Portstewart Primary School are recruiting volunteers to work with our children to increase their reading skills and love of reading. The Reading Partnership programme provides one-to-one encouragement and support to help children start reading, keep reading and read more, increasing their confidence and self-esteem and raising attainment and future aspirations. (Click on the link above or any image below for more details)
With one-to-one practice with the support of an attentive adult this helps improve children’s reading fluency and is a crucial supplement to classroom teaching. We are looking for volunteers who will give of their time to help support our children to read – you’ll be making a life-changing difference to a child who needs your help.
What’s in it for you? • Using your skills in new and creative ways • Being part of a school community • Playing a part in raising reading attainment • Making a life-changing difference to children • Will receive training in supporting children to read and on safeguarding/child protection
What’s involved? Trained reading helpers: • Give informal one-to-one adult support to children with their reading • On the days and at the times within the school day to fit in with your availability and the school timetable • Ideally this literacy intervention requires only 15 minutes of support 3 times a week per child over 10 weeks. In such a short space of time, many of the children that Reading Partners have worked with have shown great improvements in their reading ages. However we are flexible and can work around volunteers availability.
What skills and experience do you need? • Enthusiasm for sharing the value and joy of reading • Ability to relate to, motivate and encourage children • Patience, flexibility, creativity, energy and a sense of humour
If you are a parent, grandparent or member of the local community who would enjoy supporting children to read please get in touch!
Simply complete the following form, or if you’re not quite ready to sign up find out more information by telephoning Mrs Taylor on 02870832194.
Please note that you need to be 18 years or over to volunteer as a reading helper due to the safer recruitment checks required for the voluntary role.
In an increasingly busy world Harvest is the opportunity to pause and take in the goodness of God.
This year in our harvest morning service we will be asking what does it mean to Taste and see that the Lord is good. We will of course be surrounded by flowers and vegetables as well as the numerous offerings for the food bank. Surely God’s goodness goes beyond the church decorations, and what is it to taste such goodness? Taste is something we experience, it is one of our 5 senses and so we will seek to experience the goodness of God. There will be a very practical way of experiencing God’s goodness as we will be having lunch together immediately after the service.
In the evening we will continue this theme of experiencing the goodness of God, but this time we will ask how can we know God’s goodness in a difficult season of life. Where is the goodness of God in illness, or bereavement, or unemployment? We will look at God’s promise to restore the lost years found in Joel 2:25. And I will restore to you the years the locust hath eaten.
Why not come along on Sunday 13th October at 10:30 am and 6:30 pm to not only celebrate but experience the goodness of God – regardless of your situation.
This morning, we are thinking about what it means to live as a Christian community. Pray for our church family. Pray for a strengthening of relationships between each of us. Pray that the way we live as a community would leave an impression on those watching.
Monday 30th September
Ballywillan Kirk Session meet tonight to discuss a way forward in filling the vacancy. Pray for the kirk session and the congregation. Pray not only for a filling of the vacancy but a renewed sense of hope after a disappointing congregational meeting earlier in the year.
GB and Little Treasures meet today. These are incredible opportunities for our church to engage with the community. Pray for all who attend both organisations asking that God would use them to draw more people unto himself.
Thursday 3rd October
The Bible study meets tonight. Thank God for all who come along to this and pray that it would be an opportunity for each of us to deepen our faith in Jesus Christ.
Friday 4th October
Cynthia faithfully produces this diary week by week, among many other administrative duties. She also provides an important ministry of friendship to all who call in to the office. Thank God for Cynthia and pray that she continues to be a blessing to so many within our congregation.
Saturday 5th October
Blaze and Chill meet tonight. Pray for our young people asking God to draw them away from everything that would be harmful and towards his goodness and love.
This Sunday our theme in Established was God’s grace. We used Ephesians 2:8-9 to explore what grace means and how that grace is received by us. What an incredible privilege to have so many young people in the manse to talk about these things. If you haven’t been to established yet then why not come along to the manse on Sunday 13th October at 6:30 pm…. Michelle might even bring some more cookies with her!
