Welcome back! After a hiccup last week, I’m glad to say we are back up to date with our school news.
Health Week proved to be a great success for all classes. We covered a wide range of health and wellbeing factors; mental health, mindfulness, yoga, fitness, first aid, healthy eating, and, most importantly, enjoyment. From a Danceathon to Heart Start training, our learners threw themselves into each activity with great enthusiasm. And it wasn’t only the pupils! Staff and parents worked together to take on our football and netball teams and give them a run for their money. It was good training for our Inter-House sporting events which rounded off the week. Unfortunately the weather forced all activities inside, which caused some rejigging of timetables at the last minute! While our Nursery Sports Day was able to go ahead indoors, we couldn’t do our school sports justice without the outdoor space. We hope to hold our rescheduled sports next Friday (14th June), weather permitting. I know this date doesn’t suit everyone, and I am sorry some families will not be able to join us that day, but it was the only available date we could manage due to the packed calendar we still have ahead for the month of June! We will do our best to ensure all our pupils have a great time competing and playing with their friends, while earning some precious House Points.
Primary 7 pupils and our new Primary 1s have all enjoyed more transition events over recent weeks. Our older learners all visited their respective high schools, meeting their new classmates and teachers and finding their way around much bigger buildings. We now have some very excited pupils who can’t wait to take that next step of their educational journey. Our youngest pupils have been absolute stars too! Mrs Begley, Mrs McGarry and Miss Giuliani have enjoyed meeting their new pupils and seeing how confident they have been in Room 1. Our current P.1 pupils also enjoyed being the ‘teachers’ and showing our new-starts around the playground as they played together. A most successful transition experience which finished off with a family lunch – perfect!
Other trips have also been arranged to give our learning in school a real-life context. Rooms 15 & 16 took a step back in time when they visited Stirling Castle, while Room 5 had a day working outdoors, caring for animals! They were exhausted when they returned from their trip to the stables and farm – mucking out, grooming, leading ponies…you name it, they are the experts now. Kirkshaws teachers put a huge amount of effort into lesson planning in school, but sometimes a hands-on experience can’t be beaten! Many thanks to our dedicated staff for organising these invaluable learning opportunities outwith school.
Other events over in school these past few weeks have included the Football Friendship League, the Green Gang gardening club, North Lanarkshire Challenge and visitors from Coatbridge High School.
This week at assembly we also got the chance to celebrate gaining our SIXTH Green Eco Flag due to all our hard work under the guidance of Mrs McBain and Miss Wyatt. What a fabulous success! The Eco Committee also organised our plant growing competition. I’m sad to say I didn’t even come close to winning, but well done to Room 10!
Of course, we can’t forget the success of our Fundraisers Summer Fête last weekend. The weather was very kind and dried up long enough for you to get the chance to soak the teachers! Once again, I must thank LOADS of people here. The Fundraisers Committee, helpers, staff, pupils, parents and members of the local community all played a part in making it such a good day. Whether you were involved in the organisation, the clean-up or just visiting us on the day THANK YOU. We really couldn’t do it without you.
Our Fundraisers just don’t stop. I’m meeting with them tonight to plan their next steps… Part of that will, of course, be the Disco Night planned for Thursday 13th June. If you are a Kirkshaws pupil, I’ll see you there on Thursday! Three weeks left, but masses still to do.
