The Primary Seven children in school got the opportunity to taste an Athletics session in school today, under the guidance of Elaine and David from NI Athletics.

Anyone interested in taking some steps in atheletics can look up www.niathletics.org for clubs in the local area.

The children were put through their paces in a number of disciplines, including, standing long jump, chest throws, sprints and distance races.

The children were very fortunate to get away with a day under perfect conditions, and even more fortunate to benefit from the support of their two tutors!

There will now be a team of four boys and four girls to compete in an athletics event with other schools on the evening of 19 June at Templemore Sports Complex.

The children in Mr Guy's class who have been studying Michael Morpurgo's 'Kensuke's Kingdom' today were looking at tropical parts of the world and got the chance to try some tropical tastes that they may not have been usually exposed to! The children got to taste: Coconut, Pineapple, Lime, Kiwi, Pomegranate, Figs, Sharon Fruit, Passion Fruit, Papaya, Mango

The children in Primary Seven are looking at exploration and discovery this term, and were joined in class today by one of our own intrepid explorers.......the Rev. Jones!

The children really enjoyed his visit-examining all his equipment and learning a great deal from his visit!

The children in our class have been creating some poems with more than a hint of personification. Hopefully you can enjoy what follows:

You are power at the end of a finger.

Without you we are lost.

You're small, dark and slender,

And good at hiding

You cause us all to argue.

You're tattooed with digits, from head to toe.

You love all kinds of programmes from cartoons to news,

The best thing about you is you always let us choose.

By Kirsty (It was a Remote Control!)

You're beautiful

Just like me you're lovely and that everyone can see

Sometimes you can be dodgey,

Sometimes you're sweet and sometimes your ugly

Well to me you are special

When some other people just don't care

but you are looking at your fan and best friend

By Rebecca Garfield (It was FASHION!)

Summer smiles all around,

The flowers dance in the sunshine,

The washing plays games on the line,

The fluffy clouds swim in the sky,

The sun laughs in the sky,

On a sleepy summer day. (It was SUMMER)  

By Ruth Allen

Your hands are so warm

Your're so fierce when your anger  is  boiling

When I touch you, you burn me

You're so angry steam comes out of your ears

Theres no point being so fierce

By Newmanda Dunn (It was boiling water)

You are really colourful today

but why are you so thin?

Isee your hair is in a point today

Ilike yourt-shirt

it matches your trousers

By Aaron Stevenson (it's a pencil)

Don't be so wet,

Stop rolling your waves.

Whay do you have to crash on the rocks,

Trapping crabs and tiny fish?

Who do you think you are?

You need to calm down and behave.....

Just like me!

By Joe Robinson (The Sea)

Today in class Mr Guy let us perfrom a debate on if we should wear school uniform or not. First up was Jack Buchanan and Kirsty-Jo Wallace-Jack B won it was exciting.

Then it was Newmanda Dunn v Rebecca Garfield up next- Newmanda Dunn won.

Also Ruth Allen v Megan Starrett had a go-Megan Starrett won.

James Parkhill and I had another debate James won the debate.

William and Gary had another debate but sadly Gary did not win but William did.

We used the new activote sytem-it was good fun everybody got to vote and we gave our own opinion and Mr Guy was able to bring it up on computer and we saw who won.

The article was completed by Jack Parkhill

Last Friday Mr Guys class had visitors from Young Enterprise.

The two ladies asked the class where they had been for their holidays. The class had to show everyone where the country was on the map. 

Then P.7 learnt how export and import works and how impotant for our country it is. The class was shown how to workout how far food has to travel to get to us and without the export and import of food we wouldn't have all the different choices we have of food today.

Mr Guy's class enjoyed putting country puzzles together with a couple of wrong pieces thrown in which they had to export to the proper country and import the correct ones for their jigsaw  puzzle.  

To end the lesson P7 played the trading game were countries made and sold shapes for money, they could buy materials and get loans . The loans had to be paid back with 20% intrest. the group with the most money at the end won.

Everyone enjoyed the Young Enterprise visit.

By Lee Riddles.   

Today in Mr Guy's today we were introduced to a new method in our science challenges with art straws and card!!! We had only an hour to complete the finished model and time was limited.

The class found that the challenge was good fun using art straws and card. My rating would be ten out of ten!! :)

The winning model was called "The Plactous" it was made by Jack Buchanan, Kyle Robinson and myself (James Parkhill)

The pictures in this item were also taken by James!

Today my class went to our first swimming lesson. We had lots of fun getting in and out of the water and showing the people taking us if we could swim or not.

If you could not swim you had to walk across the water with your chin and your arms out like a zombie.

In the end the man told us who was in the deep end and who was staying at the shallow end. Well Done to all who got to the deep end and the people in the shallow end keep trying to swim!!

By Kirsty

Mr Guy's class had a further jaunt today, when they trekked down to the Play Park-behind the Civic recycling area, to allow others to pick their brains on possible improvements to the area-thanks to a £16,500 grant being secured for the development of an inclusive play environment.

The children got the opportunity to try playing in different parts of the area and make suggestions as to future improvements-they have also been invited to complete a survey, and there may be room for further input in the design process.

Anyone in the local area is invited to a design meeting, to be held in Amity House, on Thursday 31st January at 10:30 am. They only ask that you bring all your good inspirations, ideas and aspirations along to the meeting with you!

Perish the thought, but one day you could find yourself depending on one of this lot to save your life.............GULP!

The children in Mr Guy's class are undertaking the ABC for Life programme, and are learning basic Life Saving Skills such as the Recovery Position and CPR.

Now we hope they will never have to use their skills, but you never know.........

Mr Guy's class were given the opportunity to take a look at changes and dangers to the environment, when they were visited by friends of Bea and Sabrina.

Three students, from Italy and Spain, visited school and discussed a presentation they had prepared looking at the environment in and around the City.

The students also played an exciting outdoor game with the children looking at the effects of changes to our woodlands brought upon by changes to the environment.

They also had the bonus of a lesson in French from Sabrina following their visit......tres bien!

The Primary Seven children had a special treat in school today when the resident artist from the Verbal Arts Centre, David Campbell, visited school to run a workshop on cartoon skills!

The children were treated to a close up look at cartoons and the artistic skills needed to transform stories onto the page-in an active manner.

The story of Finn McCool and the Fianna was revisited, with particular emphasis on Finn, the King Conn, and the Goblin Aillen.

Last Thursday saw us complete our Leavers' Assembly-earlier than usual, due to the four children we are sending to America with 'Project Children'-and gave us a chance to say a big farewell to our Leavers this year. As well as this we presented our annual awards-General Excellence, Presentation and Reading for every class, as well as special awards for Cycling, Swimming and Mrs Crosbie's Fuzz Buzz.

The Major awards for the year went to:

For Contribution to School Life: Kim Curry

For Effort in Sport: Ryan Nixon & Timothy Dougherty

For Academic Excellence: Robert Smyth

Congratulations go to all award winners, and to all children for the part they have played in another successful school year!

Ryan and Catherine have been getting to know Farah a little better:

Where abouts in France are you from?

I come from Paris in the 20 district.

What is your favourite food?

My favourite food is gratin dauphinois

What is your favourite sport?

I like to dance

Have you been to any other countries but Northern Ireland?

Yes, I went to Comoros, Spain, West Indies…

What is your second name?

My second name is ABDILLAH

What do you do in your spare time?

In Derry, I go in the pub, museum, cinema with my friends

Have you ever been  in Disneyland Paris?

Yes I have it is beautiful, I like space mountain.

What is your favourite colour?

I like yellow

Have you got any pets, what are they?

No, I haven’t

What is your favourite film?

No, I like a lot of films

Title:The Giggler Treatment

Author: Roddy Doyle

Illustrator: Brian Ajhar

It is the funniest book I have ever read in this school. I would read it again or one of his other books.

I would recommend it to someone that likes a laugh.I would like somebody else to read it because it is funny and they deserve to read it and I would them to have a good laugh.

Unputdownable: It is unputdownable.

Setting: Adventures around the world.

Funny Bits: When the seagul said "I'm going to the sea where there is no fish."

Best Bit: My best bit is when Rover runs all around the world.

Least Bit: When Mr Mack stood on the poo.

Any Boring Bits But Funny: When the cream crackers were saying boring things.

I would recomand it to a friend!!

Audio Book: Narrated by Tommy Tiernan.

Other Books: The Giggler Treatment,Rover Saves Christmas and The Meanwhile Adventures.

Amount Of Pages: 108.

Rating (1-10): I am giving it 10 out of 10.

Favourite Character: Kayla is my favourite because she always says a-bah and she is funny and cute.

                                                       By Rachel Smyth

Title: The Giggler Treatment.

Author: Roddy Doyle.

Rating: 10/10

Pages: 108

Illustrator: Brian Ajar.

I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a good laugh and stories that are fiction.

My verdict on this book: I love this book lots, it's one of my favourite books. I think Roddy Doyle is a brilliant author.

My favourite part: I like the part where Rover (the dog) gives his version of the story.

My favourite characters: Rover and The Gigglers.

Here is a word that you've probably never heard of but it's how I'd describe the book: unputdownable, which means I couldn't put the book down.

Any weak bits: NO WAY!!!! Not in 1 million years!! No weak bits at all!!!!!!!!

As well as the book I would also reccomend the audio book which may be better than even reading the book yourself.

Now, your probably wondering what a giggler is, aren't you? Well here's a picture of one!

The main plot of the book: The Gigglers give mean adults The Giggler Treatment. The Giggler Treatment is when the gigglers get dog poo for the adults to step in. Now I'd not tell you much more about the story because it would spoil the story for you!

By Judith Allen.  

On Friday the 19th January, Mrs Martin took the Primary Six/Seven class to the Ulster American Folk Park, to participate in a "Hawthorn Days and Wildflower Ways" event.

The event focussed on the novel, "Under the Hawthorn Tree" and, "Wildflower Girl." The chlidren have been studying Victorian Times in their History work.

As part of the day the children took great pleasure in dressing up as Victorian Children. The children thoroughly enjoyed tasting the samples of Victorian food-and had their wits scared out of them by an expected beggar........Kim even cried!

The children in Mr Guy's class have been looking at the world of animals and their respective groupings. They are looking forward to a visit from Zoolab later in the month-some of the children are already hiding under their desks!

If you click on the links you can examine their work much more closely (....but don't look too closely at how Tara spells Butterfly!)