All posts by Mr Gray

Cluster Residential to Edinburgh

March 24, 2016 Mr Gray Leave a comment

Primary six and seven pupils from the Glenkens visited Edinburgh for a residential trip.

On the first day the pupils from Carsphairn, Dalry and Kells visited Edinburgh Castle and the Camera Obscura.

After dinner, they went on an organised ghost walk and were told a number of stories about life in the city hundreds of years ago.

Day two began with walk around Arthur’s Seat. We picked a good clear day for the walk. It was quite cold, but the views across the city were fantastic. The group then walked to the Scottish Parliament to meet Alex Fergusson MSP for a guided tour. After lunch in one of the committee rooms, we visited the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street.

On the last day we visited Dynamic Earth before returning home. The pupils really enjoyed all the interactive displays as well as learning how the planet was created. The visit ended by watching a film on stars in the 360 degree show dome at Dynamic Earth.

Kells Pupils’ Tribute to the Bard

February 9, 2016 Mr Gray Leave a comment

Kells Primary held their annual Burns Lunch recently. The evening was hosted by P7 pupils. All pupils, staff and P7 parents and family members were treated to speeches and entertainment provided by P5, P6 and P7 pupils. Stewart delivered the welcome address and introduced the speakers. The Selkirk Grace was recited by Lewis. Lewis also carried in the haggis to the skirl o’ the pipes. This was followed by the Charlotte, Stewart, Ben and Arran reciting the Address To A Haggis. P5 and P6 pupils helped serve haggis, neeps and tatties to the pupils, staff and guests. After the lunch, Arran delivered the Immortal Memory. The Toast to the Lassies was presented by Ben. Charlotte made the reply on behalf of the lassies. After the traditional speeches, the pupils who came 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Scots verse competition received their certificates. The winners then recited their poems. Charlotte and Sophie sang ‘Ye Banks and Braes’. Primary 5-7 the ‘Skye Boat Song’ and the ‘Wedding O’ . A very enjoyable lunch was concluded with everyone singing ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

Annual Scots Verse Competition

February 9, 2016 Mr Gray Leave a comment

On 28^th January we held our annual Scots Verse competition. Staff were delighted that Mr Mike Duguid was once again able to visit the school and listen to the pupils reciting their poems and decide the first, second and third places in each year group. The winners recited their poems at the Burns Lunch. Well done to all the pupils involved!

We Three Kings!

December 17, 2015 Mr Gray Leave a comment

The annual Christmas Show was held at Kells on Wednesday 16th December.

The P5-7 class opened the show by playing some music on the tin whistles which was accompanied by guitars and keyboard. They also sang some French songs.

P1-5 then performed ‘We Three Kings’ to parents, family members and friends of Kells Primary on Wednesday 16th December. The children told the story of the Nativity through the eyes of the Three Kings. There was some super singing and dancing by P1-5 as well.

Well done to P1-5 and P5-7!

First Aid Training for P5-7

December 17, 2015 Mr Gray Leave a comment

John Bell from Annie’s Aiders recently delivered a basic first aid training session for the P5-7 pupils. This was organised as part of their work on the Human Body by Miss Lamont.

Stewartry Sportshall Athletics

December 17, 2015 Mr Gray Leave a comment

This year the team consisted of Jessica and Preston from Dalry, Grace from Carsphairn and Brooke, Henry and Ben from Kells.

The Stewartry Sportshall Athletics event took place at Castle Douglas High School on Thursday 10^th December.

The results were as follows –

1^st Kirkcudbright Primary 298 points

2^nd Hardgate Primary 286 points

3^rd Glenkens Cluster 278 points

The Glenkens Team qualified for three finals. The girls finished third in the hurdles final. The boys finished second in the running race and also the hurdles race. Well done!

Macmillan Final Total

November 26, 2015 Mr Gray Leave a comment

Primary 7 pupils raised a tremendous £1,216.13 for Macmillan Cancer Care. Angela McCormack, Fundraising Manger for Macmillan, received the cheque from the pupils recently. Well done P7!

Professor Glen Chilton visits Kells and Dalry

November 26, 2015 Mr Gray Leave a comment

On 12^th November Professor Glen Chilton from James Cook University in Australia visited the pupils at Kells Primary and also the primary pupils at Dalry School. The presentation was titled ‘Adventures with Creatures that were Thought to be Extinct.’ Professor Glen told the pupils about his adventures all over the world looking for and studying animals like the black footed ferret in the western states of America and the iguana in Jamaica. The pupils especially enjoyed looking at his photographs of these creatures. He also took time to answer a range of questions from the pupils on the creatures that featured in his presentation. The visit to the schools was kindly organised by the Stewartry Ornithologists Club who hold their monthly meeting at Kells Primary School.

October Newsletter

October 22, 2015 Mr Gray Leave a comment

As you are probably aware, there have been a few staffing changes recently. Here is an updated staff list.

Acting Head Teacher: Mrs Smith (based at Dalry School)

Depute Head: Mr Gray

P1-5 class teacher: Mrs Muir

P5-7 class teachers: Mrs Deshayes & Miss Lamont (temporary)

SfL Teacher: Mrs Hermon (Monday a.m.)

SfL Assistants: Mrs Jones (all week)

Ms Harper (Thursday & Friday)

Mrs Brydson (Wednesday am & Thursday am)

Mrs Rothwell (Tuesday am)

Clerical Assistant: Mrs Best

(Mon, Wed all day and Fri am)

Catering Manager: Mrs Pringle

Janitor / Cleaner: Mrs Daly

Cleaner: Mrs Povall

Staffing

Miss Tracy Lamont will be covering the P5-7 class on a full-time basis until further notice as a result of Mrs Deshayes’ recent surgery. There will be a chance for parents to meet Miss Lamont at the start of next term. More details to follow.

I will continue to be Acting Depute at Dalry Primary for this session. However, I will be at Kells every day.

On some occasions when you call the school you may be forwarded to the Dalry Office as Mrs Best is only part-time at Kells.

Dates for Diary

Mon 28th Sept – Fri 2nd Oct Autumn Walk to School Week

Mon 5th October Harvest Thanksgiving Assembly (1.45pm in Hall)

Wed 7^th October Macmillan Coffee Morning @ Cross Keys Hotel

(10.00 a.m. until 12 noon)

Friday 9^th October Last day of term 1

Looking Ahead

Fri 30^th October P1-7 Hallowe’en Party @ 1.30pm

Thurs 12^th November Guest Speaker – Glen Chilton @ 11am

‘Adventures with Creatures that were thought to be Extinct.’

Mon 30^th November St Andrew’s Day Holiday

Tues 1^st December Interim reports issued to parents

Wed 2^nd December Parental consultations

Tues 8^th December Jack and the Beanstalk Pantomime @ 1.45pm

Thursday 10^th December Rag Bag collection

Fri 11^th December 11am – 12 pm Pupil Flu Jags

Tues 22^nd December Glenkens Cluster Church Service @ 10 am in Dalry Church

P7 / S1 Transition

P7 pupils have been going to Dalry School every Thursday morning this term. The pupils have been studying French, English and Science / Health & Wellbeing.

Parent Council / PTA

Please could you let the school office know if you are interested in being part of the Parent Council and / or PTA. Thank you.

School Lunches and Tuck Shop

Just a reminder that a school meal costs £1.75. It would be appreciated if all dinner money could be paid on a Monday morning.

The tuck shop continues to be a great success at break time each morning. Prices are as follows –

Toast 21p, yoghurt 42p, milk 20p apple juice 42p, fruit 42p, biscuit 47p and aqua juice cuplets 32p. Pupils place their order before 9.30am on the day.

P.E. Kit

All the pupils have now settled in to the new school session and are getting used to their class timetable. Please could the pupils bring in their P.E. kit on a Monday and take it home on a Friday so that it can be washed at the weekend if necessary. This means the pupils always have their kit available to them and will not miss out on their regular P.E. with Mr Carmichael or with their class teacher.

School Uniform

Last session several visitors to the school commented on how smartly dressed the pupils were. Please continue to encourage your child / children to wear the school uniform. The school keeps a small supply of polo shirts, sweatshirts and cardigans for purchase during the session.

Reading Books Amnesty

Please could you have a look at home for any school reading books that have not been returned to the appropriate class teacher. Thank you.

Autumn Walk to School Week

Walk to School Week is taking place this week, from Monday 28th September – Friday 2^nd October. We would always encourage the children to walk to school if they can, but appreciate that this is not always possible.

Rag Bag Collection

Last session our Rag Bag collections raised £442.00 for school funds. Please remember the Rag Bag Bin is available at all times for any wearable clothes, paired shoes, handbags and belts. Our next collection will be on 10th December. Thank you.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require more information on any of the above items in the newsletter.

Mr Z. Gray

Depute Head Teacher

Macmillan Coffee Morning

October 22, 2015 Mr Gray Leave a comment

Pupils in P7 at Kells Primary raised £774 (so far) by hosting a Macmillan Coffee Morning at the Cross Keys Hotel in New Galloway on Wednesday 7th October. Pupils planned and advertised the coffee morning and served parents and friends on the day. They also made collection tins for local businesses to collect donations for the charity. The pupils would like to thank everyone from the local community who supported the event. Well done P7!

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