Portpatrick Primary

Portpatrick Primary pupils have recently made some new friends from across the water in N Ireland.

Mr Gary Blair from the Ulster Scots agency, got in touch with the school and asked if they would like to be part of this innovative twinning project.  Mrs Baillie (head teacher) jumped at the chance to develop literacy skills and forge a bond with a school,  which could almost be seen across the water from Portpatrick.

Once it was established the project would go ahead, both sets of pupils exchange a mini cv, which told each other a little more about themselves.  Pupils in Portpatrick p5-7 were matched, by their class teacher Ms Whorlow, to a buddy  from Ireland who had similar interests.

On Thursday 24th September 2015, 13 pupils from Kirkistown Primary arrived at Portpatrick Primary.  the had an early start, having left school at 5.30am to get the 7.30am boat to Cairnryan.  On arrival at Portpatrick Primary they were give a tour of the school and grounds, by their buddy.

Soon, both sets of pupils were off on a bus for a fun filled afternoon of chocolate and socialisation at The Cocoa Bean factory at Twynolm.  The children got to know each other and enjoyed a workshop making chocolate goodies and playing outside in the adventure playground.

The Irish visitors spent the night at the Mount Stewart Hotel in Portpatrick, before getting up early again to head off with Portpatrick pupils to Wigtown Book festival.  Both schools heard from authors Phil Earl and Cathy Mc Phail, before a final farewell ceremony was held in a marquee at Wigtown.

Mr Gary Blair from the Ulster Scots agency presented both sets of pupils with a certificate for their participation in this twinning project.  Mrs Baillie from Portpatrick Primary asked the Portpatrick pupils to hand over a goodie bag  of souvenirs, to their new found buddies.  The bag contained pencils, sharpeners and a rubber from the RNLI shed at Portpatrick, as well as a pen from the school.

All staff and pupils voted the experience a massive success.  It was thoroughly enjoyable and enabled children to link up socially through a literacy project.  It is hoped that the links will continue as pupils from Portpatrick have already written thank you letters to their new friends and will aim to keep in touch in the future.

The school would like to express thanks to Mr Blair from the Ulster Scots agency for making this all possible.  Have a look at the photographs our Irish friends posted online-  http://www.kirkistownps.com/primary-7.html

 

As part of our Length topic we brought in some teddies to measure. We are now really good at knowing which end of the measuring tape to start at and how to accurately measure. We worked in pairs to complete each teddy’s data file. It was a fun maths session!

What a lovely afternoon P1-4 have had! Ava Lily’s parents invited the class up to Dunskey Gardens to pond dip. We were accompanied by Ruby’s dad and Max and met there by Gabby, David, Charlene and Ava Lily’s mum, dad and Atticus. We had the most wonderful time. We found Water Boatmen, a frog, Pond Skaters, Damsel nymph flies and caddis fly larvae and learnt lots about the wildlife and plants to be found around a pond. Thanks to the Orr-Ewings for the invite!

 

 

P1-4 ventured outside today to do some measuring. Working in groups, the pupils used fairy steps, giant steps, a people chain and (finally) a metre stick to measure the playground. We decided that using a metre stick is the best way to measure accurately!

 

Well, the closing date for applications has come and gone. Mrs Ferguson has had a busy morning reading through them and, after consultation with other staff, the final line-up has been decided!

 

Announcement to be made this afternoon at assembly. Photos to follow too…

* First meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 23rd September

This morning Primary 5-7 went outside for their maths, and were searching for different angles in the school grounds.  Armed with protractors they went looking for a range of acute and obtuse angles to estimate and measure.

Primary 5-7 spent a morning a the Ryan Centre participating in a mini triathlon even, organised by Scottish Triathlon.  After being in the swimming pool the children jumped on a bike to cycle, before running to finish the event.  It was a taster session for the children and they all received a medal for their efforts.  Well done to all the little athletes!

Yesterday Richard Arkless MP visited the school and we asked some questions about his job.

We asked him why he wanted to be an MP. He said the Scottish Referendum had inspired him and he loves his local area.

He told us an MP helps to make decisions to make places better.

Olivia and Jack gave him a tour of the school. I enjoyed meeting Richard Arkless MP.

Finlay P3

 

On Thursday 4th September Richard Arkless MP came to answer lots of our questions. Abbi and Lee welcomed him to our school, and Olivia and I were his tour guides. Rowan took some photos.

Richard Arkless is an MP for us. He wanted to do this job because of the Scottish Referendum and also he loves Stranraer (and Portpatrick!). It was good to see him – I liked it.

Jack P2

 

On 4.9.15 Richard Arkless MP came to Portpatrick Primary. He is an MP and he said it is his job to help to make this a better place to live.

Finlay asked him some of the questions we had thought of like what different things does an MP do. He said he needs to work in London sometimes and he also goes around the region to see people.

Next we asked him about the best and worst things about his job. He said he likes to help people but he misses not seeing his family as much.

After that we all got a photo with him and then we took him a tour of inside and outside our school.

I enjoyed meeting an MP.

Rhian P4

Photos taken by Rowan our photographer for the day. Many thanks to our ‘Welcomers’ Lee and Abbi for their friendliness, Tour Guides Jack and Olivia and Questioner Finlay – a great job done by all!

Primary 1-4 have been learning all about “our community” and yesterday they had a visit from the “Blood bikes” and learned more about what this charity does in the local community and across the region.  Mrs Cameron had invited the charity to come and speak about their work, after her husband made a donation to the cause recently.

 

Rowan in P4 reported “The whole school got to see where the blood was stored on the motor bike, to allow it to be transported to where hospitals need it.  David told us they sometimes have to take blood from an ill person in Stranraer and take to Dumfries to get examined in a lab.  He explained he had between 12-14 hours to reach his destination with blood – and this could be as far away as London or the Isle of Wight.  Blood bike riders do not get paid to do it – they are all volunteers.  David that visited us with his motor bike was a retired policeman who lives in Dumfries now”

 

 

This week Atticus, Max, Charlene and Tracy have been lending a hand with the weeding in the school grounds.  Over the summer there was a tremendous amount of growth which resulted in the weeds getting out of control.

Today we had a real help in the form of Mr Alec Ross. Mr Ross came armed with his strimmer and tackled “the mound” cutting back the grass and disposing of ragwort.  He then completed the weeding and moved away all the rubbish and clutter which had gathered up at the pupil entrance. 

Some of the senior boys popped outside and gave Mr Ross a hand for an hour or two – they were up and down the playground with wheelbarrows and were a real hardworking team – and they were even rewarded with a pay packet from Mr Ross for their assistance!

Mr Ross was at school from 9am until after 2pm – and was rewarded for all his hard work with a plate of mince an tatties from Barbara at lunch time to keep his energy up!

Great work!