Tag: partnerships

June 20, 2016

St Patrick’s RC PS enjoys the benefits of student exchange

Pupils and staff at St Patrick’s RC PS in Denny have enjoyed hosting student teacher Marjorie Brewer from Chicago, USA. Marjorie arrived in Scotland in early May, and has been working with Victoria Daly’s primary 1 class, and Antoinette Irwin’s primary 5 class.

She feels she has benefitted a great deal from getting to know the Scottish school system, and from experiencing both primary stages, and being part of the wider life of the school.

Marjorie’s student teacher exchange placement at St Patrick’s RC PS was arranged between head teacher Anne O’Donnell, Yvonne McBlain, curriculum support officer, Falkirk Children’s Services, and Laura Stachowski, Director, Global Gateway for Teachers, Indiana University Bloomington. When Yvonne popped into school for a quick visit, primary 5 were enjoying a writing lesson led by Marjorie. She used a power point about her home city as a stimulus for the lesson, and adapted elements of Antionette’s practice to give pupils sufficient structure, but also room for personal freedom and creativity within their writing task. Pupils were responding well, by creating a diary of their imaginary visit to that city.

Finlay in primary 5 feels that having a student teacher from another country has been “A new experience – a bit more fun.”. Emma B enjoyed learning about schooling in Chicago – “Miss Brewer did a big powerpoint to show us what it was like and gave us tasks to do…we learned about Will’s Tower and the schools she was in before here…they have different desks,… where they put their school bags,… they don’t wear uniforms…” and Sophie T said that Marjorie has taught them “strategies like Venn diagrams … when she needs quiet, she says “To infinity” and we shout “and BEYOND!”

Antionette said “It’s been a super experience. Listening and hearing about other methodologies and the ways that things are structured in America has had the kids fascinated. It’s not that different, but it’s nice for them to hear how children of the same age learn.”

Marjorie has been made very welcome by her ” homestay mom” Morag Duff, learning support teacher at St Patrick’s. Morag took Marjorie to see some of our local sights, and Marjorie will continue her travels once her placement at St Patrick’s RC PS ends. Marjorie has been keeping her own blog about her experience – click here to view.

December 9, 2015

Whitecross Primary invite parents and community to celebrate their anniversary

On 2nd of December, Claire Quigley, head teacher of Whitecross PS and her staff hosted an unusual celebratory event on the 60th anniversary of the opening of their school.

This involved visitors in making a terracotta clay tile which was personal to them. These will be dried, fired, and added to a tiled display in the foyer of the school. Every pupil in the school has already made their tile, and many were primed and ready to help their parents and guests make one too. Pupils from Graeme HS supported their primary colleagues in making their tiles, and Henry Meldrum, art teacher has fired them all.

Visitors were taken into the school hall, and shown examples of the pupils’ tiles. Claire and colleagues demonstrated how to make the basic tile slab, then guests could decide how it should be decorated. Tony Bragg, team manager – performance management, and Eddie MacLennan, team manager – workforce development, joined in, and Yvonne McBlain, curriculum support officer, was delighted to make the “1955” date tiles which will be part of the commemorative display.

Jessie Dick came along and worked with her granddaughter Diane Balloch to make a tile. Both are former pupils of the school – Diane’s maiden name is Bryson, and her gran was known as Janet Reid, winner of the school dux medal in 1941-42. Jessie lives locally and enjoys return visits to the school, Diane said “It hasn’t really changed that much – the cloakrooms are gone – they’ve been made into classrooms now.”

Claire, staff colleagues, and pupils, will host a formal launch event to unveil the tile display when installation is complete.

Postscript from Claire 15th December 2015:

We are sad to say that in the short time since this event Jessie Dick sadly passed away. Our thoughts are with her family.

October 30, 2013

Partnership working towards the Commonwealth Games

Yvonne McBlain from Falkirk Education Services curriculum support team has been finding out about some excellent partnership work instigated by Sarah Ritchie, principal teacher at Bonnybridge Primary School. Bonnybridge Primary School has formed a partnership with Spire Junior School in Uganda. Spire Junior school is located in Bwaise –Kazo Nakamiro Zone in Kampala District the major city in Uganda. The partnership aims to increase understanding and awareness of each other’s culture, tradition and life style, encourage open mindness, critical thinking and reasoning in pupils and give pupils a true sense of global citizenship. Pupils in Primary 5 have been working closely with their peers in Uganda exchanging letters and photographs. Click here to view some of these letters written by primary 2 pupils. This joint project, Through My Window, compares the impact that the environment has on the daily lives of pupils in both countries. The partnership has been hugely successful for both schools and has had a positive impact on pupils. To ensure the growth of the partnership Mrs Stocks, head teacher at Bonnybridge PS, and Mrs Ritchie secured funding from the British Council visited Uganda in October. 3 planes and 14 hours later they found themselves in the city of Kampala where they were very warmly welcomed by Peter Basoga, Principal Teacher of Spire Junior School, and Godfrey Muyodi, class teacher. Over the course of the week Jill Stocks and Sarah Ritchie met with teachers and pupils, observed lessons and took part in the daily life of the school. The arrived colleagues and left friends – look at the leaver’s assembly planned for them here. Peter Basoga and Godfrey Muyodi from Spire Junior School will visit Bonnybridge Primary School in December 2013. Click here to view the welcome received by Sarah and Jill, and here to see Bonnybridge pupils talking about the project.