Author: Mrs Baillie

Watch out Tiger Woods!

Laura Mc Clymont (Active Schools co-ordinator) recently organised a tri-golf festival for all Primary schools in the local area.  Each school had to send 2 pupils to take part in a variety of golf related challenges.
 
This festival was supported and led by James Erskine PGA professional golfer.  The eventual winners were named as Abbie Mc Quillan and Craig Anderson from Leswalt Primary.  They worked well through all of the activities and ended up with the most points on the day.
 
The whole of Leswalt Primary school will now receive one full day of golf tuition with James Erskine, as their prize for their classmates doing so well.                          

Runners up at National awards in Edinburgh

Leswalt Primary School were recently thrilled to be told they were nominated in the “School of the Year” category in the Bikeability awards organised by Cycle Scotland.
 
This nomination was in respect of the school and community promoting cycling through participation and subsequently winning “The Big Pedal” National competition.  The school was also nominated in relation to the way they embraced the Bikeability cycle training scheme (previously Cycle Proficiency) though parental, community and community warden involvement.
 
Mrs Sheila Baillie, head teacher and Mrs Fiona Topping (parent volunteer who has helped deliver the Bikeability training scheme) both travelled to Edinburgh to the awards ceremony in November.
 
Leswalt Primary was amongst 6 schools across the country that were shortlisted and were delighted to be named runner up “School of the year”.  The winning school was Lainshaw Primary in Stewarton, Ayrshire.
 
The photograph shows Jamie and Emma Drennan who both cycled approximately 5 miles to school every day to help their school win “The Big Pedal”.  This was a considerable distance over hilly terrain and  in all weathers for anyone, but all the more remarkable as Jamie was a Primary 2 pupil at the time. 

Childern in need

The boys and girls at Leswalt Primary decided to “Show their spots” and raise lots for Children in Need.
 
The pupils all came to school in a variety of dotty outfits.  The winners from each class were judged as follows- p1-Charlotte Gaw, P2 Finlay Mc Millan, P3 Jack Rickard, P4 Finlay Cowan, P5 Freya Bathgate, P6 Tommy Kerslake and P7 Ben Cowan.  
 
On the day a huge Pudsey bear was covered in coins, a tuck shop was held at playtime and various competitions were held.  The final amount raised was £110.

 

Halloween fun

Leswalt Primary Schools Halloween party this year had lots of great fun and games, including ‘Dookin for apples’ and “Vampires in his den”.
There were fantastic looking costumes from all pupils, with the ‘best dressed’ winners in each class being :
P1     Logan                Count Dracula
        Jenna               Scary witch
P2    Robert              Power Ranger
        Megan               Wicked Queen
P3    Jack         Vampire
        Arden               Lady Vampire
P4    Kerr         Soldier
        Lauren              Pirate chick
P5    Finlay                Bat
        Rhona               Cat
P6    Craig         Rocker
        Erin          Pumpkin
P7    Kerr         One dug and his man!

Fire station fun

Primary 1-4 at Leswalt Primary recently concluded their study of “People who help us” with a trip into Stranraer Fire station.  The boys and girls went in to learn all about the role of the Fire Brigade in the community.
 
The visit began with pupils learning all about the uniform and why the Fire Brigade wear it.  Some of the small pupils even got to try on the large uniform themselves.  Fire safety was also discussed, with pupils being reminded about the importance of having a smoke alarm in their home.
 
Tanya Ellis explained to the pupils all about the role of the Fire Brigade before they went outside to meet Tony Reid and see the fire engines up close.  Pupils learnt all about water hydrants before being allowed to use the fire hose.  The highlight of the visit for all was a seat in the Fire Engine.
 
It was a very active, informative afternoon for all.  Kathryn Topping in P4 summed it up by saying “It felt like I was a proper fire-fighter when I was using the hose!”  To which Jack Rickard in P3 added “Yes, the hose was awesome!”                

Oooh la la!

Primary 5-7 pupils at Leswalt Primary have recently been learning all about France.  As part of their learning experiences the pupils and their teacher Mrs Bathgate organised a French café for their parents and friends of the school.

Pupils created a menu which included croissants, pain au chocolat, tarte au citreon and des gateux.  The café was also providing Orangina and chocolat chaud to drink.  Pupils were encouraged to take orders from their customers by speaking French. 

Visitors paid a donation to sample the French cuisine on offer.  The enterprising pupils had also created a recipe book of favourite recipes to sell. 
 The café was well supported by the local community of Leswalt and the pupils were delighted when final calculations showed they had taken £200.58 in the one hour it was in operation.  All profits from this event have gone to Macmillan Cancer research as part of the World’s biggest coffee morning event.

 

                          

End of a era at Leswalt Primary

When the doors close at Leswalt Primary for the October holidays it will be a very special day for one person. On 12th October 2012 Nina Agnew will retire from cleaning at Leswalt Primary School, having worked there for an amazing 44 years.
 
Nina has a very strong bond with her local school.  Not only has she been a very dedicated and loyal employee but she was herself a pupil at Leswalt – in fact 4 generations of her family have all attended the village school.
 
Mrs Agnew has seen many changes in the school building, teaching, pupils and staff over the years.   Nina remembers when she had to clean the toilets which were outside many years ago. And, she has even managed to out last 8 head teachers who have all came and gone during the time in which she has been working at Leswalt.  The current head teacher, Mrs Sheila Baillie, has nothing but praise for Nina “Nina will be a hard act to follow.  She is a wonderful woman who helps provide that extra sparkle to our little school.  I know I can speak on behalf of all current and former staff and pupils in thanking Nina for her hard work and kindness to all over the many, many years”.
 
If any former pupils, parents or staff wish to join in with the community of Leswalt in passing on thanks to Nina they can do via Leswalt Primary school or Leswalt village shop, before the farewell on Friday 12th October.

Primary 1-4 get up close to a Gruffalo!

Primary 1-4 from Leswalt Primary were recently delighted to have an afternoon with Julia Donaldson, author of “The Gruffalo” and other stories.

 The pupils from Leswalt travelled to Newton Stewart Library to meet Julia, in an event organised by the Scottish book trust.   Julia asked pupils to act out one of their favourite stories for her.  Leswalt pupils told the story of Elmer the elephant, with pupils taking on the roles of elephants, jungles animals, trees and narrators.

 It was a fun packed afternoon which had all actively engaged in listening to Julia, singing songs with her, and acting out different parts of some of her stories.  The pupils even enjoyed a performance of “The Gruffalo” in Scots language.

 The session finished with pupils getting their Julia Donaldson books signed by Julia Donaldson, the Children’s Laureate.  

As Children’s laureate, Julia visited Newton Stewart Library as part of a 6 week library tour which will take in 35 libraries across the country from Land’s end to John O Groats. 

Police, camera, action!

The Primary 1-4 pupils at Leswalt Primary had some recent visitors to school from the local Constabulary.  PC Kevin Wyllie the school community policeman paid a visit with his colleagues from the traffic department, Ross Williams and Liza Murdoch.  The Police had been invited along to Leswalt to help the pupils who are learning all about “People who help us” as part of their health and well being learning and teaching.

 
The class had a wide range of interesting questions to ask the panel.  Pupils learned about the uniform and equipment carried by the Police in the process of their job before going outside to learn more about the role of traffic police and the Police dogs.  The visit certainly enhance the children’s’ learning and left many of the boys and girls thinking that they might like to join the Police force in a few years time.
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