Soccer success for Liam P3 and Irish Dancing achievements for Roisé P4. Two very happy children sharing their weekend attainments with everyone this morning. Well done!

Today we instituted the first instalment of our new Pupil Forum. This gathering will take place on a monthly basis with Mr Fitzsimons and will involve different children during each session. The aim is to really articulate the thoughts and feelings of our pupils here in school and to ensure that their voice and contributions are being listened to and acted upon.

There were three sessions this morning:

- Foundation Stage (P1 and P2).
- Key Stage 1 (P3 and P4).
- Key Stage 2 (P5, P6 and P7).

This proved to be a very worthwhile venture and we look forward to our second get together in February along with the establishment of more specific focus groups moving forward.

There is a renewed whole school focus on attendance this academic year and with that we have witnessed our highest average attendance rates from our pupils since the COVID era.

To acknowledge the importance of full attendance, this morning at assembly we recognised all those pupils who were full attendees during Term 1 (100% attendance). Each child got a brand new certificate along with a prize to solidify their achievement in not missing a day during this period.

Well done to you all!

“Attendance matters. Everyday counts.”

A celebration of all things good in Sacred Heart P.S. permeated throughout assembly this morning. Our Pupil of the Week winners were lauded by their teachers with everyone intently listening as to the reasons why the recipients were awarded recognition.

Well done to Farrah P1, Josh P2, Kiannah P3, Lorcan P4, Mathews P5, Noomi P6 and Cara P7!

Darlene P6

Darlene has consistently displayed outstanding personal attributes, including kindness, perseverance and a positive attitude that inspires both peers and teachers alike. 

Her creative writing skills have been truly remarkable, demonstrating imagination, originality, and a flair for storytelling that captivates her audience. In addition, her dedication to work presentation sets a shining example of care and attention to detail. Every piece of work she produces reflects her pride and commitment to excellence. 

Darlene embodies the spirit of learning through her willingness to have a go at all subjects, tackling challenges with enthusiasm and resilience. Her eagerness to embrace new opportunities and give her best effort in every area of the curriculum is a testament to her growth mindset and determination. 

In the classroom, she is a calm and steady presence, contributing to a positive and focused learning environment. Her helpful and polite nature makes her a pleasure to teach, and she is always willing to assist her classmates, fostering a spirit of collaboration and support. She leads by example, encouraging others to work hard and approach challenges with confidence. 

She has also shown tremendous respect for school values, consistently treating others with empathy and understanding. Her ability to form strong, respectful relationships with her peers and teachers alike has made her a valued member of our school community. 

Her enthusiasm and positivity during after-school activities further highlight her love of learning and her ability to engage meaningfully with the wider school experience. 

Any classroom would be fortunate to have such a kind-hearted and dedicated student. 

Congratulations Darlene on this well-deserved recognition! We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and look forward to seeing all that you achieve in the future.

Well done!

P1 ventured to Global Adventure Play today with their friends from Knockevin for a fun filled ASPIRE engagement. The boys and girls had a fantastic time and are already looking forward to their next session together!

Knockevin School
Global Adventure Play

This afternoon we welcomed a large number of parents to our Speech and Language + Phonics Parental Workshop.

The S+L element was led by Rachel Dickson of Let’s Expand Communication. Rachel is our in-school S+L therapist who works with our children on a weekly basis. 

Its primary focus was the development of S+L in the foundation years. Areas explored included: sound development, definitions of speech and language, parent/child interactions, communication pyramid, tips to help S+L development, supporting language at home along with games and ideas.

Miss Byrne, our P1 teacher and Literacy subject lead, then conducted on Phonics and how it is taught in school. Phonics terminology, phases, blending, tricky words and writing tips were all presented on.

Thank you to all those parents who attended the workshop. The presentations from both Rachel and Miss Byrne will be disseminated to everyone in due course. Again, we thank them both for leading today’s initiative.

Let's Expand Communication - Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy NI

Catholic Schools' Week 2025 takes place next week. As part of the celebrations the whole school will be attending a special Grandparents' Day Mass in the chapel at 9:30am on the Wednesday. To that effect, we would like to invite all of our grandparents' to the Mass and then up to the school hall after for tea, coffee and refreshments.

Thank you.

HIP Psychology delivered a highly engaging workshop with P2/P3 yesterday that focussed on emotional intelligence. The session concentrated on the children being able to understand and manage their emotions. Through interactive exercises, the boys and girls developed self-awareness, emotional expression and empathy. A very valuable learning experience was had by all!

HIP Psychology

This Wednesday (15th January) the school will be hosting a Speech and Language + Phonics Workshop. It will be held at 2:15pm in the P1 classroom. The Speech and Language element will be led by Rachel Dickson of Let's Expand Communication. The Phonics segment will be guided by our Literacy subject lead Miss Byrne.

The workshop is open to all parents. We would also like to invite those parents from Young at Heart along too and we would particularly encourage the parents of our Foundation Stage children (P1 + P2) to attend as well as the content is particularly pertinent to that age group.

Thank you.