June 16, 2025
by Miss Hutchison
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P4/5/6 had a super trip to the Heritage Centre this morning.
We learned lots about local history – including about the fishing, Symbister House and the lairds of Whalsay! We also got to have a look at the knitwear.
The pupils loved getting to have a look around at the photos and artefacts and watching the videos of fishing on the Azalea!
Thank you to David and Marina for such a super morning!
June 11, 2025
by gw19patersonelizabet@glow
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We are working towards our John Muir award which takes us out into nature. We have to work on the four areas of the award which are: Discover, Explore, Conserve, and Share.
Yesterday we walked up the Ward o Clate, which is the highest point in Whalsay.
We walked from the school with scavenger sheets to explore and discover the nature around us. As we were walking we discovered lots of animals such as; butterflies, seagulls, sparrows, animal tracks, rabbits, flies and spiders and lots more. We also spotted lots of plants like; moss, daisies, heather, clover, ferns, thistles, dandelions and other flowers that we will need to research to identify them.
The walk up to the top was steep and a bit tiring. You could hear the birds and you could see for miles. Once we were almost at the top we discovered lots of old bunkers and concrete remains that used to be buildings previously used in the War. When we got to the top it was a relief but it was worth it, the views were amazing.
We made out way back down the hill, taking care as we climbed over fences. As we walked back to the school we kept an eye out to find any items from our scavenger sheet that we had not already spotted.
We enjoyed our walk so much that some of us went back up the hill to play after school. We hope that others in the future will be able to enjoy a walk up the Ward o Clate.
Click the link below to see our adventures.
June 5, 2025
by Mrs Irvine
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Primary 3/4 were delighted to visit the Heritage Centre today as part of their topic on ‘The Sea’. Thank you to Marina and David for telling us all about Whalsay’s links to the sea and the history of fishing and transport.
We were also lucky to see the display on the Lairds which ties in with the 60th anniversary of Whalsay School. There were interesting artifacts and pictures of the Laird’s house before it became Whalsay School.
Thank you again to the Heritage Centre for being such an interesting place for us to visit.
May 23, 2025
by Miss Nairn
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The Science Fair from Edinburgh visited today and we really enjoyed it. The theme was ‘Our Changing Climate’. We learned all about what is happening to our planet in a really fun and interesting way. We learned about ways in which we can help here in Whalsay.
Here are some of our thoughts on the demonstration and workshop:
‘I liked the parachute best,’ Elsie.
‘I learned it’s important to protect the planet,’ William.
‘ I found out why it’s important to save electricity,’ Jordie.
‘I will be kind to bugs,’ Ertie.
‘I was surprised by how much is in the atmosphere,’ Stanley.
‘I learned about animals and where they live,’ Ali
‘It was fun inside the parachute and very warm,’ Thea and Jim.
‘ I enjoyed the games,’ Henry.
‘I liked when they popped the balloon over the teacher’s head,’ Lottie, Emmie and Lewis.
‘ I enjoyed the end with the flags and the rainbow,’ Maggie, Elsie and Sophia.
‘I learned you shouldn’t drop litter or plastic,’ Annie and Joanna.
‘I liked hearing about saving bugs and why they are important.’ Bobby.
‘ I learned how to look after the world.’ Micah.
May 16, 2025
by Miss Irvine
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Whalsay Primary welcomed Shetland school music instructors this afternoon for a concert to show the range of musical instruments taught across Shetland.
The group of musicians started off playing the James Bond intro and then preceded to play their way through different sections of the orchestra.
For the string section pupils heard a cello, viola, a violin playing some classical music, a fiddle playing The Hoy Song which is more traditional and the bairns did really well joining in on the ‘hoy’ parts. A fiddle and violin are the same instrument but are associated with different styles of music.
An accordion played along with the fiddle before playing a faster tune on his own. Next was the woodwind section and pupils heard a flute, clarinet and 2 different saxophones. Our piano teacher, Mrs Martin spoke about the brass section and played the trumpet and cornet before we heard the trombone. Finally, the percussion, pupils heard the drumkit playing along to a melody of songs.
Individually and as a group the musicians played a number or well known pieces including songs from Moana, the Jungle Book, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Wallance and Gromit, Star Wars and a finale of Steve’s Lava Chicken which was very well received!
It was a super concert and certainly showcased to the pupils the variety of instruments that can be taught in our schools.
Currently we offer fiddle and piano, if your child wishes to receive instrumental instruction for those or any other instrument, please click on the link below and complete the form so waiting lists can begin and hopefully extend the musical provision at our school.
https://www.shetland.gov.uk/schools-learning/instrumental-instruction
May 15, 2025
by Miss Hutchison
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Well done to the Whalsay Primary team for their prize at the Celebration in STEM event today at the Shetland Museum! They were runners up for their Climate Smarter model.
The pupils had to present their Climate Smarter model that they had prepared in class last term. They prepared a small presentation for the judges then had to answer questions about their model and their learning.
They had a brilliant day at the Celebration of STEM event. We spent the morning doing various STEM challenges at different stations. This was such a fun for the pupils and there was a lot brilliant learning, problem solving and teamwork going on!
The pupils got to make model cars and helicopters, drive in a forklift simulator, steer boats and make circuits! We also got to make model boats with Lego.
It was brilliant to have the secondary and primary teams together! They all had a good fun on the ferry back home making helicopters.
Well done again to all of the bairns! What a super day it has been.
April 28, 2025
by Mrs Polson
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Pupils in primary 1/2 were happy to see their friends after the Easter break and soon got busy playing together in class.
The class has been learning about fractions – folding different shapes of paper in half, colouring and painting equal parts. Pupils used their playdough to make cookies and cut them in half. Harry suggested using the pieces of folded paper to make comics which led to variety of stories being created.
Later in the week the class helped with the Voar Redd Up. They were responsible for picking up litter in the playpark. Luckily there was time for a play at the end. Well done everyone!
April 28, 2025
by gw19patersonelizabet@glow
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Last Friday we had a visit from the team at Glasgow Science Centre. We watched an interactive assembly where we learned all about the features of castles and why they were important. We found out about their features and how the were built, defended and attacked.
Following our assembly the Glasgow Science Centre team delivered workshops where the pupils were able to take part in a series of activities to investigate real bones that were discovered within the grounds of Stirling Castle. Our investigations allowed us to discover more about the people who had died, where they were from and if they were male or female. We were also able to determine what the cause of death was likely to be and even what their occupation may have been.
It was super to see the children engaged in the activities, thanks to the Glasgow Science Centre team for travelling to see us.
March 21, 2025
by Mrs Irvine
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P3/4 have had a retro 1980s day to raise money for Comic Relief as it is 40 years since the campaign began.
This week we have been using 1980s cartoons to inspire our writing and developing designs for our very own Inspector Gadget suit!
We looked back at he Doomsday Project completed by P5 and P6 in Whalsay Primary in 1985 and used it to discuss some differences that had occurred in the isle in the last 40 years. The children have enjoyed playing some of the playground games mentioned in the project during PE and outdoor time this week.
March 7, 2025
by Mrs Polson
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Primary 1/2 have had a busy week celebrating books.
They enjoyed meeting the author Ann Marie Anderson. She read her latest book “Hirda the Oorick.” Some of the class created characters to help Hirda gadder up bruck.
Anne shared books written in Doric with the class. She read “Nae Place Like Hame?” The class thought this story was funny. There are lots of words in Doric that are different from Whalsay words. Great reading Anne.
Eva brought in another book written by Ann Marie Anderson called “Da Fisherman’s Wife.” She explained how it was her auntie Jo who illustrated this book. Well done Eva.
Ruby read one of her favourite books called “Peekaboo Sun” and look there she is dressed up as the sun for World Book Day! Great reading Ruby.
On World Book Day we had so many book characters in our class. A big thank you to secondary one and primary 6/7 who read books with us.
