Last week the Mid Yell Primary Department enjoyed a visit from the Glasgow Science Centre.  They learned about ‘Disgusting Digestion’ and had great fun watching the journey that our food goes on after it enters our mouths!  Pupils also had the opportunity to take part in a range of activities that explored how our bodies work.  We all had a very enjoyable morning!

Lower primary class walked to the beach to do a species count.

31 species of living creatures were counted including:

• crabs
• butter fish
• lots of birds
• anemones.

Our P6/7 pupils (Yell & Unst Primary Schools) are off to Loch Insh Outdoor Centre.

Amazing event supporting pupils to practice their performing skills in front of an audience.

Well done to all performers!

I was selected to go to Strathclyde University on 26-27 January 2023 for the Engineering the Future for Girls Programme.

When I arrived at the Uni I was put into group F with Amy, Lucie, Rosie, Lana, Lily, Maria and Abby, we got to be friends.  During two days we learned about different areas of engineering:  Civil & Environmental, Mechanical & Aerospace, Chemical & Process and Biomedical.

For each engineering area we were first given a presentation about what it involved and then we did an activity.  For civil & environmental engineering we had a build a bridge out of spaghetti and loom bands.  All the activities were like that and we had to work as a team.

For each engineering area we got to meet new people.  They told us about the job and how they got there – the college/university they went to and the subjects they studied.  All of them said maths and physics are very important subjects for every engineering areas.

I learned that if you study at Strathclyde you can do a years work experience to get practical experience eg in biomedical engineering you could go to a hospital or company that makes prosthetic limbs.

I really enjoyed my two days and the people I met.

If anyone gets the chance to go I would recommend it.

On Wednesday 25th January 2023, S2 & 3 travelled to Brae High School to meet with local employers to discuss the importance a learning a second language.

There were lots of local employers there, including:  Frankies Fish & Chip Shop, Total Energies, Harper Macleod, Cooke Aquaculture, Shetland Arts,  all had stories to share when having a second language had been useful.

At lunchtime on Tuesday we held a special lunch for “Burns Night” to celebrate the life of Robert Burns.

Everyone stood while the haggis was brought in.  Our P7 class “addressed the haggis” before we all sat down to a lunch of haggis, neeps and tatties, washed down by our National drink, irnbru!

Our North Isles netball team (Mid Yell JHS and Baltasound JHS) recently won the Shetland Schools competition. This qualified them to play Kirkwall Grammar School in the Scottish Schools Cup. This was played last week at the Clickimin Leisure Centre. The team came up against a very strong Kirkwall team, but after a battling first quarter finished 6-6, the Orcadians went on to take control of the game and ran out eventual winners 41-16. Despite the result, the lasses thoroughly enjoyed the experience and performed with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. We are very proud of them!

Our lower primary love to explore through play, and this past week they have been learning about all things “Under the Sea”.  This has involved learning about flotation, sea creatures, creating an underwater area and experiencing different textures and sounds!