Author: Mr Morrison

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!

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.

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

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!

Just before the Easter holidays, pupils at our school were treated to a very special surprise when the crew from Portpatrick Lifeboat Station arrived with a delivery of Easter eggs for everyone.

The visit created great excitement as the lifeboat crew came into the school to meet the children and tell them a little bit about the important work they do. The RNLI crew explained how they help people who get into trouble at sea and how they train to stay safe while helping others. The pupils were very interested to hear about rescues, the lifeboat, and what it is like to be part of the crew.

The highlight of the visit was when the crew handed out Easter eggs to all the children. There were lots of smiles and happy faces, and the pupils were very grateful for the kind gift. It was a lovely way to celebrate Easter and helped the children learn more about the important role the lifeboat plays in our local community.

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Portpatrick Lifeboat Station for their kindness, for taking the time to visit us, and for all the amazing work they do to keep people safe.

We hope you all have a very Happy Easter! 🐣🚤

Today, our school came together to recognise and celebrate Down’s Syndrome Awareness Day, as we will not be in school tomorrow. It was a wonderful opportunity for our pupils and staff to learn more about inclusion, celebrate differences, and reflect on the importance of kindness and respect for everyone.

Throughout the day, classes took part in a range of age-appropriate activities. Younger pupils explored the idea that everyone is unique and special in their own way, while older pupils developed a deeper understanding of what Down’s Syndrome is and how it is just one part of who someone is. There were thoughtful discussions about how we can be supportive friends, celebrate diversity, and challenge stereotypes.

Many pupils also took part in the well-known tradition of wearing bright, colourful or mismatched socks. This simple but powerful symbol helped spark conversations about difference and reminded us that being different is something to be celebrated.

This year, we also focused on the significance of the number 21, often referred to as the “magic number” for Down’s Syndrome Awareness. To mark this, pupils enthusiastically completed:

• 21 laps of the playground, promoting health, teamwork and perseverance
• 21 minutes of handwriting, encouraging focus, effort and pride in their work
• 21 minutes of art activities, allowing creativity and self-expression

These activities helped make the day memorable while reinforcing the importance of inclusion in fun and meaningful ways.

The day supported the development of key metaskills across the school:

• Social intelligence, as pupils learned empathy, inclusion, and respect for others
• Self-awareness, by recognising their own values and how they treat others
• Collaboration, through shared discussions and activities promoting teamwork and understanding

Our learning links closely with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), including:

• Article 2 – every child has the right to be treated fairly and not discriminated against
• Article 23 – children with disabilities have the right to live a full and happy life with dignity and inclusion
• Article 29 – education should develop respect for others and celebrate diversity

It also connects with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Goal 4: Quality Education – promoting inclusive and equitable learning for all
• Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities – encouraging understanding and acceptance of differences
• Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – fostering respectful and inclusive communities

Down’s Syndrome Awareness Day reminded us that inclusion is not just something we talk about—it is something we live every day in our school. By celebrating our differences and supporting one another, we help create a community where everyone feels valued, respected, and included.

We are proud of how our pupils embraced today’s message and demonstrated our school values so positively.

This week, we were delighted to welcome PC Todd into our school to speak with our pupils about the very important topic of Internet Safety. The sessions were carefully tailored for different age groups, with Primary 1–4 and Primary 5–6 each taking part in engaging and informative discussions.

For our younger learners in Primary 1–4, PC Todd introduced the idea that not everyone online is who they say they are. Through simple, relatable examples, the children learned how people can sometimes try to trick others into sharing personal information, such as their name, address, or school. Pupils were encouraged to remember the importance of keeping their personal details private and to always tell a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right online.

With Primary 5–6, the discussions went into more depth. Pupils explored real-life scenarios involving cyberbullying, online scams, and digital responsibility. They discussed how unkind behaviour online can affect others and the importance of thinking carefully before posting or sharing anything. PC Todd also highlighted how easily information can be misunderstood online and reminded pupils to be respectful, responsible, and kind digital citizens.

Across all stages, the sessions supported the development of important metaskills. Pupils were building:

• Self-management, by learning how to stay safe and make good choices online
• Social intelligence, by understanding how their words and actions impact others
• Innovation and critical thinking, by recognising risks and questioning what they see online

This learning also links strongly to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). In particular:

• Article 16 – the right to privacy, helping children understand how to protect their personal information
• Article 19 – the right to be protected from harm, including online harm such as cyberbullying
• Article 17 – the right to access information safely and appropriately

Additionally, the sessions support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially:

• Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing – promoting mental wellbeing by addressing cyberbullying
• Goal 4: Quality Education – equipping pupils with essential digital literacy and safety skills
• Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – encouraging respectful, responsible behaviour in digital communities

PC Todd’s visit was a valuable reminder that being safe online is everyone’s responsibility. By working together—school, families, and the wider community—we can help our children become confident, respectful, and safe users of technology.

We would like to thank PC Todd for taking the time to visit and share such important messages with our pupils.