Category Archives: Uncategorized

Exploratory Art Sessions

We have had some great fun during our exploratory art sessions.  Lots of classes have been coming along each week to try out different ways to mark make on paper.  This term we have focused on paint! We have explored various methods of mark making using paint.

The first week we used stampers in paint, we had all different kinds of stamps and made different marks and patterns.  Some children enjoyed using their hands to mark make too.

On week two we used a salad spinner to spin the paint around and make lovely patterns. We also did some splat painting, which was messy but fun!

The third week we made the first letter of our name using masking tape and then used various colours of paint and paintbrushes to paint all around it.  It looked really cool when we peeled of the tape when they were dry to reveal the letter!

Week four we used string to dip into paint and drag along the paper. Everyone’s picture looked different and really effective.

Last week we used cars and animal toys to make tracks and prints on paper and everyone really enjoyed it.

Well done to all the boys and girls who came along and participated so well in the sessions. Some fabulous art work was created in the process!

 

Linda

Hello from Hopetoun

Hello Everyone.

I’m so happy to tell everyone how well our new primary one children have settled into their school routine. Hafsa, Angel, Tommy, Pete and Matthew all moved from Lammermuir nursery and Madison joined us from Harburn nursery. Natalie and Annmarie also moved from Lammermuir. Caroline and Jacki have also joined us to make up the Hopetoun team.

We’ve all been getting to know each other and we’re so lucky to have such happy children who are enjoying lots of different activities.

Our topic this term is People Who Help Us in School.

Jungle drama

All the primary classes plus Ochiltree in the secondary have been taking part in some drama focussing on the jungle.

They have been explorers in a journey through the jungle, walking through the vines, experiencing the warm wet conditions, picking bananas to feed the monkeys and fruit bats., chased and sprayed by the head of the elephant herd. They have even been pretending to be a rhino and charging at a tree, discovering jumping frogs under a rock and swimming in a river whilst being chased by a crocodile!!! Such adventures and everyone enjoyed something from this.

Looking forward to more exciting adventures ahead.

Ochiltree Class of 22/23

Ochiltree Class of 22/23 have had a very busy, fun and challenging year and all the children have given it their all to be confident individuals, responsible citizens, effective contributors and successful learners.

For our last term we continued the theme of working hard and playing hard. For the walking month of May we went on our daily walks enjoying different sensory experiences of the different areas we visited. We also physically challenged ourselves to walk in/on different areas we would have avoided!

We were able to complete our Asdan, SQA and Duke of Edinburgh work of which I am sure we will get positive feedback for.

Our cross class activities were brilliant this year and all enjoyed each others company and interacting with each other for all the different activities such as assembly or outdoor play.

We have had lots of health and wellbeing activities from bike riding to mindfulness, gardening to rebound and boys/girls group for personal care. Some of the pupils also participated in a health group which was amazing! showing their resilience and bravery for accepting medical routines.

We have continued to have an effective whole school and community approach to Learning for Sustainability weaving together global citizenship, sustainable development education and outdoor learning to create coherent, rewarding and transformative learning experiences such as Earth Day, Fairtrade Tuck, gardening, outdoor numeracy activities, forest trails, walks and Eco activities.

We will be saying goodbye to our friend Duncan who will be moving on with best wishes from us all. We will all be saying goodbye to our building but look forward to new beginnings.

Have a fantastic holiday and see you all again for 2023/24!

Term 4 in Hopetoun

We can’t quite believe that we already find ourselves approaching the end of the school year, how time flies when you’re having fun!! It’s been a year full of adventures, experiences and fun in Hopetoun and there’s lots more in store for when we move into to our fabulous new campus after the holidays.

This term we’ve been lucky enough to enjoy lots of outdoor experiences in the sunshine including taking on a whole school walking challenge for the month of May which we smashed! We’ve been practicing lots of useful skills so hopefully there are some helping hands with jobs around the house and we rounded off the term with a trip to 5 Sisters Zoo.

We hope you enjoy looking at our photos and we wish everyone a happy and healthy summer.

Team Hopetoun 💙

Earth Day 2023

Earth Day 2023 – Invest in our Planet

This year for Earth Day we decided that we would invest in our planet using clean and safe energy:

# by investing in some solar lamps for each class to use on the day

# by collecting monies to donate to Solar Aid to help families in need

Through this participation we were using clean energy and giving the tools for others to do the same.

Families have no choice but to rely on poor alternatives such as homemade torches, candles and kerosene lamps.

These dangerous devices are imperilling health, impairing education, wasting household income and emitting astonishingly high amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.

Worst of all, families have to risk their lives every single night with open flames. It doesn’t have to be like this.

The whole school participated in Earth day – here are just a few of the activities we had fun experiencing:

Thank you for your generous gift. Through donations of £35 from pupils and staff along with a donation of £10 from the Fairtrade Tuck Shop we are able to give £45 to Solar Aid.

Your support means we can reach remote villages bringing solar to places where no one else goes.

Without your help, these communities would remain in the dark with only candles or kerosene lamps for light. Your donation will make this a problem of the past from the moment they switch on a solar light.

When the sun goes down at 6pm in sub-Saharan Africa, 590 million people are living in darkness. They have no access to electricity. There is no switch on the wall to turn on the light. This is energy poverty.

Impact calculator

A donation of  £45 will result in…

3 solar lights reaching 16 people, with 12 currently using dangerous, toxic and poor sources of light.
This will lead to total savings of $379 a year, with 13 people feeling safer at home and 3 more children studying after dark.

Well Done Beatlie!

December in Glendevon

 

What a  busy term we have had in Glendevon! The children have firstly enjoyed cross class, mixing with other children around the school in outdoor activities. They were involved in singing, stories, circle games, litter picking or sensory play every week.

Then we were hard working with crafting Christmas things and it was lovely to see the whole class actively involved in this. We also explored different types of winter messy play and lots of practicing and preparation for the Christmas show….which of course was fab!  All the children coped so well with this. Well done Glendevon children!!

Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year!!!

Autumn Term Music in Beatlie

In Music this term, we had fun once more sharing and playing music together with our friends. 

One of the focus points across the school has been making choices in music. In Ochiltree and Duntarvie the children have been exploring genre, from disco to indie and rock, with more to come after the holidays. In mixed groups doing ASDAN and NQs, they selected from a range of music on switches and then chose instruments to play along with the selection, including drums and electric guitars. It was surprising to find out who are the secret rock and rollers in the classes!

In Primary and Lammermuir, we have been choosing from a range of nursery rhymes and instruments. The Pentland children had great fun deciding whether songs should be loud, quiet, fast and slow. At Halloween The Hairy Scary Castle  song made a return, with all the spooky sounds inside, which the children always enjoy.

Across the school we continue to have opportunities for individuals to have short Music as Therapy sessions that allows an opportunity to focus on the particular needs of some of the children.  While this is different from Music Therapy with Aisling, we do confer and ideas overlap. Importantly, it is an opportunity for the children to express themselves through music away from distractions.

We ended the term with music for the Christmas show, quite a change after the last few years, with lots of creative ideas. Next year, we will continue to have fun with new and familiar songs alike, and also take time to use music for wellbeing and to celebrate Scotland as we head to Burns Night.