Throughout the month of February our children and young people had the opportunity to develop a shared understanding of everyone’s rights and the importance of respecting these by celebrating a range of special days that made links with our rights stated in the convention. This month children focused on rights stated in article 7, 17, 29 30 as we celebrated Safer Internet Day, Mother’s Day and Shrove Tuesday.

On Safer Internet Day classes across our school engaged in a range of activities that provided children the tools on how to access information in a safe way whilst online; this allowed children to develop an appreciation that our school is a safe and inspiring place to learn.

We experienced our rights stated in article 7, 29 and 30 as we celebrated Mother’s Day by making gifts and cards as a sign of thanks to those who look after us. Children and young people at Lisanally are included and valued as individuals as we celebrate a range of Religious days within school, including Shrove Tuesday. During this week our school assembly was based on the theme of 'Lent' as we listened to biblical stories and how Lent is celebrated. Classes across school had the opportunity to make their own pancakes, they went down a treat!

Attachments:

Mother's Day Article 7 VTU 2.pdf	[Mother's Day Article 7 VTU 2.pdf]	373 kB
Mother's Day VTU 1.pdf	[Mother's Day VTU 1.pdf]	423 kB
Safer Internet Day article 17 evidence.pdf	[Safer Internet Day article 17 evidence.pdf]	329 kB

At Lisanally we are proud to be a ‘Rights Respecting School’ which is central to our school ethos. This month our VTU 2 class reviewed if articles stated in the convention were clearly displayed in relevant areas around our school; this ensured our children and young people know about and understand the UNCRC and are aware of how it impacts their daily life in Lisanally.

Following the Christmas break our classes were excited to resume our varied timetable of activities, this included our weekly visits to Armagh Orchard Leisure Centre to use the gym facilities by our VTU classes. During weekly visits our young people experience rights stated in article 24, 27 and 29 as they learn about the importance of engaging in physical activity for good physical and mental health. At Lisanally children's social and emotional well-being is a priority -engaging in these activities supports our young people to develop healthy lifestyles.

Within our school there is a shared sense of community and belonging as we strive to embrace cultural diversity. We celebrated this particular area in the month of January by learning about Chinese New Year. Children accessed their right stated in article 30 as they embraced and experienced the Chinese language, custom and religion through a range of cross-curricular activities.

Together as a whole school we ran a competition to create a Rights Respecting School Mascot. Each class designed their own mascot and each pupil and staff member then voted for their favourite.

Here are all the wonderful entries from each class. And our Winner is.....

Introducing our new ‘Rights Respecting School' mascot… 'Lisa Nally'(No.3) designed by Class 13. They received the most votes and everyone is thrilled with our new mascot.

Lisa Nally will be appearing all around school to remind the pupils about their rights in the UNCRC and about the respectful actions that we must agree to make so that everyone can enjoy and uphold their rights.

Article 23 -  Children with a disability.

A child with a disability has the right to live a full and decent life in conditions that promote dignity, independence and an active role in the community. Governments must do all they can to provide free care and assistance to children with a disability.

On the 1st April 2022, Lisanally pupils celebrated Autism Awareness Day. Each child decorated a jigsaw piece for a whole school display identifying the main needs of pupils with Autism.

Deaf Awareness Week

Article 24 - Health and Health Services

Every child has the right to the best possible health. Government must provide good quality health care and well-being so that children can stay healthy.

Throughout Deaf Awareness Week, we shared lots about deafness, including information on:

• the different levels of deafness
• deaf culture and history
• the different communication methods
• inspiring stories

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) applies to all children and young people under 18. Its aim is to recognise the rights of children and young people and ensure that they grow up in the spirit of peace, tolerance, freedom, equality and solidarity.

During January, we are focusing on the main 4 principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:

• Right to life, survival and development (Article 6);
• Right to non-discrimination (Article 2);
• Right to express views freely (Article 12);
• Right to have a child’s best interests taken as a primary consideration in all matters affecting them (Article 3).

They represent the underlying for all rights to be realised.