Rowandale Integrated Primary School

The school will be closed on Monday 30th Januaryfor teacher training.

 New Playgroup

The first information evening was held 04 January and forms are available in the office.

These will be distributed to the wider school database, but if you know of anyone who is interested in using the Playgroup, they should contact the office.

Please remember that if you are applying for a nursery place for September 2012, you should go ahead and do so without listing Rowandale as an option.

 Assembly

Year 3 Open Assembly will take place on Friday 03 February at 9.30am in school. Parents, relatives and friends of this year group are welcome to attend.

Year 6 & 7 Open Assembly has been changed to Wednesday 15 February at 9.30am. Parents, relatives and friends of this year group are welcome to attend.

 Year 6 & 7 – Tata Kids of Steel Triathlon Series

We are hoping that Year 6 & 7 pupils will be taking part in the Tata Kids of Steel Triathlon Series on Friday 18 May at Lagan Valley Leisureplex. All equipment will be provided and approximately 800 children from around Northern Ireland will be participating in this event. If you wish your child to be involved, please complete the permission slip and return as soon as possible.

 First Confession

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place on Thursday 1 March at 7pm at St. Patrick’s Church, Magheralin.

 First Communion

First Holy Communion will take place on Saturday 28 April at 11am at St Patrick’s Church, Magheralin.

 Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation will take place on Saturday 12 May at 11am at St Patrick’s Church, Magheralin.

 School Photographer

The school photographer is visiting the school on Monday 13 February. There will no hot school meals that day as the canteen will be used to take the photos, but you may order a packed lunch from Gilgood Lodge for £2.20. If you wish to order a lunch, please contact the office before Friday 10 February. If you wish your child to have their photo taken, please sign the permission slip enclosed in your pouch last week.

 Peace Proms 2012

A choir representing Rowandale will be taking part in the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland Peace Proms 2012. This event will be held on Sunday 4 March at 12 noon. If you wish to purchase tickets for this event, priced at £10 each, please contact 028 90 334455 or email boxoffice@belfastcity.gov.uk.

 Ethos Evening – Relationships & Sexual Health Education

An evening on Relationships and Sexual Health Education will be held on 2 February. Joanna Gregg is coming from the BELB to speak to all parents. Please keep that date free. We would most grateful if as many parents as possible could attend.

 Eco Club

We would be most grateful for any donations of herb seeds, hanging baskets and plant pots for our Eco Club.

 Wet Play

Any donations for the Wet Play boxes would be gratefully accepted. We would welcome colouring books, playdough, puzzles and games in relatively good condition.

Boxes will be placed in the Dining Room all of next week. If anyone could spare some time to assist with labelling boxes etc next week, it would be much appreciated.

 Missing Keys

A member of staff has lost a set of keys attached to a teddy bear key ring. If anyone comes across these keys, we would be grateful if they could contact the office.

 Yoga Classes

Dr Fitzsimmons has offered to run yoga classes every Wednesday afternoon, 1pm – 2.30pm in Blackstone Physiotherapy Studio. Further information is included in your pouch. All proceeds will go to Rowandale IPS.

At the end of Summer term the Eco Club entered the Sam Gardiner School Gardening Competition. Sam Gardiner MLA and three other judges came to our school earlier this term to see for themselves the work that is being done. Four of our Eco Monitors showed the judges around the poly tunnel area. They explained what activities we did last year as well as new gardening projects that we hope to undertake this school year. The judges were extremely impressed by the communication skills of our children and said that out of the 28 schools that had entered our pupils were the most well spoken.
We enjoyed showing how we used the produce from the polytunnel by treating the judges to a lunch of cheeses and bread served with Rowandale Green Tomato Chutney, pumpkin quiche and corn muffins.
We were delighted to be shortlisted with five other schools to visit Stormont where we received a Highly Commended Award in recognition of how well our school garden area is being used throughout the school.

Exceptional Closure

Please note that the School will not be closed on 22 November as previously advised as CCEA have amended our training dates – we apologise for any inconvenience caused. This date has now changed to 29 June 2012. Therefore, the School will close at 12 noon on 28 June 2012.

 Years 1 – 7

To ensure the safety of our children, all children should be collected from their classrooms on a wet day. Otherwise, Years 1 – 3 will line up at the white fence to be collected. Years 4 – 7 must be collected outside their classrooms.

 Book Fair

Our book fair is taking place in the staff room from 15th November until 18th November, 8.45 – 9am, 2 – 2.15pm and 3 – 3.15pm. Everyone welcome! If any parents could volunteer to assist with the book fair during these times, please contact the office.

 Year 3 Parent/Teacher Meetings

Year 3 Parent/Teacher meetings will take place on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22 November between 2.15pm and 5pm.

Sign up sheets are available in the hallway of the classroom. Please feel free to contact the office to make an appointment if you do not bring your child to school or to make an alternative arrangement if these dates do not suit.

 Open Assembly

Year 3 Open Assembly will take place on Friday 18th November at 9.30am in school. Parents, relatives and friends of this year group are welcome to attend.

Year 4 Open Assembly will take place on Friday 25 November at 9.30am.

 The Christmas Assembly

The Christmas Assembly for Years 1 – 3 will take place on Friday 16 December at 10am and Years 4 – 7 will be at 11.15am, both in the Presbyterian Church Hall. Parents, relatives and friends are welcome to attend.

 Phoenix Trading

If you wish to order from the Phoenix Trading Catalogue, Mrs Bayston would be very grateful if you could return your order and cheques to school as soon as possible. We would be grateful if parents could return any unused catalogues to the office.

 Moira Christmas Lights

The Christmas Lights in Moira will be switched on at 7pm on Wednesday 23 November.

 Christmas Social

The Parents’ Council are hoping to organise a Christmas Social on Friday

16th December at The Fat Gherkin. Supper will be pots of chilli/curry and it will be BYO drinks. Cost to be confirmed later. To make this event a success we need to gauge interest in attending this. If you would like to go please speak to Mrs Gilmour or email the office: claireneill.rips@hotmail.co.uk.

 Amazon Link

You may have noticed on our website that we have a link to the shopping website – Amazon. For every pound you spend, the School will receive a percentage. We would be most grateful if you could use this link and support the School.

 New Equestrian Centre

A new Equestrian Centre has opened in Maghaberry. They cater for all types of riders – from beginners and leisure riders through to those who have their own horse or pony, and have indoor and outdoor facilities. If anyone is interested, please contact The McMillan Family on 92 621139/92 621853, info@limeparkequestrian.co.uk and www.limeparkequestrian.co.uk.

We’ve applied for Amazon Association for the school.

This means  we can earn Amazon Vouchers for the purchase of books and equipment for the school, simply by people making use of the Amazon search box on the school web site. If you’re going to buy from Amazon, this is a great way to support the school at the same time!

To help the school, please make use of the search box on the right to search Amazon. If you then buy from Amazon, the school will earn a small referral amount which will be converted into vouchers.

There is no cost for the shopper and all money raised this way will help the school!

Exceptional Closure

Please note that the School will not be closed on 22 November as previously advised as CCEA have amended our training dates – we apologise for any inconvenience caused. This date has now changed to 29 June 2012. Therefore, the School will close at 12 noon on 28 June 2012.

 Hallowe’en Break

The School will close at 12.30pm on Friday 28th October until Wednesday 2nd inclusive. The School will reopen on Thursday 3rd November.

 Our new Kitchen Facilities

Calling all men! Your help is required to move tables into our new kitchen facility. If anyone can spare an hour on Saturday morning at 10.30am, we would be most grateful.

 Year 1

A black USB Network Adapter has been discovered in the Year 1 Elmer Story Sack. Please contact the office for further details.

 Dyslexia Talk

On Tuesday 8th November at 7.30pm you are invited to a special evening on the theme of Dyslexia to be held in the PIPS. Parents/Guardians from our School will be in attendance.

Anne McKinless from the SELB will be the key speaker. The evening will be of particular interest to parents of children who have Dyslexia or exhibit Dyslexic tendencies. Alternatively you may wish to learn about how you could support a child who has difficulties with Literacy or other learning needs.

Bringing up a dyslexic child is a challenging task for most of us. How do you support your child? How do you help them learn to read and spell? Are there any organizations that can help? How should you help your child with their homework? And so on. Please feel free to bring along friends or family who may benefit from the evening.

 Year 4

A presentation to all Year 4 parents on the Core Syllabus for Religious Education and the Sacraments will be held on Monday 7 November at 6.30pm.

Sacrament Preparation for Year 4 children begins on Wednesday 9 November at 2.15pm.

 Harvest Hampers

If anyone has donations of non-perishable items of food that they wish to make for the Harvest Hampers we would be grateful to receive these before Friday 4th November when they will be distributed through local charities.

 Book Fair

Our book fair is taking place in the staff room from 15th November until 18th November, 8.50am to 4.30pm. Everyone welcome!

 Eco Club

The Eco Club are building a “Mini-Beast Hotel” next week and require some resources. They require pieces of bamboo, plastic bottles (various sizes), twigs and cuttings from trees/bushes. If anyone can help, it would be appreciated.

 Exceptional Closure

Please note that the School will not be closed on 22 November as previously advised as CCEA have amended our training dates – we apologise for any inconvenience caused. This date has now changed to 29 June 2012. Therefore, the School will close at 12 noon on 28 June 2012.

Car Park

“Kiss and Go”: We are aware of the issue with the car parking facilities at the School. We would be grateful if parents could take care when parking and try to return to their car as quickly as possible, so that other cars are not blocked. If you have any other suggestions as to how the car parking situation could be improved you are welcome to come in and speak to someone in the office.

Year 1

A black USB Network Adapter has been discovered in the Year 1 Elmer Story Sack. Please contact the office for further details.

Hallowe’en Disco

Our Hallowe’en Disco is taking place on Wednesday 26th October 2011, 7pm –8.30pm. We would be grateful if parents of children in Years 1 – 3 remain with their children at the disco. The £1 donation will go towards new Story Sacks for Year 1.

Years 1 – 3 disco will be held on Year 1 – 2 mobile and Years 4 – 7 disco will be held in Year 3 – 4 mobile. We would be most grateful if costumes could not be too “spooky” so as not scare the younger children.

Friday Piano Lessons with Mr Kennedy

As the School will be closing at 12.30 on Friday 28th October and we have less time in school today, pupils who attend piano lessons on Friday will receive one lesson between now and next week.

Hallowe’en Break

The School will close at 12.30pm on Friday 28th October until Wednesday 2nd inclusive. The School will reopen on Thursday 3rd November.

Book Fair

Our book fair is taking place in the staff room from 15th November until 18th November, 8.50am to 4.30pm. Everyone welcome!

Dyslexia Talk

Ann McKinless, Head of Peripatetic Support SELB, will be giving a talk on Dyslexia at PIPS on 8th November. Further details will be supplied closer to the time.

Year 1 & 2 Parent/Teacher Meetings

Year 1 & 2 Parent/Teacher meetings will take place on Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th October.

Sign up sheets are available in the hallways of each classroom. Please feel free to contact the office to make an appointment if you do not bring your child to school or to make an alternative arrangement if these dates do not suit.

Year 4

A presentation to all Year 4 parents on the Core Syllabus for Religious Education and the Sacraments will be held on Monday 7 November at 6.30pm. Sacrament Preparation for Year 4 children begins on Wednesday 9 November at 2.15pm.

Poetry Workshops

Chelley McLear, a local poet, will be coming into School on Friday 4th November to run poetry workshops with the Year 4 – 7 children.

Our new Kitchen Facilities

Our new kitchen facility is nearing completion and we wish to ask parents for their support. If any parent would be able to donate any old kitchen wall units, it would be most appreciated.

Belfast Marathon

We are hoping to finalise our contribution to the IEF before half term. If anyone has not returned their sponsor money we would be grateful if they could do so as soon as possible. If anyone was unable to come on the day we would be grateful if you could pay the entrance fee to the school as a donation. Relay Team entrance fee: £20, Fun Walk: £10 and Child £8. If all money could be left in the school office, clearly marked Marathon Money, before mid term break on 28th October, it would be very much appreciated. Thanks again to everyone who participated.

Exceptional Closure 

Please note that the School will not be closed on 22 November as previously advised as CCEA have amended our training dates – we apologise for any inconvenience caused.  This date has now changed to 29 June 2012.  Therefore, the School will close at 12 noon on 28 June 2012. 

Harvest Celebration Assembly

Our Harvest Celebration Assembly will be held on Friday 21st October at 10am in the Presbyterian Church Hall in Moira.  All parents, grandparents, other family members, carers and friends are welcome to attend!  We would be grateful if all children could be dropped off at the Church Hall from 8.50am on that morning (Breakfast Club will run as usual and Mrs Hughes will supervise the children from Breakfast Club travelling to the Hall).  The children will travel back to school altogether after assembly in an Agnews’ Coach and the school day will continue as usual. 

Hallowe’en Disco 

Our Hallowe’en Disco is taking place on Wednesday 26th October 2011, 7pm – 8.30pm.  We would be grateful if parents of children in Years 1 – 3 remain with their children at the disco. 

Hallowe’en Break 

The School will close at 12.30pm on Friday 28th October until Wednesday 2nd inclusive.  The School will reopen on Thursday 3rd November. 

Book Fair 

Our book fair is taking place in the staff room from 15th November until 18th November, 8.50am to 4.30pm.  Everyone welcome!   

Pub Quiz 

A Pub Quiz will be held in Barn at The Four Trees, Moira on Friday 14 October 2011 at 7.30pm.  Entry is £3 per person, and all donations or raffle prizes are much appreciated. 

Dyselxia Talk 

Ann McKinless, Head of Peripatetic Support SELB, will be giving a talk on Dyslexia at PIPS on 8th November.  Further details will be supplied closer to the time. 

Year 1 & 2 Parent/Teacher Meetings 

Year 1 & 2 Parent/Teacher meetings will take place on Monday 24th, Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th  October. Sign up sheets are available in the hallways of each classroom.  Please feel free to contact the office to make an appointment if you do not bring your child to school or to make an alternative arrangement if these dates do not suit. 

Belfast Marathon  

We are hoping to finalise our contribution to the IEF before half term.  If anyone has not returned their sponsor money we would be grateful if they could do so asap.  If anyone was unable to come on the day we would be grateful if you could pay the entrance fee to the school as a donation.  Relay Team entrance fee: £20, Fun Walk: £10 and Child £8.  If all money could be left in the school office, clearly marked Marathon Money, before mid term break on 28th October, it would be very much appreciated.  Thanks again to everyone who participated.

A pdf version of this school news is available here.

Our new school website went live today. We’d love to hear what you think of it or if you have any ideas for helping us make it even better!