Twentieth Annual Report and Rectory Field Summary of Accounts 19 Limavady Road, L’Derry, BT47 6JY of the Tel: 028 7134 9644 Board of Governors of Fax: 028 7131 2945 E-mail: [email protected] Oakgrove Integrated Primary School and Nursery Web: www.oakgroveschool.co.uk September 2010 - August 2011 1 Highlights – Autumn term 2010 Oakgrove was awarded the prestigious British Derry Walls. Treasure Trail organised by the City of Council International School Award, which accredits Culture (P6) and P6A outstanding practice in the international dimensions St Naul’s school, Inver, Donegal, Dissolving of teaching and learning. Congratulations to the Boundaries programme (P6). whole school community, especially our Integration Richmond Centre, making cardboard models of Co-ordinators Alissa Williamson and Catriona L’Derry buildings (KS2) Sargent. All Saints Church, Clooney. Harvest Service and PARENTS GROUP ‘Little Red Hen’ performance. Our thanks to Rev Parents provide the link between the school and the Ferry for his hospitality community and parental involvement is encouraged St Columbs Hall. UU Science seminar “Engaging at every level. Formal links included: Young minds” (P6) P1 parents invited to have coffee in the Staffroom VISITORS after leaving their children into class; Literacy and Numeracy workshops for parents of P1 School Photographer and P2 pupils; Book Fair An information session for parents of P4 pupils; Maria Philips (Educational Psychologist) Assessment Parents Group events, included a sale of Christmas and advice including P7 Transfer Reviews cards, organised with Ms Barber; Billy Reid (Reading Centre) Support programme Parent Teachers Conferences; and Accelerated Reading Programme in P7 Fr. Colhoun gave a Sacramental talk to parents INCAS computerised tests in maths, reading and of P4/P7 children making first Communion and developed ability went well confirmation. Royal Mail stamp launch and a photo call Three Iraqi teachers, two from Kurdistan and one PUPILS from Baghdad visited with NICIE 54 pupils started P1 in September. A 3-week ‘staggered’ start eased their entry to academe. Our COMMUNITY Nursery children were also gently introduced in Our Extended Community Involvement programme small groups to their new surroundings. won the Community & Education Partnership Award Extra-curricular activities included: (Building Social Enterprise). • Cello, Viola, Violin and Brass tuition, provided by The Extended Schools Programme continued WELB. with ‘Time for Me’ (with Caw group) and an • Extended Schools Counselling Sessions Intergenerational Project • Speech Language Support Our grounds were put at the service of Foyle • 6 week Peer Mediation training programme and Down Syndrome Trust for cycling tuition and Foyle Conference for P7 Mediators Memory Walk in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society. Chance for Change and Weight Watchers used the • The School Council. Elected in September, pupil portacabin for meetings. representatives from classes throughout the school meet regularly with teachers to discuss A Silver Coin line’ was launched for the UNICEF issues of concern; Pakistan Appeal at our Rights Respecting School Assembly during which Mrs Coulter introduced the • Football team played weekly fixtures programme; new posters on the United Nations Convention on Yes Project’ • ‘ on Safety issues (P6); the Rights of the Child ; Chance for Change’ • ‘ workshops; European Day of Languages Assembly. • Key Word Programme (by Lorna McSparron). Our annual Shoe Box Appeal, collecting shoe boxes SCHOOL TRIPS AND VISITS filled with presents for children in need, enjoyed a Ulster American Folk Park (P4 history project) and generous response from our parents and children; St Columbs Park Adventure Playground (4 week Halloween was marked with a party with Foyleview programme with P5) and a special Halloween Breakfast for parents in our Waterside Police Station (P5 community project) Nurture Centre; 2 PLACEMENTS - Literacy; Work experience students joined us from Oakgrove - Accelerated Reading; College & Foyle College including weekly experience - Reading Partnership; for Alan Le Moignan as a caretaker and Sarah - Reading continuum; Alexander as a Classroom Assistant - Numeracy; Two NVQ placement classroom assistants and a - Behaviour Policy review; retired librarian volunteered their service. - Risk Management planning; - Thinking Hats & Cort (Cognitive Research Trust) Stranmillis Students undertook observations Tools. Devised by Edward de Bono, these tools STAFF bring focus, structure and organisation to thinking Staff training and meetings to share best practice processes.; with other schools are a vital part of Oakgrove’s - First Aid training (Classroom Assistants); quest for excellence and promoting the benefits of - Child Protection; integrated education. - Integration and Vision, Values and Aims; - Organisational issues, PRSD A Murray represented and targets and Action plans; promoted the school’s interests - Individual Education Plan in a variety of forums including: writing; - interviews on radio, - Curriculum Teams planning. - attending seminars, - Primary Languages - NICIE and APTIS meetings information Seminar (Nial Gill) - WELB Primary Principals’ - Linguistic Phonics for P5 Conference. Anne also & P6 teachers & Classroom represented Integrated Schools Assistants (facilitated by L. at NITNC Management Side McSparron) Alongside her VP duties, Larraine Coulter’s schedule of Staff Conference focused on pastoral care included attending Key Stage issues 15 Case Conferences, meeting Literacy Strategy training (Nial with social workers, participating Gill & Rachael Doherty) in core group, case planning and Epi Pen training, Trachey training, Looked After Children reviews, and First Aid certificates and liaising regularly with the awarded to 10 classroom Educational Welfare Officer, assistants; Multi Agency Support Team Nurture Inset included IEP and other Child Protection agencies. Larraine also writing; Playboard teambuilding; target setting represented Oakgrove at the Community Awards Positive People training for children (facilitated by and Building Social Enterprise ceremonies Ann McGonigle) Sharing Good Practice visits also included Ann Dissolving Boundaries workshop byTony Scullion McGonigle’s workshop on UNICEF Right Respecting ETI with James McGurk, Nial Gill and Larraine Schools with David Dunlop in Crumlin and Anne Coulter Murray on Nurture Centres at Mill Strand IPS. PREMISES/GROUNDS In Service Training (INSET) began in August and continued throughout the year. Our particular 14 new projectors were installed by Adrian Doney thanks to Northern Ireland Council for Integrated and Raymond Wray to help deliver the curriculum. Education who support the school with training and New urinals were installed in the P5/6 Boys toilets opportunities to share best practice. Highlights of Major damage was caused to the roof during the the training schedule included: summer by vandals; 20 slates off as well as one of the - NICIE Teachers’ committee (Simone Bartlett); chimneys. CCTV may help identify the culprits. - Religious Education conference (Simone Bartlett); The assembly hall blinds were painstakingly repaired by - Anti homophobic bullying (NICIE) (James McGurk); Adrian Doney over the summer. - Forgiveness Education (NICIE); A Fire Drill completed evacuation in 1.5 minutes - Homophobia training. by Tacade, a charity which A large but dead tree was cut down during Halloween works to promote the health and well-being of by Pellipar. vulnerable children; 3 Highlights – Spring Term 2011 Christmas in Oakgrove - P4 organised their own ‘table parties’; • Christmas celebration held in the Nurture Centre - P5 created their own class orchestra with the help • Over 100 Advent boxes were collected for Children of Sean Randall, and used the Zu3D animation in Crossfire children brought these to their teachers programme to make their own version of ‘Aladdin’; as their Christmas present - P6 went on the ‘Noose and Necklace’ tour of the city • Carol Service walls and video conferenced with five other schools. • FS produced a brilliant ‘Wriggly Nativity’ - over 100 Everyone photographed and filmed each other’s classes. stars in the making! Our thanks to the chief organiser Ms Barber and the ICT trainer and steadfast support Ms Bartlett. • P7 sang Christmas Carols in Foyleside for Save the Children and entertained local senior Citizens. • Chinese New Year was celebrated with the help of Oakgrove’s Mandarin Speakers Club,. Nursery had a • Parents generously supported the Christmas Draw noodles snack and dressed up in costume; P5 made with prizes and tickets cards, practised Chinese calligrahy and ate Chinese • Nursery children had two great Christmas concerts. food, while P7 made collage rabbits and Chinese • P1 & P2 saw the pantomime Cinderella in lanterns with Foyleview; Waterside Theatre • A St Valentine’s Day Breakfast organised by Mr Holy • P2s’ class Craft Fair raised over £200 to subsidise raised £130 for school funds; their Zoo trip • Nursery, P1 and P2: Musical Pathways to Learning • P4 made UNCRC stars for their Christmas trees, programme ended with a performance of songs and helped byAPE volunteers at St Columb’s Park action for their parents They also enjoyed Woodlands sessions with birdwatching, and kickboxing lessons The deep freeze over Christmas could have been with the help of Ethan’s dad; catastrophic were it not for the prompt intervention of • Nursery also enjoyed Yoga Bugs sessions organised by Raymond Wray. 54 pipes burst