🌟 Wider Achievement Day & A Very Special Visit at St Joseph’s RC Primary 🌟

Today was a huge day at St Joseph’s RC Primary! We welcomed our friends from Portpatrick Primary for a full day of wider achievement activities – learning, creating and playing together across P1–3, P4–5 and P6–7 groups.

🎨 Creative STEM Fun with Miss Lisi
One group got stuck into autumn- and Hallowe’en-themed arts, crafts and STEM challenges. Pupils designed and built for LEGO mini-figures – zip lines, rafts, bridges and even shelters – showing off their teamwork, problem-solving and creativity.

💻 Digital Autumn Adventures with Miss Scott
Miss Scott ran three autumn-themed digital learning sessions.

Autumn Textiles Patterns & Symmetry: Using drawing tools and digital design, pupils created repeating autumn patterns, working with shapes, symmetry and repetition.
Autumn Coding Challenge: Pupils used Bee-Bots, Scratch or Scratch Jr to move autumn characters around a map – collecting acorns, pumpkins and leaves using coordinates and angles.
Autumn Shopping & Budgeting: Pupils tackled an autumn shopping game, practising adding, subtracting and budgeting, with older pupils using Google Sheets to plan and calculate a shopping list.

🎮 Blooket Quizzes with Miss Farquhar
Another highlight was Miss Farquhar’s Blooket quizzes. Children competed, co-operated and built their knowledge while having lots of fun. These fast-paced games helped pupils strengthen their recall skills, strategic thinking and teamwork.

Throughout the morning the children practised meta-skills such as collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, digital literacy, critical thinking and self-management – all while making new friends across both schools.

🚁 A Sky-High Main Event
The afternoon brought the moment everyone had been waiting for. St Joseph’s RC Primary won the Skyward Challenge last session for our Air Ambulance fundraiser – and today our prize landed right in our playground!

The Scottish Charity Air Ambulance helicopter touched down to cheers, banners and waving flags from both schools. The Free Press newspaper captured the incredible moment on video and in photographs.

P7 pupils proudly brought out the banners they had made, everyone met the Air Ambulance mascot Nevis, and pupils signed the original Skyward Challenge banner. Best of all, the children got to meet the pilot and paramedics, see the equipment up close and even stand right beside the helicopter.

The landing was unforgettable and gave everyone a first-hand look at the amazing work the Air Ambulance does. It also helped the children understand the importance of fundraising and community support for vital services.

💛 A Huge Thank You
We can’t thank the Air Ambulance team and everyone involved enough for making today possible. It was a day filled with learning, excitement and inspiration – and one we’ll all remember for years to come.

UNCRC Articles

Article 28 – Right to Education: The day gave pupils opportunities to learn new digital, STEM, budgeting, and creative skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Article 29 – Goals of Education: The activities encouraged children to develop their talents, skills and respect for the environment.
Article 31 – Right to Rest, Play and Cultural Activities: Pupils had the chance to take part in enjoyable, hands-on activities and games with friends from another school.
Article 24 – Health and Well-being: Meeting the Air Ambulance team highlighted how emergency health services protect everyone’s safety and health.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: Linked to learning about the Air Ambulance and its importance in emergencies.
SDG 4 – Quality Education: Using technology, coding, maths and creativity in meaningful ways across the day.
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: Exploring how technology, engineering and problem-solving (coding, LEGO building, spreadsheets) help solve real-world challenges.
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption: Budgeting activities taught children to manage money and resources wisely.
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Working together across two schools built stronger community links.

SHANARRI Indicators

Safe: Children learned about the Air Ambulance and emergency response, reinforcing community safety.
Healthy: Participation in fun, purposeful activities supported emotional and mental well-being.
Achieving: All pupils had the chance to develop and demonstrate new skills in coding, budgeting, crafts, and teamwork.
Nurtured: Working in mixed-age groups across schools promoted inclusion and friendships.
Active: Hands-on STEM and craft activities encouraged active problem-solving and creativity.
Respected: Pupils’ ideas, choices, and designs were valued throughout the day.
Responsible: Pupils took responsibility for budgets, coding instructions, and working safely during the Air Ambulance visit.
Included: Every child participated, regardless of age or stage, building confidence and belonging.

Meta-skills

Focusing: Concentrating on the steps in coding, budgeting, and crafting.
Integrity: Respecting safety rules during the Air Ambulance visit.
Adapting: Moving between tasks and trying new technologies.
Initiative: Taking the lead in group activities and solving problems independently.
Critical Thinking: Planning coding routes, budget choices and testing STEM builds.
Creativity: Designing autumn patterns, banners, and innovative LEGO builds.
Sense Making: Connecting learning in STEM, coding and budgeting to real-life contexts.
Communication: Sharing ideas, asking questions and explaining designs to peers.
Collaboration: Working successfully with new partners across both schools.
Curiosity: Exploring how the helicopter works and asking the Air Ambulance crew questions.
Leading: Older pupils guided younger ones through activities and modelled skills.
Feeling: Developing empathy and appreciation for emergency workers and each other.

Strands of Faith

Signs of God: Experiencing the Air Ambulance visit highlighted caring for others and recognising the value of service and community helpers.
In the Image of God: Working cooperatively and respectfully with others from another school showed dignity and inclusion.
Reign of God: Practising fairness, kindness and stewardship during activities reflected Gospel values.