January | 2024 |

Christmas Lunch

January 9, 2024 by Mrs Maxwell | 0 comments

We really miss Sue who was our lovely cook for 20 years before leaving the isle last summer. As we approached the end of term, our fantastic Parent Council volunteered to cook the pupils and staff a delicious Christmas lunch on 15th December to keep the annual tradition going. Many thanks to Susannah and Eileen for the fantastic meal! They even used up the rest of our home-grown school tatties! The children wrote and sent lovely invitations to our guests and made Christmas card place-cards. Well done to Freyja for making the placemats for her final FIPS Christmas lunch!

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A Fair Isle Nativity

January 9, 2024 by Mrs Maxwell | 0 comments

The children and staff of FIPS thoroughly enjoyed performing their Christmas Concert to our isle community on Thursday 14th December! It was great fun to make, and a real team effort from all staff and children.

It all started after the October holidays. We brainstormed a Fair Isle version of the Nativity. Instead of Mary and Joseph in Nazareth, we had Magni and Merron in Lerwick who were expecting a baby. Even though it was 2023, there was a National Census requiring everyone to return to the place of their birth. Back to Fair Isle for Magni and Merron . Instead of travelling by donkey on the long and dusty road, they travelled ferry on the rough and choppy sea, as there was no chance of flying from Tingwall due to full planes or ice on the runway (common at this time of year).

We met many Fair Isle residents along the way, from the boat crew, Jimmy and Glen Dog, to three ‘wise’ crofters, Ian, Deryk and Marie, bearing gifts of lamb, veg and knitting! Magni and Merron tried different B&Bs (Burkle, South Light and Springfield – all full) before settling in Steven’s byer. The baby was named Nick – our nature-expert isle-resident Nick Riddiford was born on Christmas Day!

Fiona and the children made all the set pieces and backdrop in Art lessons. Pat and the children rehearsed the singing and chime bar accompaniment to our Good Shepherd song (to the tune of Little Donkey). With so few pupils, Hollie did a brilliant job playing herself, Josie, Steven and Marie with extraordinary quick changes in between!

We received excellent feedback from all in the community who thoroughly enjoyed the performance and the tea and mince pies afterwards, served up by our Parent Council.

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Christmas Jumper Day & Blythswood Care Shoebox Appeal

January 9, 2024 by Mrs Maxwell | 1 Comment

As a Rights Committed (UNICEF Bronze Award) school, we are generating awareness of children and people in the UK, and around the world, whose human rights may not be met for a number of reasons. This can range from natural disasters or war, to poverty and other events that can affect lives.

In addition to our UNICEF and Children in Need Coffee Morning Fundraiser in November, the pupils and staff of FIPS decided to support two further charities last term. We took part in the Blythswood Care Shoebox Appeal. Each of our families filled one or two shoeboxes for children of different ages. The boxes included a toy, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, sweets, socks, hat, scarf and gloves. Our pupils appreciate that every day items like these can make a difference to the lives of children who cannot always afford such items.

On Thursday 7th December, we took part in Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day. The children enjoyed wearing Christmas clothing that day. This event introduced the children to another important charity that helps children around the world. We raised £30 which we think is brilliant for a tiny school like ours!

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