SUNI's Schools Project - North Down and Newtownards

🔦🌟 DST SPOTLIGHT - CRAIG LYNN 🌟🔦

"My name is Craig and I’m the minister at First Ards Presbyterian Church. Before becoming a minister, I was actively involved with SU by giving, praying and teaching It’s Your Move lessons. Later, I had the opportunity to serve as DST chair of the North Belfast and Newtownabbey Schools Project, where I witnessed the immense value of local churches loving, serving and sharing the good news with school communities. Currently, I regularly lead assemblies in several primary schools across Newtownards and am privileged to serve on the DST here in the North Down and Newtownards district."

🎉 IT’S YOUR MOVE LESSONS 🎉

It’s Your Move season is in full swing in North Down and Newtownards!

It’s been great to partner with churches, and also see some of our volunteers take the lessons and deliver them in their local schools.

Ballyholme Presbyterian Church
Holy Trinity Glencraig
West Church Bangor / Kids
Towerview Church

🔦🌟 DST SPOTLIGHT - JANENE LYTTLE 🌟🔦

"My name is Janene - I’m wife to Marty, mum to Jonah and Freya and have been a primary school teacher in Newtownards for the last 16 years. I have been involved with Scripture Union in some shape or form since I was 11 years old. Whether that has been attending and then leading my own school group to serving on Camps and Missions and then helping run an SU group where I work. SU has had a huge impact on my own life and faith over the years.

Now working as a teacher I value our school’s workers even more. They are there to help engage children with God’s word, to equip and be a resource for RE lessons and SU programmes and to empower local churches to support schools and be present in a school community."

🔦🌟 DST SPOTLIGHT - MARK JOHNSTON 🌟🔦

"My name is Mark, I'm the husband of Gillian and daddy of Daniel, Peter and Sophie. I'm also a minister in St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Bangor.

It has been a total joy and privilege to see the work of Scripture Union first-hand, as the SU School Workers have been helping us as a church family over recent years to meaningfully and intentionally support and encourage our local schools, especially Clandeboye Primary School in our immediate community. They've helped us with delivering classroom-based lessons, assemblies and Prayer Spaces, and continue to encourage us to play our part in school life, as we love and serve pupils, their families, and school staff, in Jesus' name.

Being part of the DST is a humbling and life-giving experience, as we learn more about what God is doing in schools across the region (which is so encouraging!), and as we seek to support our terrific SU Schools' Workers as they serve in local schools and help to equip local church families like ours to keep loving and supporting pupils, parents and school staff alike. We thank God for Scripture Union NI, and for the Schools Project Team in North Down and Newtownards."

🎉REMINDER - IT'S YOUR MOVE CELEBRATION 🎉

Last Saturday our P7s heard what school they will be heading to in September.

We would love to celebrate the end of their primary school career with them, and help to prepare them and their parents for the move to post-primary school.

To sign up for the P7 celebration: https://form.jotform.com/240796834703060

To sign up for the parents gathering: https://form.jotform.com/24079661809005

It would be great to see you there!

🔦🌟 DST SPOTLIGHT - EDGAR JARDINE (TREASURER) 🌟🔦

"My name is Edgar and I attend church in Bangor. My main role in DST is to encourage financial support from local churches for schools ministry in North Down and Newtownards. I believe SUNI's Schools Project is one of the most important initiatives for Christian witness in our community at the moment. The openness of schools to Caroline & Amy, and the growing support of churches is a real source of encouragement for all of us on DST."

🔦🌟 DST SPOTLIGHT - SIAN DOHERTY 🌟🔦

"My name is Sian and I’m part of the DST for SUNI's Schools Project in North Down & Newtownards. As a student, my faith was deeply impacted by the work of SU in schools. Now, as a teacher, it is a joy to see young people come to know Jesus and grow in their walk with him, surrounded by their friends and teachers. The work of the North Down & Ards staff team is invaluable in making this happen! We are so grateful for all they do!"

This will be a great event for all of those involved in youth ministry. Get booked in now to catch the Early Bird rate!

Look Forward Together🎉

Are you passionate about youth ministry? Then don’t miss out on this key moment to gather church and youth ministry leaders to think, dream and pray for the future of our mission to young people.

Find out more info and book your ticket today at lookforwardtogether.com

Please join us today as we pray for P7s across the country who are finding out which post-primary school they are heading to in September.

No matter where they are headed, we believe that God has amazing things in store for them!

🫶🏻 THANK YOU 🫶🏻

What a great night! Thanks so much to everyone who came along to support our fundraiser last night. We all went home with some tips on how to organise our messy spaces, and with full bellies from indulging in lots of lovely desserts!

A big thank you to Claire and Lisa from Order in the House for sharing with us!

🔦 DST SPOTLIGHT 🔦

Caroline and Amy are so thankful that there is a group of people from across North Down & Newtownards that feed into all they are doing through SUNI's Schools Project. This group, known as the District Support Team (DST) have a heart for seeing God's Good News being shared with children, young people and their families.

Over the next few weeks, we'd like to introduce you to the people who make up the DST and give them a chance to tell you why they support us in this way. First up we have the amazing...

🌟 RACHEL DAVIS (DST CHAIR) 🌟

"My name is Rachel and I am a primary school teacher from Bangor. I have been involved with Scripture Union for many years now and have very fond memories of SU in both primary and post-primary school. I am so thankful for the work they do and am now seeing the other side as a teacher, benefiting from their support with RE lessons, assemblies, SU groups and generally supporting staff. Being part of DST is a brilliant opportunity to encourage and support our school’s workers and to give something back to an organisation that has helped me in my Christian faith over many years!"

🎉IT'S YOUR MOVE CELEBRATION 🎉

We are so excited to run our It's Your Move Celebration again this year for P7 pupils from across North Down & Newtownards.

This event will be filled with fun, games, hearing from God's Word, some food & a chance to meet other P7s going to the same Post-Primary school. We would love to take this time to celebrate our amazing P7s, and so if you're able to come along you can sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/240796834703060

At the same time as this event, we will also be running a gathering for parents of P7 pupils. This will be an opportunity to hear how we can best support our P7s as they make the move from primary to post-primary school. There will be a chance to chat to parents who have been through the move, and some tea, coffee and buns!! We would love to see you, so please sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/240796618090059

Please share with any P7 pupils or their parents who you think might benefit from these events!

🔴 NOW SOLD OUT 🔴

We have reach the maximum number of sign-ups for our fundraiser next Thursday evening. Thank you so much for your support!

🤩 There's still time to sign up for our fundraiser! 🤩

Claire & Lisa, the decluttering duo behind 'Order in the House' are going to be inspiring us with their top tips for organisation. There will be tea, coffee and desserts and a time for Q&A.

We would LOVE to see you there. Make sure to save the date, sign up below and invite any other ladies you think might like to come along!

📆16th May 2024
⏰ 7:30PM
📍 Hamilton Road Baptist
Sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/241064099894366

🤩 There's still time to sign up for our fundraiser! 🤩

Claire & Lisa, the decluttering duo behind 'Order in the House' are going to be inspiring us with their top tips for organisation. There will be tea, coffee and desserts and a time for Q&A.

We would LOVE to see you there. Make sure to save the date, sign up below and invite any other ladies you think might like to come along!

📆16th May 2024
⏰ 7:30PM
📍 Hamilton Road Baptist
Sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/241064099894366

Caroline had a great time sharing some stories of all that God is doing in schools across Bangor, Newtownards and Holywood!

🙋‍♀️LADIES... SAVE THE DATE!

We are so excited to invite you to our next fundraising event!

Claire & Lisa, the decluttering duo behind 'Order in the House' are going to be inspiring us with their top tips for organisation. There will be tea, coffee and desserts and a time for Q&A.

We would LOVE to see you there. Make sure to save the date, sign up below and invite any other ladies you think might like to come along!

📆16th May 2024
⏰ 7:30PM
📍 Hamilton Road Baptist

Sign up here: https://form.jotform.com/241064099894366

Caroline had a little help prepping for her Easter assemblies in Clifton this morning! 👀

It was great to see the pupils celebrate ‘Stars of the Week’, dance to some songs and think through how the letters in the word ‘EASTER’ help Christians to remember why they celebrate at this time of year!

🏕️ CAMPS & MISSIONS ID CHECK 🏕️

Tonight Caroline will be at Starbucks, Bloomfields for you to come along and have your identification checked for Access NI forms.

PLEASE BRING WITH YOU:
1) The correct forms of identification. Note the requirements to bring one from Group 1 and a further two from any Group with at least one showing your D.O.B and current address.
2) Photocopies of this identification.

🐣Easter Assembly🐣
Amy was in Castle Gardens this afternoon sharing about the true meaning of Easter with Key Stage one pupils.

Today Caroline had the last ‘Fist Pump 5’ session in Ballyholme Primary. What a lovely bunch of P6 pupils who engaged so well!

🌟 SU GROUPS 🌟

Yesterday, Caroline had the last SU session of the year with the pupils in Clandeboye Primary School. It has been amazing to see pupils come along, share their faith with each other and open the Bible together.

The P7 girls asked to show Caroline a poster they had made to invite other pupils along to SU at the beginning of term. It was so encouraging to see their passion for sharing Jesus with their peers, and what amazing additions they will be to the SU groups in their new schools when they move in September!

St Andrew's Presbyterian Church

🏫 UNITE SU 🏫

What a night!!! It was amazing to see so many pupils from schools across the district gather together last night at Ballycrochan Baptist.

🎤 We played some games, we had hot chocolate & cookies, we worshipped God together and Phil (Bangor Elim Church) opened God’s word with us.

It was such a privilege to see senior pupils bring this event together and to see them lead so well and with so much passion!

🍰 ✏️ QUZ & DESSERTS FUNDRAISER ✏️🍰

Thank you SO much to everyone who came along to support us last night! The desserts were delicious, the craic was mighty and we raised some funds for the work of SUNI’s Schools’ Project right here in North Down & Newtownards.

A special thank you to St. Andrew’s PCI for hosting, for the helpers in the kitchen and for Harrison from Hamilton Road PCI for keeping us right with the answers.

TONIGHT!!

We would LOVE to see you this evening at our Quiz & Desserts Fundraiser!

You can come ready to go as a team of 6-8 people, or be prepared to join in with some others to make up a team.

👉🏻 We would appreciate it if you could sign up to let us know you are coming: https://form.jotform.com/240405066974054

📆 Saturday 2nd March 2024
⏰ 7:30PM
📍St Andrew's Presbyterian Church

*Suggested donation of £5 to be paid at the door

🏫 Schools Ministry Gathering 🏫

Yesterday, Rachel held the second gathering of the year for churches who are seeking to connect with their local schools.

It was a great opportunity to explore what a holistic approach to schools ministry looks like, while sharing stories and experiences with each other.

There will be more opportunities to get together over the coming months, so keep a look out for more info! 👀

✏️🧁QUIZ & DESSERTS FUNDRAISER🧁✏️

Less than 2 weeks to go until our quiz night! We would LOVE to see you there.

You can come ready to go as a team of 6-8 people, or be prepared to join in with some others to make up a team.

👉🏻 We would appreciate it if you could sign up to let us know you are coming: https://form.jotform.com/240405066974054

📆 Saturday 2nd March 2024
⏰ 7:30PM
📍St Andrew's Presbyterian Church

*Suggested donation of £5 to be paid at the door