Many thanks to all the family members who joined our boys and girls in Miss Walsh''s Year 4 class for a beautiful meal in the canteen. Mrs Weldon and her staff had prepared a beautiful feast for everyone to celebrate and eat together before we celebrate the Sacrament of First Communion together on Saturday 20th May.

Congratulations to this group of girls who played their hearts out today at the SW Antrim 7-a-side Camogie Blitz at Roger Casement's GAC.  They were narrowly beaten in the semi-final of the shield competition.  Great team work, determination and skill on display today.  Many thanks to St Mary's Portglenone for hosting.

SEAG Registration opens on Wednesday 3rd May at 9.00am and closes on 22nd September 2023.

Steps involved:

• Register for a parental account online at www.seagni.co.uk
• Register the pupil and select the centre you would like your child to take the test at.
• Upload a passport sized photograph and a copy of the child's birth certificate.
• If required, provide information for access arramngements. (this can also be completed at a later date)
• Make the £20 payment or provide evidence of Free School Meals entitlement.

If you require any support with this process, please do not hesitate to make contact with the school.  Thank you.

The Dairy Council visited school today to talk to Primary 5 and 6 pupils about the importance of having a good life balance of food and fitness.  Pupils learned about the different food groups, and why healthy food is important to give us lots of energy. We also learned that exercise is essential as part of a healthy lifestyle and that we should be aiming to do 60 minutes of exercise every day.  It was a very informative and enjoyable workshop and we certainly had lots of fun promoting these important messages by singing and dancing to the dairy rap.

Twenty-one of our Year 7 boys and girls attended the inaugural Gaelic Football Tournament in memory of Jennifer Magee on Friday 28^th April 2023. The tournament was organised by Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach and had a representation from the three primary schools and one secondary school in Crumlin. The four schools have been closely working in partnership with Shared Education over the years, however this was the first time they had met on the Gaelic Football Field together. It was an uplifting tournament with Jennifer’s three boys refereeing and timekeeping and her close family cheering and supporting the children.

The teams were mixed with both girls and boys and each team played four matches. Our school had two teams entered and one of the teams went on to beat Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach in a very exciting final.  Jennifer’s parents and daughter Clodagh planted a lovely Cherry Blossom tree at the Ionad Teaghlaigh Gleann Darach after the last match. Everyone was welcomed back into the family centre for the presentation of medals, the winning trophy to our captain Bella McSorley and two Allstar Awards to Oliver Robb and Jessica Fullerton.

Many thanks to everyone for such a well organised and community spirited event and the wonderful celebration afterwards in the Ionad Teaghlaigh Gleann Darach where we were all spoiled with lovely refreshements.  It was indeed a very fitting tribute to Jennifer!

Many thanks to all the family members who joined our boys and girls in Ms O'Brien/Mrs Haughian's Year 4 class for a beautiful meal in the canteen. Our Roots of Empathy baby, Eoghan, also made an appearance.  Mrs Weldon and her staff had prepared a beautiful feast for everyone to celebrate and eat together before we celebrate the Sacrament of First Communion together on Saturday 20th May.

This week we marked the end of another month in school with Golden Assemblies.  This month it was the turn of Ms O'Brien/Mrs Haughian's Year 4 class to lead our Year 4-7 Assembly.

The class chose the theme of 'May is the Month of Mary'.  The children spoke about the different names we have for Mary.  They spoke about the Rosary and how to pray it.  They demonstrated how to create a May Altar and they showed us what we should have on it.  They finished their assembly with a beautiful song.  They certainly gave us lots of ideas as to how to honour Mary in class and in school during the month of May.  All of the children were wonderful representatives for their class and school.

We also had time to sing Happy Birthday to all of our April boys and girls as well as present our monthly awards, celebrate success outside of school and deliver some important messages.  Children also had an opportunity to view some of the amazing books we have purchased with the comission money earned from our recent Book Fair.  Well done everyone - a great start to Term 3!

Over the past few weeks Mrs Downey’s P5 class have been working hard on a science project to investigate 'Why does the hair on our head grow longer than the hair on our body?'.  Today they had the opportunity to showcase their Science Blast project at the ICC Belfast.

In total there were about 25 schools in attendance, all from across the country and all with different investigations for us to find out about.  The boys and girls loved showing and telling everybody about ours!  They even got interviewed by the BBC and were on Newsline that night!  It was a fabulous experience and they had a great science day in Belfast! 

We will watch this space for the scientists of the future - well done everyone!

Many thanks to Liz Brown, an LMC (Livestock and Meat Commission) demonstrator, who came to school today to demonstrate a recipe using Northern Ireland Farm Quality Assured Beef with our Year 6KL.  Liz encouraged the children to sample what she had cooked, talked to them about the ingredients used with the emphasis on choosing local food, cooking from scratch, and of course how the ingredients used contribute to a healthy diet.  All pupils were also given a Beef and Lamb Recipe Book which contains lots of delicious dishes.  The children had a great time - many thanks again Liz!

This week we marked the end of another month in school with Golden Assemblies.  This month it was the turn of Mr McGrattan's Year 2 class to lead our Year 1-3 Assembly.

Mr McGrattan's class chose the theme of Riughts Respecting Schools for their assembly.  The assemblies enabled us all to focus on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the various articles within in.  We got to hear how we all have the right to a name and nationality, education, medical care, a safe home, food and clothing and rest and play among many other things.  All of the children were wonderful representatives for their class and school.

We also had time to sing Happy Birthday to all of our April boys and girls as well as present our monthly awards, celebrate success ouitside of school and deliver some important messages.  Well done everyone - a great start to Term 3!