Unique Learning Community
Yesterday was Holocaust Memorial Day around the world when we can think about others who suffered very badly because of prejudice. We found out about Anne Frank who was a young girl who went in to hiding because some bad people wanted to hurt her because she was Jewish.
We should remember so we don’t let things happen like this again. We found out that Anne had no rights of the child and this is why it’s good for us to have them.
We had fun today at Fetlar eating haggis, totties and neeps and some shortbread biscuits that the younger children made. We sang songs and read some of Burn’s poems,’Address to a Haggis’ and ‘My love is like a red, red rose’. After that we read our Toast to the lasses which worked out alright then the Reply to the Laddies. Finally we tucked into our tasty lunch. Happy Burn’s Night
We had an adventure getting into Baltasound Junior High School today for our weekly visit. Unexpected snow showers across the northern isles presented us with some challenges getting into Unst. However, we are here and thought we would share some pictures from our journey.
Monday 21st January was Martin Luther King day, a federal holiday in the United States of America where Mr King came from. We found out about him and how brave he was. We discussed how we would feel if we had to be kept separated from our friends because of colour, gender or faith as examples. Then we wrote about an experience we have had in the past which needed qualities that Dr King had like encouragement, strength and motivation. We then linked that example and Dr Kings example to our Children’s articles of rights. Our P7 children thought among others that Article 29 – Using education to be the best you can and to live peacefully and Article 12 – Every child has a right to have a say in all matters affecting them.
https://twitter.com/FetlarS/status/1085545696244232198
“We were gifted a train set by an anonymous person based in Florida, USA. It’s an amazing piece of kit. We got to decide how to design the track and the carriage order. We started using Kapla blocks to make towers around the track” said a P7 child.”I would want it to go faster but the cool thing about it is that the train detail is good and you can put something in one of the goods carts” volunteered another P7 child.
Nursery said “I made it go fast and it made me happy!”
“There are a lot of things that can go on it like some sheep and fencing which makes it look like a real train station” said P3.
“We have had a lot of fun building the track, making it work and imagining the world around us in miniature. Thank you to our generous Donor who has helped us achieve our right to play and relax!” said Mrs Kavanagh
We were determined not to be beaten by the snow today! Here we are finding fun in Fetlar!
Today we sent Christmas greetings to our partner school in Cannes, France. The nursery children there showed us their cadeux (presents) from Pere Noel (Father Christmas) and their sapin (Christmas tree). We found out about Christmas traditions in France and asked them some questions about the galette des Rois, a special pie which they slice up and whoever finds the bean inside becomes the King or Queen.
Yesterday we found out why people come to different places to live. We found out that people have moved around for a long time even people on Fetlar had to move when they were cleared off the land in the 1700’s and 1800’s. We researched about migrants in Scotland and how there are not many of them or refugees so people shouldn’t be worried. We also thought that if we help them they could help us by teaching us new things. We sent a letter to Tavish Scott to ask him to let more migrants come here. We also found our that the UNCRC says in article 22 that migrant or refugee children should have the same opportunities as children here in Fetlar. @UN #migrantsday
Today with the help of one of our ferrymen Pete we learned life skills and planted out lots of trees in the school grounds and in ‘Fetlar forest’. We tried different planting techniques ensuring the location and equipment were right before we laid them down. Pete showed us how to space out the saplings so the roots don’t compete with each other and grow well.
We have chosen Global Goal #15 as one of our main goals for our life on Fetlar and so helping to look after the land and plants on it is important to us.
Also as a rights respecting school it gives us a chance to apply Article 29 from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child which states that we have a right to take part in activities which help us be the best we can be.
Amazingly, while we were in Fetlar Forest we temporarily disturbed a long eared owl nesting in the conifer trees. We got a little clip of it flying above us. I hope you’re just as excited as us.
Thank you Sainsbury’s, Woodland Trust, Peoples Postcode lottery and Yorkshire Tea for funding this initiative.
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/free-trees/
https://www.yorkshiretea.co.uk/yorkshire-tree
https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/news/latest-news/2015/13-11-2015
Fetlar have a partner school La Frayere in La Bocca district, Cannes on the Cote in France. This morning we shared some British songs with the nursery (maternelle) department and they sang some songs in French and English to us. One of our children said ‘I was a little confused about what to say to them at first but that will get easier’ another said ‘It was funny to see them having a group hug but that’s what nursery children do sometimes’. Our nursery child liked that they learned a song which we can sing in French and English as well.
We are going to meet up every few weeks to share Christmas preparations with them.
