To celebrate Book Week, 2014 St Mark’s had two very special visitors.
Nick Sharratt
Nick Sharratt, illustrator and author came to see Primary 1-3. Nick read from his books and helped the children to write and illustrate a story. It was great fun!
Category Archives: Literacy
Book Week Scotland 2014
Stuart Reid
Stuart Reid came in to see Primary 4-7. He spoke to them about his work and had everyone in stitches. Primary 5 were lucky enough to have a personal visit from Stuart to find out more about creative writing.
Provost Debate
Primary Seven developed their talking and listening skills by taking part in the Provost’s Debate at the Council Offices. Pupils debated the motion, “This House believes that all children should have a curfew” The children took on the roles of Councillors, newspaper reporters and the general public.
Dyslexia Awareness Week
On Friday 7th November, two pupils represented St Mark’s at Dyslexia Awareness Week Event, which was held at Mearns Primary School. It was a fantastic occasion. We enjoyed excellent presentations from Barrhead High School, St. Joseph’s Primary School and a joint effort from St. John’s Primary School and St. Luke’s High School, all with a focus on what pupils had put into place since the event last year.
In particular there was great excitement around performances from Jamie Keenan, a magician from St. Luke’s High School, and X Factor’s Emily Middlemas, a senior pupil from Woodfarm High School, who stole the show by not only delivering an outstanding performance, but also by speaking very sensitively about the event’s theme, ‘Dyslexia Matters’.
Clyde in the Classroom
Blog 7
On Tuesday 11 March we released our trout into the wild. In the morning we carried out our final checks. We made sure that all classes who wanted to had seen the trout before they left. We then visited as a class and got our photos taken beside the hatchery. Sadly, another two trout had died, which took our total to 30 dead eggs/alevin. That meant we were releasing approximately 170 trout.
During our lunchtime, Caroline captured our trout and put around 5 trout into each tub for us to release. When we arrived back from our lunch she was waiting for us in the classroom. At this point some of us started to feel quite sad and emotional because we would no longer be able to look after our trout. We would miss following the rota to see what duties needed to be performed. We also felt quite excited because we were finally releasing our trout – what we had been working towards for five weeks.
It was a beautiful sunny day and we walked to the ABC park. It was lovely to see so many of our parents and carers waiting for us at the park. Caroline helped us to get into groups of three and the first group was called forward to release their trout. If we were wearing wellies we could stand in the burn. We then had to open our tubs and gently put the tubs into the water. We then tipped the tubs slightly which allowed the waters to mix and many of our trout disappeared very quickly. A few of us were lucky enough to see our trout swim off but many were just too quick for us!
We have really loved this topic and will be sharing our thoughts with the rest of our school. We would also like to share our work with other schools who have not yet been involved in this topic. We really hope to do something similar to this again.
World Book Day
Christopher Brookmyre visited Primary 6 and 6/7 on World Book Day. As a former pupil of the school he had some funny stories to share. Life in school has certainly changed! He also spent time answering some really probing questions, reading excerpts and provided writing tips to pupils. Well done Primary 6, 6/7 and thank you so much to Christopher.
World Book Day
Whale Week, P5a and P5b
Primary 5a and 5b’s novel study this term is Michael Morpurgo’s ‘This Morning I met a Whale’. As part of the topic both classes decided to host ‘Whale Week’ to raise funds for a visit to Deep Sea World. Through a variety of enterprise activities the classes managed to raise an astonishing £732.79. Activities included a sponsored dance, selling sea snacks, an acrostic poem competition and lots more.
Thank you very much to pupils, parents and carers for your support. Sea World here we come!
Orca, Competition winner.
Dolphin, Raffle Winner
Dyslexia Parents Evening
School Library
Primary 5a officially opened our new school library last week. They were very excited to be the first pupils in the school to explore the shelves and borrow a book. They loved the new books and scanning equipment-just like a real library! The library is bright and colourful and the children particularly liked the reading quotes which decorate the wall.
“It is our choices that show truly what we really are, far more than our abilities” – Albus Dumbledore
Choose Well, Choose A Book.
Gangsta Granny
George’s Marvellous Medicine
Reading Hour
Mad Hatter Tea Party
Librarian’s Visit
Librarian Visit
Yesterday we had a visit fromMary from Library Services. She told us about all the wonderful activities we can do at Barrhead Library.
Did you know children can take out 16 books when they join the library, you can order new books, you can research on the computers and we can print homework for free!
Badger the Mystery Mutt
Badger the Mystical Mutt came to visit Primary 1 -4 and it was a badgical, magical day. The children absolutely loved meeting him and hearing about his adventures. Many, many thanks to Laura and Lyn (our authors) for a truly grrr-eat day.
Book Week
Scottish Book Week 25th – 29th November
St Mark’s are all set for a Reading Revolution during Scottish Book Week. We are launching our new library, expecting special visitors (including a mystical mutt), and organising a whole host of spectacular classroom events which place reading, where it truly belongs, at the heart of the school curriculum. Primary 1 parents are invited along on 27 2pm for our Mad Hatters Tea Party. Once again pupils will receive the Bookbug Family Pack courtesy of Scottish Book Trust, the 3 brilliant books are all shortlisted for the Scottish Book Awards-which will get your vote? So, come on, switch off that TV, unplug that X-box and pick up the best handheld device ever- a book.
Book Week
Next week is book week. To celebrate every class in the school will be taking part in various book related activities. You can have a look at some of our plans below.
The Big Debate
Yesterday P7 visited Eastwood Council Offices to take part in a debate. The motion proposed ‘ Technology is the future;books and jotters are history’. After a lengthy debate the majority voted in favour.
