St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Bo’ness

Today, the class used this experience to write clear, step-by-step instructions explaining how to make a rice stress ball. They focused on sequencing their ideas in the correct order and using precise instructional language to help others follow the process. The children worked hard to include command words, time connectives and clear explanations to ensure their instructions were easy to understand.

It was wonderful to see the children using a practical experience to support their learning and develop their confidence as instructional writers. Well done, Primary 4!

Primary 1 to Primary 4 pupils took part in a variety of throw and catch stations, allowing them to practise and refine their hand-eye coordination, balance and control. The children worked enthusiastically through different challenges, developing their accuracy and confidence while having lots of fun. They also demonstrated excellent cooperation and encouragement towards their peers throughout the activities.

Primary 5 to Primary 7 pupils have been developing their golf skills through sessions focusing on putting, chipping and driving. These lessons have encouraged pupils to improve their technique, concentration and precision while learning about the different aspects of the game. It has been wonderful to see pupils building their confidence, supporting one another and celebrating their progress.

In the afternoon, everyone enjoyed an extra break, and we were delighted to welcome parents along to join in the celebrations. There were a variety of activities for the children to enjoy, including football with Mr McPeake, basketball with Mrs Alexander and rounders with Mrs Srika. Children also had the opportunity to choose free play and spend time with their friends.

It was a wonderful afternoon filled with fun, friendship and community spirit, making it a very special way to celebrate Our Lady’s birthday.

Our P5-P7  children have been taking part in cross country practice and have been showing great enthusiasm and determination. The children enjoyed running outdoors, challenging themselves to keep going and encouraging their friends along the way.

Through cross country, the children are developing their fitness, perseverance, confidence and teamwork skills. They are also learning the importance of resilience, setting personal goals and celebrating their achievements.

Well done to all our young runners for their fantastic effort and positive attitude! 🌟🏅

This month’s Stay and Play session in our ELC was all about baking with the bairns. Children and their families joined us in the morning to make a delicious apple crumble from scratch. Everyone worked together to peel, chop, measure and mix the ingredients, creating a wonderful atmosphere filled with laughter and teamwork.

They then returned in the afternoon to enjoy their homemade apple crumble with a scoop of ice cream. It was a real treat to taste the results of all their hard work. Even Mrs Srika and Mr McPeake couldn’t resist enjoying a bowl too!

A huge thank you to all the families who joined us. It was lovely to spend time together, learn new skills and enjoy a tasty homemade treat! 🍏🍨✨

During the session, pupils explored ways to adapt their communication to support children at an earlier stage of development. They learned the importance of using gestures, saying a child’s name, repeating key words and phrases, and allowing time for children to respond. Pupils also developed an understanding of how to support play by following their buddy’s lead, joining in activities, and showing genuine interest in what the child is doing.

The session provided our Primary 7s with valuable strategies to help them build positive relationships and support younger pupils as confident, caring, and effective buddies. We look forward to seeing these skills in action throughout the year.

Thank you to Lesley for delivering such an engaging and informative session.

To ensure the finished artwork looked cohesive, the children had to communicate effectively and agree on matching colours for the sections that connected. Through collaboration, discussion and careful planning, all of the individual pieces came together to create one impressive completed picture. We are very proud of the teamwork and creativity demonstrated by everyone involved! ✨

The pupils learned about different types of visual impairment, including tunnel vision, cataracts and the impact of white spots and floaters. Through hands-on activities, they had the opportunity to wear specialist glasses that simulated these conditions, helping them gain a better understanding of the challenges people with visual impairments can face. They also explored the various supports available, including Braille, long canes, guide dogs and assistive technology.

The workshop also focused on hearing loss and how we can protect our hearing by keeping volumes at a safe level and looking after our ears. Pupils learned about the different ways people with hearing loss can communicate and access support, including hearing aids, lip reading, British Sign Language (BSL) and cochlear implants. They particularly enjoyed learning the BSL alphabet and practising some signs themselves.

A highlight of the session was hearing about the important role of guide dogs and the extensive training they undertake. Pupils were delighted to meet Dale and Owen, two guide dogs currently in training, and learn more about how they will support people with visual impairments in the future.

It was a fantastic opportunity for Primary 7 to develop their understanding of sensory impairments, build empathy and learn how we can create a more inclusive society for everyone.

These pupils will play an important role in representing the views of their peers, supporting school events and initiatives, and serving as positive role models for younger learners. We know they will lead with kindness, respect and enthusiasm as they take on these responsibilities.

We are very proud of all pupils who applied for leadership positions and would like to thank them for their enthusiasm, confidence and willingness to contribute to school life.

We look forward to seeing our new pupil leadership team flourish throughout the year and wish them every success in their roles.