In the Autumn Term of 2024 the Primary Class topic was “Our Community”. We looked at what makes Shapinsay a great place to live, and what a community needs.

We went on lots of visits, and had a lot of visitors in school. Here is just some of what we did!

We went to the Smithy and learned about jobs there.

We went to the Shapinsay shop and found out how it works.

Liam McArthur MSP came to talk to us about the Scottish Parliament.

We visited the Shapinsay kirk.

We visited the Heritage Centre.

We visited the Fire Station.

We donated some things to Cast Affs.

We learned about the role of the First responders

Alistair Carmichael MP came to visit.

We were lucky enough to have several visits as part of the OISF. We really enjoyed all the activities!

Dr Anne-Marie Weijmans from St Andrews University came in to work with us about space. We identified stars using their co-ordinates and made our own constellations.

We learned a lot about forensics using the Science of Superheroes with the University of Central Lancashire.

We learned about Artificial Intelligence with Claire Griffiths.

Eve Armstrong from the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh came to work with us about rainforests.

On Monday 17th June the P7s did some bike-ability because they haven’t done any this year. When they were on their way back from the bike shed, Mrs Bews asked if she could take their jackets without them being suspicious. When they ran round the corner, lots of parents were ready, waiting to soak the P7s. One of the parents even had a freezing cold water tank on the back of a trailer.

On Friday, 17th of May, Shapinsay Primary, Papay School and Eday Primary went on a tour held by Glaitness School. The tour guides were dressed in medieval outfits to set the theme of the palaces. They were split into two groups: one group did a tour of the Earl’s palace – the other group did a tour of the Bishop’s palace.

We first got a tour of the Earl’s palace.

Then got a tour of the Bishop’s palace.

This term we are doing work on the ocean.
So far we have done work on the layers of the ocean, the different oceans and plastic pollution and how it is effecting the ocean.
I did very well on the layers of the ocean. We had a choice of how to present our work, so I did an ocean in a box.

On April 29th, until May 3rd P7s from The Hope, Burray, Eday, Rousay and Shapinsay Primary went on a five day trip to hoy to do some activities. Some of the activities were: coasteering, canoeing, kayaking, tyrolean traverse and gorge walking. The teachers that went with the children were Mrs Bews, Mrs Humphreys, Mr Huggard and Mrs Mckenzie. We did two activities a day except fom Monday and Friday because we were only there for half of those days.

Zoe the dog and the handler came to our school on 26th of April 2024 and they came out to teach the school about what they do and where they travel. They do the Pentland and North link ferries to test people for drugs. They also do the airports and meet the Aberdeen boat. They don’t have to do very much distance but in total it’s a lot.