Portpatrick Primary

What an idyllic afternoon! In preparation for P5-7’s Daffodil Tea, Mrs Ferguson and a car-load of pupils headed up to Dunskey Estate to pick some daffodils and snowdrops.

Gaby, Jemima, Mr Orr-Ewing and a band of their helpers worked alongside Mia, Innes, Olivia and Emily and Mrs Ferguson picking snowdrops and chatting. In the words of Innes, ” I wish I could stay here all day!”

Over 160 bunches of snowdrops later (it’s still a bit on the early side for daffodils), Mrs Ferguson and the children headed back to school leaving the rest still picking.

Gaby is very kindly going to deliver these up to the Portpatrick Hotel. Aren’t we lucky to have our community working together in this way?

Many thanks to the Orr-Ewing family and to Gaby, Jemima and their team for helping us out. The pupils had a lovely afternoon!

Primary 5-7 recently had a series of science lesson which was conducted by use of the video conference facilities, and linked to Glasgow Science centre where Heather Reid MBE (formally “Heather from the weather”) was there to lead and teach the pupils all about forces.

The children listened to what Heather was telling them, in Glasgow and answered her questions.  They were able to test out various applications of forces – and had great fun making their own catapults!

Primary 5-7 and Ms Whorlow tried their hand at cookery today with a difference – they were restricted to World War 2 food rations.  On the menu they had some fruity buns (which included apples, sultanas and prunes) as well as a “mock apricot tart” .  No apricots were actually used in the making of this sweet flan dish –  in fact it was a combination of carrots and jam! 

The fruity buns definitely passed the taste test – however the mock apricot flan was not quite so heartily tucked into.  Callum did enjoy eating it and was quick to tell his classmates “it is actually not all that bad!”

Have a look at the photographs below to see how the children created these World war 2 recipes.

 

Today P1 and 2 donned their 2D Shape Hunter caps and set off on a mission!

Having looked at some 2D shapes and their properties in class, we headed into the village to try and find some examples of these in the wider world.

What great hunters we were! We spotted lots of rectangles and squares, circles and ovals and Jack spotted a hexagon too!

Ruby noticed an interesting shape – so we counted the sides. There were 9 and so we even found about the nonagon shape! What a busy and fun morning!

Tomorrow we are hoping this Winter sunshine holds so that we can head into the playground and make a tally chart of the 2D shapes we can spot.

The senior pupils enjoyed some winter sunshine yesterday to take part in some outdoor maths with speed distance and time calculations, with Miss Whorlow.

The lesson objectives were to

* Recognise and apply the relationship between speed, time and distance * Applying links to algebraic formulae  * Children to estimate then measure the length of the football pitch in metric units. (Convert between m-km to apply decimals for extension) * Children to run a set distance  * Use stop watches to time the duration of the ‘race’ * Use ICT  graph and/or table formulation for a league table of result * Apply the D/S/T/ triangle: Speed = Distance ÷ Time

The p5-7 pupils coped admirably with the tricky calculations, and were glad to take advantage of a lovely dry day outside.

 

 

Barbara our school cook invited grandparents of the school to come in and enjoy a haggis lunch with their grandchildren, last week.

Rhian Palmer in p4 said the Selkirk Grace before Callum Cumming in p7 addressed the haggis.  The company then sat down to enjoy a traditional plate of haggis neeps and tatties together.  Much chat took place, between the invited guests and their grandchildren.

Later, as teas and coffees were served the children performed some Scots poetry recitations and singing of Scots songs to the grandparents. and visitors.

The afternoon was a great success, making all feel very patriotic .  The visitors left the school, happy after a hearty meal the pupils

Primary 7 recently enjoyed a full morning at Stranraer Ice Rink, where they were given lessons on the sport of Curling. Once pupils had experienced coaching of the basic game, they were able to take part in a competition against other Primary 7 pupils from other local Primary schools.  At the end of the event the p7 pupils enjoyed lunch at The North West Castle , before being presented with a certificate and returning back to school. 

Stranraer Ice rink has long been associated with many championship curlers…….I wonder if any of our pupils will go on to the success that former Portpatrick pupil, and Olympic medal winner, Vicki Adams has had?

In January the Portpatrick Primary has a Scots language focus.  This is an interdisciplinary learning approach to Scots poetry and our Scottish culture and heritage. The  focus on Scottish poetry incorporates learning in literacy, expressive arts, health and well being and social studies. 

As part of this work, each year group focused on a different poem.  This culminated in a celebration assembly to which parents and friend of the school were invited.  The following children received certificates in recognition of all the hard work they had put in;

Poetry recitations

P1- 1^st Maya Mc Neil         2.  Ruby Rankin     3.  Ava Lily Orr Ewing

P2/3 1^st Mackenzie Collins 2.  Jack Cloy        3.  Abbi Jonstone

P4 1.  Rowan Harbottle    2.  Rhian Palmer     3.  Myles Hine and Olivia Cumming

P5. 1.  Lachlan Ross         2.  Jenna Marshall  3.  Innes Mc Clurg

P6. 1.  Tilly partington     2.  Amelia Currie  

P7. 1. Lara Cole                2.  Finn Marshall    3.  Magnus Ross

 

Handwriting

P1 – Maya Mc Neil

P2 /3 Abbi Johnstone

P4 Rowan Harbottle

P5 Jenna Marshall

P6 Amelia Currie

P7 Lara Cole and Finn Marshall

 

Artwork

P1 Ava Lily Orr Ewing

P2/3 Abbi Johnstone

P4 Olivia Cumming

P5 Jenna Marshall

P6 Tilly Partington

P7 Kelsey Stevenson and Isla Carter.

 

Portpatrick Primary footballers  are delighted that they now have a new football strip, sponsored by Mr Phil Newall of the Portpatrick Hotel.  For some competitions the team play with friends from their partnership school of Leswalt.  Leswalt have red sweatshirts, and Portpatrick have blue.  This new strip combines both school colours, so they can play together as one united team – but still have their own school identity with the school badge and own sponsor evident.

Mr Newall came into school to get his photograph taken with some of the footballers from Portpatrick – and if you look closely you can see the Portpatrick Hotel in the background. 

 

Portpatrick Primary were out and about walking in the local community, this week,  as part of their “Daily Mile” challenge.  The route they took on Monday led them round the harbour towards the park.  At the park there was a lot of activity,  as Mr Harbottle was there helping as the former play equipment was being taken away to make way for the new equipment.  The school children were very excited to see that new play equipment was arriving and that the village play park was about to undergo a transformation, in memory of young Euan.

It just so happened a photographer was there to capture the start of construction work for the local paper –  it was nice  to see the school on the front page of the Wigtown Free Press this week, along side Mr Harbottle.