On Tuesday 16th September, pupils from St. Joseph’s R.C. Primary and Portpatrick Primary shared an unforgettable day of learning and excitement.

The morning kicked off with a STEM-themed Wider Achievement Day. Children took part in autumn, and Halloween inspired challenges, including building zip lines, rafts, bridges and shelters for LEGO mini-figures, competing in Blooket quizzes, and joining digital learning sessions exploring patterns, coding, and budgeting. Teamwork, creativity and problem-solving were in full swing!

In the afternoon, excitement soared as the Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance helicopter landed on the school field. Pupils waved banners, met mascot Nevis, signed the official Skyward Challenge banner, spoke with the pilot and paramedics, and explored the lifesaving equipment onboard.

The visit was part of the Skyward Challenge, a nationwide campaign supporting Operation Skyward, with St. Joseph’s securing the honour for our region through a fund raising competition.

How this links to our learning:

• UNCRC (Article 31): Pupils had the right to play, create and have fun while learning.
• SHANARRI – Active: Everyone joined in, got involved, and stayed curious throughout the day.
• Sustainable Development Goals – Quality Education: Pupils worked together, solved problems, and learned new STEM skills.
• Curriculum for Excellence – Successful Learners: Children practised teamwork, creativity, and digital skills while exploring real-world challenges.