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St Patrick's Primary School, Ardboe, Dungannon
RESPECT As we begin our school year, it is important that we set out our standards for respect from the beginning. Simple things like a smile, good eye contact or a “hello” can make a huge difference when forming relationships with new friends and helping others. Small gestures towards others show that you value them and will help to build respect. In the month of September we will be focusing on the Christian value - RESPECT. This is also one of our Key School values. As a whole school community, we will be discussing what RESPECT means and what it should look like within each classroom. We will be looking at: How we show respect for each other and adults in the school community. How children are encouraged to value and respect their own and other people’s belongings. How children are encouraged to show tolerance by accepting feelings, habits or beliefs, racial or ethnic origins that are different from their own. What patience, kindness and good manners should look like in our classroom.   [Open Document] | ☕ Coffee Morning ☕ - Friends Of Mullinahoe - Coffee Morning on Sunday 28th of September from 12.00 - 2.00 pm in the Ardboe Community Centre. [Open Image]
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Jump, Skip, and Sing!

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29th Apr 2025
A big thank you to the 'Friends of Mullinahoe' for providing new skipping ropes for every class to access. 

Skipping, is a classic childhood pastime that has been enjoyed for hundreds of generations and can be traced back to 1600AD Egypt where the Egyptians used vines for jumping.

So what are the benefits of skipping?

1) Improves coordination

Coordination refers to working arms and legs in a coordinated, effective way. This is incredibly important for children of a young age to complete everyday activities in school and out, from tying up their shoelaces to playing sport. You can get creative with skipping songs and games once your child has mastered the basics and help them develop this even more.

2) Improves fitness

Skipping is a fantastic option for improving cardiovascular fitness and endurance for other sports your little ones may want to practice. The footwork skills, power and agility for explosive movements and quick directional changes can help train for competitive sports such as tennis, football, rugby or netball.

3) Aids brain development

Jumping aids both the right and left sides of your growing explorer's brain. It can improve reading skills, spatial awareness and make them more mentally alert, all very important factors for focus and creativity.

4) Improves the ability to stay calm

By working their brain and body at the same time, skipping can help your young explorers to remain calm in stressful situations. This is very helpful in an educational environment or when working and playing with others.

5) Fun and affordable activity

It’s portable and can be done absolutely anywhere! All you need is a skipping rope and a pair of shoes (or wellies if you're jumping in puddles!). All it needs is a small space so skipping is the perfect way for them to burn off some energy.

6) Improves creativity

Skipping improves children's creativity - there are so many ways of using a skipping rope and turning it into a fun activity! There are no complex rules and guidelines to follow so skipping is the perfect imaginative play for children. To keep your children safe, make sure they are using good quality skipping ropes of appropriate length for their height.