Leswalt Primary School

Forest School – week 5 🌳

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 🌳

From Dunskey Green to the Crime Scene: Stuart Fisher’s Careers Assembly

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.

Forest School Week 4 – Art!

What fun we had yesterday afternoon over at Aldouran Wetlands with Richard Patchett!

The mission this week was to use natural materials to create art. P1-4 worked in groups building a nest, den and a tent. Jorgie designed a fabulous picture complete with a picture frame, tree and sunshine made from a yellow leaf! Love this creativity!

The P6/7 crew split into groups and all opted to build cosy dens. Teamwork was the order of the day with branches and leaves being used to support and cover the structures. All good fun – even the midges were being kind ! The smell of wild garlic was just amazing – pair that with the giggles of everyone as they had fun exploring and what is not to love?!

Look at the happy faces below 😀🌳

UNCRC

Article 24 – Health, Food, Water and Environment

Article 31 Rest, Play, Culture, Arts

Article 29 Aims of Education

Meta-Skills

Creativity Cassidy

Curiosity Carlos

Collaborating Cora

Communicating Cate

Integrity Imani

Football fun again

Our football team were playing again on Friday after school. They did really well and won 3 games, out of 5 played.

Well done team! They look very chuffed with themselves

Right to Play and Recreation:
Right to Participation:
Right to Inclusion:

Bikeability Level 2 Done!

Sadly, yesterday was the final week of Bikeability for P6/7 – and they have LOVED every moment of these sessions!

Mike and Jo accompanied each group out and about on our village roads; putting their newly learnt skills to good use and enjoying our beautiful countryside. Each group managed to ride over 5 miles yesterday and all came back into school with a healthy glow on their face and slightly weary legs!

The support and infectious enthusiasm from Mike and Jo has been wonderful and the reason everyone has enjoyed these sessions so much! Such valuable skills to learn.

UNCRC Articles 24 Health, Food, Water, Environment

Article 31 Rest, Play, Culture, Arts

Meta Skills

Focusing Fergus

Integrity Imani

Initiative Ivy

Adapting Aleksander

Sense-making Samira

Curiosity Carlos

Collaborating Cora

Forest Schools Week 3 – Games!

Our hopes and prayers for the weather to hold out weren’t quite answered this afternoon – but did that stop us from having fun? Absolutely not!

Richard came in to do a session of Outdoor Based Games with the pupils and safe to say – they absolutely loved this! Both primaries played the same game where Richard had hidden some not so natural items amongst the woodland and bushes for us to find! There were 25 objects in total to look for and wow – pupils and their keen eyesight smashed it! 🥄🍴🍜🍌📱🧤🥽

Unfortunately for P5-7, it was P1-4 who hid their items and they did not hold back… Lots of fun and the rain didn’t hold us back one bit!

We have 3 more sessions with Richard to follow – let’s keep hoping for some sunshine! ☀

Meta Skills

Initiative Ivy

Curiosity Carlos

Sense-Making Samira

Communicating Cate

Articles

Article 6 – Life, Survival & Development

Article 17 – Access to Information

Article 24 – Health, Food, Water & Environment

Children’s Parliament Sharing Session Success!

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

Fancy joining the Army Cadet Force?!

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

The Vikings at Leswalt!

We were thrilled to welcome back Kathryn from History Alive into P1-4 to help make their Viking topic come to life this term! And as added bonus, Primary 7 got to join in too, while P6 were away at Operation Safety.

Kathryn, is a history expert with all the props that helps to really get the pupils to understand what life was like for Vikings in that time.

Kathryn told the boys and girls all about how life was like when the Vikings were about and they learned about long houses and their diet and the pillaging activities they got up to.

They all enjoyed getting their hands on all the props. The children learned about the helmets and (thankfully fake) weapons as they got to grips and they really enjoy this session of roleplay! Putting their new found mindsets to use, they went outside and engaged in a little Viking war cry! ⚔🪓🗡🏹🛡

Meta Skills

Focusing Fergus

Feeling Felix

Curiosity Carlos

Sense-Making Samira

Articles

Article 12 – Respect for Children’s Views

Article 28 – Access to Education

Article 29 – Aims of Education

Article 30 – Right to Culture and Heritage

Operation Safety

Today, as is the yearly custom, our P6 across both schools dotted off to Operation Safety at Stair Park today for some safety input! This linked in really well with our Risk Taking behaviour focus in class for these pupils so they had a fair idea of how to manage some of these situations! ⛑🆘

Pupils moved around 8 stations, each with their own focus:

A CPR and emergency response input which taught them the basics of emergency response first aid! How to tell if your casualty is breathing or not and how to perform chest compressions… 🚑
Fire safety – can they spot the fire hazards in a home and how to manage these! 🧯🔥🚒
The Coastguard! (very important for this time of year in this area…) what to do if they spot somebody drowning and how to keep themselves safe in water. 🥽🚣‍♀️
Electricity with Scottish Power – spotting electrical hazards in the home and how to prevent these ⚡💡🔌
Youth Work came and did an input on Internet Safety – teaching pupils how to stay safe online and what they should or shouldn’t share online. 👍
Drugs and Alcohol – what are the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol 👎
Community, Council & Criminal – looking at certain acts and who is responsible for preventing and managing these! Is it a criminal problem for the police? A problem for the community to manage themselves? Or something we should turn to the council to help prevent? 🧐🤔
Finally – looking at vandalism in the community! Pupils built giant Jenga Towers (with a promise of a prize for the tallest?!) Before someone stormed in and destroyed them all! (He was supposed to – promise!) This taught pupils how it feels to have something of value that others can take upon themselves to deface! 🖌🎨

After a whopping 8 inputs over the course of the day – safe to say our P6 pupils are pretty clued up now! Thank you to all the organisations in the community for making this happen every year.