It’s been another busy week at Dalmellington PS and ECC. There have been a huge range of activities happening.

On Wednesday, we were awarded our Communication Friendly Accreditation. This award is the result of the hard work of staff and children to make our school a Communication Friendly School. Azaan and Keeli were on hand to accept the award as they had led the pupil presentation.

P4 and P5 enjoyed participating in the Festival of Farming at Dumfries House. They enjoyed engaging with all the exhibits there and learned lots about the farming industry. Thank you to our helpers who accompanied us on the trip.

Our new P1 pupils started their transition sessions in the school. This is building on all the work that has been done with P1 and Miss Donnelly working in the ECC with the children and the opportunity for our new P7 buddies to continue to support.

At assembly on Friday, we started reviewing our Playground Charter. This is something we do on an annual basis. We discuss what we see and hear in the playground when people play safely and fairly. We will be working on this over the next few weeks to update it.

The ECC children have been interested in learning about nature and life cycles so this will be an area of focus over the next few weeks for the children.

Next week we have lots more activities planned, although it is short week. Children and staff return on Tuesday after a long weekend. Some of the activities happening next week are: –

Tuesday – P6 Danger Detectives at Dean Park

Tuesday – P1/2 swimming

Tuesday – P6/7 Outdoor Learning

Wednesday – ECC Parents’ Den Building Stay and Play

Wednesday – P3/4 and P5/6 Outdoor Learning

Thursday – New P1 transition in the school

Thursday – P7 STEAM Day at Doon Academy

Thursday – P3/4 Baking

Thursday – P1/2 Outdoor Learning

Friday – P7 STEAM Day at Doon Academy

Friday – P6 visit the Boswell Book Festival at Dumfries House

Our first week back at school has been a hard working week. I’d like to welcome Miss Field to the school. She will be working across all the classes this term.

During the Easter holidays, we received the lovely news that we have achieved our Silver Reading Award. Thank you to our Junior Librarians led by Mrs Somerville who have organised so many fun reading events to help us achieve this award.

At assembly on Friday, Mrs Stevenson was talking to the children about Earth Day which is linking very much with an outdoor learning focus we will have this term. Throughout term 4 all classes will be developing their skills at outdoor learning. Our P3/4 and P5/6 class will be taking part in the baking project which other classes have enjoyed so far. P1/2 are looking forward to starting their swimming block.

P1 have enjoyed working in the ECC with our new P1s and our new P1s will start their transition sessions next week supported by our P6 buddies.

P7 transition will be getting underway shortly with sessions planned for Doon Academy teachers to visit us and P7 to take part in activities in Doon Academy too.

By Friday, I will have an updated calendar for Term 4 ready to send out with all the important dates for Term 4. One date to note is a Sharing the Learning session for parents on Friday 17th May at 2pm. This will be an opportunity to come into school and share some learning across the curriculum. We hope you will be able to join us.

The school choir visited Dalmellington Care Home and the Glebe to bring a bit of Christmas Cheer. They sang so well. Please click on the link below to see and hear them.

https://sway.office.com/NmjLvNaESf3X81Gi?ref=Link

Every Monday, Mrs Hill teaches strings. The P6/7s have been making great progress and they have been learning new rhythm patterns. Click on the link to see and hear what they have been learning.

https://sway.office.com/LdlvJeUA47dyQBHj?ref=Link