Term 1 2015-16

Mrs McBride's and Mrs Bell's class have been finding out about similarities and differences between the two classes. The pupils have been finding out, naming and talking about their emotions and how they are similar to and also different from others in their class and in their partner school.

This term, children will be able to name their partner school, some of the staff who work there and name two new friends at their partner school.

Term 2 2015-16

The school council from both schools have met and agreed a Shared logo 'Partners Together in Learning'. Parents have been finding out what has been going on through the Shared Education Newsletter and both staff and Principals have got together for a shared Professional Development day in Creative Writing.

The Traditional groups in both schools have met and practiced for their upcoming Residential home visits in March and April and Mrs Bell and Mrs McBride's classes have had a further two opportunities to get together and find out about the Media Initiative characters such as Jim.  

A focus group of Pupils whose Parents gave permission completed an online questionnaire for Queens University in Belfast the results of which we look forward to reading.

A fitting way to end the term was listening to the Southern Area Orchestra who entertained both schools with their Spring Concert just before Easter.

Meanwhile behind the scenes the teachers have been updating their Literacy planning and putting into practice the learning from the Professional Development days in Literacy - Writing this year.

Term 3 2015-16

Term three commenced with more staff development where teachers got the opportunity to update their Creative writing planning to reflect the development day in March. Children have experienced some of the strategies that the teachers got to put in practice and one of central noticeboards in school was adorned with the children's writing.

The traditional Group got the chance to entertain the residents from Ashbrook Residential Home. The children from both schools played five different tunes and were rewarded with a great round of applause.

The fifth and sixth (final lesson) takes place in May where Mrs Bell and Mrs McBride's classes come together to review their learning to date and to find out about another of the Media Initiatives characters.

The pupils from P1 and the Focus Group completed evaluations so that Mrs Hamill could gauge their willingness with the shared project to date. 

Mrs Swaile and Mrs Hamill attended a training day in April, they will be evaluating the schools' actions to date and developing new targets for the coming year 2016-17... how time flies!