Whilst Mr. Mitchell continues to settle in well as new head teacher at Dunoon Grammar School, he felt that his office was still feeling a little bit bare. He approached pupils in the learning centre to see if they could help by providing a few plants. Outdoor learning is a big part of the learning centre curriculum and the pupils rose to the challenge straight away. Pupils painted and decorated containers so that the plants would look attractive in Mr. Mitchell’s office.
Category Archives: Outdoor Learning
Park Primary 3 Protect an Acre of the Rainforest!
In the Autumn Primary 3 in Park Primary School undertook an interdisciplinary study on The Tropical Rainforest and as part of this they compared the local temperate rainforest, Dunollie Woods, to the tropical Amazon Rainforest. As a final outcome for their learning the whole class took part in an informative assembly at the end of November which was performed in front of the other children as well as any family members who wanted to come along. At the end of the assembly donations were collected and have now been used to protect an acre of the Rainforest through the Rainforest Concern Organisation.
Dalintober PS Pupils Thank Community
Pupils of Dalintober PS have written an open letter to ‘The Campbeltown Courier’ and personally delivered letters to local shopkeepers thanking them for supporting a fundraising activity for Campbeltown Christmas Lights Group. ‘Penny Jars’, designed by the pupils, were on display in local shops and shoppers were encouraged to throw any loose change in to the jars. In only two weeks a grand total of £512.61 was raised. The pupils will be putting the jars back in to shops following the February break in the build-up to this year’s ‘Switch-on’.
Dogs Trust Centre visit Dunoon Primary!
On Wednesday 12th February Alison and Alfie from the Dogs Trust Centre in Glasgow came to visit our school. Alison told the children about the work carried out there and also discussed with them the important aspects of dog care. She emphasised the need to clean up after our dogs when exercising them in public places. This tied in with our Eco Schools Committee who are organising a poster competition to highlight the need to keep our streets clean and free from dog mess.
Tobermory High School & Primary School Celebrate 2nd Green Flag
Tobermory High School 3-18 Learning Community are celebrating being awarded their second Eco Schools Green flag. The eco committee worked hard over the last 2 years to minimise waste, improve the school grounds and keep on top of litter across the campus. The Eco Schools assessor was impressed with the collaborative approach the school has adopted to tackling eco topics, working in conjunction with the Forestry Commission, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust and the Mull and Iona community Trust.
Continue reading Tobermory High School & Primary School Celebrate 2nd Green Flag
Dunbeg Primary Arctic Topic
Dunbeg Primary pupils in P2/3 have been learning all about the Arctic. They even sent their very own explorers on an Arctic adventure! Snowy the Seal and Penny the Penguin set off with their scientist friends Finlo (Ruari’s dad) and Kim (Sennen’s dad) who were going to work there for a few weeks. Snowy and Penny got up to all sorts of mischief which included snowmobile rides, exploring ice caves, helping with scientific experiments and meeting huskies and polar bears.
Achaleven Goes Green for the 5th Time
Achaleven Primary School pupils and staff were very proud to receive their 5th Green Flag from Eco-Schools Scotland last week. This follows an assessment at the end of January where Eco-Schools assessor Paula Love commended them on their collaborative approach by working with local environmental organisations including The Grab Trust and AliEnergy, and for the work done in the community by involvement in recycling, village litter picks, charity fundraising and promotion of Fairtrade.
MINI COMMONWEALTH GAMES AT DALINTOBER PRIMARY SCHOOL
Everyone in Dalintober Primary’s P7 class had a super time during their Mini Commonwealth Games which were held in school last week. The Games marked the end of an Interdisciplinary Task all about The Commonwealth and the Commonwealth Games.
A variety of activities had been enjoyed by the class leading up to The Dalintober Games, including compiling factfiles about some Commonwealth countries, making clay tiles to advertise the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and using a Diamond Nine to make group decisions about which events were most important. Continue reading MINI COMMONWEALTH GAMES AT DALINTOBER PRIMARY SCHOOL
Project Wild Thing!
Stramash Social Enterprise and Oban Phoenix Cinema have joined forces to present a showing of the feature length documentary Project Wild Thing. The award winning film is currently touring the UK. It brings the complex issue of the ways in which our children do (or don’t) interact with the natural world to our attention. The project has gathered significant support throughout the United Kingdom from the RSPB, the National Trust, schools, nurseries and other educational organisations.
Rockfield’s Drovers Monday 27 January 2014
In Rockfield School two classes, P5/4 mainstream and P7/6/5 Gaelic, have worked together to learn about the life of the ancient Drovers in Argyll.
They have worked in partnership with Joyce Gilbert from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and Sally Harkness, Storyline Scotland, with both classes following Sally’s world renowned Storyline Approach. It has been a wonderful example of Curriculum for Excellence at its best and a thematic approach to Social Studies.
Continue reading Rockfield’s Drovers Monday 27 January 2014
Fruitshare at Sandbank
After the Christmas holidays, Sandbank Primary Pupils got back to work and planted their fruit trees which arrived in January. The eco-committee had applied for the trees through the fruitshare scheme which was advertised on a cookery programme on TV. We were very fortunate in being one of the first schools to apply and we were successful in receiving 4 well-grown fruit trees for free.
Time To Clean Up Dunoon
A campaign to clean up the area around Dunoon Primary School – and beyond – is well underway.
Dunoon Primary’s Eco Schools Committee was delighted to receive its second green flag.
The Education Minister Outdoors
Stramash was delighted to welcome Michael Russell MSP , to view the projects and work of the organisation. He began the day by visiting the children at the outdoor nursery site to explore the site and discover more about the learning taking place within the early years setting outdoors. The children were very inquisitive to meet their special visitor!
St. Mun’s On Their Bikes
A group of Primary 7 children at St. Mun’s were recently presented with their well-earned i-cycle certificates at a whole school assembly.
The children who had undergone their training in Term 1, had to demonstrate their ability to ride safely on the road (displaying knowledge of the Highway Code), cycle maintenance and road user awareness, as well as passing a written multiple choice test. Well done everyone.
Dalintober PS Allotment wins ACHA ‘Garden In Boom 2013’ Competition
Dalintober Primary School pupils and staff were delighted to hear that they had been awarded first prize in Argyll Community Housing Association’s ‘Garden In Bloom 2013’ competition. Members of the Mid Argyll & Kintyre Area Committee scored allotments independently and Dalintober’s allotment was judged the best. Members of the Eco-Group, staff and parent and partners have all helped to maintain the allotment, growing a wide range of fruit and vegetables which has been used in school meals and for ‘Green Days’.
Continue reading Dalintober PS Allotment wins ACHA ‘Garden In Boom 2013’ Competition
HIGHER FRENCH TRIP TO GENEVA
After having sat their exam in May, the Higher French class of 2012-13 benefited from the ability to keep up their speaking and language skills, through travelling to Geneva in Switzerland the following term. Although none of the pupils carried the subject on to Advanced Higher level, they were all keen to not lose the attribute of knowing a foreign language.
The Drovers
Mrs. Watson’s P5/4 and Mrs.Kersel’s P5/6/7Gaelic classes have been learning about the Drovers in the 1700s. Using a new storyline being piloted for Storyline Scotland and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society the classes have followed the journey of two young teenage boys, Rob and Angus, on their first Drove. Engagement with the characters has brought the story to life for the pupils as they learned about sheiling life, hardships on the drove and the joys of the Tryst.
Continue reading The Drovers
5th Green Flag for Strachur Primary School
The children of Strachur Primary School are very pleased and proud to tell everyone that they have been awarded their 5th green flag. They were able to demonstrate their continuing commitment to eco issues through topics in school and working with the community in the local environment.
Seafood Feast for Toward
Toward Primary senior class pupils recently had the very exciting opportunity to visit Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and Restaurant. The children started the day with a trip to see the different processes that the mussels and oysters go through in preparation for being sold.
Sandbank Primary’s Eco-Committee
Sandbank Primary’s Eco-Committee requested a visit to their local waste handling facilities and were kindly given a tour of both facilities by Shanks Waste Disposal Company. They began by looking at the recycling facilities at Bogleha, where they saw the containers for electrical goods, metal, wood, paint, batteries, plastic bottles, soil and many more items. They heard that many items, such as electrical goods, go to Perth where they are broken down and precious metals from circuit boards are taken out.
