This week, primary pupils have been celebrating maths week. It started off with a whole school assembly on Monday about the importance of maths for every job and that maths is everywhere! In class they have been busy working hard on their maths with each class producing a ‘Beauty in Maths’ display, which was the focus of maths week this year.
A huge thank you and well done to the parents (for driving) and bairns who completed the family maths challenge. You did a super job, hopefully you had fun with your families and noticed that maths is all around. Libby drew Morgan’s name out as the winner so she will get her prize when we get back after the holidays!
The Open Afternoon was a chance for parents to come in and visit classes and see the different games and resources used to teach maths. We also had out the Numeracy packs that we put home pre covid as a homework resource. We will be using them for homework next term so look out for more information about them after the holidays. We also left out leaflets on how to help your child at home with maths, the link to the leaflet can be found here where you will find other resources to support you at home.
Primary 6/7 organised a Bring and Buy sale on Thursday afternoon to coincide with the Open Afternoon. The Bring and buy sale took in over £160 and P67 are going to decide after the holidays how to spend the money and they are going to donate all of the toys and books leftover to Shoard.
Please note that there will be no Model Yachts activity tomorrow for Wider Achievement. Pupils normally involved will be in school until 2pm and should not be picked up at the Houll Loch.
As part of N5 Biology pupils learn about the heart and associated blood vessels. The class agreed that seeing is believing so they spilt into groups of two and each group got to dissect a sheep’s heart. They identified the four main blood vessels entering and leaving the heart, along with the two main valves and the four chambers. Luckily it was a fine day as two of the pupils had to observe the dissections from outside, looking in through the windows.
Pupils at Whalsay School and Nursery gathered for a special photo on Thursday 29th September to celebrate Wool Week and an anniversary for the school.
During the school’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, one of the Primary pupils, William Leask, pointed out that another anniversary was being overlooked. He had noticed a plaque in the lobby of the Primary Department recording the official opening of the Nursery and Primary buildings by Councillor William Smith and Krystina Simpson on 8th May 1997. In an email to the Head Teacher, he suggested having a whole school photo to mark this anniversary.
Whalsay School normally takes a lot of photos for Wool Week when pupils participate in Fair Isle Friday so it was decided to combine these two celebrations. Ivan Reid kindly agreed to bring in his drone so that we could take an aerial photo of the pupils in “25” formation.
Wool Week coincides this term with the resumption of Peerie Makkers in the Primary Department after an enforced absence due the COVID pandemic. A group of dedicated volunteers led by Amanda Pottinger have been coming in on Tuesday afternoons to train up the enthusiastic group which includes Primary and Secondary pupils. One of the Science teachers, Caroline Simpson, is also running a Makkers group on Thursday lunchtimes for Secondary pupils.
On Tuesday 27 September the S3 class headed to Lerwick to attend Shetland’s Climate Week organised by the Council’s Climate Change Strategy Team. The day began with pupils having the opportunity to visit stalls and chat with various Shetland Companies about their approaches to Climate change and learn more about possible future opportunities in the “Green” sector. Shetland Careers Officers and UHI representatives were also on hand to offer careers advice and ideas.
Pupils learned about Shetland’s Net Zero Route Map and how to achieve clean, green energy for Shetland from our valuable natural resources. The transition period was discussed and how existing infrastructure can and will be used in the future. Also some of the skills required of a new, young workforce were highlighted. The pupils were then invited to take part in various activities. These included building their own model wind turbine and base, observing how different solvents helped clean oil from birds feathers, building a model tide turbine, programming robots, using laser technology and a visit aboard an all-electric bus. Whalsay and Yell’s Pledge Trees were also on display.
Whalsay and Yell pupils were combined and worked in groups for these events. The winning team, who produced most voltage from their model wind turbine, called themselves “Yellsa” and managed to produce an impressive 5.3volts.
The pupils all said they had found the day interesting and informative and had really enjoyed the activities, especially working with pupils from another school. They would like to thank the Climate Change team and Emma Chittick.
After having to postpone in June, we were able to go ahead with our YPI final this month. YPI stands for Youth and Philanthropy Initiative. The Initiative, which was started in Canada by the Toskan Casele Foundation in 2011, encourages pupils in a whole year group to research social problems in their community. They then identify a local charity that is working to tackle their chosen issue. Contact is made with the charity either by the pupils visiting the charity or a representative coming into school to talk about their work. Pupils then work on a presentation informing their audience about the work of the charity and advocating for it to receive a grant of £3000 which, in Scotland, is funded by the Wood Family Trust.
Wednesday’s final marked the end of this process for the S4 RME class. Three groups of pupils pitched for three local charities: Ability Shetland, Clan Cancer Support Shetland and Shetland Women’s Aid.
The Final was attended by Stephanie Bain from Ability Shetland while apologies and best wishes were sent by Dorothy Jamieson from Clan Cancer Support Shetland and Laura Stronach from Shetland Women’s Aid. The three judges were Odette Anderson (Outgoing Chair of the Parent Council), Moira Dally (former school DSMO and current SQA invigilator), and Eyvor Irvine (CDT teacher). Garry Spence (Head Teacher) welcomed the audience which consisted of the aforementioned guests, parents and pupils.
The pupils in the three groups conquered their nerves and ably delivered their informative presentations about the work of their chosen charities. The pupils advocating for Clan spoke knowledgably about the work of the organisation and their visit to the shop and offices in Lerwick. The pupils speaking for Shetland Women’s Aid began with an informative and thought-provoking Kahoot quiz and moved on to share how they had been surprised at the extent and impact of domestic abuse. The Ability Shetland group had been involved in volunteering at the recently organised Parasport festival. This experience had given them a real insight into how the charity functions as a supportive community for the people and families it serves.
During the interval the S4 pupils served refreshments to the guests which gave the judges time to complete the unenviable task of choosing the group which would win the £3000 grant for their charity.
Mr Spence thanked all those involved in the Final and the YPI process. Eyvor Irvine gave feedback to both groups, commenting on how well informed they had been and the creativity in their presentations. She then announced that the winners of the £3000 cheque were Cara, Connor, Jenny and Mackie who were advocating on behalf of Ability Shetland.
As part of the YPI project, pupils do some fundraising to raise a proportion of the £3000 grant. Mrs Hughson will be organising a Community Cafe on Friday 30th September which S4 pupils will help to run. We would like to invite parents and friends of the school community to attend the cafe and support the YPI programme with a donation. Please look out for our publicity on this in the next few days.
At the end of 2021, Shetland Islands Council’s Climate Change Strategy and Developing the Young Workforce teams, in partnership with local schools and Art Machine, held a competition to design a logo and mascot for the new Climate Conversation.
The Shetland Climate Conversation aims to find out what people think about Climate Change, understand their concerns, encourage partnerships, spark creative solutions, and work towards reducing and reversing our impact on the environment.
Miss Irvine gave pupils the opportunity to design logos and enter the competition during Graphic Communication lessons. Dozens of entries were entered from pupils across the isles, which were narrowed down by the judging panel to two winners: our S4 pupil, Ella Kay and a pupil from Anderson High School.
Ella’s entry has become the logo for the Shetland Climate Conversation and the AHS pupil’s has become the mascot. The new logos will be used on Climate Conversation materials, including leaflets, posters and digital surveys, reports and web content.
Ella has since had the opportunity for some work experience with local design company Art Machine to turn the original designs into the finished graphics. She said that she really enjoyed this placement and felt it was a beneficial experience for her future career aspirations.
Very well done Ella!
With the new logo and mascot – (l to r) Jonny Polson from Art Machine, Emma Chittick from DYW Shetland, Athea Blance, Ella Kay, and Claire Ferguson, from the Council’s Climate Change Strategy Team. Credit: SIC
Congratulations to Kyran Wishart who has recently achieved the Duke of Edinburgh Award at Bronze Level and Level 3 Emergency First Aid in the workplace, through the Army Cadet Force.
The DofE Award Scheme is a tool to develop essential skills for life and work.
There are four sections to complete at Bronze level. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition.
Achieving an Award gives young people skills beyond academic achievement, such as communication, commitment, resilience, leadership, teamwork and confidence, much sought after by employers, colleges and universities.
Kyran received his awards from Captain Haynes.
Kyran has now moved on from Whalsay School and is studying for an NC in Engineering at Shetland UHI.
Kyran receiving his awards from Captain Haynes of the Army Cadet Force.
Congratulations to all those involved in the “Once apo a Time” exhibition at Bonhoga. Pupils from Primary worked alongside Ann Marie Anderson and Fernlea residents on this project along with pupils, artists and care home residents in Yell and Sandwick. The exhibition runs from now until the 23rd of October.
Last week, primary pupils and staff cast their votes for the new House Captains. In the weeks leading up to the vote, Primary 7 pupils were busy writing and practicing their speeches, which included about being good role models for the rest of the school, being fair and encouraging towards others. Here are photos of this year’s House Captains.
