June 9, 2025 – Leswalt Primary School

Another afternoon of the best outdoor fun today with Richard for week 5 of Forest School! 🌳
It was a little showery but we’re a hardy bunch. What is it they say…‘it’s not bad weather it’s just you’re not dressed for it!’ So kitted out in waterproof jackets, we were set for an hour of den building (plus the P6/7 pupils got a chance to learn how to use a saw responsibly!)

Interestingly, Isla unearthed a brown glass Domestos bottle down the burn which, we discovered after a quick Google search that this was in production from the late 1930s until the familiar blue plastic Domestos bottle came into production in 1961! We might get in touch with the local museum about her discovery!

We all had the best time. Initially we got a little waylaid spotting the many many tiny frogs hopping along the Wetland paths. Clearly the mild temperatures and damp conditions were paradise to them! 🐸

Richard set us all tasks to start creating our dens – he then took the older pupils to have a go at using a saw while he supervised and gave them top tips on how to use a saw safely. 🪚

Far too soon, it was time for us all to head back to school. We’ve just one more week of Forest School fun left. I think it’s safe to say that everyone has thoroughly enjoyed this experience! Thanks to Richard for leading these sessions. 😄

Meta-skills

Curiosity Carlos Communicating Cate Adapting Aleksander

Integrity Imani Leading Li Collaborating Cora

UNCRC

13 sharing thoughts freely 🗣

28 access to education 🏫

24 health, water, food and environment 🌳

On Friday afternoon we were very excited to have Stuart Fisher back in our school, we always love Stuart’s visits to help us with our golfing skills but this time he came not as a golfing coach but as a Police officer. ⛳🏌️‍♀️👮‍♂️

Stuart has recently undertaken his Police training and has very kindly come in to talk about his new job as part of our careers in the community assemblies. He spoke about all of the many things that he does as a police officer and how he makes sure he keeps everyone safe. As expected the boys and girls came armed with many questions and Stuart did very well to answer them.

We have been learning all about the 12 meta skills as part of our assembly focus and Stuart explained the key skills he needs to do his job including:

Adapting Aleksander – He explained that each and every day is different and most days you don’t know what problems you will have to deal with so being adaptive is a skill that every police officer needs.

Focussing Fergus – Stuart also explained that despite being out and about in Stranraer, on foot and in the police van he also spends a lot of time in the office doing paperwork so must be good at concentrating and staying focussed to help him get it done!🚓🚨🚔✏️📝

Collaborating Cora – As a police officer Stuart needs to work with lots of different people (not just criminals ), he also works with members of the public, doctors, nurses, families, schools to name just a few! He said he must have good people skills to help him with this.

Communicating Cate – Being a police officer can be a very high pressure job and many people find speaking to the police a little scary. Stuart explained that the police are there to help and will always speak calmly, fairly and respectfully.

Curiosity Carlos – One of the most obvious roles of a Police officer is to resolve problems and get to the bottom of crimes. He explained that he must ask the right questions to help him to do this.

A huge thank you to Stuart for his time, as always he made us smile and laugh and I am sure inspired a few of us to follow in his footsteps! 👮‍♂️

Article 13 (freedom of expression) Every child must be free to express their thoughts and opinions and to access all kinds of information.