During the summer term, THRiVE Newtownabbey was delighted to be able to partner with the six local Primary Schools which are part of the THRiVE network of schools to deliver a bespoke workshop with Primary 7 pupils focusing on one of THRiVE key topics…

With primary 7 pupils having, not long ago, learned where they will be going to school after the summer holidays, and no doubt some thoughts already beginning to drift towards the summer holidays, this was the perfect time in the academic year to explore, through a mix of interactive discussions, what aspiration means; discussing the children’s opinions about how they can thrive as they go after their dreams, particularly as they journey the transition from primary school to post-primary school in the coming months.

During each hour-long session, the children had opportunity to share what their aspirations currently are. Interestingly, in every school, the children not only shared a range of ‘dream job’ roles but also suggested ideas about why they wanted to go after these roles and the type of community they would like to live in that will help them THRiVE.

The session also focused on the importance of role models: Why they are important and who they are, finishing up with each class generating ideas about how they might go after their aspirations to try to achieve them.  For this, children were asked to think about things such as what they thought their strengths and skills are, and left with the challenge of asking those people who know them best what they think their best qualities are, all with the purpose of helping them either uncover, or further, an aspiration.

 Over the course of each workshop three key themes emerged:

1. What does it mean to THRiVE?
2. What do you want to be in life?
3. What will help me THRiVE?

Today we are delighted to be able to share what the children said about the first theme, ‘What does it mean to THRiVE?”

Look out on our social media channels in the coming weeks as the information gathered in all the sessions will be shared during the summer and in the build up to the start new school year.  The information gathered from all the sessions will also be extremely helpful in shaping future sessions which are being planned for the new school year.

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The two-hour workshop was the latest collaborative event through which THRiVE Newtownabbey seeks to find relevant ways to help local children and young people THRiVE!

The workshop was open to parents of children who will be making to move from pre-school settings into local Primary Schools after the summer holidays and was an opportunity for parents to hear from Shirley Millar, Family Support Services Manager at Parenting NI & engage in conversations with other parents, with everyone supporting each other as they explored the uncertainties, expectations and challenges of parents and children during the transition from pre-school to primary school.

In addition, parents also had the opportunity to hear from Sarah Radcliffe, Help Kids Talk co-ordinator about that particular programme. Every parent present went home with resources from both organisations as well as a Transition focused booklet produced by THRiVE Newtownabbey in conjunction with Abbey SureStart.

The post ‘Stepping Into School with Parenting NI’. Pre-school to Primary Workshop appeared first on THRiVE Rathcoole & Monkstown.