Category: House and Vice Captains

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

WINDOWS, MIRRORS AND SLIDING GLASS DOORS: ENSURING ALL CHILDREN SEE THEMSELVES AND OTHERS IN LITERATURE

In 1990, Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop published an essay about the importance of providing readers with books that reflect the diversity of the world.

In the essay, Dr. Bishop coined the phrase “Windows, Mirrors and Sliding Glass Doors” to explain how children see themselves in books and how they can also learn about the lives of others through literature.

Dr. Bishop makes the point that it’s crucial for all children to see themselves in the books they read.  Dr Bishop says, when books don’t serve as mirrors to children,, they learn a powerful lesson about how they are devalued in society.

In addition to acting as mirrors, books can also serve as windows that give readers a glimpse into the lives and experiences of others.

Therefore we have the critical task of making sure the children of Dunlop Primary and ECC have access to books in our classrooms and libraries that serve as both windows and mirrors.

As part of our school improvement planning, we have been developing the class libraries to ensure the books available to the children for personal readers are diverse and representative of the children and families of Dunlop Primary School and ECC.

So far we have provided each class with about 25 new books and plans are underway to continue to ensure visibility of all children.

Sarah, from The Book Nook in Stewarton is aware of our development plans and she very kindly gifted £160 worth of books to add to the class libraries.

The Captains and Vice Captains went to receive the books from Sarah and thank her for her generosity, whilst there, Sarah read to the children and provided some snacks.  As a thank you to Sarah, the Captains and Vice Captains entertained her and the other customers with their Scottish poetry.

Thank you Sarah for your kind generosity and thank you to the Captains and Vice Captains for representing the school in the community.

Regards, Mrs Nouillan

 

 

 

Bud the travelling Poppy Museum

In December, Bud the travelling Poppy Museum arrived in Dunlop for two days of workshops and museum visits.

Bud has been on the road since April 2019, travelling across Scotland sharing the story of the poppy. Bud further supported the children’s understanding of  the poppy and remembrance, helping keep remembrance relevant all year round.

All children and staff enjoyed their visit to Bud and it was a privilege and honour for us to have Bud visit us in Dunlop!

On behalf of the school, the Captains and Vice Captains thanked the Bud staff for coming to visit and provided the staff with coffee and cake from Idle Hands.

Kind regards, Mrs Nouillan

Tree Trimming 2023!

A huge thank you to our Captains and Vice Captains for taking on the role of Dunlop Tree Trimmers!

This year was a huge task as we have taken ownership of a gigantic 10 foot tree and as the children can only put decorations on to their arm’s length, a lot of climbing up and down the ladder fell to me, although I was directed on where exactly I was to place the baubles!

The tree looks beautiful in the hall and our visitors at the Winter Fair commented too!

A huge thank you also goes to our Captains and Vice Captains who worked tirelessly in the lead up to the Winter Fair, they wrote letters to local shops and businesses for donations for the raffle, organised  the Tombola (which was an enormous success) and organised the donated toys and books.  Then they all came out on Saturday and worked all morning at the stalls.

We all say a huge thank you for all you hard work and everything you do to make sure Dunlop Dazzles!

With regards, Mrs Nouillan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lest We Forget 2023

The Captains and Vice Captains attended the Church Remembrance Sunday Service with Mrs Kelly and myself as representatives of the school and family community.

The children had the honour of laying the wreath at the War Memorial to pay our respect.

The role of House and Vice House Captain is one of privilege, pride and responsibility. These roles are more than just a title and badge, and they require dedication and commitment for an entire year as they take part in active citizenship.

We are always immensely proud of our Captains and Vice Captains as they are exemplary role models.

With sincerest regards, Mrs Nouillan

New Class Library Books

As part of our improvement plan for this year is to further develop resources which promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we have made a significant investment in our classroom libraries. We have spent £800, £500 was from our core budget and £300 was from our Pennies in the Park fundraiser in June 2023, and again I offer a huge thank you for your support with this!  Our new library books promote more diversity of characters, story-lines and authors, and they are intended to deepen understanding of disability, religion, faith, beliefs and culture, but all through the context of age and stage appropriate stories.  Moreover, our new resources will ensure all of the children of Dunlop Primary School have visibility and know they are represented and valued.

The Captains and Vice Captains have been working with me to allocate books to each class and they are excited about these new books going into the classrooms!

Should you have any questions about our resources or our improvement plan for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, I’m an always available to meet with you.

With regards, Mrs Nouillan

Staff House Team Members

Last year, the Captains/Vice Captains and the Pupil Council group, discussed the idea of staff from the primary department being allocated to a house, and like pupils, show their allegiance to their house for the duration of the time they work within Dunlop Primary.  Despite the fact there will be allegiance in abundance, we know the staff will still champion all of our children, irrespective of their house!

We believe that a sense of community pervades throughout our school, however this would arguably be incomplete if the children were not given the opportunity to interact with staff beyond those they see in the classroom, thereby encouraging stronger relationships and a stronger sense of belonging.   So this year, and for every year after, we present our staff house allocation group.

staff house allocation 23 24

When the Captains and Vice Captains shared this news with the staff, there were some huge cheers and whoops of joy!  A couple of staff members have also been heard saying, they might get themselves a house t-shirt!!  I think it is true to say, the race for the House Cup, is well and truly on!

Good luck children and staff of Clerkland, Glazert and Lugton, work hard, show your team spirit, live and demonstrate our school values and give your best to the house challenges! Your housemates need you!

Kind regards, Mrs Nouillan

 

 

 

House Captains and House Vice Captains 2023/2024

Dunlop House System

House Captains and House Vice Captains

When new pupils arrive at Dunlop Primary, their transition is supported by entry into a caring and supportive environment. Each new pupil becomes a valued member of a small ‘family unit’ and they are allocated a House. Pupils stay within that house until they leave in P7, additionally we place siblings together within a house.

At Dunlop Primary, we have three house: Clerkland, Glazert and Lugton  and these are named after local areas.

House Colours

Each house is represented by a different colour and we encourage pupils to wear their house colours on days throughout the year.

Clerkalnd = Blue

Glazert = Yellow

Lugton = Red

House Captains

At the beginning of the school year, a P7 is elected House Captain and takes on the responsibility for the leadership and organisation of their house for the forthcoming year, and they are ably supported by a P6 Vice Captain.

The House Captains and Vice Captains work tirelessly to ensure their house members are working together to earn House Points whilst ensuring that all house members are living and demonstrating the Dunlop School Values: Honest, Inclusive, Kind and Respect

House Points

Throughout the year, house points are awarded to pupils who are spotted living and sharing the Dunlop Values.  House points are also awarded at House Events and Inter House Challenges.  At the end of the year, house points are added together and the house with the most points wins the overall house competition and are rewarded with hte prestige of lifting the House Cup and also with a treat!

Election Fever

At the beginning of the new school year, P7 ad P6 pupils prepare and present an election speech to their peers in their own house, and each house then votes for their captains and vice captains.

House Captains and Vice Captains 2023/24

I am proud to present this year’s House Captains and Vice Captains, please click on the link below, and I look forward to working alongside them as they plan and lead many school events.

Clerkland Captain Vice-Captain 23 – 24

Glazert Captain Vice-Captain 23 – 24

Lugton Captain Vice-Captain 23 – 24

Please continue to visit the Captain’s and Vice Captain’s blog for updates.

Kind regards, Mrs Nouillan

 

The Race for the House Cup

Our Captains and Vice Captains have all worked exceptionally hard this as our leaders and they have encouraged their house members to give their best in the race for the House Cup.

After a long race, think marathon not a sprint, Lugton were victorious!

The Captain and Vice Captain were proud to lift the House Cup, and at the house party, they thanked everyone in Lugton for their great team effort!

Well done Team Lugton, you have enjoyed a wonderful year with the double win – House Cup and Sports Cup!

Thank you to the amazing young leaders from Clerkland, Glazert and Lugton, what a year you have enjoyed!  We thank you for your hard work and for leading so many wonderful activities for the benefit of the whole school and community!

Kindest regards, Mrs Nouillan

 

 

World Book Day 2023

Dunlop Primary and ECC loves books, reading and World Book Day, and 2023 was another huge success!

We loved having Mystery Readers/Bilingual Readers back in the school and ECC, and the children enjoyed a story in BSL, Spanish, Polish and French.  P6 also enjoyed some Shakespeare and P4 heard an extract from The Hobbit and this was read by Mr Cowie our fantastic janitor.

The Captains and Vice Captains again led more fabulous activities for the whole school and they planned and led a book quiz and this was hotly contested by everyone as they wanted the much coveted House Tokens!  They also organised for every child to received their free World Book Day book form Joyce at WH Smith Kilmarnock, we can’t thank Joyce enough for this!!  A huge thank you is also extended to an amazing mummy in P2/1 who went to Kilmarnock to collect the books for us!

Our wonderful P6 Big Buddies enjoyed spending time with their Little Buddy and they read together, chatted and showed they have already formed strong friendships!  We love seeing this!

Lastly, we gathered everyone from the ECC – P6 up for  a reading circle! Our P7 children were on residential and missed all this fun!

A huge thank you is also extended to our parents and carers who creatively rose to the challenge of dressing up for World Book Day but using what they had without the need to spend money on a costume!  You are stars!

I hope you will agree, the children and staff enjoyed a fabulous World Book Day!

Kindest regards, Mrs Nouillan

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas Lunch

Our Captains and Vice Captains, ongoing demonstrate leadership skills and they are role models to all children in our school.

They step up to plan, organise and lead many different activities, including setting up the tables for Christmas Lunch and then helping to serve the infants!

We had lots of fun and there was some singing too!

Merry Christmas from the Captains and Vice Captains, they are having a little rest now!

Please look back at their page to see how busy they have been!

Kind regards, Mrs Nouillan