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

 

This term, Primary 2 have been learning all about canals. To bring their learning to life, the children took part in an exciting STEM challenge, designing and building their own boats!

Working in teams, the pupils used a variety of materials to create boats that could float and move along water, just like boats on a canal. They discussed their ideas, shared roles, and worked together to solve problems as they tested and improved their designs.

This hands-on activity helped develop key STEM skills, including planning, experimenting, and evaluating, while also encouraging teamwork, communication, and creativity. The children showed fantastic enthusiasm and resilience, especially when designs didn’t work first time.

Well done, Primary 2, for your brilliant teamwork and imaginative boat designs!

This week, our Primary 5–7 pupils had a special opportunity to come together in prayer with members of the Legion of Mary. It was a beautiful and meaningful experience that brought our school community closer in faith.

During the session, pupils learned more about the Rosary- its history, purpose, and the importance of quiet reflection and prayer. With guidance from members of the Legion of Mary, the children prayed together in a calm and respectful atmosphere.

We would like to thank the members of the Legion of Mary for visiting our school and sharing their time, wisdom, and devotion with our classes. Their presence helped our pupils grow in their understanding of prayer and the power of faith within a community.

Primary 7 recently had the pleasure of hosting our Burns Supper. We were delighted to welcome Primary 6 as our special guests, along with invited guests from the parish and our breakfast club.

The hall was filled with enthusiasm as both Primary 7 and Primary 6 pupils confidently performed a range of Burns poems. The children spoke clearly and proudly, showing great respect for Scotland’s rich literary heritage. It was a pleasure to see their hard work and preparation come to life in front of an appreciative audience.

The event was a wonderful opportunity for pupils to come together, celebrate Scottish culture, and share their learning with others. A huge well done to all the children involved for their fantastic performances, and thank you to our guests for helping to make the day so special.

Some of our Primary 6 and 7 children have recently been involved in painting the walls in our new P6/7 learning space, helping to bring this exciting area to life.

By taking part in this project, the children have played a direct role in shaping the environment where they will learn, collaborate and grow. The fresh colours will help to create a welcoming, calm and purposeful atmosphere, supporting focus, creativity and a sense of pride in the space.

Throughout the process, the children developed a range of important skills. They showed teamwork by working cooperatively, responsibility by caring for equipment and the space, and practical problem-solving as they planned how to complete the task effectively. They also demonstrated resilience and perseverance, recognising that transforming a space takes time and effort.

We would like to say a big thank you to Mr Heatherington and Mr Bett for supporting and guiding the children throughout this project. Their encouragement and supervision helped ensure the work was carried out safely and successfully.

We are very proud of the effort and commitment shown by our Primary 6 and 7 pupils, and we are looking forward to seeing the positive impact this refreshed learning space will have on teaching and learning.

As our work continues on developing the Holy Space within our school, some of our Pope Francis Faith Award children have taken on a special responsibility within this project.

The children were given the responsibility of choosing suitable blinds for the Holy Space. They worked thoughtfully with a local business, who will be supplying the blinds, considering how light, colour and atmosphere can support reflection, prayer and calm.

Throughout this process, the children demonstrated a wide range of valuable skills. They practised decision making by weighing up different options, communication skills by discussing their ideas and listening to others, and critical thinking as they considered how their choices would affect the overall purpose of the space. They also showed teamwork, responsibility, and an understanding of how their actions contribute to the wider school community.

This experience links closely to the values of the Pope Francis Faith Award, encouraging pupils to take an active role in caring for their environment and making thoughtful choices that benefit others.

We are very proud of the children for the maturity and care they showed throughout this process, and we look forward to sharing the finished Holy Space with our school community soon.

We are delighted to celebrate the pupils who received Headteacher’s Awards during the last term, covering October, November and December. These awards recognise pupils who have gone above and beyond in their learning, relationships, faith and/or wider achievements.

We are extremely proud of all the pupils who received Headteacher’s Awards last term. Their achievements reflect our school values and highlight the positive, supportive environment we strive to create every day.

Well done to all of our winners, keep up the fantastic work!

We would like to wish all our pupils, families, and staff a very happy New Year. We hope you enjoyed a restful and joyful break, filled with special moments with family and friends.

As we begin this new term, we are excited to welcome everyone back to school and to continue our learning journey together. The weeks ahead are full of opportunities for growth, curiosity, and success, and we are looking forward to all the exciting learning experiences, events, and achievements the term will bring.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to working closely with you to ensure every child feels happy, supported, and inspired to do their very best.

Wishing you all a positive and successful year ahead.

As we come to the end of the term, we would like to thank all our families for their continued support throughout the year. Your encouragement, involvement, and partnership make such a positive difference to our children and our wider school community, and we are truly grateful.

We are also incredibly proud of how hard our pupils have worked this term. They have shown great effort, resilience, and enthusiasm in their learning, and it has been wonderful to see their progress and achievements both in and out of the classroom.

We would like to wish all our families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope the holiday season brings you joy, rest, and special time together, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in the New Year for another exciting term of learning and achievement.

Warmest wishes from everyone at St. Mary’s!

Thank you to all the children who shared their wonderful achievements with us at our recent termly Achievements Assembly. We always love hearing about the fantastic things our pupils are doing beyond the classroom, and it was a real pleasure to celebrate these moments together as a school community.

From sports and music to clubs, hobbies, and personal milestones, the children’s achievements highlight the wide range of skills, confidence, and determination they are developing outside of school. These experiences play an important role in supporting their learning and personal growth, and we are incredibly proud of everything they accomplish. Well done to everyone who took part, we look forward to hearing even more success stories next term!

Our nursery was filled with festive cheer as the children enjoyed a wonderful Christmas party full of excitement, laughter and holiday fun.

The celebration began with lots of dancing and music, as the children showed off their best moves and enjoyed getting into the Christmas spirit together. This was followed by a delicious selection of party food, which the children loved sharing with their friends.

The highlight of the day was a very special visit from Santa Claus. For this magical moment, family members were invited to join us, making it an extra special experience for the children. There were smiles all around as Santa arrived with plenty of festive cheer, spreading joy and Christmas magic throughout the nursery.

It was a truly memorable day for everyone involved, and a lovely way to celebrate the festive season together. Thank you to all our families and staff for helping to make our nursery Christmas party so special.