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All posts by Mr Hardy
Halloween Discos
A huge thank-you to the Parent Voice for organising the Halloween Discos. The pupils had great fun playing games and dressing up. The costumes were amazing!
Tamfest 2018
We had great fun on Sunday at Tamfest 2018. Our Glee Club entertained members of the public around the town and then there was a great turn out for the parade. We hope you managed to make it along.
Tamfest 2018
As part of our creative work, we are currently developing a range of props that pupils can use to take part in the ‘Day o’ the Deid’ procession through Ayr on Sunday 28th October starting at 4pm. Holmston Primary will have a slot in the procession and if you and your child wish to take part, we will be meeting at 3.45pm at the Arran Mall to walk through the town centre. Representatives from the school will be taking part in the procession but parents will be responsible for supervising their child. Pupils will be bringing home props they have made on the Friday before the event. The procession is part of Ayr’s Tamfest celebration – so don’t forget to wear your best Halloween outfits.
Our choir will also be performing during the Sunday at the various venues and times listed below:
UNITY GRILL 14:00
KARWIARNIA CAFÉ 14:30
THE KYLE SHOPPING CENTRE 15:00
For information on free workshops at Ayr Town Hall during the October Week click here
For a copy of the town hall flier click here
Homecoming 2018
Today our P6 and P7 pupils went to the County Buildings to welcome the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland back from their latest tour of duty in South Sudan, Cyprus and Iraq. Around 400 troops marched through Ayr town centre. Included in the parade were armoured vehicles and their mascot, a pony.
After the parade they went for a snack in the main hall of the county buildings and got to sit where the councillors have their meetings.
Preparing for Homecoming 2018
Today, members of Primary 7 went down to the town hall to help prepare for the Homecoming event on Friday. They helped to tie the poppies that have been knitted and crocheted by people from all over Ayrshire onto banners. Our P6 and P7 classes will be attending the parade on Friday.
Parent Mindset Workshop
Last week we held our first workshops for this session with the theme of ‘Thinking with a Growth Mindset’. Parents took part in a range of group activities along with information and question and answer sessions. Further information can be found on the school website. A parental information leaflet is available by clicking here.
Comments from parents included:
- Great session highlighting ways we can improve but also things we are doing, unsure it was right but I was actually helping a growth mindset
- Workshop really helpful in helping me develop strategies to support my child
- Very informative and extremely relevant to some of the challenges I face when trying to support my child not only in school homework but other activities and relationships too
- Good mixture of information and activity. Enjoyed session. Think it’s great that learning is underpinned by growth mindset. Thanks.
Macmillan Coffee Morning
Thank-you to all the families that came along to our coffee morning last week. We raised a fantastic £500. We would like to thank you for all the donations of cakes, biscuits and pastries. The event would not have gone ahead without the support of the staff and parent helpers. We really appreciate you.
Dates for your Diary
Next Thursday 27th September, we have a parents workshop on growth mindsets at 9.30am and then again at 1.45pm. Please let the school know if you want a place.
On Friday 28th throughout the morning we are hosting a MacMillan Coffee Morning. This has been organised by the pupils. It would be great if you could come along.
In the afternoon of the 28th at 2.15pm Primary 7 parents are invited along to a P7 Assembly on Dolphin House and John Muir.
Please note entrance to all events will be through the infant playground door.
South Ayrshire ASN Parents Forum
In South Ayrshire we want to establish a group of parents and practitioners who would like to be involved in how we can get it right together for our children and young people with additional support needs.
The group may assist us to look at a number of areas including:
- Ways in which we can provide support
- The circulation of information to all
- Gathering the views of children and parents/carers
- Identifying support that really matters for the children and families
- Assist with topics and ideas for our ASN Parents Forum
If you would like to be involved in this please mail gary.hoey@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.
We are planning an ASN Parents Forum for the evening of Wednesday 10th October at Ayr Academy. It is our intention to have some valuable and useful information available to parents and carers on the night. We will update the Council’s website with the details as soon as they are available. https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/schools/learning-support.aspx
Primary 7 and Southcraig Sherborne Project
Primary 7 are very excited to be learning with pupils from Southcraig School to experience inclusive Sherborne Developmental Movement Therapy. Sherborne is based on natural movement play activities inspired by the philosophy and Theory of Human Movement by Rudolf Laban. It offers all participants the inclusive opportunity to develop body and spatial awareness skills. As the children work through the Sherborne Movements each week they will learn to build positive relationships through demonstrating sensitivity as a responsible partner, an awareness of communicating and working together and a shared enjoyment of the movement and play.
Depute First Minister’s Challenge Day 5
Stepped Pyramid
This stepped pyramid has been built by young children and their teacher using some of the building blocks in the classroom. (The blocks are all cubes of the same size.)
(a) How many blocks would be needed to build it?
(b) Now imagine that the children want to build a similar structure with twice as many layers. How many blocks would be needed?
Depute First Minister’s Challenge Day 4
Feeding the Horses
During a very hard winter, Beth had only enough hay and corn to feed her six horses for another 30 days, and it would be another 75 days before spring would arrive. On the seventh day, before feeding time, she sold four of her horses.
Was she able to feed her remaining two horses for the rest of the winter?
Explain your reasoning.
P6 trip to Culzean
On Friday 7th September, the P6 visited Culzean Castle to study biodiversity as part of their Science topic. This is what they had to say about the trip:
“We went pond dipping and we caught newts in the pond. We went deep into the forest to look at the diversity of plants and animals. We had two rangers, Ian and Kate, who taught us about biodiversity.” Jayden and Scott
“When we arrived at Culzean we went on a walk with our ranger, Kate. we were identifying leaves. I found a lime and a beech leaf. Then we looked at invasive plants: rhododendron and bamboo. Bamboo has a great story! We have no pandas in Scotland but years ago the people that lived in Culzean wanted to look fancy because wealthy people grew bamboo. To get rid of an invasive plant you have to remove all the roots. When we went pond dipping we found newts, leeches and waterboatmen. We even found two rare newts!” Charlotte
Depute First Minister’s Challenge Day 3
Asif is shopping for a new outfit for a special occasion. He needs a shirt, a pair of trousers and a pair of shoes. Once he has picked out the items he likes and checked the prices he realises that:
- if he doesn’t buy the shirt, he can get the other items for £115
- if he doesn’t buy the trousers, he can get the other items for £100
- if he doesn’t buy the shoes, he can get the other items for £75.
But, of course, he needs the shirt, the trousers and the shoes. So what will he have to pay for all of them?
P4 trip to Vikingar
Last week Primary 4 visited Largs to enrich their learning about the Vikings. This is what they had to say about it:
“It was very cool because we went in a longhouse and we saw a longship. The longhouse was also a bedroom and a kitchen. We got to try the helmets on and they were very heavy. We also went a walk to the Viking village. There were lots of Vikings there and the first tent we went they showed us where the Vikings would have slept. We also got runes painted on our hands we had lots of fun.”
The Depute First Minister’s 2nd Puzzle
The Depute First Minister’s First Puzzle
It’s Maths Week Scotland 2018 and I’m delighted to launch the first of seven daily puzzles that I’ll be sharing this week. Here’s the first challenge.
Good luck!
Stepping Up
Three friends visit a museum and walk up a flight of stairs. Ross goes up one step at a time starting with his left foot on the first step. Elena goes up two steps at a time starting with her left foot on the second step and Tom starts with his left foot on the third step and goes up three steps at a time.
Investigate these questions and explain your answers:
(a) Which is the first step that all three will tread on?
(b) Which is the first step that all three will tread on with their right foot?
(c) Which is the first step that all three will tread on with their left foot?
Maths Week Scotland
This week in school we will be taking part in the Sumdog Competition for Maths Week Scotland. All the pupils have a username and password and can access this site from home.
Each day the Deputy First Minister will be posing a puzzle which we will put on line – leave a comment on the post if you have solved it.
Dolphin House 2018 Blog
Click here to go to the Dolphin House 2018 blog or find it under the school and class blog page
