Author: Mrs Ferguson

Last Wednesday we had our sharing event with the lovely folk from Children’s Parliament. This was the upper classes opportunity across both schools to demonstrate all the hard work and fantastic ideas they have been coming up with over the course of the school year.

We have done many sessions with Jack, Linnea and Jill which focuses on our community, campus, learning and the people wo help us with it and how this impacts maintaining and promoting dignity in pupils!

The pupils have worked wonderfully during this time, watching from the side lines, we have often been amazed at the ideas they have come out with and the amazing insight they have. We adults could certainly learn a lot from them!

For anyone who attended the event – we hope you enjoyed it! Here are some photos of them showcasing their hard work…

Meta Skills 

Integrity Imani

Critical Thinking Chris

Curiosity Carlos

Sense-Making Samira

Communicating Cate

Collaborating Cora

Articles

Article 12 – Respect for Children’s Views

Article 24 – Health, Food, Water & Environment

Article 29 – Aims of Education

Sergeants Wilson and Donnan visited us this morning to tell us a little more about joining the local Army Cadet Force!
They shared with us the history of the ACF and the Values and Standards they live by – looking after themselves and each other. You can join when you start S1 and work your way up from cadet to higher ranks. Did you know there are 48000 cadets in the UK?! That’s double the size of the British Army!
Sergeants Wilson and Donnan told us all about the Fieldcraft expeditions, First Aid training, drills, community engagement and military knowledge activities that Cadets learn about – and that’s just a few exciting things they could be part of! All while meeting new people and making new friends 😊
All pupils have a leaflet with time/place for Stranraer Cadets if this is something they might be interested in when they start S1…

Check out the website for more details…

https://armycadets.com/

Meta Skills 

Integrity Imani

Initiative Ivy

Collaborating Cora

Leading Li

Huge thanks to Mike and Jo for leading us through our Bikeability Level One qualification! We all had so much fun whilst learning about cycle safety at the same time.

Level Two we’re coming to get you! 🚲 😃

UNCRC

Article 29 Aims of Education   Article 31 Rest, Play, Culture, Arts

Meta-Skills

Focusing Fergus  Adapting Alexsander

Communicating Cate   Sense-making Samira

 

This week, we ventured over the bridge and beyond the pond deep into the woods! Richard had set up ropes to create a tightrope between two trees – don’t panic, we weren’t too far off the ground! There were some interesting strategies used to get from one side to the other!

Richard had also set up a tree swing too using ropes and a branch for the seat. It was brilliant fun with everyone enjoying a shot. Sean gave us a rendition of ‘I believe I can fly…’ as he soared through the air!

Great fun! 

UNCRC Article 31 Rest, Play, Culture, Arts

Meta-Skills 

Feeling Felix     Collaborating Cora    Curiosity Carlos

Look at how happy we all are!

HUGE thanks to the Baxter family for their kindness in buying our school a new shed! The previous one was sadly flattened by the  storm in January and the Baxters offered to replace this with a new one and a much improved model it is too!  It was a lovely surprise when they knocked on the school door with such a kind offer.

Not only this, they also built the shed for us during the Easter holidays and popped into school to see us. Now all of our bits and bobs can be stored safely.   We can use it for furniture, gardening equipment, playground toys – and even have our bikes for Bikeability in it just now.

We greatly appreciate their generosity and kindness from our former pupils.   It was such a lovely thing for them to so for us.

Thank you 🙂

Just look at those cheery faces! P7 pupils from Kirkcolm and Leswalt headed off for a fun morning of learning at Stranraer Academy today as part of their transition process.

3rd pupils were our guides and met us at the front door to take us to the Dance Studio where we joined Sheuchan P7s for a Stranraer Academy true/false quiz with Mr Hyslop. From there, we enjoyed an Art lesson with Mrs Hyslop exploring Amsterdam street art and a Science lesson with Mrs McHallum investigating acids and alkalis.

To round our morning off nicely, we ventured to the canteen and enjoyed a tasty lunch.

Safe to say, we all had a fabulous morning!

Thanks to Stranraer Academy, Mr Hyslop, Mrs Patterson, our guides Ruby and Brogan and Mrs Hyslop and Mrs McHallum for a fun morning.

Really looking forward to those three days in June now…!

UNCRC 

Articles 29 Aims of Education

Meta Skills

Adapting Aleksander, Focusing Fergus and Communicating Cate

This afternoon, we were all lucky enough to enjoy the first of our 6 week block of Forest School sessions with Richard Patchett with this week’s focus being ‘Bug Hunting and Pond Dipping’!

What a brilliant time we had! The sun was shining as we all headed to the pond at Aldouran Wetlands armed with nets with the very knowledgeable Richard there to tell us what we we had caught.

From Lesser and Greater Water Boatmen to Damselfly Larvae to a Great Diving Beetle larvae and at least 5 newts – the pupils all had a great afternoon pond dipping.

Just look at these happy photos! Thank you Richard – see you next week when we will be working on…ropes!

UNCRC

Article 24 Health, Food, Water, Environment   

Article 31 Rest, Play, Culture, Arts

Article 29 Aims of Education

Meta- Skills

Focusing Fergus, Collaborating Cora, Curiosity Carlos

P6/7 started this week on their Level 1 and 2 Bikeability course designed to ensure they are safe road users when cycling!

This week involved working in the playground and going over the basic safety rules, following a course to check their balance and accurate steering and a few fun games thrown in too!

Mike Blakeman is great fun to work with and is super knowledgeable about all things cycling related. Safe to say Tuesday mornings are going to be a HUGE hit over the next few weeks!

UNCRC Article 31 Rest, Play, Culture, Arts    Article 29 Aims of Education

Meta Skills

Collaborating Cora, Adapting Aleksander, Focusing Felix

We were delighted to welcome back Matthew Robinson D+G Youth Information Worker for a block of six sessions starting today.

The focus for our sessions is on resilience, relationships and all the skills we need to be the best we can be – in life in general but particularly with a view to our P7s heading off to Stranraer Academy after the summer break. We always have lots of fun working with Matthew and enjoy learning lots more about ourselves through the different activities.

Thanks Matthew for coming along to work with us. Roll on next week…

Meta Skills

Collaborating Cora, Integrity Imani, Communicating Cate, Feeling Felix

UNCRC

Article 12 Respect for Children’s Views

Article 13 Sharing Thoughts Freely

 

 

On Tuesday, we were delighted to welcome back Hamish and Cara who came along with Mrs Patterson to tell us a bit more about Stranraer Academy life!

It’s not even been a whole year since they were wearing their Leswalt school jumpers and how they seem to have grown up! Looking super smart in their Academy school uniforms, they shared some top tips with the P7s i readiness for their transition visits over the coming weeks.

Thanks for coming to visit us Cara and Hamish!