News

On Thursday 19th December primary 1and 2 and the nursery performed their nativity. The nativity is about an angel who came to Mary  and said you are going to have a baby. So they rode a donkey to Bethlehem  and tried to get a room at the Inn.  But the innkeeper said there is no room here.  But you can stay in my stable. The angel spoke to the shepherds, the shepherds came and visited the baby first with their lambs. Then 3 kings came to visit and they brought gold, frankincense and myrhh. The nativity was very well performed and we really enjoyed it.

By Rhuraidh

P 6/7 class have been doing clubs and me, katyn and Kayla have been doing an art club for primary 3-7.  The kids were very happy and got along with each other.  We also helped the nursery make snowflakes.  We also drew a little observational drawing of the Christmas decorations in the hall.  We had 6 children come to our club they made a lot of pictures and they are asking and asking if we can do the club again they said that they enjoyed the club and they would come again.  If the club was on they said they would want to make snowman out of paper.   I said that would be fine and show them how to do them.

On the last day we showed all the club our drawings and we were seeing if   they improved on their skills; we did, shading, observational and imaginative they had smiles on there faces and they were calm and relaxed.  I enjoyed teaching them skills and being around them it was a very calming and relaxing time.  When it was time to pack away they did exactly what they were told.  We did a cool down and a warm up.  Our warm up was we had to shake our hands about and we had to wiggle out fingers. Our cool down was laying on the floor and relaxing our hands, arms and fingers.

By Evie Rose    p6/7

Primary 6/7 are learning RME. There is loads of religious people around the world. There is five pillars of Islam; the first one is Shad Ah. Shad Ah means all Muslims pray for the same God called Allah.  The second one is called Salah which means Muslims pray five times a day. This is my favorite pillar Zakat. Zakat means Muslims give half of their savings to the homeless. I enjoy learning rme because you get to find out about other peoples beliefs.

By Aiden

At the HIT club you set yourself a goal and push, for you are not trying to defeat other people and you cannot stop since it is “high intensity” training unless you have asthma or some other thing that stops you.  Drew,Braeden and Orla ran it for p4-7 on wednesday and since it was HIGH intensity you could not stop but there was groups that were ran in groups of easy, medium and hard.  Also there was a lot of restrictions in our club since it was in the hall for example we can’t use balls since there is a packed lunch table in there. The good things about this club since you need to push yourself to the goal you’re setting, doing it high intensity means that you can get more exercise in less time and more goals than limits since there is more pushing that relaxing and letting your body feel stiff.  Also since there is not p.e all the time (although some people wish) it is a kind of lesson of p.e in less time. Finally there is other kind of sports clubs ran by p6/7 throughout the week.

In school this term we were all doing a club and me, Charlet, Harmoni and Elena were doing a dance club. This club was for primary 1/2/3/4. we split up into groups me and Harmoni had primary 2/3/4 because there wasn’t a lot of them and  Charlet and Elena had primary 1.

For the first few weeks we made dances in our groups but then we made a big dance adding everyone’s idea from the little groups we had before. Before they left we did a cool down were they lay down on the floor with the lights off and thought about what the enjoyed most and some of them like to share what they liked. Then they line up and we say if they want to come back which most people do.  I really enjoyed running this club.

The Perfect Panto
On 12th of December Port Ellen Primary School put together a fabulous pantomime called “Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies,” I had overheard in the co-op from an old lady that the panto was absolutely amazing she had never laughed so much. The panto was fully packed and we sold out instantly the director of this panto was are P6/7 teacher Mrs. Clark.
ROBIN AND THE SHERWOOD HOODIES!

P6/7 were the main actors of the panto but it included the whole school.Are main person taking lead role was Harmoni as Robin Hood.The people on stage like to include the audience we had many scenes when we did things to the audience for example,we threw a bucket of confetti on them. Personally I thought that the panto was amazing everyone put so much effort and they were happy and cheery the whole way through.

Character-

Caitidh-Gloria Gutrencher(This is me)

Elena-Genghis(My evil assistant)

The acting

The acting was on point every one was always doing something on stage either saying their lines or reacting to what people where saying. It wasn’t just acting it was also the singing and dancing.Most people said it was fine when the curtain was closed but when it  opened and saw the crowed they’re heart started pounding.

The Design

The costumes were absolutely beautiful and I cant miss out on the scenery,There was a dungeon/castle which I had helped out on making it and then there was the forest with amazing green glitter all over it.

Conclusion

When it finished so many people started to say to us that it was the best panto that they had ever seen and loads of people congratulated us. Personally I thought it was the best panto I have ever done.

By Caitidh

PRIMARY 6/7

THE SENSATIONAL PANTO

This year our panto was Robin Hood and The Sherwood Hoodies!

After hours, days, weeks of trying to make this perfect, sensational, we did it! Finally the curtain has risen, the people are in place, its show time… there was laughs over here and boo’s over there, it was falling right into place and I personally think it was marvelous. I also think everyone was splendid whether it was there character or there expressions and they were just phenomenal. The panto occurred on Thursday the 12th of December and Friday the 13th of December. So I would like to thank port Ellen primary for being amazing and just great at doing what they do best.
Main Stars:
Narrator: Morgan MF, King John: Braeden MG,
Robin Hood: Harmoni E, Merry Men: Millie, Dylan, Phoenix, Kayla, Aiden,
Maid Marion: Dearbhla N, Grabbit: Drew B,
Nursie: Charlet M, Bolt: Evie C,
Sheriff: Orla C.

The funniest sounding panto I have ever heard of. The puns were knee-slapping good, the costumes were stunning and the ctors were just beautful. We had a variety of different characters like a panto dame who was Charlet Munro as Nursie Gusset Gerty, and our dashing, smashing, excellent hero Robin Hood played by the amazing Harmoni Edwards, and we cant forget the chief of mischief the sheriff of nottingham played by the fabulous but evil Orla Campbell. As I have said we had an amazing cast like primary 5 being the gaurds and primary 4 beig the main barre boys along with primary 1/2/3 being extra barrel boys.

My summary of the panto: Normal people of sherwood forest are there poor and penniless and yet paying taxes to that nasty sheriff of nottinghm but then the people of sherwood hire robin hood and his merry men. As the merry men shoot arrows at people and scare off cowards they save sherwood from despair and once all of that is over king richard puts things and matters right. There for sherwood is saved and everyone lived haooily ever after, and then the curatin had fallen.

I would say the panto is 4/5 stars.

I have managed to get my hands on a few peoples opinions on what they thought of the panto

Morgan MF:” It could have been better but it was still very entertaining and enjoyable.”

Millie H: “I think it went super well and everyone was brilliant and the songs were fabulous!”

Christopher J: “Even though there was mistakes it was still really great and I would love to do it again!”

By Orla Campbell P7

 

On Friday 13th December it was Christmas jumper day at Port Ellen Primary School. On Christmas jumper day you could wear your Christmas jumper  for Save the Children.

If you wore a Christmas jumper to school you had to bring in a donation. The donation that we got went for Save the Children.

We raised £100 altogether.

On Saturday the 7th of December we had a Christmas fair. Every class has to make nice Christmas decorations.

P 6/7 made Christmas Fairy Houses, Bird tree decorations and Aprons. We also made cupcakes there was some Grinch  cakes, Rudolph and Star cakes. P 3/4/5 made very cute and utterly adorable felt animals! They were also selling bundles of wood  for the fire and they created home made Christmas  games. They also had a bottle stall. P 1/2 put cookie mixture in a jar so you can make own biscuits they also made snow globes.

We had a second hand stall so you could get anything with the change in your purses.

This year instead of lining up for Santa we had tickets and if your number got called out you would go into see Santa. there was still a long cue but you didn’t have to be there you could be eating our cakes YUM!

Mrs MacDonald was in charge of the Raffle there was a children’s raffle but sadly I didn’t win I might win next year!

On Friday 15th November Orsay did a talent show for P1-7. 1st place was Millie, Harmoni, they did a gymnastics routine and the reason we picked them for 1st place is because they were in sync with each other. 2nd place was Chloe, Iona, Evie Wood, they got 2nd place because they sang A Million Dreams and they were really in tune and it was brave of them to go up on stage and sing. 3rd place was Scott and Aiden Munro, the got 3rd place  because they were really funny at being mimes.

0n Friday 8th November our school had a book swap for the students of Port Ellen Primary. It was the Texas house that hosted the book swap. On the day everyone would bring in a book and swap it with books that the school provided for us. On the day every one took in a book to swap but primary 6/7 had to prepare the books to swap, so some people had to take some boxes with book in them to prepare. We did take to many up but that was not a problem. It took us up  till first break.

Each break a different class would come up to swap a book first break was primary 1-4 came up to was a book and left. The book swap went well.

On Halloween our school held a Halloween disco in the afternoon and a pumpkin carving competition in the morning, Almost everyone in the whole school brought their pumpkin into school. When I got into school I went to the hall to enter my pumpkin but I felt like I was in a swimming pool of pumpkins, some scary some nice some freaky some cute I also felt excited and nervous at the same time. I left my pumpkin on the table and went to class and after ordering our lunch and filling our water bottles it was time for the pumpkin competition so as we all hurriedly and excitedly went down the stairs sat in the hall yapping about if they would win. Then all of a sudden Mrs McDonald stood up and entered the hall as she loves the pumpkin competition. We all gave a big drum roll and she announced the winners, I can’t remember all of them but I remember primary 6 winner it was my friend Robyn Logan  and primary 7 was another friend of mine Harmoni  Edwards.

Then when the afternoon came round we got dressed up in out costume as it wouldn’t really be alright for us to spend the school day in our costumes, some brought make-up and some brought specific accessories for them to wear.  FINALLY it was time for the disco. we all trembled down the stairs again and when we got in the lights were of and the music was on so we all went to our friends to party. After about half an our of dancing Mrs McKenzie made us play a game were we where in groups and 1 from a group was a cat and another was a mouse and the chase began, so after the music was on and musical statues was a go. Then my favorite song came on dance Monkey!  After the disco it was home time so we all went on the bus or walked so that was Halloween for you.

by Kayla Gowler

On 14th of October in Port Ellen primary school and Bowmore primary went to the mod as a joint choir.In the morning poems and solos were held in the City Glasgow Collage.Out of the choir Chalet and Dearbhla got first in duets,and Finaly got second on his solo.Also Charlet got third for her solo and her poem.

Port Ellen almost won all of they’re songs except one song were another choir bet them by one mark. They sang five songs and won four. At the Mod they sang two to part songs were there is some people singing high and some singing low,Also knowen as alto and soprano The other three we all sang in the same notes. two songs were prescribed and one we chose are other song.

That same day later on they got filmed and were on TV. On TV they sang four songs.The next day they went bowling then after that went home went back to Islay on the boat.

By Caitidh

 

In October we entered the maths inside challenge. When you enter you have to take a picture of some maths that you have done, then put the maths inside icon into the picture.

Dearbhla Newman, Harmoni Edwards, Aiden Munro and Drew Brown all got placed in the competition. Dearbhla Newman won the second level prize for writing her name in binary code she received a certificate and a £10 Amazon gift card. Harmoni Edwards got second level commended for the reflections of a rainbow and received a certificate. Aiden Munro got second level commended for taking a picture of weighing ingredients for baking and received a certificate . Drew Brown got second level commended for doing maths about the V&A in Dundee and received a certificate.

Well done everyone.

By Orla Campbell, student reporter.

Schools from all over Islay and Jura went to Stirling, Scotland from Tuesday 24^th of September to Friday the 27^th of September. The trip was for socializing so that when students go up to high school they know other people. A lot of people who went on the trips favourite 3 activities were bowling, Stirling castle and the Dundee science centre.

On our last night at Stirling when group 2 was playing bowling Robyn Logan came 1^st with 113 points, Orla Campbell came 2^nd 106 points and Morgan McFarlane came 3^rd with 104 points. On our 2^nd day when the schools got put into groups they headed off to Stirling castle some groups found out some untold secrets about the room he slept in to the room he prayed in. Only half of 1 group out of 6 groups got shown the secret rooms. A lot of the students found the castle one of the most interesting. They also really loved teh magnificent Kelpies.  Then sadly on our last full day all students and teachers took a bus trip to Dundee and went the Dundee science centre to learn about chemistry and other little games around the ground floor. There were games like memory games, illusions, face changing games and more. There was also a medieval time workshop that had a few fun and experimental activities. Later they did chemistry such as explosions, bangs, fires and a few others things which were mind blowing.

We have a few opinions that we would like to share on peoples favourite activities like Christopher Jamison exclaimed;

“Blair Drummond safari park because of the exotic animals. “

Also Morgan McFarlane had an opinion or 2 on her favourite activity such as;

“The science centre was brilliant because there was a lot of fire, and I like fire! “

And finally we have Orla Campbell who had some strong points about her experience but she said;

“Probably the science centre was my favourite because there was so much to do and the chemistry workshop we done was outstanding! “

That’s all the opinions we have to let you know about just now, but my conclusion on the trip is that it is worth going on and I would recommend it if you get the opportunity.

Click above to listen to poem.

For our Gaelfest celebrations this year we studied Gaelic songs from around Islay and also wrote our own poems about Islay today.  We also made art around them.  Here is one of our videos of our poetry.

INTERNET SAFETY

DIGITAL LEARNING P3-7

 

DIGITAL LEARNING P1-3

 

On Tuesday 3rd September Sean Batty was due to come to our school to have a fun, enjoyable big breakfast to raise money for the STV children’s Appeal. But unfortunately his plane was delayed by the weather.  We had the breakfast anyway and loads of people came and all the money we raised, £340, has gone straight to the appeal.

What were we having for Breakfast?

For the breakfast we had things like Sausage rolls, Toast, Cereals, muffins and best of all… Pancakes. Also there was be a selection of spreads and drinks and others to go along side our big breakfast.

About the Charity?

The STV children’s appeal is a charity which the money that is raised goes children and their families who are affected by poverty in Scotland. To raise money people who are associated with the charity ( Sean Batty in this case for us. ) they travel round Scotland going to different places like Schools to other eventful places.

What activities took place?

The main focus of this fundraiser was the big breakfast but our school also did some baking and we played a shopping bag game.  It was great fun and enjoyed by all the community!

On Friday 31st August  we had an author named Stacey McLean come for a visit.  Stacey came in to our class and had a power point on where she is from; New Scotland also known as Nova Scotia in Canada. Her Gaelic was not the exact same as ours because it is Canadian Gaelic but it was close enough for us to understand.

When Stacey came in I was very excited I think everyone else was to. First we learned some things about Nova Scotia. We learned a game but it was actually a way of teaching the children of Nova Scotia Gaelic. The  teacher would hold up a number of fingers 1-5 and then say something in Gaelic and then the kid would guess. If the kid got it wrong they would not get supper their head will be put on a stake!(According to the rhyme!)

I found it very interesting and then we watched a video of milling. Milling is the Canandian name for Waulking where you try to shrink woolen things, so the girls would sit on the floor or at a table and would grab the blanket or whatever you are milling.   You would grab it and push it in and out in out then they change it so it is in out in then you pass it to the next person and get your next bit. She gathered us on the floor and we milled lots of sheets tied together.  It was fun and we got to sing along in Gaelic.  It was very interesting meeting Stacey.

 

On Thursday 29th August Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre came in to the school to do some activities with us and talk about their books. They started off talking and reading their newest book called Kevin the Flying Pony; it was very interesting and I would recommend it.

They got us to draw Kevin the overweight pony and we had lots of fun. Near the end of the lesson or visit we played a board game and I was in the blue team. We got to add in some traps, paths and ladders. At the end you save Kevin and go away into the sun set (we had lots of fun). When the school bell went we had the chance to buy some books of Philip reeve and Sarah McIntyre. We had lots of fun thank you Philip and Sarah.

By Scott

The day we came to school we got told that we could go for captains and vice captains. We had to make a speech about how we are helpful and encouraging and also Ambitious. The whole school is split into 3 houses Nave, Texa and Orsay and you can be voted as captain in your house.  You have to be nominated by 2 people first and be in P67.

On the wild day of captain speeches all the people from each house said their speech in fount of their house. After every one had said their successful speech we had a break and then we voted.

We voted by going into a room and picking a person out of the people in your colour  house on a voting slip, a ballot paper. You can only vote once but you can vote for yourself.

And finally at the end of the day Mrs Macdonald announced who had won and who is captain and vice captain. I was so nervous running for captain because I really wanted to get something and I did; captain of Nave !!!  My vice captains are Rhuraidh adn Aiden.  For Orsay the Captain is Drew and the vice captains are Charlet and Dearbhla.  For Texa the captain is Millie and the vice captains  Scott and Orla.

by Harmoni

On Tuesday 27th of August the whole school went to Dunyvaig to contribute in a archaeology dig .  A kind lady called Sophie was are tour guide showing us all the stations, for some stations examples there was a digging in the trench, photography and looking at findings and lots more.

Personally I think that everyone loved the digging the most because the pride of finding some thing is just amazing but it was probably because we got to get dirty on a school day! But when I was digging I was the only one who found something from p6/7 and I found a broken part off a clay pigeon. When we were at the photography station we got to use a professional camera and are group made silly videos and I videoed it because I don’t like cameras.

But the last thing my group did was my favorite we got to hold and see all the artifacts from last year and this year.  My favorite thing was the half a cannon ball they thought that it was from a attack when clan Donald attacked Dunyvaig.  And another cool thing from last year was a stamp with a name and date on it.  And their most recent find was a broach from the 17th century.  Then sadly the day had to end.

By Caitidh

Every year Port Ellen Primary has a sports day in which every member of the school including the nursery gets a chance to compete in the races and win points for their houses. P6/7 all got a chance to win sports championships. Sports championships is a series of activities in which you can get first, second or third and if you do not get placed you get 25 points. The winners of sports championships for the girls were, in third place Harmoni Edwards, in second place was Charlet Rose and in joint first was Holly  and Freya. For the boys it was Donald Swanson in third place, Jack Shaw in second and in first place was Aaron. At sports day the three houses( Orsay, Texa  and Nave) made their relay teams, Orsay’s relay team was Holly, Aaron, Dearbhla and Charlet, Texa’s was Freya, Jack, Donald and Ciaran.

This year for the Leavers Assembly the theme is superheroes. We have made up our own superhero names and outfits. We are having our Leavers Assembly on Wednesday 26th June. The starting song that we are singing for the Assembly is Superheroes by the Script and the sad song that we are singing is Somewhere only we know. We have an I-movie to show what we have done through out the years that we have been in this school for. We also wrote speeches for the Assembly to say what we have done from Nursery to P7. We would like to say thanks to the Teachers and all the staff in the school. We would also like to say a little thing to the rest of the school pupils as they make their way through the next few years that they have in Primary. Good luck P7s in High School.

BY Charlie P7

Every year every school in Scotland has an option to participate in the Scottish math challenge spread across the months there is three sets of questions some being harder than others. There are three rewards: Bronze, Silver and Gold. to earn these rewards you need points. Points are collected by getting correct answers and good working out.

In Port Ellen the previous record in the school was one point of gold (set by my sister) but this year I bet that record with getting a gold thenI got to go away to get the award.

That means this year had to go away to Glasgow university, we got lost a few times in the car park finding the university and any where else we went.

The awards where great they would pull up a schools name on the board then the students from the school came down but of course there was a math challenge it was pretty easy though. The presenter also pulled up on the board funny answers to the questions that included people who drew or wrote funny things. He even had a little segment where you had to guess where Islay was. I went up got my award got a envelope holding all the bronzes from my school got my mug and sat down.

It was a fun experience and I enjoyed it mostly.