Have some fun and relax your body and stretch your mind. Get back to nature or improve your game with rugby and cricket classes. Or just dance.

BBC Northern Ireland will be helping to keep children and parents inspired and active during the Coronavirus crisis with a new initiative starting tomorrow afternoon.

Join The 3 O’Clock Club every weekday - at 3pm - with a host of contributors who will post a video with practical interactive lessons in everything from arts and crafts to science and sport. The educational videos are aimed at primary-aged children and their parents with a new video available on the BBC Northern Ireland home page www.bbc.co.uk/ni each day. There will also be a live chat function during the sessions giving parents and children the chance to interact with other participants. The initiative complements the BBC’s newly expanded education offering during this time.

Appearing in the 10-20 minute videos will be experts and well-known people including Ande Gray (dance and drama - image above); Emer Maguire (science - main image); former Ulster Rugby player, Paul Marshall; former Irish Cricketer, Kyle McCallan; as well as David Maxwell with some gardening lessons alongside his daughter. Caol McDonald will be helping those busy parents and children to relax and unwind with yoga while Emma McIlveen opens the club with an arts and crafts session.

If you miss the 3 o'clock show, the videos will be available to view again on the BBC Northern Ireland YouTube channel.

First challenge of Week 2... Create A Raft

When you have completed the challenge, post it online and mention Sentinus in your comments, as there are prizes up for grabs! Don't worry if you don't have social media... just email to stcolumsoffice186@c2kni.net and we'll share it for you.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Best wishes to our school community for a happy and peaceful Easter. Stay safe everyone!

From all at St. Colum’s 

Easter issue of Stella Maris is now available to download from Star of the Sea Portstewart... https://portstewartparish.website/new-stella-maris-available/

The issue features our Grandparents Day Celebration and Catholic Schools Week last term.  We're also chuffed to see some of our past pupils, Class of 2013, receiving their The Pope John Paul II Awards.

Today's Sentinus Challenge ...

Using uncooked spaghetti and jelly babies, we challenge you to build the tallest structure you can! Record the height and send us pictures 📸  Good luck!! We can’t wait to see how tall your structure is. 

When you have completed the challenge, post it online and mention Sentinus in your comments, as there are prizes up for grabs! Don't worry if you don't have social media... just email to stcolumsoffice186@c2kni.net and we'll share it for you.

Gather some recycled rubbish and make some artwork. Use your imagination and be creative. Think outside the box and send pictures of your artwork via email to andreawalker@eani.org.uk

Todays Sentinus challenge has 3 levels. 

Level 1 : Treasure Hunt

Level 2 : The Cup Challenge

Level 3 : House Puzzle

Follow the link for further full details... https://www.stcolumsprimaryschool.co.uk/sentinus-challenges/

When you have completed the challenge, post it online and mention Sentinus in your comments, as there are prizes up for grabs! Don't worry if you don't have social media... just email to stcolumsoffice186@c2kni.net and we'll share it for you.

We know our super pupils have been busy making rainbows of hope for their windows and NHS Nightingale. Our local Causeway Hospital have asked if we could send them rainbow pictures so they can have a laminated rainbow wall in A&E to lift spirits at this difficult time.

Please send photos of just your rainbow artwork(with messages of support) to our Facebook page @stcolums or email to stcolumsoffice186@c2kni.net  and we will print, laminate and arrange delivery. 

You can also send us photos of you with or creating your artwork  but make sure you send us the artwork separately. 

Many thanks for your help. 

A free information book has just been released that explains the coronavirus to children. It is illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler. bit.ly/lninosycrowlink

The current extraordinary situation may be frightening and confusing for children and helping them to understand is an important step in dealing with the anxiety and other emotions that they may feel.

Parents can use this free downloadable book, suitable for 5-9 year olds, to talk about the following issues:

• What is the coronavirus?
• How do you catch the coronavirus?
• What happens if you catch the coronavirus?
• Why are people worried about catching the coronavirus?
• Is there a cure for the coronavirus?
• Why are some places we normally go to closed?
• What can I do to help?
• What’s going to happen next?