This week we have been talking about our pets and thinking about their needs. We have set the role play area up as a vets and have had a lot of fun helping the animals to get better.
Tag Archives: Responsible Citizens
Eco Schools
On Thursday 31st August, the Eco Group went on a trip to Tongland Power Station and The Dee Hatchery. At Tongland, the group was learning about renewable energy using hydro power. We found out about the dam system on ‘The Dee’ and visited the turbine hall to find out more about how electricity is generated. We got to walk along the actual dam at Tongland and saw the gate being opened to see the force of the water rushing through. We also saw the fish ladder where the salmon move up river when they return from the Atlantic, back to their spawning ground. Later in the day, the group moved onto the Dee Hatchery at Shirmers Burn where we watched the Galloway Fisheries Rangers undertake some electro fishing. The fish were put into buckets for us to look at more closely and handle. Some of the group members were even brave enough to handle the baby North American Signal Cray Fish. The salmon and trout were returned to the burn afterwards but not the cray fish as they are not native to the Dee River system! The group is very grateful to Tim and especially to Rowan who has worked so closely with the group over recent years.
End of Term Awards
Dalbeattie Primary held its last end of term awards ceremony on Friday 30th June. Amongst the awards presented were the sports day trophies and house cup (winners Colliston) and house shield (winners were Colliston.)
Boys Champion: Leon Pipe and Andrew Millar- joint winners
Runner up: Cohen O’Conner
Boys 300m winners: Ewan Taylor
Runner up: Leon Pipe
Girls champion: Tia Thorburn
Girls runner up: Lainey Ireland and Myah Sargent joint
Girls 300m winner: Tia Thorburn
runner up: Lainey Ireland
Also presented were:
Lions Citizenship Prize: Ciara McQuarrie- winner. Runners up: Lucy Glendinning, Andie Wilson, Sam McKnight
Alistair Gourlay Art award: joint winners Samuel Donnelly and Anaya Nerestan
Alan Younger memorial for art in the upper school: Brooke Henderson
Maureen McShane Award for effort: joint winners Stuart McFegan and Kerrie Pendelton
Jennie Corrie Trophy for Poetry: Louise Kelting
Babsie Caig Trophy for best role model: Tia Thorburn
Heughan Citizenship Awards: EXCELLENT: Robbie Wykes, Jasmine Wixon, Cameron Patterson, Rory McCormick; VERY GOOD: Emmie Sanderson, Carey McCubbin, Nell Porter, Owen o Dornan, Erin Styles, Aulay Webster, Harry Cameron, Jessica Bowden, Cara Houston, Ewan Herries, Kerri O Dornan, Ruari Webster. In addition to these awards a further special prize was awarded to Louise Kelting for dedication and commitment to eco schools activities.
Gold, silver and bronze awards for accreditation in Country Dancing were also presented by Mrs Fortnum to many children in her dancing after school club.
A new trophy was also presented for the first time this year. The Dalbeattie Primary School History Prize which has been donated by Dalbeattie Museum was presented to Jamie Laurie for his outstanding interest in this local history project about the Titanic. The trophy was presented by Mr Tommy Henderson and Mr Donald Henderson made a very fitting speech about Murdoch being a former pupil of the school and how poignant it was that this cup was being presented for the first time in the old school and next year it will be presented again for the first time in the new school.
Walk to the Woods
The morning children requested a final walk to the woods before the summer. Luckily Monday morning was dry so we got a chance for one final exploration!
We are a FairAchiever School!
Exciting news as Dalbeattie Primary School has now been awarded FairAchiever status by the Fairtrade Foundation. Evidence of our Fairtrade work was submitted, with positive feedback given along with the issuing of our FairAchiever Award. We look forward to continuing our journey to raise awareness and promote Fairtrade, not only in our local community but in the wider community.
Beach Visit
The morning session children from the nursery were joined by the pre-schoolers from the afternoon (and a few mummies) for a visit to Rockcliffe beach yesterday. We were very excited to be going on the bus!
When we got there we split into groups and completed a range of activities. We made some beach art, hunted in rockpools and went a walk to the jetty to name just a few things. We had a picnic snack and played some ball games. What a great time we had!
Scottish Opera Tale O Tam
Dalbeattie Primary has just staged a terrific performance of Scottish Opera’s ‘Tale O Tam.’
Primary 6 and 7 pupils made up the chorus groups of ‘The Tavern Crew,’ ‘The Witches Crew’ and the ‘Stormy Crew.’
The opera told the familiar story of Tam O Shanter drinking late in the tavern before making his way home on his old grey mare Meg before stopping to look through the window of the auld Kirk by Alloway where he sees the witches and warlocks dancing with the devil. He shouts out ‘Well done Cutty Sark’ and the witches take chase after him. He reaches the keystone of the brig but only after the witch pulls off Meg’s tail.
The whole show was fantastic: the singing was tremendous and the costumes were brilliant. The school is very grateful to Scottish Opera for coming to school to deliver a day’s workshops and rehearsals in the morning before the actual show in the afternoon. The school is also very grateful to class teachers and especially to Kate Picken who helped the children to learn and prepare the songs and music in the weeks ahead of the actual day. The whole school enjoyed watching the dress rehearsal before parents came to watch the final show before the end of the school day. This year’s Scottish Opera was funded through the Creative Scotland’s YMI (Youth Music Initiative.)
Country Dancers at Civic Daze
Some of our festival winning country dancers performed a selection of dances today at a Civic Daze event in Colliston Park. This was a first public performance for some and they danced beautifully. Well done everyone and thank you to Mrs Fortnum and Mrs McMinn for supporting the dancers today.
Open Day
A huge thank you to all those who came along to our final Open Day on Saturday 20th of May here in our iconic granite building. There was a fantastic turnout for the big picture in front of the bell tower. It was lovely to feel the atmosphere and buzz in the school as people shared memories whilst visiting classrooms and different areas of the school.
Setting set up and ready to welcome people.
Getting busier!
Sam was a great help to the Lions club with the balloons.
Galloway Pipes and Drums
Family time.
Sharing Memories
Bell ringing Donald Henderson and Dame Barbara Kelly
Gathering for the big picture.
Altogether on the granite slope in front of our iconic bell tower.
Smoking Matters
Last term P6,P6/7 and P7 classes all took part in a design competition run by Smoking Matters. The pupils were to design a flag that could be used to encourage people to stop smoking and help Scotland to become a smoke free nation by 2020. Jenny from P7 was awarded 2nd place in the competition. Well done Jenny a fantastic flag design.
