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Dalry secondary are challenging their comfort zones at the Galloway Activity Centre today!

They may be wet and muddy when they arrive home.

The final day has brought glorious sunshine. The pupils have been busy this morning preparing Cheese Scones and butter for our One Planet Picnic. The cheese was donated by Seriously Strong and RHET undertook the butter making session.

Pupils have also been taking part in Art Therapy sessions, they have been producing excellent pieces of work.

At lunchtime Kells and Carsphairn joined us for a picnic outside on the grass. The pupils were welcome to sample local produce from Rowan Glen, Seriously Strong and Tesco.

It has been an excellent week and the pupils have really engaged with all the different sessions which took place. Well done.

Pupils have been enjoying lots of different sporting activities today.

Football with Queen of the South, Rugby with John Muir from SRU, Multi-Sports with Active Schools, Hill Walking with Miss Joss and Mr Goodwin and Dance with Christine Wishart.

The pupils have also been learning about and tasting Trout with Darren Jordan, Torhouse Fishery.

Tomorrow is our One Planet Picnic, the weather forecast is looking good but come prepared.

Pupils and staff have been enjoying numerous activities today which look at improving physical and mental health.

Chef, Fraser Cameron from 21212 restaurant in Edinburgh has been wowing pupils with his culinary delights. Pupils have been very keen to sample his dishes.

Becky-Rose has been taking Yoga sessions with all the groups. The sessions have been very calm and engaging.

Ross McMeeken has been running workshops on reducing stigma attached to Mental Health problems.

Tesco kindly donated fresh fruit for our P1/2 class to taste.

Tomorrow is our “active” day. Pupils are aware that they need to come dress appropriately for the weather.

The S3 geography class took advantage of the good weather to investigate their local stretch of the River Ken. The group set about answering two questions:

1. At what stage upper, middle or lower is the River Ken at Dalry?
2. What processes are taking place in the River Ken at Dalry?

Through close observation of the river, its sediments and the surrounding landscape the group were able to ascertain that the river was most likely in its middle course. Evidence of attrition, abrasion, hydraulic action, fluvial sorting, deposition and braiding were also observed. Well done S3 geographers!

The first two weeks has seen the group practice their fly casting skills. Despite cold temperatures and strong North Westerlies two good sized wild brown trout have been landed. Both fish were taken on an olive dry fly and landed by Rory. With the weather improving every day, prospects for the coming weeks look good.

What really matters?

As a finale to the RME/PSE course, S4 students spent an evening in Mabie Forest experiencing what life in the Ironage may have been like.

Looking in at the graveyard at Sweetheart Abbey on the way to Mabie, helped put the impact of living in harder times in context, as students noticed the number of people who died either in infancy or very young.

Discussion about how we now expect our children to outlive us, helped to bring home how lucky we are to live where we do and when we do.

Spending the night in the Ironage roundhouse was an exercise in community living from a bygone era. Also recognition that in many parts of our present day world, the conditions many people live in, would be more like the Roundhouse than our usual homes.

Cooking on open fires, eating communally, sleeping communally, making sure the fire stayed in overnight, mastering the composting toilet and experiencing the biting North wind with it’s attendant snow showers over the hills – all broadened experience and raised awareness.

The clear, cold night gave a breathtaking view of the night sky from the Roundhouse and the dawn this morning was special too. Having completed homework last night by candlelight, S4 returned to school today where they are working hard in preparation for the exams which start next week. We wish them well.  

A group of S1- S3 pupils have been working with a professional ceramicist – Ruth Jones, from Moniavie to create large coil pots.

S4 pupils are very busy working on their final paintings for their folios. These are to be sent away after the Easter holidays. Watch this space to see their final pieces. They are going to be lovely.