Portpatrick Primary

Mrs Hall from DG STEM team joined us today for a Sphero workshop.  Sphero is a programmable robotic coding toy that allows children to explore coding using direction and angles.  The device is capable of rolling around under the control of a smartphone or tablet.

The children connected their Sphero to their IPad using a bluetooth connection.  We then used the controls to select a different colour for each Sphero L.E.D. display to allow us to differentiate each group’s devices.  We then learned about the speed, steering wheel and aim controls.

The class took turns on steering their Sphero robots through ‘bridges’ (our legs).  Computational thinking was required to consider direction, angle and speed to achieve a score point.

We then moved on to more complex challenges of controlling Sphero to approach a wall as close as possible without contact.  We got as close as a gap just the width of a sheet of paper.

Our next challenge was to traverse a square pattern using angles and direction, moving on to include changing colour coding blocks.  Through debugging, we found that including a delay at each corner point created a smoother transition and avoided ‘roll on’.

It was a really fabulous session with lots of purposeful discussion and learning.  Thank you to Mrs Hall for leading the workshop!

# Successful Learners

 

 

 

 

 

As part of Safer Internet Day 2023, P5 – 7 received a visit from P.C. Conroy today.  She came along to help us keep safe online by offering advice and guidance.

She asked what age the boys and girls got their first mobile phone and this ranged from aged 6 to 10.  P.C. Conroy enquired about our usage of online apps such as TikTok and Snapchat, which most children said they have access to.  She advised that the recommended minimum age for many social media platforms is usually 13.  She highlighted that most parents are vigilant in monitoring their child’s online activity to ensure that their child is safe.

P.C. Conroy covered aspects such as:

• Not sharing personal information online
• Only accept friend request from people you know
• Report any upsetting or inappropriate content you encounter
• Behave responsibily and kindly – treat online conversations respectful
• Enjoy the internet, but make sure you keep yourself safe.
• You  can always talk to an adult if you have any worries or concerns.

We watched an interesting video that shared how amazing the internet can be.  It advised us all to share with care and be mindful of protecting unplugged time using screen time limits to keep us healthy and engaged IRL.  We went through social story scenarios helping us to make appropriate decisions in online chat.

 

Next on the agenda were the activities planned by our digital leaders, Cameron & Max.  P5 – 7 undertook an internet safety quiz where children responded with appropriate actions to a range of online situations.  This was followed by their playing Interland which  puts the key lessons of digital safety into hands-on practice with four challenging games.  The boys and girls really enjoyed the gaming aspect of this learning resource. They can continue to play it at home online or via their Glow account.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our younger pupils have the opportunity to engage with the age appropriate BBC Bitesize Internet Safety resource:

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to find out more about helping your child stay safe online and recommended ages for common apps, please click here to access information from the NSPCC website.

Check out our Sway (then click play) to see the activity across our partnership.

# Responsible Citizens

 

 

Kathryn and Steven Purchase from History Alive joined us today for an interactive workshop on World War 2.  History Alive educate & entertain with the aim of stirring the children’s imagination and stimulating a lasting interest in historic topics.

Kathryn took P5 – 7 through an immersive experience on how WWII affected the lives of everyone from 1939 to 1945.  The session was delivered with sensitivity at an age appropriate level.

We were taken on a journey through many aspects of WWII:

• Legacy of WWI & Timeline of events leading to WWII
• Allies and Axis
• WWII Preparations, Gas maks, Blackout strategies – enforcing wardens, light blocking curtains, and using glow in the dark paint on bollards, lampposts and even horses and cows!
• The Blitz  – Shelters and Blitz spirit
• Evacuation – linking with helping Ukrainians refugees today
• Conscription, Reserved Occupations and Volunteer roles
• Propaganda & slogans – Messages the Government wanted to give
• Rationing & Identify Cards – why it was needed and how it operated (linked with similarities during  lockdown)
• Make Do & Mend – Recycling, sharing and reusing
• Entertainment & culture – Americans Over Here
• Men & Women in WWII – Armed Forces, Land Girls and the Home Front
• Invasions and Battles  – Dunkirk (Operation Dynamo), Operation Sealion
• Winston Churchill – His strategies and his famous speeches
• The Geneva Convention protecting people’s rights
• Our local area and WWII – Local anti-aircraft guns at Cairnryan, practice bombing ranges etc.
• Demob life – Rebuilding, the changed role of women in society, the benefit system & the creation of the NHS

We listened to a broadcast made by Neville Chamberlin declaring war.at 11am on the 3^rd of September 1939. 20 minutes after Chamberlin spoke, an air raid siren sounded, testing the systems. Kathryn linked the learning to the Covid Lockdown to allow children to make personal connections on how restrictions affected daily life.

Men aged between 18 and 40 were called up to fight or work in the coal mines to keep Britain’s homes and factories fuelled.  Others had skills that were needed at home which were called reserved occupations.

On 7th September 1940, the Luftwaffe (the German airforce), began their Blitzrieg bombing London and other cities in the UK including Scotland. The bombings came night after night and thousands of people lost their lives.

The children were stunned by the quantities of cheese and eggs and other foodstuffs per person during rationing, particularly the 85 grams of sweets per week!.  They said they feel very lucky with the choice and quantities we enjoy today! It was good to hear that every child was given a hot school dinner each day that wasn’t rationed.  This was a great way to help ensure that no child went hungry.

After our very interesting information session, the children had the opportunity to explore the vast array of WWII artefacts and get ‘hands-on’. The boys and girls were so engrossed and were fascinated with all the memorabilia.

Lacey – “Today was great as we got to learn more things about WWII that we didn’t know.”

Katie – “It was so much fun and I loved being able to dress up and look at all the artefacts.”

Lewis – “I find all of this kind of thing really interesting and it will help me with my personal project on Loch Ryan in WWII.”

Atticus – “It was really fun as we could see what it was like back then and compare it to today. It was very different.  It reminds me of Covid lockdown in some ways.”

It was yet another truly fabulous workshop from Kathryn and Steven.

Thank you!

Thank

# Successful Learners

 

Pupils in P5-7 at Kirkcolm, Leswalt and Portpatrick Primary Schools headed off to Abernethy Barcaple Outdoor Centre on Monday for an overnight residential stay.

The boys and girls participated in a range of activities whilst there including archery, abseiling, a challenge course, climbing wall, and team problem solving challenges. Pupils overcame fears and developed their team-working skills throughout the course of our trip. 

After a fun-filled day of activities, everyone enjoyed an evening game of hide and seek in the dark – at which point the staff watched as 50 children ran off into the darkness at a location they had never been before; cue panicking teachers! But thankfully all returned safe and sound, and no one was left to spend the night in the great outdoors! 

We then headed to our rooms to settle down for the night – and despite a lot of sugar being consumed, everyone was asleep by midnight much to the staff’s relief! 

The next day started bright and early with some pupils rising at 6.30am. After breakfast, we finished our final group activities and hopped onto the bus just after lunch time. It was a very quiet journey home with lots of tired little people catching 40 winks to make up for the lack of sleep the night before! 

Everyone had a brilliant time away and enjoyed mixing with pupils from all of our trio schools. 

Today is the day P5 -7 children have been anxiously waiting for  -BARCAPLE!!

It was ‘up and at em’ early for our excited kiddos. The singing has already started 😉

Let the adventures begin…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve arrived safe and sound. 🙂

 

 

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P5-7 pupils attended the MV Princess Victoria memorial service at Agnew Park today, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the tragedy.

The service was opened by a piper and then speeches were given by Lord Lieutenant Aileen Brewis, who told the pupils all about the disaster, and Mr John Ross, who told of his memory of a fellow class mate finding out about the death of his mother who had been on board the ferry. The pupils were surprised to learn that 135 people died and that no women or children survived.

Wreaths were laid at the memorial and a one-minute silence was held as a mark of respect.

 

Today, we continued our Scots celebrations by hosting our very own Highland Games.  The children competed in a range of traditional games in their clans teams, namely the Jaggy Stags of Ecclefechan and the Crabbit Thistles of Loch Lochy.  It was a very tight competition with the Jaggy Staggs winning by the slimmest margin.

 

Our celebrations continued on Friday 27^th of January where we were joined by family and friends in our Scots Showcase assembly.  The children received certificates in recognition of their achievements and performed their poems and songs to entertain our audience.

Primary 7 Recitation – Robert Burns

1^st: Katie Kirkbridge – Red, Red, Rose

2^nd: Jack Trafford – To A Louse

Primary 6 Recitation – King O The Midden by James McGonigal

1^st: Cameron McNeill

2^nd: Atticus Orr Ewing

3^rd: Conor Ritchie

Primary 5 Recitation – Harry by Matthew Fitt

1^st: Carter Henderson

2^nd: Louise Webb

3^rd: Lacey Shingleston

Primary 4 Recitation – Miss McCurdie by Gregor Steele

1^st: Rebecca Connor (only P4 pupil)

Primary 3 Recitation – Jock and Jean by Margaret Tollick

1^st: Harry McKie

2^nd: Arran McQuillan

2^nd : Adam Westby

Art Challenge Winners

P1        Zak Ribchester

P3       Adam Westby

P4       Rebecca  Connor

P5       Lacey Shingleston

P6      Atticus Orr Ewing

P7       Jack Trafford

Handwriting Winners

P1   Josh Burrett

P3   Harry McKie

P4   Rebecca Connor

P5   Lacey  Shingleston

P6   Tilly Gordon

P7   Katie Kirkbride

 

It was a great finale to our Scottish week!

# Successful Learners, Confident Individuals, Effective Contributors  and Responsible Citizens!

 

Our boys and girls put on their ornithologist hats on Thursday to take part in this year’s Big School Bird Watch.  This fits with our Eco Schools action plan for biodiversity.

The children got stuck into some outdoor learning combined with mathematical data handling to monitor how many different birds visited our school grounds within an hour’s timeslot.  The children used tally charts and block recording, dependent on age, to log the birds they saw.

On our return to school we calculated the average of our results and inputted them onto the RSPB website.

Our most common bird visitor was the carrion crow closely followed by the blackbird and robin.

 

 

 

 

 

We used the RSPB website to compare different ways to present our data.  Our P1 – 4 prefered the pictogram whilst our older pupils liked the pie chart to show fractional shares. Here are our results displayed using different chart types.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to take part in the Big Garden Watch 2023 which takes place between the  27- 29th of January, click on the link here to register.

Our national baird was born on this day in 1759.  Today saw the return of our annual celebration of his works and our great Scots language.

Our children have been working very hard to create beautifully scribed poetry samples, artwork and models.

Mr and Mrs Ross joined us to judge each entry on merit. The results will be announced at our Showcase Assembly, open to all, on Friday 27^th.  They both said the standard of entries was very high and they had a tough challenge selecting winners.

The children showed leadership and independence  in organising our event. They demonstrated responsibility and cooperation by:

• Organising a seating plan
• Arranging the tables for our lunch
• Making paper thistles as table decorations
• Creating a collaborative art collage
• Writing and giving speeches
• Performing songs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout the morning, with excited energy, they rehearsed their poems and speeches before performing their individual poems for the judges.

Our artwork entries:

Mr and Mrs Ross presided over our lunch with Mr Ross giving a very stirring performance of Address Tae A Haggis.  Freya brought in the haggis to clapping and the sound of bagpipes.  Max gave the Selkirk Grace.

Kym served a delicious traditional lunch of haggis, neeps and tatties followed by shortbread.  It was wolfed down with great relish.

After the meal, Jack, Lewis, Cater and Atticus gave a tongue-in-cheek Toast Fae The Laddies.  The girls, Katie, Tilly, Louise and Lacey, responded in kind with some gentle teasing of their own in a Reply Fae The Lassies – all in good humour. This was followed by a Toast Tae The School as delivered by Cameron.  Katie gave a vote of thanks to everyone who helped make today’s event so successful.

The children then performed Daphne Cochrane before our celebratory lunch was brought to a close with the finale of everyone linking hands and singing Auld Lang Syne.

There are many people to thank for making our day such as success:

Thank you to Kym for serving our delicious lunch.  Thanks go to Mr and Mrs Ross for judging and presiding over our lunch. And, of-course, thank you to our lovely families for supporting the children in learning their songs and poems and helping them create their artwork..

 

 

Till next year!

Our school was successful in being selected to participate in a Positive Post Box kindness initiative by both the Diana Trust Anti-Bullying organisation and the Nationwide Trust.

The whole school wrote letters that were sent off to another school in the UK just before Christmas.  Today, we received wonderful letters from St. George’s School in Langton Matravers, Dorset.  We were delighted to read them and learn about the pupils there.

Why not have a look at the Google Maps street view to have a peek at their lovely school!

 

 

 

 

 

Update – We have received a response from Head Teacher, Mrs Katy Astle, to say that her pupils would love to continue writing to our boys and girls.  Here are photos of their pupils receiving our letters. 🙂

We are looking forward to building positive relationship with our new friends.