February 28, 2025
by Mr Healy
Comments Off on Celebrating Wider Achievement

Celebrating Wider Achievement

A quick selection of photos from a tour of the different Wider Achievement groups this afternoon. What did I see? Firstly, happy and engaged pupils. That’s always number 1! Enjoyment and taking pride in your work is always so important

Creativity? Absolutely… from works of art to knitting to our sports stars on court.

Teamwork? 100%. I spoke to all Secondary pupils this week about the power of teamwork and looking out for each other. Lots of really great collaboration on show this afternoon.

Community – Wider Achievement offers us a great opportunity to engage with members of our community. To develop skills that can be passed through the generations. To celebrate what is unique about Whalsay, our community and where we are in the world. Our net mending group are a perfect example of this. Kudos to Mrs.Hamilton who was developing her skills too!

January 28, 2025
by Mrs Constable
Comments Off on STEM visit – Drones

STEM visit – Drones

S1 and S2 were visited recently by Emma Chittick from Skills Development Scotland, who delivered a Drones Workshop to engage pupils in STEM subjects by applying them to the world of work. S2 pupils commented that “we learned teamwork/communication skills and being observant along with being able to drive the drone” and learned “what jobs were involved with drones.”

All participants thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the challenges and activities! Most of the pupils had never tried flying a drone before and all agreed they’d definitely like to do it again. An S1 pupil commented “my brother has a drone and I’m going to ask if I can have a go flying that now”. Another said “I really enjoyed it, it was so cool especially when we got the drone to do flips”.

An S2 pupil commented that “We learned what drones can be used for, and how they help us.” After the session the classes had a discussion imagining all kinds of handy uses for drones in the future – the most popular one being the delivery of Chinese take-aways to Whalsay!

Special thank you to Emma for visiting with the drones and delivering a fun and engaging lesson to promote STEM skills and careers.

January 10, 2025
by gw23carrlaurieanne@glow
Comments Off on Junk Kouture

Junk Kouture

Junk Kouture is an International Sustainable Fashion Competition using 100% recycled materials to create a design for the catwalk.

We are learning new skills, experimenting with different materials, being creative and working in teams. Pupils are designing outfits based on the fishing and seas around Whalsay. One pupil is basing her design on the Shetland Salmon Farming and another is designing and creating a dress based on pollution in our seas that affect our island. Last year the pupils had a Team meeting with one of the Junk Kouture staff and she gave them great tips and advice, she was very enthusiastic about their ideas.

“I’m am really enjoying taking part of Junk Kouture. I am learning new skills and getting to show off my creativity with my designs.”

experimenting with their Shoard “finds”.

sorting materials.

making a paper model of the design.

Can you help?

We are needing specific recycled materials and would appreciate any help: Fashion Magazines, plastic bottle tops and metal caps, ring-pulls.

Thank you!

Wider Achievement: Enterprise

January 10, 2025 by gw23carrlaurieanne@glow

Over the last term our enterprise group planned to make and sell little trinkets and decorations.

We needle felted with Ann Marie Anderson, making lots of little trinkets, like gonks, Christmas tree ornaments. Most of us loved them so much we took them home. We also made decorations, like balls of wool with knitting needles which we sold at the Whalsay Wool Week “Makin and Yakin” for £3 each. We even got a commission for some more. We made £80 towards materials for further enterprise opportunities for next year. Some people made fairies with pipe cleaners and fabric; little hats with carboard tubes and wool and Christmas cards

Pupils enjoyed the needle felting, making and selling the yarn balls!

The needle felting was considered the best, enjoyed the most and pupils hoped to do it again!

This gallery contains 10 photos

January 10, 2025
by Miss Holzheimer
Comments Off on Crochet in Wider Achievement

Crochet in Wider Achievement

In the last 2 terms in Wider Achievement, we learnt how to crochet. Some of us already knew some basics, others had to start completely from scratch. At the beginning, we all made the same kind of bunny. They all turned out different. Some bunnies were small, others were really big. It depends on your personal style of crocheting and also what wool and hook you use. Some of use decided to leave away arms, tails, or bunny feet, others stayed closer to the original pattern.

Once everybody had finished their bunny, we looked on a pattern website called ravelry and we found things that we wanted to crochet. We made snakes, jelly fish, pigs, mushroom, granny square blankets, birds, beans, frogs and lots of other things. Some of us even managed to make things without a pattern.

After a few weeks, most of us were good enough that we could help others in the group when they had problems. Some even taught their relatives and friends at home how to crochet.

Here are a few statements from some of us:

Annie: “I’ve practised remembering different kinds of crochet stitches.”

Lola: “It’s better than just sitting on devices.”

Morgan: “I have made lots of cool things.”

Bella: “The crochet toys we made are really good to throw at your brothers and sisters. They also make really good gifts – I made 6 gifts for people.”

Geordie: “It get’s easier the more you practise it.”

Neve, Brooke and Flora: “We got to be creative.”

Crochet skills can help with counting, maths, art, hand and eye coordination and lots of other things. Quite a few of us want to finish our crochet projects at home.

January 6, 2025
by Mr Healy
Comments Off on National Sumdog success

National Sumdog success

Delighted to share the outcome of our recent participation in Sumdog challenges; a national initiative where pupils answer questions to consolidate and further develop their knowledge in Mathematics.

Of the 2,944 nationwide that took part,

Our S1 class finished 63rd

Our P6/7 cohort finished 119th and our

S2 cohort finished 122nd.

This is a huge success for our school and testament to the hard work and dedication of our pupils to their learning in Mathematics. I’d like to extend thanks to teachers, parents and support staff who provided encouragement and support along the way.

Well done, Whalsay School!

Mr.Healy

December 19, 2024
by Miss Holzheimer
Comments Off on Secondary Christmas Party

Secondary Christmas Party

On Monday night, the Secondary pupils celebrated their annual Christmas Party. The party, organised by S4, was a great success. This year’s theme was “Hollywood” and the pupils looked glamourous indeed. Here are some photos of the classes in their outfits.

Christmas Home Economics

December 17, 2024 by Miss Irvine

Pupils have been busy in the past few weeks in the Home Economics classroom.

S1 pupils have been learning about Christmas food traditions around the world and made up a question each for a class quiz. They have also learned some sewing stitches and used the running stitch and blanket stitch to make a Christmas decoration. Last week they made shortbread and had fun using different shapes to make biscuits, I’ve never seen duck shaped shortbread before!

S2 pupils have had a couple of weeks making biscuits, they made and decorated gingerbread house biscuits with a sweetie glass window and last week they made shortbread.

S3 and S4 have baked mini Christmas cakes baked in a small bean tin and the following lesson they decorated them with marzipan and icing. S4 baked and decorated a Gingerbread house using royal icing.

This gallery contains 29 photos

December 6, 2024
by Miss Holzheimer
Comments Off on Winners of the Reading Challenge

Winners of the Reading Challenge

It’s taken me a while to add numbers up, but that’s no surprise when you see how much has been read by pupils and staff during our 2-week reading challenge! S1 are the overall winners and have already received their prize – German Christmas biscuits and some chocolate. You can see the final scores and the delighted winners in the photos below.

Congratulations also to the other classes and the staff that have taken part. I really enjoyed the competitive spirit and the book recommendations. It’s brilliant that we have so many keen readers in our school.

Next week, I will hand out merits to individual pupils who have read the most in each year group and have helped boost their class’s overall score, so check your children’s homework diaries to see if they got one!

December 6, 2024
by Mrs Constable
Comments Off on S4 Christmas Party – Only 10 days to go!!!

S4 Christmas Party – Only 10 days to go!!!

The official countdown is on for Secondary A-listers walk the red carpet to enter the Hollywood Christmas Party!!

S4 have been working hard under the guidance of Miss Wilson to make preparations for their Hollywood Christmas Party on Monday 16th December! Miss Carr has helped with the decorations and Mrs Constable with the dancing.

All the party games & prizes have been sorted.
The food for catering the event is in place.
Decorations are done which align with the Hollywood theme.
The event is advertised, tickets are sorted and signage to help direct all guests.

Hope everyone has their glad rags prepared for an evening of music, dancing & games to celebrate the festive season!

Tickets now on sale from the Secondary Office – £3.50 each!

Buy now to avoid disappointment!!