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

This week, we had the opportunity to visit St. Andrew’s RC Primary School to explore their inspiring learning environments designed to support pupil-led learning. It was wonderful to see how their spaces encourage independence, collaboration, and creativity.

A special thank you goes to the pupils at St. Andrew’s, who confidently shared their vast knowledge and deep understanding of how each area supports their learning. Their enthusiasm and ownership of their environment were truly impressive and gave us plenty of ideas to take back to our own school.

We would also like to extend our thanks to Mr Short for his support and for facilitating this visit. Partnership working like this provides valuable opportunities for us to learn from one another and share best practice across schools.

We are excited to use what we learned as we begin our own project to transform an area of our school into a high-quality, pupil-led learning space. This visit has provided valuable insight into how thoughtful design can empower children to take an active role in their learning journey.

We were delighted to come together this week for our Whole-School Achievement Assembly, where we celebrated the fantastic achievements of our pupils from Primary 1 through to Primary 7.

From sporting triumphs to personal goals and academic accomplishments, it was truly inspiring to hear the wide range of successes being shared. Every pupil who stood up to talk about their achievement did so with pride and confidence – and rightly so!

These moments give us all a chance to recognise the effort, determination, and resilience our children show in so many areas of their lives, both in and out of school. It was wonderful to see our whole school community come together to cheer each other on and celebrate everyone’s unique strengths.

A huge well done to all the children who took part, we are so proud of you!

We are delighted to announce that one of our Primary 6 pupils has successfully completed the Nessy literacy programme. This is a wonderful milestone, and we couldn’t be prouder of all the progress he has made.

Since beginning the programme, this pupil has made great progress. Their reading fluency has improved, spelling has become more accurate, and they have grown in confidence when tackling new and more challenging texts.

Completing Nessy is about more than just academic skills, it also shows real perseverance and resilience. This pupil has demonstrated that with consistent effort and a growth mindset, challenges can be overcome. These are qualities that will benefit them not just in literacy, but in every area of school life and beyond.

Well done!

We’re excited to invite you to a very special Stay & Play Music Session at nursery, and we’d love for you to be part of the fun!

🗓 Date: Monday Mornings until 10th November 
⏰ Time: 9.15-9.45
📍 Where: Nursery

Our wonderful Youth Music Initiative instructor Cameron will be leading the session with singing, musical games, and instrument play – and we’re inviting YOU to stay a little longer and join in with your child!

This is a fantastic opportunity to:

• See what your child has been learning in their music sessions

• Share a joyful experience together

• Sing, move, and play along with instruments

• Meet other parents and join in the nursery buzz!

Whether you love to sing or just enjoy watching your little one light up with music, everyone is welcome- no musical experience needed!

So drop off your coat, warm up your vocal cords, and let’s make music together. We can’t wait to see you there! 🎵

A huge well done to four of our Primary 3 pupils who shone during our recent Gospel Values assembly on Love. They gave thoughtful and inspiring answers about how we can show love at home, in school, and in the wider community.

Their wonderful contributions reminded us all of the importance of kindness, respect, and care for others in our daily lives. We are very proud of the way they spoke with confidence and shared such meaningful ideas.

Well done, Primary 3, you are excellent role models for us all!

Our Primary 7 children had a wonderful opportunity this week to meet with senior pupils from St. Mungo’s High School. The visit was all about supporting our P7s as they begin their transition journey to high school.

The pupils shared their own experiences and helped answer lots of thoughtful questions about what life is really like at St. Mungo’s. From practical tips about moving around the school to advice on making new friends, they offered reassurance and encouragement.

Our P7s also had the chance to talk openly about any worries or concerns they might have. The  pupils gave excellent advice on who to speak to and what to do if they ever feel unsure or need support.

This was a great start to the transition process, and it has already helped our P7s feel more confident and excited about the next stage of their learning journey.

We are very grateful to the St. Mungo’s pupils for giving their time and sharing their wisdom with our children.

Our nursery children were whisked away on a magical Scottish adventure today as they visited the Barony Theatre for a special performance by Scotland’s National Orchestra. The enchanting story of Yoyo & The Little Auk, written by Stewart Ennis, was brought to life through a beautiful blend of live orchestral music, animation, and interactive storytelling.

The children were captivated as the story unfolded: the little auk is discovered by Yoyo, a kind-hearted girl who is preparing for her favourite event of the year — the Inverkithkin Ceilidh! But Yoyo faces a big problem… she has no costume.

With the help of her grandparents and their collection of treasures from around the world, Yoyo and the little auk embark on a heart-warming journey of creativity, culture, and kindness. The story celebrates multiculturalism, migration, and the beauty of Scotland’s natural world.

There was even a short interactive workshop before the film began, where the children learned how different instruments sounded and how they could be used to tell parts of the story. It was a wonderful way to introduce them to the world of classical music in a hands-on, playful way.

A big thank you to the Barony Theatre and Scotland’s National Orchestra for offering such an inspiring and accessible performance. Yoyo & The Little Auk is a shining example of how music, storytelling, and imagination can spark joy and understanding in even the youngest of minds.

We can’t wait for our next cultural adventure!

We are incredibly proud to share some exciting news from our Primary 2 class, one of our pupils has been awarded a Blue Peter Badge!

This special recognition was given for sharing thoughtful and enthusiastic reviews of the books he has been reading at home and in school. His love for reading and his ability to express his opinions clearly and creatively truly impressed the Blue Peter team.

What makes this badge even more special is its unique design and eco-friendly origins. The badge was designed by the beloved children’s illustrator Quentin Blake, whose illustrations are instantly recognisable to fans of Roald Dahl and many other classic children’s books. Even better, the badge is made from recycled fridges, making it a wonderful celebration of creativity and sustainability!

Receiving a Blue Peter Badge is a rare and exciting honour, and we couldn’t be more thrilled for our young reader. It’s a fantastic reminder of how sharing our passions, especially a love of books, can lead to amazing opportunities.

Well done!

Today, our Head Boy and Head Girl had the special privilege of representing our school at Mass in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, where the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis was present.

Blessed Carlo, often called the “Cyber Apostle,” is remembered for his deep faith and devotion to the Eucharist, as well as his ability to use modern technology to share the Gospel. His relic being hosted at the Cathedral offered a meaningful opportunity for young people across Scotland to connect with his inspiring example of living faith in today’s world.

Pupils from across the diocese joined the congregation in prayer and reflection, experiencing a truly memorable moment of faith and community. It was a wonderful occasion for them to witness the wider Church coming together and to draw inspiration from Blessed Carlo’s life, reminding us all of the importance of living with kindness, service, and devotion in our everyday lives.

We are proud of our Head Boy and Head Girl for representing our school so well at such a significant and uplifting event.

This week we say a very special farewell to our wonderful Support for Learning Assistant, Mrs Rose, as she begins her well-deserved retirement.

For over 25 years, Mrs Rose has been at the heart of St. Mary’s, supporting pupils and staff with patience, care, and dedication. She has not only shared her skills and knowledge but also her warmth, kindness, and humour, filling our school days with laughter and joy.

We are so grateful for the incredible contribution she has made to our school community, and she will be deeply missed by us all.

On behalf of everyone at St. Mary’s, we wish Mrs Rose all the very best for this exciting new chapter ahead. Thank you for everything!