Portpatrick Primary

We were delighted to welcome parent volunteer James Kenworthy into our setting this week to help the children make their very own pizzas!

James brought along all the ingredients and equipment we needed, including cheese, tomato sauce, pizza dough, flour, and a pizza cutter. The children had great fun getting hands-on with the dough, stretching and shaping it into round pizza bases. They then carefully spread the tomato sauce before adding their toppings. Once the pizzas were ready, we cooked them in the oven and enjoyed seeing the finished results.

This activity provided a wealth of learning opportunities across the curriculum. The children developed their fine motor skills through kneading, stretching, and spreading ingredients. They used numeracy skills when measuring, estimating, and discussing quantities, and literacy skills through listening to instructions, asking questions, and learning new vocabulary related to food preparation and cooking.

We also explored some science learning during the session. James shared interesting facts about lobster fishing and how managing lobster populations can help support biodiversity in our oceans. The children were fascinated to learn about ecosystems and how people can help maintain a healthy balance in nature.

Throughout the activity, the children demonstrated a range of important meta-skills. They showed creativity when designing their pizzas, collaboration by working alongside their friends and adults, critical thinking as they followed the process and solved problems, and communication through sharing ideas and discussing their learning. They also developed resilience and adaptability as they practised new skills and refined their pizza-making techniques.

This experience supported several articles from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), including:

• Article 12 – The right to express their views and have their opinions respected.
• Article 13 – The right to seek, receive, and share information and ideas.
• Article 28 – The right to education.
• Article 29 – The right to develop their talents, abilities, and personality to their fullest potential.
• Article 31 – The right to play, participate in cultural activities, and enjoy learning experiences.

A huge thank you to James for sharing his time, knowledge, and enthusiasm with us. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience, developed valuable lifelong skills, and were very proud of their delicious homemade pizzas!

We are delighted to share that Portpatrick Primary has been selected as the top project in the Tesco Stronger Starts voting scheme and has been awarded the full £1,500 grant to support the development of our Nature Space.

A huge thank you goes to everyone in our school and wider community who took the time to vote for our project. Your support has helped us secure funding that will make a real difference to our outdoor learning environment.

The grant will be used to further develop our Nature Space, including improvements to pathways, natural seating areas, planting opportunities and wildlife-friendly features. These enhancements will help create an engaging outdoor environment where pupils can learn, explore and connect with nature.

This exciting project is already benefiting from fantastic community support. Our Unpaid Work Team has been assisting with pathway preparation and development, while Norval Dampney has generously shared his expertise and advice to help guide the project. We are also grateful to Sarah, who continues to work closely with our parent body to ensure the area is developed thoughtfully and sensitively, making the most of the natural surroundings. Free of an evening, or weekend. Why not get together and have a wee working party in the peace of the nature area?

We look forward to sharing further updates as the project progresses and to seeing our Nature Space continue to grow into a valuable resource for our pupils and community.

UNCRC Article 12 – Pupil voice helped shape our Nature Space.

Meta-skill: Collaborating – Working together with families and community partners.

Responsible Citizens – Caring for our environment and local wildlife. Wellbeing Indicator: Included – Everyone has a role in developing our outdoor space.

SDG 15: Life on Land – Enhancing biodiversity and natural habitats.

Children recently took part in an engaging CPR workshop led by St John Ambulance, where they learned valuable lifesaving skills in a hands-on environment.

During the session, pupils were taught how to respond in an emergency and practised CPR techniques on training mannequins representing babies, children, and adults. This helped them understand the different ways CPR is carried out depending on the age of the casualty.

The children also had the opportunity to learn how defibrillators are used to help restart a person’s heart during a cardiac emergency. They were shown how to safely use the equipment and understand the instructions given by the defibrillator.

Throughout the workshop, pupils learned the importance of staying calm, calling for help quickly, and acting confidently in an emergency situation. They enjoyed the practical activities and showed great enthusiasm while learning skills that could one day help save a life.

The workshop was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to build confidence, develop awareness, and gain important first aid knowledge in a fun and memorable way.

Meta-skills Developed

• Communication
• Collaboration
• Critical Thinking
• Confidence
• Problem Solving
• Responsibility

UNCRC Rights

• Article 6 – Every child has the right to life and to grow up healthy.
• Article 24 – Every child has the right to the best possible health, healthcare, and health education.
• Article 29 – Education should help children develop their talents, abilities, and confidence.

Recently, children took part in an exciting and educational event called Operation Safety, where they learned important skills to help keep themselves and others safe.

Throughout the day, local police officers spoke to the children about online safety, teaching them how to stay safe when using the internet, social media, and online games. They discussed the importance of protecting personal information and what to do if something online makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

The children also learned about the effects of alcohol and how it can impact people’s behaviour, judgement, and health. These sessions helped pupils understand the importance of making safe and responsible choices as they grow older.

Another important part of the event focused on staying safe around power sources and electrical equipment. The children were taught about the dangers of electricity and how to avoid accidents both at home and outdoors.

One of the highlights of the day was learning lifesaving skills, including CPR. Pupils were shown how to respond in an emergency and practised basic CPR techniques that could one day help save a life.

Operation Safety was a fantastic opportunity for children to gain valuable knowledge in a fun and engaging way, helping them build confidence and awareness about staying safe in everyday life.

We delighted to welcome parents and family members into school for Mrs Henry’s regular CAPER reading sessions this week. Children and parents enjoyed choosing a book together to share and read at home, helping to make reading a positive and enjoyable experience beyond the classroom.

CAPER (Children and Parents Enjoying Reading) encourages families to spend quality time reading together, helping children develop confidence, fluency, vocabulary and a love of books. Sharing stories together also supports imagination, communication skills and a lifelong enjoyment of reading.

Parents and family members are welcome to pop along every Friday from 2:40pm to choose a book with their child to enjoy together at home. 📚✨

UNCRC Article 29 – Developing confidence and a love of learning

• Four Capacities – Successful Learners
• Metaskills – Collaboration
• Wellbeing – Achieving

Nestled in Dumfries, Scotland, Sand head Logan Botanic Garden is a magical place where nature thrives—and bees are some of its most important visitors! This beautiful garden is part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and is famous for its warm, sheltered climate, which helps plants from all over the world grow happily. 

Why Are Bees So Important Here? 

Bees love Sandhead Logan Botanic Garden because it’s packed with colourful flowers, herbs, and shrubs that give them nectar and pollen. As bees buzz from plant to plant, they help pollinate the garden, which means more fruits, seeds, and flowers for everyone to enjoy! Without bees, many of the garden’s plants wouldn’t be able to grow. 

What makes this garden special for bees. 

The gardens grows everything from lavender and rosemary to exotic flowers, giving bees a buffet of food all year round. 

Unlike farms that use pesticides, Logan Botanic Garden protects bees by using natural gardening methods. 

Because of its mild climate, some flowers bloom even in winter, giving bees a snack when other gardens are bare.

by Arran McCulloch

Today we were delighted to welcome local community member Danny into school, accompanied by Jean, for a very special visit.

Danny very kindly presented the school with a generous donation which he has been saving over time to support our pupils. We were incredibly touched by this thoughtful gesture and very grateful for the kindness shown towards our school community.

Danny’s only request was that some of the money should go towards an ice cream treat for the children, which certainly brought lots of smiles and excitement! 🍦 We also plan to use the donation to help support our upcoming summer trip.

The children worked hard to create thank you cards and a special message to show their appreciation. During the visit, pupils enjoyed asking Danny and Jean lots of questions, particularly about their memories of the old school and what school life was like years ago. It was wonderful to hear stories from the past and celebrate the strong connections within our local community.

We would like to say a huge thank you once again to Danny and Jean for their kindness, generosity and time. Visits like these help our children understand the importance of community, gratitude and showing appreciation for others.

Article 29 – Education should develop respect for others and the wider community

Metaskills – Communicating

Four Capacities – Effective Communicators

Our P5 and P6 pupils recently enjoyed a fantastic day out at Castle Kennedy, taking part in an exciting cross country event. The atmosphere was full of energy and encouragement as children prepared to challenge themselves on the course.

The pupils showed great determination and resilience throughout the day. Every single child who took part completed their race, which was a wonderful achievement. Whether they were running the mile or the half-mile course, everyone gave it their best effort and crossed the finish line with pride.

It was especially lovely to see how supportive the children were of one another. A standout moment came when Arran showed incredible kindness and sportsmanship. Noticing that Stephen needed some help towards the end of his race, Arran went back to run alongside him and helped him reach the finish line. This thoughtful act did not go unnoticed, and Arran was awarded a special medal in recognition of his kindness and teamwork.

The day was not just about competition, but about participation, perseverance, and supporting each other. All of the children should feel very proud of what they achieved, and they represented the school brilliantly.

Well done to everyone who took part – a truly memorable day at Castle Kennedy!

Linking Our Learning

This event also connects strongly to wider learning across the curriculum:

Global Goals (UN Sustainable Development Goals):

• Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing – Pupils were active, developing their fitness and understanding the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
• Goal 4: Quality Education – Learning through real-life experiences like this helps build confidence, resilience and teamwork skills.

UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child):

• Article 24 – Children have the right to good health and to take part in activities that support their wellbeing.
• Article 31 – Children have the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of activities, including sports.

SHANARRI Indicators:

• Healthy – Pupils were physically active and promoting their wellbeing.
• Active – All children participated in outdoor physical activity.
• Achieving – Every pupil completed their race and reached a personal goal.
• Included – The supportive atmosphere ensured everyone felt part of the event.
• Respected – Acts of kindness, like Arran helping Stephen, showed respect and care for others.
• Responsible – Pupils showed responsibility by encouraging one another and representing the school positively.

It’s safe to say the weather wasn’t exactly on our side this week. Grey skies, damp air, and the kind of chill that makes you question every life choice that led you outdoors… but we went ahead anyway! Because when it comes to caring for our orchard, a bit of miserable weather isn’t going to stop us.

Our task was an important one: mulching the trees. With the help of Mrs. Dampney, we got stuck in and made great progress despite the conditions. There’s something quite satisfying about working together outdoors—even when your fingers are a bit cold and your boots are a bit muddy.

We used a combination of cardboard and woodchips to mulch around the base of each tree. The cardboard acts as a natural weed barrier, stopping unwanted plants from competing with our trees for nutrients and water. On top of that, the woodchips help to retain moisture in the soil, regulate temperature, and slowly break down to improve soil quality over time.

Mulching might seem like a simple job, but it plays a big role in keeping our trees healthy. By protecting the soil and supporting strong growth, we’re helping our orchard thrive. And healthy plants don’t just look good—they contribute to a healthier environment overall, supporting wildlife and improving the air around us.

So even though the weather was less than ideal, it was well worth the effort. With teamwork, determination, and a little help from Mrs. Dampney, we’ve given our orchard a boost that will last well into the seasons ahead.

What a wonderful day we had at Portpatrick Primary School celebrating our Easter Fun Day! The school was full of excitement, creativity and lots of smiles from start to finish.

One of the highlights of the day was judging our Easter Egg Art competition. Every single pupil in the school entered the competition, and we were so impressed by the effort, imagination and creativity shown in every piece. It certainly wasn’t an easy job to judge because all the entries were fabulous. The children should be very proud of their amazing work.

We also had great fun playing “Pin the Scut on the Rabbit,” which caused lots of laughter and cheering as everyone took turns trying to place the rabbit’s tail in the right spot while blindfolded!

Another big highlight was the Easter Egg Treasure Hunt. The children had a fantastic time searching high and low around the school grounds, working together and enjoying the challenge of finding all the hidden eggs.

Throughout the day, the pupils also took part in a range of Easter art activities in their classrooms, showing off their creativity and getting into the Easter spirit.

It was a lovely, fun-filled day for everyone, and it was clear that the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. After such a busy and exciting day, I think everyone has certainly earned a well-deserved rest.

Well done to all our pupils for making our Easter Fun Day such a success!