Category Archives: citizenship

Start of Fairtrade Fortnight 2020

Today, in school, we marked the start of Fairtrade Fortnight with our ‘Fairtrade Morning Snack.’ This was helped greatly by donations from local businesses Co-op, Tesco and Kinnairds. The main snack on offer was a choice of Fairtrade bananas or our own crafted shortbread biscuits topped with chocolate and jelly beans.  At the time of writing, we are not sure what amount of money we have raised from this but any proceeds will go to the Fairtrade Foundation. Later in the day,  Primary 5 together with the school’s Eco Committee listened to a very informative presentation by Mary Van Zwanenberg which included a very interesting film ‘Guardians of the Rainforest.’  Many of our classes also took part in class learning. Primary 1/2 had lots of Fairtarde themed activities in the open area. The end of Fairtrade Fortnight will be marked at assembly on 6th March with a small play by the Eco Committee.

 

 

Scots Poetry Assembly 14.2.20

Today in assembly, we celebrated our Scots Poetry Competition work with certificates being presented to first, second and third place finalists. The first place winners then entertained the whole school with a recitation of their chosen poems. Today, also saw the visit of our guests from Dalbeattie Burns Club who judged not only the Primary 7 pupils who recited an excerpt from Robert Burns’ Tam O’ Shanter but also the art work, which depicted a scene from the same poem.

The results were: Primary 1: First – Corey Canochan;  Second- Henry Hicks;  Third- Sophie Geddes ;  Primary 1/2: First- Mollie Watson;   Second- Finlay Bell;  Third Equal:  Lexie Anderson and Evie McGougan;   Primary 2/3: First Equal- Jack Little and Amalie Wykes;  Second- Aidan Galbraith; Third Equal- Elise Wixon and Reuben Benson;   Primary 3: First- Lucy Johnstone;  Second- Katie Dickie; Third Equal- Rebecca Hird and Oliver Bonnar;   Primary 3/4: First- Anaya Nerestan;   Second- Isla Smith;  Third Equal-  Rory McCormick and Lucy Bell;  Primary 4/5: First- Ava Drummond;  Second Equal- Fern Lundy and Sam Donnelly; Third Equal- Ailsa Ferguson and Owen O’Dornan;    Primary 5: First- Chloe Campbell;    Second- Struan Caldow;  Third Equal- Hayden Berry and Elsie Gibbs-Brown;  Primary 6: First- Fabio Murray-Sanchez;     Second Jack Johnstone;   Third- Owen Bryson;    Primary 6/7 (photo to follow) : First- Eve McCall;  Second Equal- Liam Bourhill and Laith Atkinson Deacon;   Primary 7 Poetry Recitation of Tam O’ Shanter: First- Maddison McMurtrie;     Second- Thomas Jardine;  Third- Jessica Davidson; Primary 7 Poetry Art Work of Tam O’ Shanter: First- Rhys Gaffney;  Second- Carrie Davidson; Third- Amber Latimer.

Also in our assembly, Primary 4/5 drew the raffle for the completed Titanic Quizzes. The winner, receiving £10 was Lucy Simpson.  Our Primary 5 class was awarded with the Wow tracker Active travel to School Award. Finally, Roman Bond and Chloe Campbell reminded us all that the first day back after the February holiday (Monday 24th) will be Fairtrade Snack day with biscuits (shortbread with chocolate and jelly bean) costing 60p and bananas 40p. Pupils can buy two items each. All products used carry the Fairtrade logo. Proceeds from the snack will go to the Fairtrade foundation, in keeping with our targets to retain our ‘Fair Achiever School’ status.

 

 

Head Teacher’s Awards 7.2.20

Lots of deserving pupils were again awarded their certificates and prizes for their hard work, effort and positive attitude to their learning. Our photos show several successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

Also pictured are all our young people who took part in the recent schools gymnastics competition.

Head Teacher’s Awards Assembly 31.1.20

Today in awards, we had many successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens who were awarded with their certificates. We also had a visit from Mr and Mrs Wilbur from Dalbeattie Chamber of Trade  who came to receive a cheque for £57 from the Rotakids Club for the Christmas lights appeal. The Rotakids Club, had, under the guidance of Mr and Mrs Cathro, raised the money with ‘Guess the Sweets in the Jar’ before the Christmas holidays. Rotakids is a junior Rotary Club which aims to undertake good work for the community, school and the wider global  environment. Certificates were also awarded for good performance in Accelerated Reader quizzes. Also at the assembly, were senior High School pupils who informed us about the new recycling bins in the dinner hall so that waste can be better segregated.

 

 

RotaKids at Christmas Light Switch On

The RotaKids were busy at the Dalbeattie Christmas Light Switch on. They were taking guesses fort the number of sweets in the jar and which square Santa was hiding in. Despite a slightly damp night, the children managed to make £57. This will be presented to the Dalbeattie Chamber of Trade’s Christmas Lights Appeal. This fundraising is part of the Rotakids local community work. Thank you to Mr and Mrs Cathro for helping to organise this event. Thank you to Grace, Mirren, Emily, Firth, Rianna and Halle who all came along to help on the night. The jar was won by Struan Caldow and the four chocolate Santas were won by other children in the school.

 

Head Teacher’s Awards and Environmental Awareness

 

At our assembly today, our pupils from each class were awarded with their Head Teacher’s certificates and pencil as prizes. Also, we were delighted to welcome three senior students from the High School who gave the primary school children a presentation as part of their work for Environmental Awareness week. The power-point was very informative and stimulated some good discussion. We are sure some of the messages will now be taken more seriously as a result of the example shown by these older students. Well done and thank you! By the end of Friday, Christmas decorations arrived but the children haven’t seen them yet….

Children In Need

Today, we ended our successful fundraising week for Children in Need with a Joe Wicks workout, wearing our bright and sporty clothing. The raffle prizes were also drawn. A very big thank you to all who have supported this worthy cause so well. At time of writing we have raised around £650 and a portion of this will go to the Janice Jamieson Memorial Trust Fund to sponsor a student in Malawi. Thank you to the High School for letting us use the Heughan Hall. Thank you all for supporting the spotty raffle with such enthusiasm and thank you to our school pupil councillors for helping to organise the spots!  We are also very grateful to Molly Houston (and mother too) and to Andrew for making and selling cakes to staff. This raised £28.35 which has been added to funds too. Please see facebook for more pictures.

 

Eco Schools Project Edina Bulbs

The Eco Committee and their buddies (4 from each class) have been planting the daffodil and crocus bulbs which we have received as part of the Edina Science Project. We discussed a fair test and how every plant pot had to be planted in the same way.  We planted 59 pots – each with one daffodil and one crocus bulb, clearly labelled.  A further 20 bulbs are being planted directly into the ground. Starting from next week, we need to start recording the weather and inputting this into a database. By the end of the project, all the information from all schools taking part, across the UK,  will be pulled together and conclusions drawn about how levels of sunshine or rainfall have had an impact on the growth and flowering of the bulbs.

 

Breakfast Club

Today, the breakfast club started, thanks to the super organisation of Mrs Dunlop. The club runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays before school. The young people loved the range of food on offer (toast, cereal, fruit, yoghurts) and drinks (fruit juice.) The cost is 50p a day and takes place in the spare classroom- entry through the playground gate.  Earliest arrival is 8.15 and latest is 8.30am. There were also games on offer so that the children could enjoy some social interaction too. Great fun! Mrs Dunlop is very grateful to all the helpers too.