024
  
  Dear parents / carers
  
  Please see information from the Department of Education in relation to the application for Board of Governors. Further information about parent Governors will be issued over the coming months.
  
  Many thanks
  EQ
  _____________________________________
  
  
  RECONSTITUTION OF SCHOOL BOARDS OF GOVERNORS
  
  The Department of Education (DE) and Education Authority (EA) will jointly launch a
  recruitment campaign on 06 November 2023 inviting applications for school governor
  positions in all controlled and maintained schools.
  School Boards of Governors (BoGs) are normally reconstituted every four years.
  
  As the term of office for existing governors is coming to an end, we now need people with
  a range of skills and experience to support the management of schools across
  Northern Ireland.
  
  We are encouraging applications from a diverse range of people from various
  backgrounds with different skills and experiences.
  
  Applicants interested in applying to become a school governor can apply for DE
  governor positions at
  https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/school-governorappointments and for EA positions at https://www.eani.org.uk/schoolgovernance/becoming-a-school-governor
  
  You can follow the ‘Governor Reconstitution’ conversation on social media, including
  Twitter / X by following @education_ni and @Ed_Authority and by using the
  #schoolgovNI campaign hashtag.
   

  

• ADHD Parent Support

  Mon 05 Jun 2023
  

• EARLY YEARS TEAM NOMINATED FOR UK PEARSON TEACHING AWARD

  Mon 03 Apr 2023

  WE HAVE BEEN SHORTLISTED FROM 1000s

   

  Thank you so much for taking part in the 2023 Pearson National Teaching Awards. This year was, once again, an excellent year for participation. The stories that we have heard from schools and colleges across the UK have been simply inspirational and the quantity and standard of entries has been so high this year that our judges have had a tremendously difficult task in shortlisting finalists.
  
  We are delighted that The Rathcoole PS & NU Early Years Team entered in to The Award for Early Years Team of the Year and has been shortlisted as a finalist.
  
  The Teaching Awards Trust’s purpose is to celebrate the outstanding work taking place in schools across the UK, and we are so grateful that you have chosen to take part in the Awards. We want everyone who has been entered into the Pearson National Teaching Awards to feel a sense of professional pride that they have been recognised by their colleagues.

  

• STORYTELLING WEEK - WE NEED YOU!

  Fri 06 Jan 2023

  6th January 2023 : WE NEED YOU!
  
  Dear families and carers
  
  We will be celebrating National Storytelling Week on 30th January to Friday 3rd February 2023 with all of our pupils from Nursery to Primary 7.
  
  We NEED YOU!
  
  As part of our Intergenerational Project we would love to invite parents/ grandparents into school to read or share a story with small groups of children.
  
  You do not have to be an Oscar Actor to come in - we need you to read like you read all the bedtime stories to your own children and grandchildren. Just be you.
  ____________________________________________
  Please complete the form below so we can help plan and support you in the coming weeks. We will help guide and be with you there every step (or page) if the way.
  
  https://forms.gle/s1SpfUD6x8cej5LSA
  ____________________________________________
  All we need is a commitment of about 15-20 minutes over the course of the week. We will do all the rest.
  
  Any queries or questions, please just give me a message or call at school.
  
  This is going to be fantastic and so exciting for all the children to see family members in the school and nursery.
  
  Spread the word and get volunteering.
  
   

  

• WRAP AROUND CARE

  Thu 05 Jan 2023

  5th January 2023

  Dear Parent and carers

  As a school we have listened. 

  The response in December 2022 indicated that 100% of those who responded would be keen for wrap around care 5 days of the week. 

  I have met with MR Sports who provide current support in school with PE coaching and also support many local schools in wrap around care, summer schemes and much more. e.g St James, Whiteabbey, Star of the Sea.

  We would like to trial the Wrap Around Care in the coming months to make sure that we have it right for the 2023-24 academic year. 

  We also must ensure that it is feasible in the long term. 

  This is NOT a commitment to attend wrap around care in Rathcoole at present. 

  With that in mind, please respond to the questions below.  Please click link below. 

  https://forms.gle/31iHRShm5mBVfoPA7

  I will review responses and make arrangements to progress to the next step.   We are committed as a school to making this work for everyone.  

  Should it work well then school are also planning in 2023-24 to help support this further via the investment of extended schools funding. 

  We want to help support our community and Rathcoole Family. 

  
  Many thanks

  E Quinn

  

• Christmas Community Choir Afternoon

  Wed 14 Dec 2022

  13.12.22  Reminder for Christmas Community Choir

  Dear parents and carers

  Thank you for coming along today to see the Nursery, P1 and P7 in the Wiggly Nativity.  It was really super to see such support for the children and staff.

  Tomorrow is our Christmas Community Afternoon.  Please see below for some more detail to help the afternoon run smoothly.
  ___________________________________________ 

  Nursery can head to the outdoor classroom after pick up time with parents and carers.

  1.20pm : 

  * Primary 1 to Primary 3 parents/carers are able to collect their children from the front entrance of school at 1.20pm and then proceed to the outdoor classroom, this would ensure that all younger children are with family.
  ____________________________________________

  1.30pm : 

  * Primary 4 to Primary 7 will come out with their class teachers at 1.30pm.   Primary 1 to Primary 3 children who have not anyone attending will also come out. 

  * Mrs Quinn - Welcome to all 

  * We will ALL be taking part in our sing-a-long Christmas tunes.  

  * We have a few special perfomances 
  ____________________________________________

  2.00pm 

  *  The hot chocolate will be available for all.

  * Smores will be available to purchase at the fire in the forest area. 

  * The indoor children craft fair will open in the Assembly Hall for all to visit.  Please bring along your pocket money to make sure you grab those last minute Christmas gifts! 
  ___________________________________________

  Once the craft fair opens, P4 to P7 children are free to go along with family. Please let the class teacher know if your child is going home early with you.  Otherwise children will be home at the usual time of 2.50pm. 

  Access in and out of school will only be via the Forest school entrance.  (turn right at front of school)

  ____________________________________________

  We look forward to welcoming you all tomorrow.  There is no entry cost but all donations welcome.   

  If children and families can dress up as festive as possible, that would be amazing! 

  See you all then

  Emma Quinn and the Rathcoole Team

  

• WRAP AROUND CARE

  Mon 12 Dec 2022

  12.12.22  WRAP AROUND CARE SURVEY 

   

  Please click below for the  link.

  https://forms.gle/cGwiuwoR9uqhMg2G6

   

  Dear Parent and carers

  As a school we listen to ideas and thoughts about how to best support you as our families. 

  I am gauging an interest in wrap around care and would like to know your thoughts.

  As a working mum myself, I fully appreciate the amount of organisation and cost that needs to be put into place for child care, for school age children. 

  Please give your thoughts and ideas below so that the school can ensure that any support put in place fully meets your needs.    
  Survey closes on Monday 19th December at 4pm. 

  We want to help support our community and Rathcoole Family. 

  Many thanks

  E Quinn

  

• MIGHTY WOMEN IN RATHCOOLE

  Tue 22 Nov 2022

  22.11.22 RATHCOOLE MIGHTY WOMEN AWARDS - WE NEED YOU!
  
  What a year we have had. Your very own Mrs Lowe and Mrs Quinn are attending the finalist award night in Titanic, Belfast as mighty women.
  They are representing the most amazing women that we meet every day - in school and in our community of Rathcoole.
  
  We need your help.
  If you would like to make a comment on the both ladies, please follow the link below, scroll down to the Women in Education Section and click on their names.
  
  Let's show the rest of the world, how empowered our women in Rathcoole are. It is only with the support of the community that we can all do our jobs and play a part in the life of Rathcoole.
  _________________________________________
  
  Get commenting - CLICK BELOW
  
  https://www.familiesfirstfinalists.com/mightywomenawards2022
  ___________________________________________
  
  Good luck to them both and congratulations on reaching the final.
  
  The Rathcoole Family

  

• NI Hospice - Kindness Counts

  Mon 14 Nov 2022

  NI Hospice Donations
  
  Kindness Day kicks started Anti-Bullying Week.
  Just look at the kindness that takes place in our school every single day. These are just some of the amazing things that our pupils do.
  
  Keep being kind - thank you to all who donated to the NI Hospice. Donations will be welcome until the end of this week.
  
  #kindness counts