Newry Reporter

24 NEWRY REPORTER, WEDNESDAY, 6th DECEMBER, 2017 CITY NEWS www.newryreporter.com www.facebook.com/newryreporter aroundthe’Point News from Drumgath Izak9 revolutionising maths St Mark’s High School has an invaluable teaching and learning resource”. She explains that one of the “most notable adopted a revolutionary approach benefits” is the increased confidence of children and Ladies group to teaching maths, adding fun to improved attitudes. “Pupils have told me that Izak9 the classroom by taking away the has been solely responsible for changing their negative attitude to maths and parents have News from Drumgath pencil and copybook. approached me outside of school to tell me how Some pupils are making the Warrenpoint second much their child loved Izak9,” said Shauna. Ladies Group level school their first choice simply because of the “Children of all abilities can experience success - new approach to classroom maths facilitated by the in one primary school the class teacher was amazed Last Thursday the Group was delighted to interactive Izak9 learning resource. at the participation and answers from a pupil who welcome along Patricia Eccles to demonstrate a The new teaching tool focuses on making maths had never shown any flair or enthusiasm for maths. few Christmas Nibbles – and she didn’t class more enjoyable through practical learning and Being able to engage and motivate pupils after six disappoint, creating the most fabulous fudge, is boosting both the confidence of children and their years of complacency shows how magnificent Izak9 shortcakes and chocolate brownies. positive attitudes to the subject, says St Mark’s is as a maths resource.” Then she forced everyone there to sample the teacher Shauna Quinn. St Mark’s has employed the innovative resource – goodies! As you can imagine it was a difficult task Facilitating fun with numeracy certainly lives up which was created in Northern Ireland - with all but no one wanted to be rude. Needless to say, to the school’s motto, she explains. year groups from 8-12. Patricia will be back. “Our school motto ‘Enjoy, Believe, Succeed’ is “Pupils from each year have been fantastically Friday was the Cross-Community Christmas lived out using Izak9,” she said. enthusiastic,” says Mrs Quinn, who trained as a Dinner and as usual Drumgath Ladies Group “The pupils enjoy the hands on experience, primary teacher with maths specialism and has been couldn’t be satisfied with just a meal, no, they had allowing them to work together, believe in passionately teaching the subject for 17 years at Key to add a day trip into the equation. themselves and achieve success in a fun and non- Stage 2 and Key Stage 3. The group left Rathfriland around 11am and threatening learning environment.” “They have become more aware of using correct headed off to Dobbies Garden Centre for tea and Mrs Quinn’s demonstration of the colourful cubes mathematical terminology and explaining things scones, then onto Lisburn for some shopping in one primary school was even “responsible for a clearly and concisely. They are also amazed to therapy. girl changing her mind about which school she realise that other pupils have a different way of The day ended with a delicious meal in Del wanted to go to” in favour of St Mark’s. arriving at the same answer.” Torro restaurant – a great day was had by all. She added: “Classes who have used it have Mrs Quinn has embraced all things Izak9 for the This event was sponsored by Newry, Mourne reacted very positively to it. They love maths with past year, even daring to use it in a lesson and Down District Council and Drumgath Ladies no books, pen or paper. St Mark’s teacher Shauna Quinn. 1749120 observation by ETI [Education Training Group with funds awarded to the group by the “I can see a great improvement in their thinking Joint research by Trinity College Dublin and Inspectorate] – “despite being a novice” at the time. Provident Good Relations Fund earlier in the year. skills and they are so aware of using the correct Queen’s University Belfast, which was recently “As part of my cross-phase placement with the terminology when using Izak9. published in the International Journal of Education KS2/KS3 Numeracy and Literacy Transition Project, DIARY DATES “Children are very keen to share their strategies Research, found that students’ enjoyment of I have also used Izak9 with pupils in all classes in and I have observed some quiet children beginning mathematics was significantly boosted by using the Key Stage 2 – P4 to P7. The enthusiasm of these THURSDAY DECEMBER 7 to speak out more as a result of using Izak9.” resource. primary school pupils was refreshing,” she says. Izak9 consists of 27 cubes with different Mrs Quinn was introduced to Izak9 by a student For more information on Izak9 log on to Maureen Ward is back 7.30pm-9pm in the combinations of colour, number and shape. teacher and “immediately recognised its potential as www.izak9.com Parish Centre with ‘Delicious makes with your Christmas leftovers’. So, if you don’t want to be looking at the remains of your turkey for a week, why not come along. Everyone welcome - £2 Bowling Green work to begin early 2018 members and £4 non-members. By Ryan Sands pavilion to include new changing rooms and new “The works include internal alterations, external THURSDAY DECEMBER 14 [email protected] external cladding’ at November’s Planning upgrades to include new cladding and a new Committee meeting, and, last week, the Council extension to include provision of 2no. changing Christmas Wreath Making in the Parish Centre Work is set to begin on the £140,000 upgrade of tendered for a contractor to ‘design and construct rooms. from 7.30pm-9pm. More details to follow. Warrenpoint Bowling Green’s pavilion in early the facilities’. “The existing building is a pre-fabricated, Names are still being taken for the day trip to 2018. “The existing building comprises of toilets, modular-type timber framed construction on a steel Dublin and the theatre next August to see Planning permission was granted for the storage, kitchen facilities and a larger multi-purpose chassis sub-structure supported by foundation WICKED. The show starts at 2.30pm with a two course meal in the Carrickdale on the way home, ‘extension and upgrades to existing bowling room,” the tender documentation states. loading points and was erected on site circa 2004.” with a total cost of £85. If you are interested The document’s budget please contact Mary Brannigan 07813808558 section notes that the Why not become a member of the group? That ‘current budget for the way you save money on each event and you also scheme is £140,000’, get prior notification and priority booking on though adds that events and outings. ‘tenderers should be Follow us on Facebook Drumgathladies aware that activities may Drumgath. be removed from the activity schedule if necessary to meet budgetary constraints’. Commencement of works is expected to commence in February How the upgraded Warrenpoint Bowling Pavilion is set to look. R1744113 and last for three months. Further Arkwright awards for St Louis A trio of bright young engineering Rory follows on from the previous minds from St Louis Grammar successes of Caitlin Sands (2016) School in Kilkeel completed a series currently completing her A2 studies at of challenging interviews and St Louis and Ryan Rafferty/Steven aptitude tests for the Arkwright Flood, joint winners in 2015, who Engineering Scholarship during the have now commenced their MEng 2016/17 academic year. Engineering Degree programmes at Year 13 students, Cormac Hardy, Sean Quinn and Rory Quinn, were Queen’s University Belfast. recently informed of the success of The trio will have a sponsor from their applications via letters industry for the duration of their A- acknowledging that they were now Level course studies and their Affiliated Members of the Arkwright engineering degree courses at St Louis GS Arkwright Engineering Scholarship recipients l-r: Sean Quinn, Patricia Eccles demonstrates a few Christmas Scholarship. universities, including £300 p/a Rory Quinn and Cormac Hardy, pictured with St Louis Principal Kevin Martin Nibbles. R1749124 The success of Cormac, Sean and towards their studies. and teacher of Engineering Anthony Monaghan. R1749302