Moravian Messenger September 2021

moravian
SEPTEMBER 2021
messenger
A year like
There is a phrase that you've heard many times to describe the last 12 months - 'a year like no other.' In Gracehill Primary School we would agree.
no other
Our School and Nursery Unit are located in the historic village of Gracehill in beautiful County Antrim, Northern Ireland. There are 415 boys and girls attending our Primary School from age 4 to 11 and in the Nursery there are 26 boys and girls preparing to join us in Primary 1. In total 50 adults work in our school on a daily basis to support the boys and girls in their learning, to keep the children safe and to feed the boys and girls (and staff!) at lunchtime.
So, as you can appreciate as we all gathered round our televisions in March 2020 to listen to the Prime Minister announce a national lockdown, the implications for us as for everyone else in the country were huge and unprecedented.
The challenge was significant; however, in Gracehill we have a wonderful team of teachers and support staff who are so adaptable - they needed to be! The staff, working remotely, prepared lessons for the children to work on at home. While the familiar pattern of daily life in school stopped at lockdown, the school building remained open for the children of key workers who were able to come into school for supervised learning.
As the days and weeks passed a new pattern emerged of children uploading their work to their teachers and receiving feedback. We were very aware that families were in very different situations and some parents were adept at home schooling and its demands while others struggled.
It also became clear that many of the events that we enjoy so much like school trips, sports days and end of year concerts weren't going to be possible during lockdown. So the Primary Sevens who were to leave us in June could not enjoy the usual fun but instead participated in a virtual end of year concert which was well received by all. Everyone took part in a virtual sports day and uploaded their videos to their class for everyone to see how they got on in the back gardens! An important aspect of school life is welcoming the new boys and girls who are joining us in Primary 1. Usually we invite the boys and girls to our induction afternoon with their class teacher. This was another
continued on p.100
- A Primary School in COVID Times
It takes a church to raise a parent
(page 99)
Retirement of Br Martin Smith
(page 101)
Holy Habits - Missional Discipleship Resources for Churches
(page 104)
Heritage Open Days
(page 105)
© Sr Sarah Groves