All posts by Hamish Budge

Trip to Castle Grounds

EP3/4/5 and GP4/5 had a fantastic outdoor learning trip to the Castle Grounds yesterday. We would like to say a huge thank you to Tim, Marie and Alistair for organising such fun activities!

“It was really fun and not what I imagined it to be!” Talia, EP4

“It was the most terrific school trip I’ve ever been on. When I saw the millipede race it made me feel that I had to work as a team.” Nathan, EP4

“I liked working with Aimee when I was blindfolded and Aimee led me to a tree to hug!” Caitlin, EP4

“I enjoyed when we had to go in the water and put our boats into the stream.” Alexander, EP4

“I think it was really good because nobody was left out in all the games we played.” Ruby, EP5

Setting off our handmade origami boats.
Setting off our handmade origami boats.
Talia, Finlay, Shian, Caitlin and Jocelyn after the race!
Talia, Finlay, Shian, Caitlin and Jocelyn after the race!

 

Measuring our grasshopper jumps!
Measuring our grasshopper jumps!

20140623_105820

The 'Bat and Moth' game.
The ‘Bat and Moth’ game.
Getting ready to lead our blindfolded partners to find a tree.
Getting ready to lead our blindfolded partners to find a tree.
James exploring his tree using touch and smell.
James exploring his tree using touch and smell.
Aimee leading Caitlin to a tree.
Aimee leading Caitlin to a tree.

Mòd Ionadail Leòdhais 2014

The pupils of Sgoil a’ Bhac have, once again, had an excellent showing at the local Lewis Mod. We had groups and individuals competing in a broad range of competitions for both native and learner Gaelic speakers. We’ve provided a full list of our prizewinners for 2014 below.

Mod Prizewinners 2014

We would like to say thanks to all the children who worked so hard to learn their competition pieces and all the staff, parents and community members who helped them to prepare and escort them to competitions.

 

Ailyn Mackay - 1st (Learner Recitation)
Ailyn Mackay – 1st (Learner Recitation)
All our 2nd and 3rd placed prizewinners
All our 2nd and 3rd placed prizewinners
Our victorious Boys Choir. Winners of Boys Unison.
Our victorious Boys Choir. Winners of Boys Unison.
Calum Maclennan - 1st in U13 Melodeon
Calum Maclennan – 1st in U13 Melodeon
Ceilidh Band - 2nd Placed
Ceilidh Band – 2nd Placed
Ellie Macdonald - 1st in Traditional
Ellie Macdonald – 1st in Traditional
Euan Anderson - 1st in Boys Solo 9-12 Fluent
Euan Anderson – 1st in Boys Solo 9-12 Fluent
Folk Group
Folk Group
Hannah Macleod - 1st in Conversation
Hannah Macleod – 1st in Conversation
Kitty Anne Maciver - 1st in Solo 5-8 Fluent
Kitty Anne Maciver – 1st in Solo 5-8 Fluent
Luke Macleod - 1st P4-5 Literary Competition
Luke Macleod – 1st P4-5 Literary Competition
Molly Macdonald - 1st in Recitation (9-10)
Molly Macdonald – 1st in Recitation (9-10)

TSB Sponsorship

Sgoil a’ Bhac recently received a sponsorship contribution of £165.60 from TSB towards our travel costs for the North of Scotland Soccer Sevens tournament our team participated in last term. Our team was representing the Western Isles in this national event, which was held in Dundee. As main sponsors of the competition, the TSB provided financial support to the participating schools to help with the expense of travel.17302_tsb_back-school_john-maclean-photographyImage courtesy of John Maclean Photography

SQR and SIP

backsipsqrIn June of each year, the school produces two important documents. The Standards and Quality Report (SQR), reports on the schools progress, attainment and attendance for the current session 2013-2014. The School Improvement Plan sets out the school’s development aims and improvement strategies for the coming year 2014-2015.

Both these documents can be accessed using the links below or on the ‘School Documents’ page of our website. If anyone would like a paper copy of either document, it can be requested from the school office.

Sgoil a’ Bhac – Standards and Quality Report 2013-14

Sgoil a’ Bhac – School Improvement Plan 2014-15

CNES Parent & Carer Survey

The Department of Education and Children’s Services are conducting a survey of all parents and carers across the authority in June 2014. The closing date for submissions is Friday 27th June. Attached below is a letter from the Director explaining how to access the survey online. A PDF version of the survey is also attached  for paper submission.

Results of the 2013 survey for Sgoil a’ Bhac are on the ‘School Documents’ page of our website.

Director’s Letter – Parent & Carer Survey

Parent & Carer Survey 2014 Questions

P7 Trip to Alltnacriche Outdoor centre.

P7 pupils enjoyed their school trip to Alltnacriche Outdoor Centre in Lynwilg, just outside Aviemore. They took part in a range of activities which included: Archery, Orienteering, Mountain Biking, Aerial Runway, Survival skills such as fire-lighting and shelter building. They also visited Landmark and had great fun on the rollercoaster and water slides. They managed to do a lot of shopping, in a little time too, in Inverness on the journey home.

 

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA        OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

All set for Mountain Biking.                                                            Being taught about Mountain Biking.

 

All ready to go!             OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

 

Having a go at Archery.
Having a go at Archery.

 

 

Learning about Archery

Learning about Archery.

 

Learning how to light a fire.
Learning how to light a fire.

 

The boys' shelter was highly praised by Iain, the Group leader. We almost stayed their for the night. Nach iad a rinn math!
The boys’ shelter was highly praised by Iain, the Group leader. We almost stayed there for the night. Nach iad a rinn math!

 

 

Pleased with their shelter! The Group Leader commented that they were the best shelters he had seen being built and was not going to dismantle them, which he would normally. Well done girls!

Pleased with their shelter! The Group Leader commented

that they were the best shelters he had seen being built

and was not going to dismantle them, which he would normally.

Well done girls!

 

Weekly Website Whizzkid – Caitlin EP7

This week we went to the I.C.T suite to work on our e-portfolios for the Nicolson. We also worked on Alta maths.  The challenger 4 bus came to school and we learnt about a lady called Jane who was a missionary. She went to Hungary to help the Jews in the Second World War. It was very interesting and all the people on the bus were great fun. This week we also learnt about the different parts of the heart and we watched a video about it.

 

Lots of people from school were competing in the local Mod. Everyone has worked very hard and done very well.  In our class Johanna, Lee, Leanne and I all did solos and Ailyn did a poem.  Leanne got a third place and Ailyn got a first place.  Me, Johanna and James were also in the Ceilidh Group that came second and Johanna and I were also in the Folk Group. Some people in our class were in the choir too and they came second.

 

Well done everyone in the school who took part.

Our visit to the Arnol Black House by Sandy Morrison and Hannah MacLeod.

Clas 6-7 aig an taigh dubh.
Clas 6-7 aig an taigh dubh.

 

Our class has been studying the Highland Clearances. We have been learning about their lifestyles and cultures. Mrs Mairi Morrison came to talk to us about the Arnol Blackhouse and we learnt lots! Therefore we went on a class trip to the Arnol Blackhouse.

 

Our class joined English primary one and two to visit Arnol. We split up and visited  the white house and black house. We learnt lots from Mrs Morrison and her colleague, Donald Morrison. There were many interesting sights to see in the blackhouse. We enjoyed it thoroughly!

an taigh dubh 14-05-14 003 an taigh dubh 14-05-14 052                         an taigh dubh 14-05-14 015 an taigh dubh 14-05-14 017                       an taigh dubh 14-05-14 019 an taigh dubh 14-05-14 022                     an taigh dubh 14-05-14 028