CAST is happy to announce that the following budding writers have won prizes in the 2015 Argyll and Bute Writing Competition, supported by Scottish Book Trust. First prize is scooped by a pupil from Kilmodan Primary, and the battle for the remaining places was so close the judges decided that there would be 3 joint seconds. Charlotte Johnson from Rhu Primary, Jasmine Middleton from Port Ellen Primary and another pupil from Kilmodan Primary. Continue reading Argyll Collection Writing Competition Winners 2015!
Category Archives: Literacy
Bowmore Primary’s Heavenly Nativity!
Our Round Church in Bowmore was buzzing on the evening of the 21st of December. Not only downstairs was full, but the upper seats were being taken as well! Our Nativity and Carols by Candlelight Service was being presented there this year. It seemed extra special and very fitting to hold our nativity in the Round Church. It was lovely to be greeted by our school flautists – they had very nicely set the tone for the evening and again played as we left after the service along with other members of the Primary Wind Band.
Continue reading Bowmore Primary’s Heavenly Nativity!
Oh No They Didn’t, Oh Yes They Did!
With the Christmas holidays almost upon us, the children of St. Mun’s were joined by Strone, Innellan and Toward Primaries and really got into the festive spirit when they were treated to The Rainbow Theatre Group’s pantomime production, ‘Sleeping Beauty’.
The traditional fairy tale was retold by the wonderful cast, who had their entire audience, laughing, booing and singing popular ‘chart’ hits from beginning to end.
The Christmas show Presented By Southend Primary
On Thursday the 10th of December Southend Primary and ELCC unit put on a play called ‘What a Star’ and ‘Christmas Is Forever’. ‘What A Star’ featured a small star called Leo who was bullied and laughed at because of his size, but God sent an angel who told Leo to be the star that shone above the stable where Jesus was lying in a manger full of hay. This resulted in Leo becoming the most special star of all time.
Continue reading The Christmas show Presented By Southend Primary
St Mun’s Nativity
Pupils and staff from St. Mun’s Primary School had a very busy time rehearsing for this year’s Christmas performance.
Each class took responsibility to learn and showcase a Christmas Carol after it became apparent that many of the old favourites were not familiar to younger pupils.
Dunoon primary perform One Bright Star
The evening of 13th December, Dunoon Primary School Choir, directed by Mrs Heather Hamlet our wonderful Music teacher performed ‘One Bright Star’. The narrators spoke clearly as they told the Christmas story linked with beautiful songs. The audience were enthralled by the amazing solo singers and the last song ‘Light A Candle’ left everyone in no doubt Christmas is truly on its way! The children’s tealights reflected on their faces and illuminated the beautiful St John’s church.
Minard and Furnace perform ‘The McTivity’
The children of Minard and Furnace Primaries performed their version of the Nativity on Wednesday the 16th to friends and families in a packed out Minard village hall.
The show was called ‘The McTivity’ as it tells the Christmas story in Scots. The children had been studying the Scottish language and enjoyed writing stories in Scots. Finding the ‘McTivity’ to perform was a good follow up drama activity.
Bowmore’s Snowflake Sensation!
Bowmore Primary School put on its annual glitzy pantomime last Thursday – it was superb! The children performed a new pantomime – The Snowflake Factory! It was the usual mixture of goodies and baddies, fighting over control of the fairy snowdust. We had the cutest P1/2 snowflakes and snowmen, we had P3 wicked witches, wizards and animals, we had P4/5 sparkly fairies and busy bakers. The P6/7 class took over the rest of the supporting cast and the main roles.
Dunoon Primary Win Inter School Speech Contest!
Dunoon Primary have been very busy preparing speeches for this years contest. The annual school competition at Dunoon was well attended by parents and members of the Association of Speakers Club Dunoon, who worked diligently coaching the young speakers.
The ten finalists displayed excellent speaking skills and delivered the most interesting topics – to name a few Piper Alpha, The European Refugee Crisis and My Asthma.
Continue reading Dunoon Primary Win Inter School Speech Contest!
Scottish Book Week at Dalintober PS and ELCC
Pupils in Dalintober PS and ELCC recognised and celebrated Scottish Book Week through a whole-school project which culminated in a ‘Sharing Our Learning’ assembly. Activities included reading and voting on the finalised books for the book awards, ‘Dress as your favourite book character’, reading and creating Scots’ texts and researching the history of Scots’ language and the meanings of key words and phrases.
Continue reading Scottish Book Week at Dalintober PS and ELCC
Storytelling at Minard Primary
Recently Minard Primary children welcomed Mrs Linda Williamson to their school as part of their ‘Scottish Traditions’ topic. Mrs Williamson is the wife of the late Duncan Williamson, storyteller, who had connections with the area. We spent the morning listening to Linda’s stories and hearing about her life then were joined by the children from Furnace Primary and members of the community for more stories and fun. We hope to welcome Linda again soon.
Make a reading space and enter the Oban prize draw!
For Book Week Scotland 2015, Oban Library are asking all schools and homes to create their own reading spaces.
It could come in any shape or form from a shelf in the staffroom to a tented reading den. Whatever it is, make more space for reading this #BookWeekScot…
Take a picture and send it to Oban Library to enter a free prize draw. Closing date Monday 7th December
obanlibrary@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Preschool Transition at Castlehill Primary
A busy calendar of activities has been planned at Castlehill to ensure that transition from Campbeltown Nursery to Primary 1 is a supported,positive process. Primary 1 have enjoyed going back to visit the nursery,especially using the outdoor area! Mrs Reid, Primary 1 class teacher, is also visiting the nursery weekly to work with the pre- schoolers, getting to know them in their own environment.
Authors Live at Rothesay Primary
This time round, Authors Live was all about the author Liz Pichon, who is a favourite writer at Rothesay Primary. Ever since P4 opened their book shop last year, Liz Pichon’s books about the school boy Tom Gates have been flying off the shelves – so you can imagine our excitement when we found out she would be on Authors Live! With sketch books at the ready, we listened as the author told us how to draw the characters and patterns. Liz Pichon was even wearing clothes that she had drawn on – her dress, her shoes, even her belt – she looked amazing!
Primary 1 Transition at Rothesay Primary
Last week Primary 1 welcomed back their Key Workers from Apple Tree and Rothesay Primary Pre5. At nursery, the children had been learning about the ‘Gruffalo’ and had carried this learning on at school, looking at other books by Julia Donaldson. The nursery staff heard all about the ‘Stick Man’ and the ‘Smartest Giant in Town’ and even how to get the fruits of the ‘Flum Flum Tree’. They found out that Patricia at the local library had been helping us find interesting stories and had come into school to read them to us.
Continue reading Primary 1 Transition at Rothesay Primary
A Busy Week for Dalintober PS
Last week was a very busy one for Dalintober PS. We held six Hallowe’en parties across all stages, including ELCC. P5, P6 and P7 visited the excellent, interactive ‘Bibleworld’ bus at Campbeltown Grammar School, the West Midlands Theatre Company performed ‘The Apprentice Sorcerer’ to a captivated whole school audience and P4, P5 and P6 thoroughly enjoyed a visit from storyteller and author Michael Kerins. We even managed to squeeze in a couple of Parents’ Evenings!
The Gruffalo Oban and Lorn Transition event
Parents and children joined Oban and Lorn Nursery and P1 staff on Thursday 8th October for a celebration of their joint transition project, The Gruffalo.
This literacy based project was started in nursery during the summer term with ELCC staff following the children’s interests through various engaging learning experiences both indoors and outdoors.
Continue reading The Gruffalo Oban and Lorn Transition event
Robots in Skipness
Pupils at Skipness Primary School have been building and programming Legomindstorms robots as part of their Technology IDL. They held a workshop for parents and members of the community where they showed people how to build and programme the robots. They also shared talks and films they had made as well as Comic Strips featuring the robots. A fun afternoon was had by all!
Blue Kangaroo Mid Argyll Transition Event
Mid Argyll schools and nurseries came together last week to celebrate their joint transition project , Blue Kangaroo with a very different parents’ night for P1 children. The project provided continuity and progress for children during their transition into P1. The learning started in nursery, with a wide variety of experiences, taking account of the children’s interests and involving parents and grandparents with one grandparent knitting a very special Blue Kangaroo.
Local History Display – Glenbranter Forestry Office July 2015
Taisbeanach – Ard na Blathaich
Chuir clas 6/7 o Bhunsgoil Thaigh a’Chladaich crioch air an topaic aca mun eachdraidh ionadail le taisbeanach san oifis Coiltearachd Gleann a’Bhrandaidh o chionn ghoirid.
Sandbank Primary’s GM6/7 ended their topic on local history by setting up an exhibition in the Glenbranter Visitor Centre and Forestry Offices.
Continue reading Local History Display – Glenbranter Forestry Office July 2015
