Heathery Knowe Primary School pupils and staff have enjoyed a busy week of learning and development. The pupils have embraced new learning opportunities and have been a credit to themselves and staff.
Pizza Express and Community Visit
Learners in Room 5 participated in a Health and Wellbeing and World of Work excursion to the local Pizza Express in the town centre. They had an opportunity to find out more about ingredients, cooking and even prepared a personal pizza to eat on return to school. This excursion also provided a valuable opportunity to ask questions about working in the catering industry and running a business.
Room 5 learners also prepared letters to deliver to local businesses to ask if they could support the development of school library areas with book donations. The pupils showed confidence and were very respectful as they hand delivered their letters and spoke to store staff to explain the content of the letter and the developments in school.
The children enjoyed learning outwith the classroom.
STEM Challenges
Primary 5 pupils organised STEM challenge activities for all classes as part of British Science Week. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and is an integral part of our curriculum. The various activities included designing bridges that could stand without support, building boats that were able to float, making sea creatures from recycled materials and making a pair of glasses to fit a face. We are very proud of our pupil leaders in Room 7. They organised activities and explained them clearly in each class. There are many photos on Twitter of children engaging in STEM at Heathery Knowe Primary School.
Clyde in the Classroom
The Primary 5 ‘Clyde in the Classroom’ experience ended on Friday 13th March. After caring for trout eggs and watching them develop into alevin and fry, they were ready to be released into a local stream to continue their development into adult sized brown trout. The pupils have shown incredible respect for the developing trout and have undertaken the tasks of caring for them responsibly and with commitment.
Launch of Reading Cafe
The Reading Cafe opened for the first time this week. Over 50 pupils attended each session, choosing to read or be read to during their lunch break. Pupils enjoyed snuggling up in the new library areas, enjoying a quiet lunch break absorbed in a book.
Reading Cafe is open to all pupils during Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes.
School Grounds Update
This weekend, the guttering at the kitchen area is being inspected and cleaned to resolve the issue with the overflow pipe continually draining onto the playground area.
Resolving the drainage issue will be a larger job. The Property Officer has advised that new drainage channels are required to allow the water to drain away and prevent large puddles in the playground. It is fortunate that it is nearing a school holiday and we are hopeful that the work will be completed over Spring Break so that it does not impact on the pupils.
Allotment – Raised Bed
Mrs McGee and Mr Loveday have secured the rental of a raised bed in the allotment area immediately behind the school. The school will take groups of pupils to the community allotment to grow plants and vegetables which can then be harvested.
Mothers’ Day Shop
Primary 7 and the PTC will run the Mothers’ Day Shop next week. Children may bring £2 or £3 if they would like to purchase a Mothers’ Day gift in school. The shop will be fully stocked on Monday and will remain open each day until all gifts are sold.
The money raised from this enterprise activity supports the Primary 7 end of session treat.
What’s on next week?
Monday – Thursday : Mothers’ Day Shop
Tuesday – Deirdre Grogan (University of Strathclyde) visitng Nursery, Room 1 and Room 2
Friday – Head Teacher attending Head Teacher Leadership Academy all day
**Reminder: P7 pupils attending Calderglen High need to return the information pack as soon as possible**
Thank you for your continued support
Kind regards
Kirsty Duff
