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Our Learning

Our learning Term 2 Week

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This is a few of the entries for the childrens weekly refections of their learning for the first week back at school.

Fraser P6

I was being a successful learner this week by setting myself a challenge when making a wildlife key with James. This was the first time doing this and we got a really good start. Mrs Lawson was very helpful with this and we needed a lot of discussion to start with so we knew how to lay things out.

I was being an effective contributor this week and building team strengths by helping Flora with her weekly reflections. I was able to expand her answers by asking why?

It made me feel happy being able to help others as I am able to share my learning with them.

Anna P5

In art we were making things for the wall like birds and bugs. I made a robin and I was being a effective contributor by finding solutions, as I had to find the colours I needed and match them for my robin.

In math’s this week I was doing position and movement. This is a new task but I found it easy. I would use this when someone is me giving directions. I now know my left from right as I use my hands as a tool to help.

Aaron P3

I was using the times tables dominos this week. It was fun. It really made me think and I had to concentrate. I want to learn my times tables.

I prefer to work in a group for math’s as it makes it easier and everyone can help each other.

I was making caterpillars which were made from pom poms and goggly eyes. I found making them a bit fiddly because you have to stick the hairy pom poms together.

After they were finished Miss Smith then put them on the wall for everyone to see. This was a fun task to do.

Kole P5

In art I was making a Barn Owl for the wall display in the classroom. I choose the owl as I like there eyes and they look cool. I was able to kept focused and finished the task and I enjoyed it.

On Thursday I was doing my reflections for the week. I find this easier by getting help. Mrs. Laing helped me by keeping me on task. I also found that my pukka pad comments helped and made it easier. I just need to work harder on remembering to write down everything in my pukka pad comment after each lesson.

Eco Schools

Term topic

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This week we have been taking time to talk about nature and how it lives here and how it survives.

The younger ones have been exploring the school gardens and looking for mini beasts and recording there findings. They were lucky enough to find spiders,worms, woodlouse and a frog.

Where as the older ones have had the pleasure of having Mrs. Lawson helping and teaching them about the plant life and the surrounding area. Mrs. Laswon was able to share with the children the changes she has saw in the last 40 years of living in this area.

Our Learning

End of week reflections

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This term the children are being encouraged to reflect on their learning and idenify the skills that fit in to the 4 capacities, effective contributor, responsilble citizen, confident individuals or successful learner. This happens on a daily basis and helps them to write there weekly reflection.

below is some examples of pupils reflections.

Kole

I was doing a listening task in math. I was learning about different diagrams. It was hard but I didn’t give up I was being a confident individual by continuing the task and finishing it. After lunch Mrs. Lawson came and showed us different plants and trees. I learned about the school grounds and the surroundings. I was being a curious scientist finding out about lots of things.

Anna

I was learning Venn and Carroll diagrams this week. I found the Carroll diagram much easier as it was more in order and easier to read.I was being a successful learner by setting myself a challenge by knowing how to use the different diagrams.

James

I was playing bug cards with Jade. Its nice to work together as its nice to help other people. So I was being a successful learner by sharing what I knew to help Jade.

Fraser

I was learning about the Venn and Carroll diagram, I found the Carroll diagram gave a more accurate result. I was being an effective contributor and getting involved  the listening activity. I found the task interesting as it taught me new things. I found the afternoon with Mrs. Lawson very interesting and I learned a lot of the area I live in. I was a confident individual and being organized as I wrote all my notes in my Charles Darwin book. I am really looking forward to doing more of these activities.

Our Learning

German

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Well its a new term and the children are looking forward to learning some more German. This afternoon a new student will be coming in with Mrs. Smith  to share her learning with the children. The children are hoping to show her around the school and share their local area with her. We shall have plenty photos to follow this.

News Letters

June Newsletter

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June 2014

Dear Parents and Children,

 With only three weeks to go the count down has really started. Cupboards are being cleared (again) and we are starting to look at what we are going to need for next session. Paints, paper, crayons pencils etc will all be ordered soon in readiness for when we come back in August.

Our P7s are all set for their visits to Speyside High and are looking forward to

them. They will have a chance to make new friends, meet new teachers and experience some of the activities they will enjoy when they start after the summer.

 Our school roll is set to stay much the same and we will have a few new faces in class next year. It’s all very exciting and we are looking forward to the new challenges.

 Fundraising

Our sponsored walk raised a total of £234.50. If anyone has money which is still outstanding we would appreciate it if you could hand it in to the school as soon as possible.

Bags 2 School only managed to raise £25 which was a bit disappointing this time. However there is only so much we can throw out so we might reduce this collection to once a year and consider different ways for fundraising.

 The school fund is extremely low and we will need to do something drastic next session other wise we will have to limit our excursions and opportunities we provide for the children. If you have any good ideas please let me know.

 Sports Day Start time 1.15pm 

I look forward to seeing you on Friday afternoon for our annual sports day with Glenlivet Primary. It’s always good fun and the children appreciate hearing you cheering them on.

 Summer Trip

The school trip this year sees us heading to Aberdeen on the train  (Colin will take us there in the morning instead of going to school) and we will leave Keith at 10.09am. That in itself will be great fun but then we are boarding the number 15 bus which will take us to Satrosphere Science Centre where we will have a chance to explore all sorts of fascinating things and take part in some workshops. Our return journey by train gets us in to Keith station at 16.37pm where Colin will be ready to collect us and take us all home. Tired but I should think very happy.  This will be paid for by the proceeds of the sponsored walk.

Parent Council Barbecue and Treasure Hunt Friday June 20th 6.30pm 

Please put this date in your diary and come along to support the children and the school. We are putting together a treasure hunt for you all to take part in which will be followed by the usual barbecue and soft drinks. There will even be a prize for the winning team!

Leavers Assembly   Thursday July 3rd at 11am

We will be serving teas and coffees from 10.30 onwards for those of you who can join us for our final event of the session. The P7s have prepared their own unique way of saying goodbye and we will sing a song together before we all head off on our different paths. Thankfully this year we are not saying farewell to any members of staff which must be the first time for quite a few years. It’s good to have a more settled feeling and we can all look forward to more years together as the community of Inveravon Primary.

Kind Regards

Mary Smith

Head Teacher

Our Learning

Fun time at Inveraon

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We had a sponsored walk/litter-pick up on Thursday the 15th of May. We walked from Cragganmore to Blacksboat, and then back to Cragganmore (which was 5 miles!). It was really tiring but fun and we only picked up a couple of bits of litter which made us feel proud of our community. On Wednesday a teacher from the neighbouring high school came in to teach us about electro-magnets. We learnt that if you wrap a peace of wire around a piece of iron and attach a power-pack you can make it magnetic. It was also fun to use a magnet to move and make patterns with the iron filings. We were also getting better at setting up a science in P.E. We were seeing if different surfaces affected our running times. It was really hard to make it a completely fair test and we want to do another one to get even better.

News Letters

March news letter

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 March 2014

 Dear Parents and Children,

 We continue to be blessed by brilliant weather which has definitely shortened the winter for us all. I have only had to grit the playground and car park once this year so we have a significant surplus of salt and grit. That will be a wee saving on the budget next year as we won’t have to order any…..every little helps!

 It is hard to believe that we are nearly at the end of yet another term and that the Easter holidays are once again upon us. I hope you are all planning some fun things to do. I am looking forward to spending time with Arianna who at the grand age of two is highly entertaining. On her visit to my brother’s farm this weekend she was heard to say to the new lambs “Allo Lambie….whats your name?” Aw bless…….She is also very active and always on the go so I have to work hard to keep up with her. Can’t wait though!

 Open Afternoon

We are really looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow for our open afternoon. We hope to start at 1.30 promptly with the premier of the i movie which has captured the learning for this term. Then the children will lead you through some activities and presentations which will give you a flavour of what the learning experiences look like and feel like for the children. The afternoon will be rounded off in the classroom with teas, coffees and home bakes while you browse the children’s work and you will be sent home with a copy of your child’s report. They are awesome again this year and tell such great stories about the amazing learning that has been happening in Inveravon Primary.

Development of School Grounds

This can now become a reality thanks to the very generous donation of £1300 from Glenfiddich Distillery.  This was gifted to the Parent Council following a request to the distillery via Brian Robinson and on behalf of everyone in the school community I would like to extend our thanks to the “Local Employee Forum” of Glenfiddich Distillery.   

 It is a tremendous boost and means we can hire in a digger to scoop out the ground up the back of the school to create a designated wetland area and can now afford to have a wooden platform made to provide a safe and dry route over it. We have plans to create a signed walkway which could be used as an educational experience for visitors to the area. The children will of course be involved at every stage during their weekly eco sessions with Mrs Lawson and the staff.

 If you would like to help us out we would be very grateful of an extra pair of hands or any expertise you may have. This has been a long time in the planning and I am really excited to think that it is coming to fruition at last.

 Science and Engineering Week

Last week saw science and engineering activities taking prominence in our curriculum On Tuesday morning the children rose to the challenge of making the Tallest Tower using a specific amount of Knex pieces. This was organised by Ann Larkham the Knex Generation Ambassador in Scotland. The winners were Kole and Olivia whose tower was a stupendous 133cm high! Everyone is to be congratulated for effort and perseverance and it was good to see such great team working and cooperation.

The children in P6 and P7 joined their peers from Knockando on Thursday to attend the  Science Festival in Elgin. While they are away Mrs Macdonald kindly volunteered her services again to carry out some experiments with the children in

 P1 – 5.

 The week was due to culminate with a visit from the Eco Schools Green Flag assessor to see what the children have been doing since we were awarded our last green flag. However that had to be postponed at the very last minute and will now take place this Wednesday.  Busy Busy!

 Environmental Awareness

Our salmon eggs have all hatched and are doing well in their wee fridge at the back of the classroom. We monitor the temperature daily and make sure the water is clean by removing those which have not survived. Currently they are still feeding off their yolk sacks but are due to be released on Wednesday March 26th. If you would like to join the ceremonial march down the road to the burn then please join us. We will advise you of the time on Tuesday.

 School Education  Review and Staffing Update

 The debate about the education review rumbles on and another meeting has been called for Parent Councils to attend in April. Please try to find the time to complete the Moray Council survey and the Inveravon Parent Council Survey as your opinions are important.

 The good news this week is that the position of Principal Teacher, which has been vacant since Mrs Ducrocq left us at the end of her maternity leave, is now going to be advertised. This has been filled by Miss Smith on a temporary basis for this session.

It would be my hope that the post is filled before the end of the summer term which will remove at least one uncertainty.

 School closes at usual times on Friday March 29th for two weeks and reopens on Monday April 14th and then we are off again on Good Friday April 18th.

 Kind Regards

 Head Teacher

Our Learning

Global citizens and we explore communiaction

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This term we are learning to be Global citizens as we explore communication. It all started with a letter from a school in Germany. It asked us to explore the questions, how did people communicate in the past? And what are the Pictish stones that we have in our area?

We started by using the 3, 2, 1 bridge tool which is 3 thoughts, 2 questions and 1 example of what we thought communication was.

This then lead on to us researching about the Picts and their life style in the 300th and 400th Century. The pictures on the Pictish stone were a form of communication. We think the symbols on the stones were telling stories of every day life and war.

We then looked at the Vikings as they came after the Picts. They came from Scandinavia and attacked Britain from the North. The language they spoke was Norse. They then settled here as the ground was more fertile and they grow their crops to survive. We don’t all speak Norse because the Viking’s took our language as their own as they started to live with the Saxon’s who spoke English.

Our learning than moved on to Technology. We made a report about technologies in the past to present times, which included the change of the postal service in 1939 -1940 which is still the postal service we have today. China in 105 BC invented the first newspaper. In 1923 Vladimir Zworykin invented the first TV camera. The facts we learned were very interesting as we thought life must have been hard in the olden days to now.

We have been very lucky to be able to have had visitors from all over the world. Jenny Hoff comes in once a week to teach us German words and songs, she makes it really fun to learn.

Also he had Summer, who came from China and she shared how very different a life it is over there as children go to school from 7 am in the morning and finish at 9 pm at night and this is for primary 1 – 7 and secondary school. It was the opinion of all our class that we didn’t want to go to China until we were adults! We also learned that they have 2 different ways one was to talk using prompts when they were small and when they were older they had to learn write using totally different symbols, she told us there was thousand of Chinese symbols to learn.

Mrs Dolina Roy also came and shared with us her experiences of living on a hebridean Isle of Barra. We learned that they only have 1 plane a day to bring people and supplies in the winter months and 2 in the summer. The Island is only 6 miles by 8 miles. We learned that on Barra they speak Gaelic. When Mrs Roy was at school she only spoke Gaelic when she started and had to learn English, she found this hard as her parent’s didn’t speak any English.

Our learning is still ongoing as we are learning more different ways of communicating.   

Written By

Zander P5 and Olivia P4

Dates for the Diary

Dates for diary

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Dates for the Diary   Issued February 2014

February

26th             Parent /Children Appointments

March

5th               Seven Up Club starts for P7s in SHS

Dates for the Diary Issued February 2014 February 26th Parent /Children Appointments March 5th Seven Up Club starts for P7s in SHS 14th Parent Council Auction 17th Science and Engineering Week starts 20th P6 and P7 got to Elgin for Science festival 25th Open Afternoon 28th Last day of school April 14th Back to School 16th P7s Transition Earthtime Activity at Knockando

14th              Parent Council Auction

17th              Science and Engineering Week starts

20th             P6 and P7 got to Elgin for Science festival

25th             Open Afternoon

28th             Last day of school

April

14th              Back to School

16th              P7s Transition Earthtime Activity at Knockando