Welcome to the final school-day blog of Session 19/20 – and what a strange session it has been.
Primary 7
I hope that you (and everyone else) enjoys your special ‘Wishing-you-well Wednesday’ blog which was published earlier this morning. You can see from the video clips and messages how much you mean to our whole school.
I am so sad that I am having to say ‘Goodbye’ to you under these circumstances – but from the Hub today I wish each and every one of you every success and happiness in your new schools. On the bright side we will have a reunion for you once this is possible and I’m really looking forward to that.
Fr. Campbell will be celebrating Mass at 10am especially for you – so please log on to ‘Church Services TV (and select Scotland) to follow Mass with your family this morning.
You have been a terrific group and I hope that you keep in contact with each other and with us. You have been excellent Buddies and amazing ambassadors for St. Barbara’s.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank your parents who have supported you and us throughout your time in the school. You must be very proud of your young people! I know that you have missed out on the final celebrations and graduation as your children pass from us to high school and we will ensure that you can join in with the reunion too.
I hope that you all have a lovely summer break and I can’t wait to hear all of your news from high school. Remember – you will always be welcome here in St. Barbara’s.
Please continue to check your emails, our website, Twitter and the NLC website in the coming weeks as we will do our best to keep you updated.
Thank you to all of you for your continued support which is greatly appreciated. I hope that the sun shines brightly over the next few weeks and that you enjoy a relaxing summer break with your children and families.
Staff
Thank you also to St. Barbara’s staff: teachers, support staff, office staff, cleaning staff, catering staff, Mr Feeney and Fr. Campbell (Honorary Staff!) for working so hard this year in school and also in the Hub. I greatly appreciate your commitment to our children and to the whole school community. I hope that you enjoy your summer break with your families too.
Please see a statement below from Gerard McLaughlin, Head of Education (North), NLC:
Today’s announcement from the Scottish Government outlines the plan to reopen all schools on a full time basis from August.
We are currently considering the practicalities and implications of this announcement and will await further clarification and guidance from government, particularly in relation to public health and scientific advice.
Our priority is the safety of our pupils and staff across our network of primary, secondary and ASN schools, as well as our early learning and childcare settings.
We understand that you will have questions, and as this news was only announced today, we will make further information available on how this impacts on our schools and facilities in the coming days.
We are preparing for pupils to return full-time to school on 12 August and we will be working closely with our schools and partners, including our early years and childcare provision to establish our plans, which we will communicate as soon as we are in a position to.
Good Morning! Only one more sleep until the holidays!!!!!!
Let’s begin with our morning prayer:
God our Father
As we prepare to begin our work
We ask you to help us to use properly the many gifts you have given us
So that we may fully benefit from our day together. Amen.
National Theatre
As you know it’s Expressive Arts’ Week and Mrs Goodwin has sourced some exciting performances from the National Theatre for you to enjoy. Parents: please read the exclusion information in bold below. Thank you!
In response to the school closures caused by Coronavirus, National Theatre is now offering username and password access to the National Theatre Collection. For a temporary period, plays can be accessed remotely ensuring students studying from home can still watch them.
(The Log in button is in the top right-hand corner of the landing page. Please insert your username and password to left-hand option of the login pop-up.)
If you copy and paste the details please be very careful not to include any invisible spaces as these will invalidate the details. These should be entered under the ‘access log in’ and not the ‘personal log in’. If you have any difficulties please test in another browser as some are known as having issues.
Parents – PLEASE NOTE THE CONDITIONS OF THIS OFFER:
ACCESS DETAILS must NOT be offered to anyone external to your institution OR posted on social media. Thank you.
Art and Design Ideas
Picasso is well known for painting in the cubist style. Some of his paintings may appear a little strange at first – however you’ll have great fun copying his style!
Picasso: some strange faces!
Some Strange Objects!
Finally, my favourite painting by Picasso: The Three Musicians
Just look at those faces, clothes and instruments! Look at the shapes!
Watch the video clips below and have a go yourself. Remember to email your pictures and paintings to your teacher. Good luck!
The story of the Spanish Artist Pablo Picasso
Some Ideas for younger children
Pablo Picasso for older children
Pablo Picasso for Everyone!
More Art and Design Ideas to try…
Remember to ask an adult for help with a glue gun…or use blu tack instead.
Ideas with Paper
Now, how about a school trip…try out some of these and let us know how you get on!
Virtual Tours
As it’s the last few days of school why not go on a school trip! Although it’s not possible to visit these places in person at present why not enjoy a virtual tour. There’s lots to choose from. Click on the links below.
It’s hard to believe that it’s the last week of a very strange term and that summer holidays or staycations are looming!
Below you will find an update and then a celebration of all things art and design for the final couple of days!
Important Updates
Primary 1 Intake
Last week we welcomed our new Primary 1 children into our school community – albeit virtually. I would like to thank all of the staff who worked so hard to create the video clips, the Bear Hunt and all of the information for parents and children to make the transition a little less difficult. Weren’t the current Primary 1 children superstars with their welcoming video clips? The Primary 6 letters and pictures were terrific too. Well done to all of you! Thanks also to Fr. Campbell for his message to the little ones too.
Wishing- you-well Wednesday!
This week we have to say good bye and good luck to our fabulous Primary 7 children. Please log in to the website on Wednesday for ‘Wishing-you-well Wednesday!’ to celebrate the contribution the Primary 7 children have made to the school.
School Information: August
This week we will be contacting you to give you important information in respect of the new school session, beginning in August. Please check your email regularly, including spam folders also.
Summer Hub
On Friday I posted information and a link in respect of access to the summer hub. In case you missed it I have attached the link below.
We’re moving from Mairead’s French inspiration to Spain and we’ll look at some paintings by a very famous Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso. Picasso is well known for painting in the cubist style. Some of his paintings may appear a little strange at first – however you’ll have great fun copying his style!
Picasso: some strange faces!
Some Strange Objects!
Finally, my favourite painting by Picasso: The Three Musicians
Just look at those faces, clothes and instruments! Look at the shapes!
Watch the video clips below and have a go yourself. Remember to email your pictures and paintings to your teacher. Good luck!
The story of the Spanish Artist Pablo Picasso
Some Ideas for younger children
Pablo Picasso for older children
Pablo Picasso for Everyone!
More Art and Design Ideas to try…
Remember to ask an adult for help with a glue gun…or use blu tack instead.
Ideas with Paper
Now, how about a school trip…try out some of these and let us know how you get on!
Virtual Tours
As it’s the last few days of school why not go on a school trip! Although it’s not possible to visit these places in person at present why not enjoy a virtual tour. There’s lots to choose from. Click on the links below.
I would like to thank you all for your patience over the last few months and also in respect of organization for August. While we have draft plans in place, we are still waiting for local authority confirmation in a number of key areas. Once these areas have been clarified we will be in a position to update you on salient information for your children returning to school after the holidays.
Below you will find:
A letter from the Executive Director
Frequently-asked questions
An important update on Hub provision including a link for booking purposes
I do apologize for sending so much information on a Friday afternoon however it was issued within the last few hours.
Please find a letter from the Executive Director and a section dedicated to frequently-asked questions. Thank you.
It’s ‘Welcome Wednesday’ and a very warm St. Barbara’s welcome to our new intake…the new Primary 1 children and all of your families.
While many of you are familiar with the school, some of you have never seen it before and you will have that opportunity at some point today.
On this special page you will find lots of information about the school including a video tour, letters and pictures from your Buddies and a special ‘Expert Area.’
The Expert Area has been created especially for you by our current Primary 1 children.
We can’t wait to see you all in school in August. In the meantime, please scroll down and enjoy!
I hope you are all up, have had breakfast and are ready to continue with your weekly activities.
R.E.
Close your eyes, join your hands and let us begin the day with our morning prayer.
God our Father
As we prepare to begin our work
We ask you to help us to use properly the many gifts you have given us
So that we may fully benefit from our day together.
During the month of May we honoured Our Lady. We created a special altar, said decades of the rosary and completed lots of different activities that reminded us how important Our Lady is.
The month of June is the month of The Sacred Heart of Jesus. The heart is seen as the essence of a person. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is devotion to Jesus Christ Himself. Next week (19th June) we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this always takes place 19 days after Pentecost.
Throughout the Gospel, we experience the outpouring of Jesus’ love from His heart. We experience this love from the miracle stories, His forgiveness of sinners and His compassion for those who are suffering. Kind and caring are two words that come to mind when I think of Jesus, can you think of more words that can be used to describe Him?
Look closely at the image of The Sacred Heart of Jesus. What do you notice about His heart? Why do you think this is? What does it symbolise? Think of the things that happened in Jesus’ life to help you understand why Jesus’ heart is shown like this.
Do you have an image of The Sacred Heart of Jesus in your home?
Task 1
Use the image of The Sacred Heart that has been included or find an image from the internet and use it as a stimulus to create your own picture of The Sacred Heart of Jesus. When you have finished your drawing, display it proudly in your home. This can be a special place for you to pray to The Sacred Heart of Jesus over the course of this month.
I have also attached an image of The Sacred Heart of Jesus that you can choose to colour if drawing the image is too tricky.
We say a special devotion to The Sacred Heart of Jesus. Try saying this special prayer every day during the rest of June.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee.
Task 2
Get a piece of paper, fold it in half and cut half a heart shape. Younger pupils may need some help from an adult for this. When it is open a full heart shape will be visible. Decorate the paper and then stick it on top of another sheet of paper. You should then have a blank heart shape on your paper. Write the special devotion to The Sacred Heart of Jesus in the centre of your heart.
Decorate this and email it to your teacher or, with permission, upload it onto TWITTER.
Weekly STEM Activities
This is your last day to enjoy all of the STEM activities. So, on you go, try a different STARTER, MAIN AND DESSERT OR EXTRA
from the MENU below.
Enjoy and have fun and don’t forget to email your work to your teacher or, with permission, upload it onto TWITTER. We have loved seeing all of your creative minds at work during this week.
Please find a schools’ update below. We will issue specific information in respect of St. Barbara’s to you later this month.
Schools update – 8 June 2020
We’re working on plans to make schools as safe as possible for our children and young people when they return in August. Take a look at this video so you know the principles that we are working to.
Understandably you will have lots of other questions on issues that we’re still working on. Please bear with us and we will make more announcements as soon as we can.
We were talking yesterday about how important it is to look after our bodies. Drinking plenty especially during exercise and warm weather to keep us hydrated. Our bodies are amazing things.
Here is a little activity to keep you busy and at the same time learn about all of the parts that make up ‘US’!!
Have you got a roll of wallpaper lying around or if you have been receiving lots of packages (did you know all our posties are busier than their busiest time of the year, Christmas!) during lockdown and have cardboard boxes around I want you to lie them flat on the ground and get someone in your house to draw round you. (The weather’s not looking that good today but should be dry so even do this task outside).
Here we have our template!! Can you label and identify as many parts of the human body – all our organs? See if you can have a good guess at where they are located. Our heart 💓 should be easy, what about our lungs, liver etc. Try to see how many you can find. You could even put your artistic talents to good use and draw them in.
Remember to email your marvellous pictures to gw09mckinneysheelah@glow.sch.uk or upload it onto Twitter with an adult’s permission.
Literacy
Time for some fabulous Literacy Work! Have a look and enjoy!
The first is an Acrostic poem by Hannah. Well done!
Now for another wonderful poem, this time by Euan – well done!
Now for the third acrostic poem of the day and this time it’s Hollie’s poem. Fantastic!
Well done, everyone and thank you for sharing your work with all of us!
This week you have been creating sets of cards:
Set 1: Six character cards with associated colours and accessories. You had pictures on each and a brief description
Set 2: Nine room cards with pictures and a brief description of each room
Set 3: Six accessory cards with the picture and the name of the accessory on each.
You were also asked to research the game of Cluedo including the layout of the board and the rules.
Thursday’s Task
Your task is to create a board game of your own. You can use Cluedo as an inspiration or you can be totally original.
The game must be for between three and six players.
All of your cards should be used.
Once you have designed your game you should make a set of easy-to-follow instructions so that others in your class can try it.
The instructions should:
List the contents of the ‘box’
The aim of the game (what you have to do to win)
A list of what each player needs in order to play
Rules of play – what you are allowed/not allowed to do
A rule for deciding who plays first (the youngest child; roll dice – lowest number etc.)
Anything else which a player would need to know in order to play YOUR game
WARNING: You do not have to complete this whole task today…it might take a few designs and rule changes before you get it just right!
Please send pictures of your game to:
gw09mckinneysheelah@glow.sch.uk
Numeracy
Mental Challenge: Multiplication
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/daily10
Select: Level 3 or Level 4 or Level 5
This week the mental maths challenges have all been linked to multiplication.
Select three tables and set yourself a challenge. Aim for 3 or 5 second intervals. However, if you need more thinking time, that’s fine. Better to think it through correctly than rush and make an error!
Now select two challenges from the mixed section.
Weight
We have been looking at weight this week – specifically at grams and kilograms.
Try these:
monkey snake tarantula tiger elephant
List these zoo animals in order beginning with the one you think weighs most.
Change from kilograms to grams.
a) 8kg b) 12kg c) 14 1/2 kg d) 31kg e) 5kg 800g f) 21kg 6g
Change these weights to kilograms OR to kilograms and grams.
a) 7000g b) 17 000g c) 40 000g d) 6800g e) 8060g f) 10 001g
Jenny and Mandy weigh themselves on some bathroom scales.
Jenny weighs 49 and a half kilograms. Mandy weighs 50kg 200g.
How much more does Mandy weigh?
A box of shopping arrives at Mrs Brown’s house.
It includes 4 tins of soup, 3 jars of pickles and 5 pot noodles.
If a tin of soup weighs 400g, a jar of pickles, 300g, a pot noodle 70g and the box itself weighs 200g what is the total weight of the box and its contents?
Answers will be posted at 3.00pm today.
R.E.
As we know things just now are very different from what we are used to. By now our new Primary 1 children would have been in to visit the school but, like you, they have not been able to come in for their visits. We are thinking that it would be a lovely idea for you to say a little prayer for them. In order to make them feel welcome to our school in August, I would like you to choose the word for your stage below, write/colour it on a sheet of paper, hold it up and ask an adult to take a picture of you holding your word with a big smile and if it is possible you could wear your uniform. Please email your picture to gw09mckinneysheelah@glow.sch.uk
We will use these to make our Primary 1s feel very welcome in school.
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