Well done to Kai Morrow, Sophie Dalziel, Chloe Bell and Emma Russell who each performed a Burns poem at the West Lothian Final of the Burns federation Competition. Each of them received a Burns Federation certificate for their efforts!
They represented Bankton very well and made their headteacher and their families very proud. Thank you to the families who attended to cheer them on – your support was much appreciated.
Many thanks to all parents who attended our Bite- Size Workshops on how to help your child with home learning.
Please have a look in our Useful Documents section where I have uploaded leaflets, handouts and Powerpoint Presentations used by staff on the night.
Please get in touch with staff at the school if you have any further questions about home learning.
As part of this term’s vertical groups, Group 8 worked with Mrs Stewart to explore Article 24: Every child has the right to good health.
P.1-3 looked at needs and wants, mimed uses of water in the home, discussed where water comes from and even fitted in some ‘rain dancing’.
P.4 – P.7 found themselves in an earthquake zone with UNICEF workers on hand to help them ‘Build back better’. Everyone took their roles very seriously and managed to work as family units to build successful shelters after the earthquake.
The verdict was ‘awesome’! Ewan particulary enjoyed his interactions with the earthquake victims and using the emergency supplies in his UNICEF backpack to help others.
Special thanks to my mini janitorial team of Jamie, Ian, Ewan and Aaron for creating my earthquake zone in preparation for the drama session.
P.4 and P.5 pupils learned the skills of knights of the past in the first of a series of fencing after school club sessions. They learned about fast, furious footwork , moving forward and backwards in a straight line and the need to listen carefully to instructions. All enjoyed wearing their fencing head guards and handled their swords with great discipline.
They responded immediately to the command, ‘En garde!’ And the pink cheeks at the end of the lesson showed what a strong, hard workout everyone had had! Roll on next Tuesday.
Thank you to all Bankton pupils, staff and parents who worked so hard to make the JYHS Cluster Family Learning Festival in Crofthead Centre such a success. This event was planned and prepared by the Cluster Support for Learning Professional Learning Group, led by Emily Sinclair, Bankton’s Support for Learning Teacher.
Our Bankton pupils spoke knowledgeably and articulately as ‘expert helpers’ for the day, talking about their learning strategies and supports and demonstrating how they use them.
The feedback from everyone who attended was very positive. Thank you to all of our parents for the amazing turn out!
Five members of the Bankton Think Tank went to visit Meldrum Primary School to meet their Pupil Council. They took the Think Tank Floorbook with lots of interesting questions to ask the pupils and the headteacher. We learned lots about the working of another school, shared good ideas about learning and came back with lots to discuss at our next Think Tank meeting with Mrs. Stewart. Ryan said it was a good way to make sure that both schools were trying to improve outcomes for learners. Many thanks to Meldrum pupils for making us feel welcome.
The James Young Cluster Schools have made a successful bid for funding for a polliNATION project to plant wildflower meadows to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Children from all four schools met in Williamston Primary for a celebration photograph. We are all looking forward to saving our bees.
Many thanks to Ben Mason and Emma Colligan for representing Bankton.
P.7 were commended today for their exemplary behaviour at Benmore by Mrs Gardyne, Headteacher of Ormiston Primary School in East Lothian. Staff and pupils of Ormistom Primary were at Benmore at the same time as pupils and staff at Bankton. They said that our staff were friendly and made their stay at Benmore a happy team working experience. Our pupils were commended as polite, respectful and kind to others.
The following boys were given a special mention by Ormiston staff as ‘ campers of the week’:
Glenn Love, Kyle Bailey, Billy Drummond, Robbie Colvin and Ben Mason.
Well Done boys – you are officially Bankton ‘ambassadors’!
Staff and Pupils arrived safely at Benmore after a long but trouble-free journey including a stop in Luss for lunch. Everyone was very excited to arrive in Benmore at 2.15pm.
After carrying some very heavy luggage to their rooms and settling in everyone met the instructors and went outside to explore the forest trail. Mrs. Ferguson claimed P.7 found every puddle and jumped straight in!
They enjoyed dinner of fish and chips followed by evening activities in the common room.
Today Mrs. Ferguson’s group were climbing and abseiling – quite a challenge, BUT with a growth mindset they met the challenge!
More news and photos to follow tomorrow. Watch this space!
The following sports clubs are currently running from the James Young H.S for primary aged children.
Athletics Club, P4-P7
Fridays – 2.00-3.30pm
Cost – £3 per session. Payable in blocks.
Gymnastics, P1-P7
Tuesdays – 4.00-5.00pm
Cost – £3 per session. Payable in blocks.
If you are interested in any of these classes please email for further information please email: kim.o’connor@westlothian.gov.uk
