It was a celebration of Robert Burns on 25th January at Port Ellen Primary School. Children had spent weeks learning their poems to recite to the eminent judges on the day, and we couldn’t wait to see who won. We stopped early for lunch, which included the traditional Haggis, neeps and tatties. Mrs Carmichael said the traditional Burns lines over the haggis before it was served.
After lunch we held a ceilidh with parents attending for a dance and a song. Aileas entertained us on the fiddle, and the Highland Dancers were amazingly springy as they danced. The children have all been learning dancing, and it was great to see them dancing with their parents and friends to the Gay Gordans and Canadian Barn dance. The winners of the poetry competition were announced and were Murray in P1,Bronagh in P2, Abbie in P3, Maisie in P4, Ellen in P5, Aileas in P6 and Eilidh in p7. All in all a fantastic celebration of Scottish Culture.
NO.1 Girl Farmer
I like to farm because the lambs are CUTE , CUDDLY and i like to play with the dogs Jack ,Meg ,Tam and Mist (WOOF WOOF). I go farming with my dad and uncle Charlie. I like it at lambing time when they are skipping up the hills. I need to learn to train my new dog Jack to be the best sheepdog.
Eilidh
Flute Achiever
I play the flute and Mr McDermot is my teacher. My friend Ellen plays the flute with me. Mr McDermot takes me down for flute every Friday. My favourite song to play on the flute is Hot cross buns and the Whole Thing. I really love playing the flute because it is a lovely Instrument!!!!!!!!!
I need to practice 7 days a week and not leave it to last moment on the Friday morning to be successful.
Ruby
Museum of Islay Life
We went to the Museum of Islay Life on Tuesday 18th January. Primary 6 and 7 came with us. After that we went to the
waterworks at Torra.
We got on the bus and went to Port Mor. We met Mr Reavey. He told us what the oldest house on Islay was. Then we went to the museum. When we got inside it had lots of tools and dresses with beds. My favourite exhibit was a wheel chair because they got to push old people on it. The wheel chair had a steering wheel and a rug on top of the seat. The rug was made at the Islay Woolen Mill during World War 2.
Then we went to the waterworks at Torra. Two people showed us around. They told us about how the water gets cleaned. First it was brown, then it was white, then it got really clear.
I liked going to the museum as it had lots of cool things inside. The water works had lots of pipes with water going through them and was really interesting.
Danni
My Christmas
Christmas day 2010 was the best one ever. I was looking forward to it but it almost ended because of mum’s cooking!
I got for Christmas Spy Gear, FIFA, a lamp, a sleigh, a torch and a controller. I played with all of them. We had breakfast, which is when my mum almost choked my cousin by not taking the plastic rind off the black pudding!
I went sleighing with my cousins. We had a crazy time. Someone had built a jump and it was camouflaged with the snow. I went flying and landed face first. It was sore!
When we were done we had Christmas dinner, it was turkey my favourite. I had a wonderful Christmas.
Ewan
My Christmas Day 2010
On Christmas Eve I was very excited for Christmas day. I hoped I would get lots of nice things. I was looking forward to opening my presents but Christmas day nearly ended in disaster!
I woke up and went through to my big brother’s room on Christmas morning and me and Liam went downstairs. I felt very excited.
On Christmas morning I had lots of presents. I got an Ipod Touch, a fashion set, lots of sweeties and lots more. After I opened all of my presents I had breakfast, mini bagels.
I went to my dad’s at lunch time and I got a motorbike. We went to our Nanny Kay for Christmas dinner but my mum dropped our cheesecake and it went all over Jack! What a disaster! It was very funny.
it was the best Christmas ever because I got everything I wanted and it was very funny when mum dropped the cheesecake. It was a calm Christmas.
Maisie
Happy New Year!
Hope everyone had a great new year and enjoyed themselves. We are looking forward to an exciting term where we will be creating our own museum. Stay tuned.
Electrical Christmas Models
The end of the electricity topic meant a challenge, in groups to use an electrical circuit to make a Christmas related model. The groups had to plan, design and build a model relating to Christmas using an electrical circuit. Points were awarded for excellent design, originality and good use of circuits. At the end we had a Rudolf with a light up nose, a snowman whose carrot nose glowed orange, a Stop Here Santa Sign that had Rudolf’s eyes rotating and a christmas quiz where rudolfs nose glows if you get the correct answer. The Christmas quiz was voted the winner.
St Columba Art
St Columba came over to Scotland from Ireland in 563 AD to found a monastery on Iona. We have been hearing his life story as recorded in a book written 100 years after his death by another monk Aiden. Working in pairs to create large collages of different points in his life helped us tell his story. We also wrote a story from the life of Columba in the style of an illuminated manusscript like the book of Kells. Here are some of the stories.
Columba and the Loch Ness Monster
One night when Columba and the other monks were travelling over Loch Ness they heard wailing which often meant a death. When they got to the other side there was a funeral was tacking place.
When Columba asked what had happened a young man replied
“My dad was killed by the monster.” Columba cave him a suspicious look. He turned to Luna and said
“Swim over to the other side and get me that boat!”
Luna slipped off his sandals and took off his cloak and plunged into the water. He was about half way across when he saw the monster.
Just as it went for him Columba ran into the water and made the sign of the cross. He forced it to leave. The monster never entered the waters again.
by Scott
Eithnes Story
One night an old man was dying in a monastery and said Eithne, your son will be a great Christian and visit my grave. That night an angel came to visit Eithne with a beautiful cloak full of flowers. The angel said it’s not yours to keep. Eithne was crying because she couldn’t keep the cloak. Then she gave birth to Columba, who was special.
Eithne gave Columba to the monks for God and so she can go to heaven. She could only visit him1 time a month, but still loved him.
Columba heard some boys outside shouting Colm Cille, churchy Colm. Columba got really angry and chased them down to the river. But he grew up to be a very famous Christian.
Eilidh
Carved Stones
A long time ago people in Scotland carved stones instead of writing. We don’t know why they did it. Perhaps it was to mark a grave or tell people about something that happened. All the stones have different symbols on them, each of them mean something different. The Picts carved lots of mythical beasts on their stones. You can find lots of carved stones all over Scotland. In Orkney there is the ring of Brodga and there is a big hole in the middle of the stones. Some people think a carved mirror means a woman. Carved stones are one of the only things we can get information from that time, because all the other materials have rotted away. The Gaels carved stones had crosses on them because they were Christian. Here are some we made in class.
Eilidh and Alicia
