Author Archives: mourne

Today, as a school, we remembered the sacrifices of many for our freedoms.  In Morning Worship, we learned about Herbert Stallard, a Christian soldier, husband and father, who gave his life during the War.  His story was particularly poignant for our pupils as he was the great, great grandfather of some.  We meditated on the verse in John 15:13: ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends’.

We also held a special ‘Act of Remembrance’ with selected readings and poems by pupils and Mrs Glenda Graham and a minute’s silence at 11am.

We are thankful to Mr George McConnell who lead our Remembrance Service and told us facts about the reality of war, the symbolism of the poppy and the sacrifices many made for our freedoms – including our spiritual freedoms.  He even brought in a bowler hat, like Winston Churchill used to wear.

In ‘World Around Us’, Foundation Stage and KS1 pupils learned about the experiences of a solider in a trench in World War One and the hope the growing poppies in Flanders gave him.  Meanwhile, KS2 were introduced to the story of Anne Frank through documentary excerpts and used this as inspiration for their Literacy – planning and writing their own narratives about a Jewish family hiding during WWII, and ‘hot-seating’ Anne Frank as a Talking & Listening activity.

We remember and thank God for those who gave their today for our tomorrow.

Please join us for The Christmas Coffee and Craft Fair morning which will be held at 3 Carrigenagh Road, Kilkeel.  A warm welcome, lots of goodies and time of fellowship await!

Tables include:

Iron Sharpens Iron gifts

Our Wee Candle Co.

Beulah Books & Bibles

Norwex

Tupperware

Perfect Beauty

Grace Elizabeth Designs

Ivy Bloom

Alice and Bear

Made for Making

Cake Stall/School crafts

. . . . and others!

On Wednesday 9th October 2019, our primary school went to Castlewellan Forest Park for their annual Autumn Walk. This year the challenge was to be M.I.C.S Detectives and to solve the ‘Case of the Castle’ in their house teams – Tyndale, Wycliffe and Knox.

Using the only evidence found so far – the culprit’s sketched map – to guide their investigation, the teams had to collaborate to discover the culprit [from a list of suspects], the culprit’s secret hideaway and the code to crack the Castle’s safe. They had to use cross-curricular skills – orienteering, communication, using maths and geographical knowledge – to close the case! Congratulations to each team for their perseverance and impressive inferring skills!

A team following the map carefully to guide their investigation!

Counting the number of stones to find out one of the co-ordinates for the location of the secret hideaway!

Reading an OS map to discover the height of Slievenaslat [another number for our safe’s code!]

Discovering one of the numbers for the safe’s code

Working together!

Case solved – and we still had energy left!

We enjoyed our active, experiential exploring and learning in God’s beautiful creation!

Then – as is our tradition – we enjoyed free play time at Newcastle play park and bought goodies in the local shop.

We thank the Lord for safety, sunshine and such amiable socialisation on our trip!

Mrs Cherith Gardiner called in to see us at Morning Worship today.
She lives in Perth, Australia, where her husband Rev. Philip Gardiner is minister of the church.
Cherith told us about the Sunday meetings, youth fellowship, children’s meeting and the open air witness in Perth.

We even learnt about Kangaroo soup!

Cherith (right) with Mrs G Graham (Free Presbyterian Mission Board office)

Our primary and secondary school enjoyed their end of year trips (so did some of the teachers!). We thank the Lord for journeying mercies and two wonderful days to cherish.

CONGRATULATIONS to our pupils who won First, Second and Third prizes and were awarded Highly Commended in Newry Show 2019!

Collage

Highly Commended Collage

Highly Commended Collage

First Prize in Year 4 Collage

Second Prize in Year 5 Collage

First Prize in Year 6 Collage

Imaginative Colour Work

Second Prize in Year 1 Imaginative Colour Work

Highly Commended for Year 3 Imaginative Colour Work

First Prize in Year 6 Imaginative Colour Work

Third Prize in Year 6 Imaginative Colour Work

Third Prize in Year 7 Imaginative Colour Work

Writing Section

First and Second Prizes in Year 4 Poetry

Second Prize in Poetry

Second Prize in Year 4 Story Writing

First Prize in Year 7 Story Writing

Design a Poster

Highly Commended Poster

Third Prize in Poster Design

Open Classes

Highly Commended Junk Art Dinosaur

Third Prize Junk Art Dinosaur

Cookery Section

First Prize in ‘Cupcake in a cone’

Second Prize in Summer Dessert

First Prize in Confectionery [which has been sampled by the Judges!]

Second Prize in Confectionery

Second Prize in Confectionery

Below are the pictures of other entries for the Cookery Section.  The Judges awarded a special trophy – Newry Agricultural Society Livingstone Trophy – to MICS for all of the fantastic cookery entries submitted by our school!

A Summer Dessert

Summer Dessert

Summer Dessert

Summer Dessert

Shortbread [decorated for a chosen season]

The Cookery Trophy!

This year, our pupils had the opportunity to enter a S.T.E.M. Competition.  The remit was to design an invention as a solution to any problem they identified in the world around them.  Pupils had to produce detailed, labelled diagrams of their inventions and then compose persuasive letters to try to persuade the engineers to make their inventions.

As part of the competition, pupils had to compile questions about engineering and, subsequently, interview an Engineer.  We were thankful to have the visit of Mr Stephen Kyle, an Engineer, PhD student and S.T.E.M. ambassador.  He ignited further interest in engineering in the pupils through his enthusiastic, informative responses to their interview questions and his engaging coding activities.

Mr Stephen Kyle, an Engineer, PhD student and S.T.E.M. ambassador kindly visited our class

We are delighted to announce 3 pupils achieved a Distinction for their inventions!  Their work will be displayed at this year’s inaugural Primary Leaders Award Public Exhibition, hosted at the Ulster University on 20th June 2019.  Furthermore, 2 pupils‘ entries were awarded with a ‘Judges’ Highly Commended‘.

We offer HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to all of our aspiring engineers for their innovative projects!