The Parent Council consulted the school to find out what we wanted money raised this session to go towards.  During the first Parent Council meeting, I explained we would like to purchase iPads.  

The iPad in the classroom brings education to life. Children have endless access to valuable information and it allows learning to become more engaging and memorable. Aside from the many apps available for free, teachers can use the iPads to engage and challenge student minds in creative ways.
 
Tools such as audio and video recorders can change the way that learning takes place. In addition, video creation and editing is simple on the iPad, this can be a great cooperative group activity.

Of course, the mobility provided by the iPad’s wireless capability allows the unprecedented access to the Internet anywhere pupils are. This is truly information on demand. As questions arise, students can google for clues and insights to begin their studies. Even more powerfully though, children can have access to volumes of primary source documents and data.

Another positive is that the iPad will make it easier for classes to contribute to a blog, a rewarding experience which allows the children to get their first taste of being published on the web.

Ipads are a great tool for interactive classroom sessions or group projects. Students can cooperate in real time with up to ten others, to brainstorm and build a presentation on one shared virtual whiteboard.

Consequently, the iPad offers numerous positive benefits across P1 to P7 and allows pupils to challenge themselves in ways they never imagined!

Here is a link to a Just Giving page which will begin the fundraising effort this session:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/BarsailPC

The challenge is to bring iPads to the classroom. The aim is to raise enough funds to purchase a class set, if possible by the end of the school year. To get things kick started, we’re getting our trainers on:

– Mrs Napier (p7 teacher) is taking on the marathon in the Big Apple (New York) on 6 November

– Joanne McDowall (PC member) is taking on Amsterdam marathon on 16 October

– EVERY CHILD in the school will run / walk 2 miles, AND

– the staff, as a team, will collectively complete their very own marathon!

We would love it if you were able to support the runners and make a donation.

The date for pupils and staff to complete two daily miles will be Monday 31^st October.  Pupils can wear sports clothing on this date. There will be no charge for own clothes.  We just ask that as many families as possible donate on the Just Giving page.