Keith Brumpton Visits Bowmore Primary School

Expressive arts, Literacy, Primary schools

Eventually, after much anticipation, Keith Brumpton, the amazing, famous author, appeared in our school on Friday 7th September 2012!  Although he came to our school, he originally came over for The Islay Book Festival.  For some odd reason Keith Brumpton came early but Joan Lennon and Linda Strachan (two other fantastic authors) were stranded on the mainland due to the unpredictable mist!

 Firstly he told us that he writes scripts for brilliant television shows like 64 Zoo Lane, Balamory and MIHigh but after that he drew scenes from his interesting books.  The pictures were amazing (I especially liked the picture of Dino FC). Then he told us his new ideas for books such as Space Bunnies and Meet the Robotsons (I definitely want to buy them!)

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Campbeltown’s All Weather Pitch Official Opening

Events, Health and Wellbeing, Outdoor Learning, Primary schools

A great morning of sporting events started the proceedings at today’s Official Opening of the Aqualibrium All Weather Pitch in Campbeltown.

 100 primary school children from all over South Kintyre, Young Sports Leaders, Youth Sports Ambassadors and representatives from Argyll & Bute Council, local sports clubs and organisations, all joined together at the Opening Ceremony.  They were led in a parade by the Kintyre Schools Pipe Band. The children were in T-Shirts coloured to represent the 5 colours of the Olympic rings.  They then release coloured balloons (biodegradable of course!) to mark the opening.  It was a wonderful day and all the children really felt part of it.

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Kirn Primary 3 visit Julia Donaldson at Dunoon Library

Literacy, Primary schools, School trips

Primary Three from Kirn Primary were excited to meet world famous Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson at Dunoon Library. 

We sang our version of “The Loon on the Moon” by Chae Strathie for Julia.  We chose this because we remembered it from when Chae came to our school.  We joined in with her play of “Room on the Broom”.  We also sang along with her songs, asked some questions and had our own books signed!  A great morning!

Racketathon

Health and Wellbeing, Primary schools,

Primary 4 children from Lochnell were invited to attend an event at Atlantis Leisure where they could try out a variety of racket sports – table tennis, badminton, squash and tennis.

They all enjoyed the opportunity to try a new game and improve on skills they had acquired in more familiar games. It was also great to mix with other children from Park Primary in Oban.  Since their return to school they’ve been creating pictures to show others some of the sports they took part in.

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Ahoy there me Hearties! Welcome to Pirate School!

Events, Outdoor Learning, Primary schools

Pupils at Carradale Primary had lots of fun taking part in ‘Talk like a pirate day’ …….

We took part in International talk like a pirate day because we are learning about pirates and the sea. We dressed up as pirates and came to pirate school for the day. For our topic we made a pirate ship.  Inside the pirate ship you can make a pirate hat.  You have to measure the persons head.  You can make a pattern with the necklace beads or write a letter to Captain Jack Sparrow.  Last week we went to the beach.  Cameron P2

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Skills Ahoy!

Events, Primary schools

Shipmates at Furnace Pirate, sorry, primary school celebrated International Talk Like a Pirate Day on Wednesday by learning a whole host of skills with a piratey flavour. 

Through a day of cooperative learning activities, children from Primary 2-7 practised a whole host of skills and developed their school values.  Pirate games at the swimming pool were followed by art and craft activities where the children made floatable model ships and an edible treasure island with ‘Boson Bones’ (Miss Miller).  First Mate Mrs Baird helped shipmates ‘mash up’ a shanty with a rap (“When I say Yo, You say Ho!”) and Master-at-arms Mr Young challenged crews to show of their knowledge of angles and direction along with problem solving skills in a treasure hunt. 

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Dunoon Primary Learning Centre meet Julia Donaldson

Literacy, School trips

On Monday 17th September the Learning Centre children went to Dunoon Library to meet Julia & Malcolm Donaldson.  Mrs MacDonald put the children forward for this event as they had been so interested in Julia’s books and were delighted to be invited to take part alongside children from other local primaries. 

The children of DP Learning Centre performed the Gruffalo’s child for the Donaldson’s and in turn they performed Room on the Broom for them.  Lucky James Ballantyne was picked to be the bird in Julia & Malcolm’s performance.  What a superb day out, the children loved every minute!

Vote for our scarecrow!

Events, Primary schools

This week Lismore Primary School are taking part in the island’s first Scarecrow Competition.  The children began by drawing some designs and suggesting how a scarecrow might be constructed.  Next,they stuffed old bolier suits with rags and hay before dressing the scarecrows in school uniforms.  Last week, “Miss Strict, with her pupils, Jimmy and Caitlin” were finally finished and put in position close to the roadside.

There are about 20 scarecrows dotted around the island and members of the public are being asked to vote for their favourite one before Saturday 22nd September.  There are photographs of all the scarecrows on our community website so why not go onto isleoflismore.com and click on “Recent Updates” to vote?

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Dalintober elects Pupil Council 2012-13

Events, Primary schools

This year’s elected Pupil Council members held their first meeting of the new school year on Friday.   Their first task for the school curriculum aspect of their role will be to audit pupil responses to ‘Big Writing’ and look at what is working well and what could improve – a big task!

They were also able to share the news with their peers and staff that our PTA Coffee Evening on Thursday raised £1659.71 – a fantastic sum!Thank you to our new Pupil Council members for committing themselves to their role.

George’s Marvellous Medicine

Literacy, Primary schools

 Primary 3 of St Joseph’s have had great fun reading the story of George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl.  They studied the illustrator Quentin Blake’s work and represented it in their drawings.

They made a list of super adjectives to describe George’s Grandma.  They also wrote their own descriptions of what happens to Grandma when she took the medicine.  The children have been set the challenge of reading more of Roald Dahl’s work which they have embraced wholeheartedly.

Strone Primary’s Twin Munro Bagging Champs

Outdoor Learning, Primary schools

If you’ve been reading the national press lately you may have seen two of Strone Primary School’s record breaking celebrity pupils!

Our P7 twins, Nuala and Cliona have just completed all 282 munros, breaking records for being the youngest twins, as well as the youngest Scottish girls to complete the challenge.  They completed the 282 together with mum and dad, Neil and Diane, and their dog, Aonach.  The girls started their challenge when they were just four years old, and have been travelling around Scotland ever since, in their quest to “bag” them all.

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Butter Fingers!

Health and Wellbeing, Primary schools

As part of this term’s food and farming work, P6/5 in Garelochhead have been investigating dairy products and the journey they make to reach our plates.  We have been looking at dairy farming and the milk industry in Scotland. We also tasted many of  the different types of milk and discussed the similarities and differences.  We then went on to making our own butter.  It was really interesting to see the cream separate into curds and buttermilk. 

The butter was put into the fridge overnight and in the morning we had hot toast with our butter. P7/6 loved the taste of the butter too.

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Thank You RHET For A Farmtastic Day at Duchlage!

Outdoor Learning, Primary schools, School trips

As part of our Food and Farming work P6/5 from Garelochhead Primary visited Duchlage Farm on Luss Estate.  It was a fabulous day and we all had such a great time and learned a lot from all the experts there.  We were able to milk ‘Mable’ the fibre glass dairy cow, make butter, look at various pieces of farming machinery, investigate biodiversity, make delicious venison burgers, learn more about Scotch beef and Scotch lamb. Thank you so much for such a great event!!

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Animal Antics

Events, Primary schools

Primary 1 pupils at Lochnell have been finding out more about how to care for pets.  As well as visits from kittens, a terrapin and some day old chicks with a mother hen they were treated to some snake handling and a visit from Barney, the new pup who we all decided looked exactly like Floppy from the stories we’ve been reading in school.

Next in store are our investigations of animals who can help us ….. with a guide dog and a horse poised to enter the playground.

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Roald Dahl Celebrations continue

Literacy, Primary schools

Children in Lochnell primaries 2 – 7 were delighted, on Author’s Live day, to have  the chance to find out more about one of their best loved authors.  As Primaries 2 and 3 have been enjoying the BFG and P4 are investigating writing their own “revolting rhymes”, Roald Dahl  is already a firm favourite.

Many children have read and continue to read his stories and poems in school and at home and use him as a role model for their imaginitive writing.

Recycling

Eco Schools, Primary schools

Friday at St Joseph’s brings everyone’s mind to recycling.  The Eco Committee have worked hard to develop a recycling policy to which all children and adults adhere.  P7 are responsible for collecting all recyclable materials on Friday and placing them in the requisite containers for the council.  The Eco Committee has worked hard alongside parents to produce an environmentally friendly school.  We easily earned our Green flag status and will continue towards making our school as ‘Eco Friendly’ as possible.

Mid Argyll Orienteering 2012

Outdoor Learning, Primary schools, School trips, ,

On the 6th September 2012 the P4-P7s from Lochgilphead Primary took part in the orienteering event organised by Stramash.  The day was held in Kilmory Gardens and attended by many schools from across Mid Argyll.  The four different courses challenged all the children, the longest being 3.6km for the P7 girls and boys.

When you weren’t taking part in the orienteering, there was a natural art competition and a scavenger hunt.  The winners of the natural art competition were Tayvallich Primary.  The fabulous day impressed everyone and Stramash is thanked for the spectacular day and we hope that there will be more to come!

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Primary 7 at Park School celebrate Roald Dahl Day

Literacy, Primary schools

As Primary 7 are currently setting up the school library, they thought celebrating Roald Dahl Day would be a great way of promoting the library and encouraging younger pupils to read.

The class organised a shared reading session with Primary 1 to show them that reading can be fun.  They chose Roald Dahl’s ‘The Enormous Crocodile’ to read to the infant class and what a success it was!  Primary 7 showed great patience and enthusiasm throughout the session and it was thoroughly enjoyed by Primary 1, so much so, that the classes are now talking about setting up a weekly slot to continue promoting reading within the school.

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