On Wednesday the Primary 4s partied together! They all put on their party clothes and danced, sang and played games for the afternoon.
Florence – I liked doing the Macarena.
Ellie-Rose – I loved everything, especially the games!
Eva – I liked doing the Macarena.
Orla – I loved doing the Macarena as I didn’t know how to do it before and I picked up on doing it.
Rory – I liked playing musical chairs.
Lewis – I liked playing corners.
Holly – I enjoyed the Macarena
Charlotte – I liked my snack bag!
Brandon –I enjoyed the dancing.
Zara – I enjoyed the party because we did the cha-cha slide and the Macarena!
Katie – I had fun at the party and really like playing musical chairs and pass the parcel.
Nathan – I loved the corners game. I was quite good at it.
Tamsyn – My favourite part was when we got to just dance around.
Article 31 (leisure, play and culture) Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.

This week has been very exciting as we have been preparing for our Rookie Rockstars concerts next week. We have learnt some songs to perform. The songs are about preventing and stopping bullying in our school. They are trying to help us to remember to believe in ourselves, have confidence and to move on from situations which we find difficult.
These are some of our thoughts about the experience:
Brooke – I enjoyed the pop rock because I liked the ending.
Florence – I enjoyed the challenge time.
Aaron – I enjoyed challenge time too!
Shaun – I enjoyed the pop rock because the songs were really good.
Alfie L – I enjoyed the challenge time.
Ellie-Rose – I enjoyed the songs we learnt.
Rory – I thought it was awesome!
Kyle – I’m a big fan.
Noami – It was fantastic.
Olivia – I loved the challenge time.
Jackie – I liked the chubby bunny.
Alfie B – I loved the challenge time.
Charlotte – the penguin dance was really funny
Annie – I lived everything!
Alistair – I liked challenge time.
Eva – I liked question time.
Dylan – I liked challenge time.
Jay –
Bryce – I liked challenge time.
Ellie – I loved the singing.
Kaycee – It was COOL!
Jamie – I liked the challenge time.
Ruby – I liked the challenge time because I liked the rap battle.
Max – I thought it was EPIC!
Brandon – I enjoyed the singing.
Holly – I enjoyed the rap battle.
Owen – I enjoyed question time.
Lewis – I enjoyed question time.
Liam – I liked challenge time.
Orla – I enjoyed challenge time and the chubby bunny and the rap battle!
We really hope that as many of our children can attend the concerts as possible and look forward to sharing the children’s learning on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

Last week we made fossils. We found out how fossils are formed and then we made our own. We pressed clay into a small pot, smoothed it down and then pushed a plastic toy or shell into the clay to may an impression. Then we made some plaster of Paris and tipped it onto the clay. This week we drew our fossils and thought some more about how palaeontologists can use fossils to find out about things which lived many years ago. We also made some dinosaur fossils this week.

With Mrs Mackenzie, we have been learning about ‘friendly ten’ where we add to the nearest ten and then add up to 100. It’s making our mental addition much easier!
Kyle won the Christmas Fayre drawing competition and has made his design for our games stall. We hope you will all be able to come and support us on Saturday.
As it is getting colder, please can we ask that the children have appropriate outdoor gym kit for Wednesdays. Tracksuit bottoms or leggings, jumpers and trainers are required to ensure that they can play outside safely.

Table of the week – yellow with 400 points

The P7 children took to the court for the first time this season against tough opposition from Boghall, Simpsons and St Mary’s. Despite their relative inexperience, the children all played really well with Rowan and Naomi finding the net with ease and Lewis and Jennie providing excellent feeding into the circle. Katie, Emma and Lucie defended valiantly against (often) enormous opposition and fought hard for every ball, especially rebounds. We came third overall but will be back for more in February, with increased awareness of the rules and how the game is played.
Any additional players are welcome to attend training on a Wednesday evening from 3.30 – 4.30. Please see Mr Cunnigham for a letter if Mrs Collings isn’t in school.

This week in science we looked at different rock samples. We found out that rocks are used for different purposes so hard rocks such as marble are used for statues and work surfaces and softer rocks such as sandstone are used for buildings because they can be carved and are easily quarried. Hannah and Jackie enjoyed looking at the marble because it had crystals in it. We also looked at the layers in the slate which reminds us a bit of the twirl we examined in our chocolate geology last week!

In language with Mrs Mackenzie, we looked at comic strips and how they can be used to tell a story. We found that they often have a lead-in sentence, speech bubbles to show us what is being said, thought bubbles so we know what characters are thinking, kapow stars to show sound effects and pictures showing the action! We enjoyed telling our story through comic strips.

This week we had our first BBB of the year on feeling safe. It was really interesting to see what children from across the school thought about where they feel safe and who helps them to feel safe.

Table of the week – blue with 610 points

Today we were joined by Jordan from Destination Judo. We had the oppportunity to try out some judo moves and to see the sorts of things that happen in a judo training session.

We learnt to flip people over onto their backs – Eva.
We learnt how to use the steering wheel move to flip people onto their backs – Rory
We were flipping people over on their backs – Jay
We learnt that we shouldn’t do judo unless we have special mats, a coach and special clothing – Jackie.
We also learnt that there is no kicking or punching in judo – Owen
It is about holding shirts and tripping or grappling someone to the ground -Rory.

Table of the week – tbc on Friday.

This week we enjoyed the Macmillan Coffee morning, raising money to support people with cancer and their families. We enjoyed cakes and treats and were able to buy some fabulous toys!
In PE we played castles with Mr Jeffries. We have a set of hoops made into a castle shape. We then have to throw balls at the enemy’s castle to knock it down. The winner is the team who manage to knock down the enemies two castles.
In outdoor PE we have been learning to play hockey. First of all, we played truck and trailer. The player at the front is the truck and the one at the back is the trailer. The ‘truck’ has the ball and has to run carefully around the playground controlling the ball. The trailer at the back has to stay with the truck. At ‘all change’ the truck and trailer change places!
Table of the week – orange with 380 points.

This week has been Maths week. We have worked on lots of different things including counting in 1000s, doubling single digit and double digit numbers, telling the time on an analogue clock and we even did a maths trail around the school. We had to count windows, trees and even work out how many wheels there were in the car park (there were 112 by the way!)
As you visit our playground can you answer some of our maths trail questions?
How many benches are there in the front and side playgrounds?
If 5 people can sit on each bench, how many people can sit down?
How many spots are there on ground near the P5-7 entrance?
Multiply the number of trees in our playground by 5.
What shapes can you see on our buildings?
How many single doors lead out of the building?
How many benches are in the garden?

We can find maths in everything we do and everywhere we go.
Table of the week – orange with 410 points!

It’s been another busy week in P4b.
In writing we wrote letters from Mary Queen of Scots from the time when she was living in France to her Mum who was in Scotland. We had to think about making it formal, proper sentences and we also had to think about the layout of the letter, including where the address goes, how to start the letter and how to end it.
In Numeracy we have been working on ordering numbers and place value up to 1,000,000 with Mrs Mackenzie. It can be a bit challenging but some children find it easy!
In Maths with Mrs Collings, we looked at the calendar and worked out days and dates. There is a challenge in our classroom using our birthdays.
In Science we investigated how the amount of force applied to an object affects its movement. We found out that the more force we apply to an object, it moves further. We tested this with a car slingshot!
Our highlights of the week are;
Ruby-Anne – making the car slingshot.
Ellie-Rose – learning about the life of the young Mary Queen of Scots.
Max – maths. Working in our booklets on our mental maths test.
Jamie – PE with Mr Jeffries playing castles.
Lewis – Maths with Mrs Mackenzie.
Table of the week – green table with 460
Article 31 – the right to an education.

This week we’ve been very busy learning about all the class routines and when everything happens in our busy week!
In literacy we wrote birth announcements for Mary Queen of Scots. We did fancy writing to make it look special because she was very important.
We were learning numbers up to 1000 and how to count backwards in ones from different 3-digit numbers.
In Health and Wellbeing we thought about our individual talents and why they make us special.
Aaron – I am kind
Brooke – I am funny
Ellie-Rose –I am helpful
Jamie – I am friendly
Rory – I play with my friend and make them laugh all the time
Kyle – I make lots of different animal noises
Jay – I am nice to other people
Dylan – I am helpful
In maths with Mrs Collings we started learning about time and we played a game called Fling the teacher. We had to answer some questions about time – we enjoyed making the teacher fly from the trebuchet!

In Science we started learning about how things move and the forces that we use – pull and push.
Table of the week – Red with 420 points!
Pupil of the week – Shaun for focusing fully on all his tasks

Article 28 – the right to an education.

On Tuesday we were really pleased to welcome the children back to school and to see our BRAND NEW classroom!
We have talked a lot about how to make school a safe, happy and enjoyable place for everyone in P4b. We have also talked about all the things we are looking forward to during the year. These are the things we are looking forward to!
Annie – being in the front playground
Olivia – drama, PE, art and science!
Ruby-Anne – being in a new classroom
Holly – being upstairs
Aaron – having a new classroom
Brandon – being in the front playground
Shaun – going outside with our class
Jamie – dojo points
Liam – PE
Eva – reading more chapter books
Florence – Science
Noami- being in the front playground
Rory – learning about the Vikings
Dylan – meeting new people
Kaycee – going on school trips
Ellie-Rose – more maths!
Charlotte – Science
Brooke – Art
Ellie – making new friends
Kyle – Science
Orla – art and Drama
Lewis – improving my reading
Alistair – outdoor PE
Max – science
Hannah – making new friends
Jay – having new teachers
Bryce – having a new classroom
Alfie B – maths
Owen – Art
Jackie – bringing in toys from home
Alfie L – maths
Mrs Mackenzie and Mrs Collings are really looking forward to a fun and fantastic year!
Table of the week – orange with 550 points! Well done!

This year has been a really busy one in P4b and we would like to share some of our highlights with you.
Katie – I’ve enjoyed STEM this year.
Jay – I was really happy to win P4bs got talent.
Hayley – I enjoyed Maths doing times tables.
Jack – I liked getting into the Golden Club.
Louie – I enjoyed learning about Mary, Queen of Scots.
Emma – I enjoyed doing Celebrating Success. I was very pleased to get an award.
Jacob – I liked doing energy because we got to make circuits.
Callum – I think P4b was my best year so far in school because it was really fun.
Rose – I liked STEM this year because we made spaghetti towers and got to eat the sweets afterwards.
Isaac – I was pleased to come 3rd
Aryan – I liked doing the quick fire competitions in Maths with Mrs Mackenzie.
Emily – I really enjoyed the golden club event.
Ela – I enjoyed starting school in Scotland.
Jason – I enjoyed doing chimney sums and bus stop sums.
Rayen – I liked Golden Time because it’s the first time I’ve done it.
Guy – I enjoyed doing spelling so I can get better at it.
Lucy – I liked getting MVP.
Jaime-Lee – I made a challenge in P3 to use capital letters and full stops and I think I’ve improved.
Maisey – I enjoyed making the Viking shields.
Skye – I enjoyed everything. I especially enjoyed Maths doing times tables.
Nathan – I enjoyed the assembly because I was a blacksmith.
Luke – I liked doing the swimming assessment.
Elliot – Getting my first certificate at Celebrating Success.
Charlotte – I enjoyed playing castles in P.E.
Ben – I really enjoyed making 2d shape people and animals.
Table of the week – green
Pupil of the week – Emma for carrying out excellent personal research as part of her diorama project and using this to contribute effectively to classroom activities.
Mrs Mackenzie and I would like to thank you all for your support over the year. We would also like to wish you a very happy summer holidays!

Please follow this link to nominate Balbardie for the National Book Tokens competition.
The winning school gets £5000 of book vouchers to spend on books and the person who nominates the winning school gets £100 of book vouchers for themselves.

https://www.nationalbooktokens.com/schools#.WUFTCm8rK1s

It was a short week after the Monday holiday but filled to the brim as ever!

On Wednesday the children all visited their new classes.
Emily – it was really enjoyable to visit our new class
Emma – Mrs McClafferty and Mrs Laidlaw are really joyful.
Elliot – I liked the size of the class and it’s my kind of layout.
Maisey – On the procession day, I got to do my staff spins and I got to be the first person in the line at Kuk Sool Won.
Emma – I really enjoyed seeing my auntie and my cousins on the procession day.
Elliot – I enjoyed watching my sister on the float as a flower girl.
Luke – My sister was a rainbow girl on the float.
Rose – On the procession day, Katie and I both walked as Belle.
Ela – I walked as Belle in the yellow dress.
Nathan – At the procession day, my gran and I were squirted with water by Windyknowe!
Charlotte – My family came up for the gala day and I got soaked with water!
During STEM the children completed the spaghetti tower challenge. They had 6 marshmallows, 30 spaghetti strands and a jelly baby. The challenge was to make the tallest tower which could support the jelly baby.
These are our efforts.

Table of the week – with 70 points

On Wednesday we really enjoyed Sports Day down at Balbardie Park. We were really lucky with the weather which is always a bonus!
Jason –I enjoyed the long distance race
Suvi – I enjoyed cheering my house team Strachan on the relay race
Guy – I enjoyed the sprint race
Joshua – I enjoyed taking part in the potato and spoon race
Ben – I enjoyed the sack race
Denholm – I liked hearing people cheer me on in the race
Katie – I enjoyed the egg and spoon race because I was second
Mia – I enjoyed the whole afternoon with my class
Isaac – I like the sack race
Teighan – The relay race was fun!
Maisey – I liked the long distance race because I came second
Rose – I enjoyed the long distance because I won.
Louie – I enjoyed the sprint because I came second. Thank you to all the parents, grandparents and carers who came along to support us and especially to those who took part in the adult races.

Pupil of the week for 4b – Aryan for his mature and sensible attitude to sharing his experiences in RME.
Table of the week – with 850 point

Pupil of the week for 4a – Joshua
Table of the week –Dynamic Dangerous Dinosaurs

This week has seen us experience a range of weather which has been very useful for our topic!
With Mrs Mackenzie we have learnt to take our pulse. We took our resting pulse and then took our pulse after doing some exercise. Our pulse goes up when we exercise to get blood around our bodies quicker for our muscles to work. For most of us, it took a few minutes to get back to normal which – very healthy.
We are continuing to work on fractions. We are finding fractions of numbers. It helps that we know our tables well!
In P.E. we are continuing to develop our cricket skills, specifically catching from short range and long range. We played a game called caterpillar cricket. It makes us run a LOT!
In Literacy we wrote weather reports thinking about the past tense for weather that has happened and using the future tense for the weather that is to come. We recorded them and some of them are here. Watch out Scotland, if P4b are correct, there’s some real surprises in store!

VIDEOS TO FOLLOW!

In Maths, we are learning to measure in centimetres. We measured ourselves with tape measures. We also had to figure out what units of measurement we would use to measure certain things such as a car or the thickness of a door.
Table of the week – with 690 points

Pupil of the week – Nathan for experimenting successfully with a variety of art media and techniques to demonstrate camouflage in nature.