Whalsay School

Nursery and Primary pupils regularly get outside during the school day through activities such as the Daily Mile, play activities and outdoor break times. From staff observations, there are clear benefits to spending time outdoors in relation to pupils’ learning and wellbeing.

During the Secondary assembly last week, we focused on the benefits of taking fresh-air breaks, including:

• boosting brain power
• improving memory
• helping you think more clearly
• lowering stress levels and anxiety
• releasing feel-good chemicals in your brain
• improving attention span

We want each of our learners to achieve the best possible outcomes at school, and getting outside can play an important part in supporting this. Since returning to school, Secondary pupils have, therefore, been encouraged to make the most of their break times by getting outside.

It has been encouraging to see pupils making use of the spaces around the Secondary building and mixing with different ages, whether that is going for a walk, playing football, playing frisbee, using the multi-court or even looking for frogs at the pond!

We will also be speaking to the Secondary Pupil Council to find out what additional resources they would like to have available to make their time outside as enjoyable and active as possible.

Whalsay School’s Primary 6 and 7 pupils were hard at work last Thursday afternoon at Skaw. They were helping the Shetland Bird Club to plant up a crop of plants aimed at attracting bumblebees and birds, a so-called ‘Bumblebird’ crop. This crop is part of wider project across Shetland funded by the Viking Community Benefit Fund, and thirty crops have been established this year across the Islands.

Laurence has been hard at work for the past few nights rotavating two patches of land at Skaw, near the Golf Club House. When the pupils arrived the ground was looking great and had already been sectioned up.  Pupils were put in groups of two and each group got a bag of seeds which they had to spread evenly over their section. These seeds include kale, phacelia, fodder radish, red clover, linseed, buckwheat and mustard. Each group designed a flag which they tied to a pole in their section.

Around the edge of the whole plot the pupils planted bere (barley). The seeds were raked in to protect them from hungry birds, before being rolled with a heavy roller to flatten the ground. At another, smaller plot, oats were planted

Laurence will now erect a small fence to protect the crop from sheep.  It will take approximately 6-8 weeks for the crop to fully grow and bloom so keep your eyes peeled at Skaw!

A HUGE well done to everybody who took part.  There was great team work and many willing hands make light work.   The weather was nice and dry but now we’re all hoping for some rain to get the seed   germinating.  (Not too much tho) 😊