EASTER MONDAY UPDATE.

Dear parents, pupils and friends of Gilnahirk PS,

I hope that this week’s update finds you all well and that you have been able to enjoy what was, admittedly, a rather different Easter weekend.

As we enter our fourth week in our current lock down scenario, I do hope that as you read through this week’s update, you feel in touch with our school community (as I know many of you have been doing through WhatsApp and other media) and that some of the images and information you are about to see gives you a bit of a lift for the week ahead.

GILNAHIRK RAINBOW TRAIL.

Our rainbow trail has continued with a number of very creative rainbows submitted this past week. Thanks to Alba, Nadia, Felix, Lucy, Luca, Archer, Rhea and Lucie for sending their rainbows in. I particularly loved the rainbows made out of toy cars – very creative! Can you come up with new ideas for a rainbow? If you can, send them in for next week’s update!

ARTISTS’ GALLERY

Having a bit more time on our hands has allowed many of our pupils (and parents) to get in touch with their artistic sides and you can see some of their brilliant work below. Well done to everyone who has submitted a piece of artwork this week. Keep up the fantastic work and keep drawing, painting and making!

THE BAKING AND

COOKING

CONTINUES…

Many of you have been putting your culinary skills to the test in the last week again. By the time this lock down is over, we’re going to have a school full of Gordon Ramsays! That should make for some delicious break and lunch times in the staff room. I know you’d rather taste them, but I hope you enjoy looking at some of our children’s beautiful creations.

HOME LEARNING

Hopefully you have all taken a bit of time away from home learning in the last week, with a view to starting again on Monday 20th April. However, some of you have sent more photos of your brilliant home learners in action and they are posted below. Well done, everyone. Keep up the super work.

Please see previous correspondences for arrangements for term 3 home learning but if you have any queries about this, please contact me on dcorbett546@c2kni.net.

SUPPORT OUR NHS

As a society, I think most of us have always held our NHS staff in the highest regard for the job they do but the last month has brought it into much sharper focus. I know that many of our parents, grandparents and friends are NHS workers and some of you find yourselves at the front line in the battle against this terrible virus, so we send our deepest appreciation and thanks to all of you. Tyler and Chloe have been busy showing their support for the NHS (pics below). Thanks for sending this in, Tyler and Chloe and remember everyone, stay home, save lives, protect the NHS.

Poppy has also sent in a video reminder to all of us of the importance of staying at home. Thanks Poppy, we all need this important reminder!

POETS’ CORNER

Last week, we had a great submission from Libby Lasini and this week, Ribh Pearson has submitted a lovely little acrostic poem. I love the positive note that it ends with – ‘we will have success’. You’re right, Ribh, we will. It can be hard to see it when we are in the middle of difficult times, but already we are beginning to see some small encouraging successes in our fight against this illness. Stay strong everyone!

ANOTHER NEW ARRIVAL!

Daniel and family were recently excited to welcome Benji to the family. Daniel has been working hard training, walking and cleaning up after Benji.

A 'CORONAVIRUS CUT'!

Isaac has had enough of the long hair and decided it had to go. As the picture will show, he probably should have made sure there was enough charge in the hair clippers before he started as he didn't quite get it all done. Sure, he'll not be going anywhere in a hurry so hopefully it will grow back in plenty of time. I'm a keen student of WW2 and your haircut reminded me of the famous 'filthy 13' of the 101st Airborne Division who fought at D-Day and beyond!!

If you've taken the plunge, feel free to share your 'lockdown locks' in future updates!

GILNAHIRK'S TIME TEAM...

The Miller family recently went hunting for historical relics in the Castlereagh hills and came up with this little gem - an Irish patriotic clay pipe bowl (c1860 - 1910). The next generation of Time Teamers!

LIFE IN LOCKDOWN

There was a fantastic number of photos and information sent in this week showing all sorts of things that our families have been up to during lockdown. It has been great to see the images and read through what you have been up to and it is my pleasure to share them all with you. Enjoy!

It is great to see what so many of you have been up to. Of course, while we celebrate the opportunities lockdown has afforded in terms of family time, it can be easy to put yourself under pressure and feel that other families are doing so much more than your own. I encourage you to continue to send in photos for our updates to dcorbett546@c2kni.net but remember, what we are seeing are the highlights of family life, a bit like social media in that respect.

Along with your own highlights, you may have had a few tough days, when tensions were high and relationships strained, and that's ok too. Stay positive everyone and remember, the end of this thing will come and we will all have learnt a few things about ourselves along the way.

And finally...

Leo from P1 sent a reminder of the importance of Easter, of hope in the face of despair, love in the midst of hatred, light overcoming darkness and forgiveness in an unforgiving world. Thanks for this Leo and (a rather belated) Happy Easter to you all.

With kindest regards and warm wishes.

D Corbett

Principal.