Donemana Primary School Governors’ Report 2013 - 2014 Foreword It gives me great pleasure to present to you the 2013/2014 Board of Gover- nors’ report for Donemana Primary School. You will be able to clearly see from the Calendar of Events and reports just how busy and varied a school year it has been for all of the pupils in our school. As a teacher myself, I have found it very impressive to note the huge opportunities and examples of good practice that are clearly evident in school. In the short time that I have been involved with Donemana Primary School, I have been very impressed with the leadership provided by our Principal, Mrs Hay, and the hard work, motivation, commitment and teamwork shown by all members of staff within school. There is a very positive, warm atmosphere and ethos within Donemana Primary, which would be the envy of many schools. We are indebted and very fortunate to have such a gifted and committed teaching and support staff entrusted with the educational and personal devel- opment of our young people. It is well known that the most successful schools work in partnership with the parents of their children. I would encourage all of you to get as involved as you can be with the work of the school because education does work. As par- ents, we are our child’s first teacher and have a vital role to play. With your support, your child can achieve in education and improve their life chances. I would have no doubt that by working in partnership your child can be the best they can be. In conclusion, I would like to pay tribute to the work of the outgoing Board of Governors, and especially the leadership provided by Rev Dr Stewart Jones who acted so diligently as Chairman. The next few years will continue to be a challenge in the face of continuing budget restraints, curriculum demands and the prospect of an impending Inspection. I have every confidence however that Donemana Primary School will continue to flourish and that the school will actively serve the needs of our local community. Simon Mowbray – Chair – Board of Governors. 2 All the Staff, Pupils, Parents and Governors would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Jones’ family on the death of Rev Dr Stewart Jones. We had the wonderful experience of having Rev Jones in our school on a regular ba- sis and enjoyed his stories during assemblies. He was an excellent advocate of our school and always supported us in all the work that we do. He was chairman of our Board of Governors for some time and expertly guided our school through the many changes there have been over the years. We found Rev Jones always to be a kind, considerate, thoughtful gentleman and we miss him greatly. 3 The Board of Governors Chairperson: Rev Dr S Jones Vice Chairperson: Rev J McGaffin Transferors’ Representatives: Mr D Millar Mrs S Robinson Western Education and Library Board Representatives: Mr T Allen Parents’ Representatives: Mrs S Gamble Mrs K Stevenson Teacher Representative: Mrs J Crosbie / Mr D Potts Head Teacher: Mrs G Hay (Non voting member and Secretary of the Board) 4 Calendar of Events 2012 / 2013 26th—30th August Staff Development and Preparation for the New School Year Term 1 2nd September New School Year Begins 5th September School Assembly 6th September Extended School Football Begins 12th September Rev Jones Assembly Board of Governors Meeting 16th September Homework Club begins 19th September Robert Plant assembly Mrs Hay attends Primary Principals meeting 25th September Mrs Hay attends C.B.A (Computer Based Assessment) Principal Information seminar Curriculum Evening 26th September Mobile library visits school Pupil of the Month assembly and attendance/writing certificate presentation. 30th September Paired Reading Scheme Begins 1st October Mrs Hay and Mrs McCusker attend A.R (Accelerated Reading) training 2nd October Leaving assembly for Julie Anne Reid 3rd October Mrs McCusker attends Deputy Designated Teacher training Arts Workshop after School Club begins Mrs Wilson conducts Parent Interviews P1 Parent Literacy talk 4th October Mr Potts attends C.B.A Training 7th October Karate Taster sessions 9th October Mr Potts attends Senior Leadership Pathways Training Mrs Hay and Mrs McCusker complete pupil data analysis 10th October Extreme team Assembly Mr Potts attends Acting Principal Training 5 11th October School Choir performs at the Church of Ireland Harvest Service 14th October P6 receive Flu vaccine W.I meeting in school from 8-10pm 16th October Mr Potts attends Acting Principal Training 17th October C.F.F Assembly Mr Potts attends Teacher Tutor Training. 18th October Staff attend Ipad Training 21st October Book Fair begins Mrs Hay attends Primary Principals Meeting Halloween Disco Parent Interviews begin 24th October Harvest Assembly 28th October Mr Potts attends Acting Principal Training 29th October Staff Development Day - Ipad Training 30th October Staff Development Day - target setting and action planning 31st October -1st November Holidays 4th November Parents Information and Training Evening for educational use of Ipads Mrs Hay attends An Introduction to NIABF (Northern Ireland Anti Bullying Forum) resource for Effective responses to Bullying behaviour Baby Massage begins 5th November Interviews for school secretary Fire drill 7th November Extreme Team Assembly Mrs Crosbie attends designated Teacher training 8th November Mrs Crosbie attends designated teacher training 11th November Mr Potts attends Fronter Day 2 Training 6 P6/7 children attend Childline safety talk 14th November Rev Jones Assembly Mr Potts attends day 2 NIABF resource for Effective responses to Bullying behaviour training 18th November Anti-Bullying week begins Mr Potts Attends Senior Leadership Pathways Seminar 19th November Mr Potts meeting with Mrs Hay 21st November C .E.F Assembly Mr Potts attending Managing, Safeguarding and Child Protection Seminar P6/P7 attend Childline safety talk B.O.G Meeting 22nd November School Photographer 28th November Pupil of the Month Assembly 5th December Supper with Santa 11th December Mr Potts attends Senior Leadership Pathways Seminar 12th December Extreme Team Assembly Christmas Dinner Children participate in Christmas Carol service at Church of Ireland Church 17th December Mrs Crosbie returns to School Pupils from P4, 5, 6 and 7 attend Christmas show in St Patrick’s PS 18th December Mr Potts attends Promoting Reconciliation through a shared Curriculum Experience Seminar 19th December C.E.F and Pupil of the Month Assembly 20th December School Council assembly Christmas Holidays begin 7 Term 2 8th January Library van visits school for all pupils and returns every two weeks 9th January Extreme Team Assembly 13th January Strabane District Council Coaching Sessions begin for P1, 2 and P3 15th January Strabane District Council Coaching Sessions begin for P4/5 Mr Potts Attends Senior Leadership Pathways Seminar 4 P6/P7 girls attend a talk with Mrs Crosbie. 17th January Action Cancer Puppet Show for Nursery - P4. Highland Dancing Begins for P1 and P4/5 pupils 23rd January Rev Jones and School Council assembly Governor Training in North West Teachers centre- 24th January School swimming programme starts begins for P6/7 School Council Meeting takes place 29th January Britain’s Got Talent star Ashley Elliott visits Miss Nutt begins Signature project Mrs Crosbie attends Governor Training 30th January Pupil of the Month and school council assembly Number Busters begins Mrs Crosbie attends Principal Overview 3rd February Mrs Crosbie conducts P7 Transfer Interviews 5th February Library Van returns to school 6th February Extreme Team Assembly Extended School Monitoring Visit Piping Lessons begin for P6/P7 pupils 10th February Evening dance class begins Mr Potts attends Senior Leadership Pathways Seminar 5 12th February School Council Meeting 8 13th February Rev Jones Assembly 14th February P4/5/6/7 pupils attend “Dr James Wacky Science Show” at the University of Ulster P1/P2/P3 wear Pink for Happy Heart Day 17th & 18th February Holiday 20th February C.E.F Assembly School Council Meeting 21st February Literacy show and Tell Assembly 25th February Road Safety NI Road show 26th February PSNI Internet Safety Talk 27th February Pupil of the Month Assembly Autism Awareness Talk 4th March Mighty Movers begins for Primary 2 and 3. 6th March Extreme Team Assembly World Book Day International school meals day – Italy Show and Tell Assembly 7th March Accelerated Reading Assembly 10th March Mr Potts attends Senior Leadership Pathways Seminar 6 13th March Rev Jones Assembly 14th March Primary 1 Achievements Day 17th&18th March Holiday 20th March C.E.F Assembly 21st March Mrs Crosbie attends UICT Course 24th March Mobile Library van visits school 9 25th March Mr Potts attends Senior Leadership Pathways Course 27th March Pupil of the Month Assembly Baron top Fun Farm talk 28th March P2 and 3 Achievements Day School swap shop opens 8th April Mrs Crosbie attends Signature Project support meeting Internet Safety Talk 9th April KS2 Children attend Springfest at the Millennium Forum 10th April Mrs Crosbie attends ETI update on Best Practice in the Foundation Stage 11th April Autism Awareness Day in School – Sponsored Rainbow Bounce 15th April Donemana Primary School Delights Café opens for Business! 16th April Half Day 17th- 25th April Easter Holidays 1st May Extreme Team Assembly 5th May Bank Holiday 6th May School Choir sings at Donemana Church of Ireland Service B.O.G Meeting 7th May Ulster Scots Project begins in School 8th May Rev Jones Assembly 12th May P2, 3, 4, and 5 attend Faughen Valley Forest Park for Woodland Discovery Day 15th May C.E.F Assembly 16th May Holiday 10 20th May School Cricket team attends Quick Cricket Tournament at Strabane Cricket Club 21st May Mr Potts Attends Transformation Update 22nd May School Closed – Polling Day 26th May Holiday 27th May Test Week Begins 29th May Green Flag assessment takes place with Miss Nutt 30th May P4 and 5 Achievements Day 2nd June Ulster Scots Drama Production 3rd June Maritime workshop/Production in School to talk about WW2, the Famine and History events on the Foyle .