Alloway Primary School
Term 3 Newsletter
March 2017
NURSERY NEWS
WOW! We have had a very busy term in Alloway Early Years Centre. We kick started the year finding
out about a very famous man who ‘came fae oor toon’ – Rabbie Burns. We enjoyed a visit to the Burns
Centre and learned all about the poem ‘Tae a Moose’. This led us to venture out to Alloway Village and find
exciting landmarks which remind us of Robert Burns and the poems and songs he wrote.
‘We dressed up like the little mousey’. Luca Age 4
‘Rabbie Burns wrecked his house but he said sorry’. Charlie Age 4
The interest in our village led us to look at the people around our school, village and town who help us. We
have met and learned about the job of a Lollipop Man and Dinner lady. A Doctor came to visit and a Police
Man with his very fast and noisy car. We are also waiting for a visit from some firemen with their big red
engine.
‘Mr Grace helps us cross the road’. Charlotte Age 3
‘The policeman puts bad people in jail’. Lucy Age 3
We also visited Belleisle Park and met some of the Rangers as part of the school ‘Careers Week’. Lots of
other parents spoke to us about their jobs too.
PRIMARY NEWS
This term we have enjoyed learning about time. First we looked at our daily timetable
and what we do throughout a day. We have completed lots of sorting activities about
things we do during the day and night. After that we focused on the seasons and
months of the year. We have created pictures of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
We are very glad to be moving from Winter to Spring! The flowers are blooming and it
is beginning to get a bit warmer.
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We have been learning tennis skills in
P.E. We have been practising our
A.B.C’s;
agility,
balance
and
coordination.
Miss Baird and Mr
McLeod have been teaching us how
to throw and catch a tennis ball. We
have been practising aiming towards
our partner and using a tennis
racket. In Health and Wellbeing we
have been focusing on equality with
Mr McLeod.
We talked about
different jobs people have and
understand we can be anything we want to be! Daniel wants to be a helicopter pilot and Sophie would like
to be a hairdresser.
Miss Baird P1B
This term, we have been learning about Frozen Planet. I liked learning about Arctic Hares and Polar Bears
too. We have been singing songs from ‘Eddie the Penguin Saves the World’. Eddie told us about all the
different ways we can stop the ice caps melting in the Arctic. We could stop using our cars for short
journeys. When it is cold, you can put on a jumper instead of the central heating. I am looking forward to
making a big poster with my shoulder partner to show people the ways they can help too. We’re going to
show our posters to the class and put them up around the school. I like showing my work. I also really like
adding. I’m working on adding on 2 and 3 really quickly. Today, I finished all my number strips and I am
going to take them home to show my Mum and Dad. They like to see the work I have been doing.
Oliver Kearsley P1C
I have loved learning all about Frozen Planet. We looked at clips of David Attenborough and his team. I
would like to be one of the pilots, so I could fly the helicopter over the North Pole and look at all the Polar
Bears. In class, we made a big life-sized Polar Bear. We measured it and it was three P1 children tall. A
real polar bear weighs the same as all of the P1s put together! They are huge! I also made a Polar Bear
picture with the Northern Lights in the background. I love going to the library area in class. I read lots of
books and practise my reading skills. I love books about Kipper and his family.
Lexi Muirhead P1C
Both classes got together to discuss what they have been learning in term 3. Our topic has been Katie
Morag and we have learned that she lives in a Post Office on Struay. We now know that Struay is an
island which is based on a real island called Coll. We have been having fun learning about Katie Morag and
her life. We have been watching video clips and we have liked seeing all the parts of the island. We are
now using water colours to paint an island scene. We like that Katie Morag has lots of adventures. The
author, Mhairi Hedderwick has written about life on the island and drawn beautiful pictures of Struay.
For technologies and maths we have been using the Bee Bots . We had to make a Bee Bot map that had the
island and some water around it. We then had to programme our Bee Bots to go round the Struay map.
We have written a lot to do with Katie Morag. We have written letters, a description about Katie Morag
and some poems about colours. We have used our imagination to make up a story about what happened
when the ferry to Struay blew away and what we thought was in the big parcel that was delivered to
Struay Post Office.
In maths, we have been learning about measure and money. We started with the Struay Post Office and
then we had a shop in our class. We have been paying for things and have given out the right change. We
have had to know our coins so that we can give the correct change. We have measured how long things are
and how heavy things are and how much water fits into a jug or bottle. We know how to find out which
container holds more. We have done this through practical activities in class and during Soft Start. We
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like to get the chance to take part in all these activities. We have used cubes, people, hands and feet to
measure.
In science, we have been learning about the life cycle of plants. We know how to keep plants healthy and
we have made a flower and we have labelled all the different parts. We had Generation Science in for a
workshop about magnets. We know not all magnets stick to metal and that a magnet has a North and a
South Pole. We saw the magnetic field make little bits of metal move.
We have had Belmont Leaders in to teach us about tennis and we are learning to hit the ball in the right
direction. We have spent time learning dances to help keep us healthy.
We are enjoying primary 2!
I really enjoyed writing a newspaper report about the Loch Ness Monster. My fabulous headline was
MEGA MONSTER SIGHTING!! I wrote in columns just like a real journalist. My uncle is a newspaper
editor so I know a lot about newspapers already. I added an illustration of the monster too.
Sylvie Muir P3G
Our class had fun reciting Crocodile by J.K.Annand. I made it to the semi-final in my class. I was a bit
nervous but had lots of fun in the end! I really enjoyed our Scottish Afternoon in the hall because I like
listening to others recite Scots language poetry.
Blair Paton P3G
As part of World Book Day we had the challenge of reading for as
many minutes as we could. It started on Friday 24 th February at
3.00pm and finished the following Friday at 9.00am. There was a
winner from each stage. The winner from P3 was Ruby Walsh in P3G. Well done Ruby
and well done to everyone else for taking part. Thank you to Miss McColm for organising
it. It was great fun, we all enjoyed it.
Emma Mathie and Poppy Milligan P3M
First we walked to the Burns Activity Room and split up into
four groups. Then we made up our Scottish group names.
They were called the Noisy Nessies, The Thistles, The Wee
Mc Coos and the Highland Coos. After that we put things
into chronological order oldest to newest. Next we went into
Burns Cottage itself and saw lots of old stuff like old cups ,
teapots and Robert Burns` bed that he shared with his Mum,
Dad, Brothers and Sisters. His Auntie told scary stories
about ghosts and witches. We had lots of fun and would love
to go again!
Hollie Neil and Lucy Assur P3M
We went to Vikingar and the first thing we did was have a snack. Next we went to the longhouse. It had
real animal fur in it and we had had a look round. They used fire for their heating, they also used fur for
beds. After that we went to the ROOM OF THE GODS!!! There were 4 Gods there and Oden came up in
the screen - he had one eye, he traded it for magic. Next we went to the gift shop and then the hall of
knowledge.
Josef Wilkie and Joshua Lorimer P4 H/E
We do drumming each Thursday except on school trips days. We learn songs and rhythms like ‘We Say
Jambo’, ‘Play the Djembe Drum’ and ‘Fish & Chips’. Drumming is fun and we like to swap drums as well so we
all get a turn. Maybe we might do some more rhythms for our school show.
Evan Rolfe & Max Smedley P4H/E
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Multi-sports is great! We have been playing basketball, octopus and tig. Imogen and Emma have been
teaching us how to shoot a hoop and pass the ball to our team-mates. It has been super fun!
Jack James Sweeney P4M
Multi-sports has been amazing fun! Our coaches helped us to improve our ball skills for example dribbling,
passing and shooting the ball. We played lots of warm-up games and my team scored 3 hoops beating the
other team. I would definitely come to multi-sports again. It was fab!
Paige Paterson P4M
Primary 5 were very excited when the first chick hatched in our
incubator. We had 10 eggs and 9 of them hatched. When they were
born they were all wet and looked like little dinosaurs. Once their
dander was up we moved them into the brooder box. They were really
hungry and thirsty and one of them even slept in the food bowl. When
they were a few days old we were allowed to hold them. I got to take
them to the Infant Assembly and show them to the pupils. Their feet
feel jaggy, but their bodies are soft and fluffy. They sleep in a big
huddle underneath the lightbulb to keep them warm.
Drew Walker P5M
We have done lots of activities with the
chicks. We kept a diary everyday so that we
could record the changes in the chicks. We
had lots of jobs like feeding them, cleaning
them out and taking them to the assembly.
We also used Ipads to take photographs and
videos of the chicks. I managed to take a
video of the chick hatching. We used the
Ipads to make mind-maps about the 21 days
inside the chick egg. We made our own comic
strips using photographs we had taken. One
of our jobs was to make an information
leaflet. I put information about the
incubator, taking care of the chicks and the
brooder box. I really enjoyed having the
chicks in our class.
Rudi Gowe P5M
The chicks arrived at P5R’s bay on Monday
the 27th of February. We were so excited
and expected the eggs to hatch quickly! By
Thursday we had 9 eggs and even got to see
most of them hatch out of their eggs. They
were wet and exhausted but soon fluffed up
into cute chicks! We then moved them into
the brooder box where they became hyper
and active! We had turns each at feeding
the chicks and Shreyas and I cleaned out
their box. It was hard! We captured them
growing and developing through creating comic strips and mind maps using the iPads. We have learned so
much about the lifecycle of a chicken and understand the responsibility of caring for an animal.
Carrie Cook P5R
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We have been reading Charlotte’s Web as a class and have been learning all about different literacy
techniques. We have worked collaboratively to create spectacular big books which relate to each chapter
in our topic. We have been learning about all the characters in the story and used hot seating to put
ourselves in the character’s shoes. For our class assembly, we learned Dans La Ferm which helped us to
understand how to talk about Charlotte’s Web characters in French. Since Charlotte’s Web is all about
Charlotte – the spider – we created spider shape poems which were full of descriptive verbs and
adjectives which showed how a spider moves and what it looks like. For homework, we are excited about
building a crate to take Wilbur to the fair, we love being creative and crafty.
Alex Maughan P5R
Ross, Luke, Kieran and Rebecca in P6 were chosen, after a competition, to represent Alloway Primary
School in the K’Nex Challenge held at Belmont Academy on the 7 th of March. They all worked really hard in
preparation for this challenge. The class challenge was to build a basket with a lid and a handle which could
hold a 200g weight. We also had to create any type of moving vehicle that could travel one metre whilst
holding a bottle of water securely.
Luke Camps and Ross Brown P6C
We are the Euro Quizzers of P6C and we went along with two P6T representatives, Harry and Ross, to the
South Ayrshire heats at Prestwick Academy on Tuesday 21st February. We were helped a lot by Mrs
Hoyle, Mrs Clark, Miss Thomson and Miss Gilligan. On the day there were four rounds: geography,
language, understanding Europe and then history, culture, sport and general knowledge. After all four
rounds we were in the top two teams (Glenburn Primary) and us. It was rather tense, and after twenty
head-to-head questions, we won. It was very close. We congratulated the other competitors then picked
up the trophy. We were photographed by the Ayrshire post and the Ayr Advertiser, so look out for us in
the press. We are all very excited to take part in the final which is scheduled to take place in Edinburgh
on the 8th of May. Across Scotland over four hundred schools take place in the Euro Quiz so we are very
proud that we have reached the final once again this year.
Oliver Kelly and Neve Mills P6C
On our trip to Sky Academy we were put into four small groups to make a short news report about how
phones have changed the planet. It was really fun to get a chance to find out what it was like to be a news
presenter and all the jobs it takes to pull a programme together. The finished product was very funny to
watch and we were all very proud. The jobs we had were: producer director, editor, actor, script writer
and the camera operator. The camera operator got to work a camera which cost over £60,000 and the
editor got to manipulate their own editing suite.
Megan Williamson and Kate Andrew P6C
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On the 21st of February the Euro Quiz team of Alloway Primary went to the Euro Quiz at Prestwick
Academy. In the team was Harry, Ross and the reserve Alice from P6T as well as Oliver, Neve and their
reserve Logan from P6C. In the south Ayrshire heats Alloway got into the final against Glenburn Primary
and eventually after an intense round, Alloway won and now are going to the Scottish parliament in
Edinburgh on the 8th of May! It was an amazing day and we are studying hard to win the Scottish Final!
Harry Charters, Ross Neillie, Alice Mitchell P6T
Kieran and Rebecca are in the K’Nex challenge. To get in we firstly worked in a group with Ross, Josh and
Emma, to create a basket with a lid that opened, could hold 200 grams and also had a handle. The
challenge was to have a Scottish feature somewhere on the basket (Scottish flag, thistle, etc…) so we
added a Scottish flag. Then, they split into groups and their next task was to create a car that could hold
a full water bottle, could travel over 1 metre when pushed. The challenge was to include a car
manufacturer logo. Our design won! However, there were three people in our group, and only two could go
to the Challenge at Belmont academy. So our teacher, Miss Thomson, put names in a hat and Kieran and
Rebecca’s name were pulled out! Emma is the reserve though, because her name wasn’t pulled. The
challenge was amazing and we had to design a vehicle that could transport goods on and off a plane. Our
team won as our design met the brief and we could discuss our design drawings and changes we made as we
went. We are so proud! Now we will go to the Ayrshire final.
Kieran Graham and Rebecca Cobb P6T
This term, P7C have been very busy. Recently at masterclass, we have been going down to the primary one
classrooms to read our buddies some stories. As primary sevens, we are expected to take care of a
primary one buddy. We are enjoying reading to our buddies and asking them questions about the meaning
and their enjoyment of the books.
In January, our whole class learned and recited a Burns poem. This year, we learned the poem ‘To a Louse’.
There was a school poetry competition at the end of the month. I was voted the Burns president for the
school and introduced all the finalists. From our class, the finalists were Calum, Maddison and Jonathan.
They all did very well and Jonathan won for our class. As the Burns president, I was invited to a Burns
Supper at the Brig O’ Doon. I recited our poem and had an amazing time with Miss Currie.
As part of our challenge homework, we have been studying different types of sustainability. At home,
everyone has to research at least one type of sustainability. I decided to do three and I chose healthy
eating and lifestyle, transport and endangered animals. Finding out about sustainability has been very
interesting and a lot of fun.
In P.E, we had been focusing on the Junior Coaching Award. To do this, we were to run a lunch club for
the primary ones. Each week on a Wednesday, one group would take a lunch club with activities that they
had come up with. The lunch club lasts 6 weeks so every group of P7s had a chance to run a lunch club. I
ran a lunch club for P1C with Aurelia, Mackenzie, Brendan and Laura and the P1s really enjoyed playing the
games.
Aimee Vallance P7C
This term we have been doing lots and lots in P7. Our big topic is enterprise where we are working
together in small businesses. We had to write the teacher a job application and she chose who was most
suitable to work in each role. I made it into the role of managing director. We have been designing tshirts to sell at the summer show. At the end of term we are getting local business people in to judge a
Dragons Den style presentation and they will choose which group will have their t-shirt printed for the
school show.
P7 also went to the Scottish Parliament for a school trip as part of our democracy topic back in term 1.
First we went into the Parliament and did a workshop about devolved and reserved matters. We then went
on a tour round the Parliament and after that we did a quiz on the outside of the Parliament building. The
journey was two hours there and two hours back.
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In the school football team Alloway are doing very well we have won a lot of our games - we are in the
second round of the Mackey Cup! In every game Alloway play we are improving our football and teamwork.
We hope Alloway will win the Mackey Cup!
Also in P7 we are doing an engineering competition. We were told to design an invention that can basically
make life easy, by solving a problem we identified in our daily lives. Some of the P7s have entered
themselves into another engineering competition and this time they have to make a helicopter with
spinning blades powered by a battery!
Darren Wood, P7C
In class we have been learning all about business and what makes a successful business person. We have
also been given the opportunity to design the t-shirts for the school show ‘Rocking All Over the World’!
We have split up into our own companies where we have created a group design to be printed onto the
front of the t-shirts. We have also been given the opportunity to create an advert to present to a panel of
judges in a Dragon’s Den style competition. We have enjoyed this topic very much as we have been given
different roles and different jobs. There are marketing managers, managing directors, production
managers, sales managers and finance managers. We each had to apply for our preferred choice of job.
Our companies meet every Monday and our managing directors take charge and tell everyone what they’re
supposed to do.
Felichka Steel and Lauren Hislop P7M
On 28th February 2017 we visited
the Scottish Parliament and when
we arrived we had to go through
security. We had to remove our
jackets and bags so that they could
go through the x-ray machine. We
also went through a metal detector
to make sure we weren’t carrying
anything unsafe. Then we went to
the debating chamber and we got a
tour around. The desks were in the
shape of a horse shoe and these
desks were for the MSPs to sit in
and debate about different issues
concerning the people of Scotland.
On each desk was a microphone and
a speak button. The man who leads the debates is Ken Macintosh, the presiding officer, and he chooses
who has to speak and if they speak for too long he can turn their microphone off. The presiding officer is
not allowed to support any of the parties. After that we looked at the Mace which was given to the
parliament by the queen in 1999 when it first opened. We then went to the education room where we were
split up in groups and given props to learn about. We also did a quiz about devolved and reserved issues.
Devolved means a matter that just affects Scotland and is decided by the Scottish Parliament and
reserved means matters that affect both Scotland and the rest of the UK and are decided by the UK
parliament.
Chloe Sealy and Cora Finlay P7M
We are looking forward to our first Careers Week at Alloway Primary and Early Years Centre. Many
thanks go to all our parents who have volunteered to come and speak to classes. We have also received
support from the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and The Little Art School. Our children will be
exploring a variety of careers. Staff are planning careers related activities for class too.
Last year during our STEM week we had workshops from Generation Science. We really enjoyed these
workshops and found them to be of excellent quality. We decided to book these again this year for each
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stage from Primary 1 to Primary 7. These are planned in Term 3 and 4 and compliment planned Science
and Technologies work in class.
We have had another full term of after school activities this term, supported by Active Schools,
volunteers, parent volunteers and school staff. Many thanks to all who support this. Emma Parker our
Active Schools co-ordinator is leaving us shortly to start her maternity leave. We wish Emma all the best
and await some good news from her soon. Active Schools activities will still continue in term 4.
Mrs Meney, Depute Head Teacher
Our Career focus was a huge success. Many parents supported this and provided workshops, presentations
and resources for all children. Many Thanks to everyone who contributed in some way. The children were
inspired!
Tennis Club
At the P3 after school tennis club we had a great time doing obstacle courses with partners. We had to
keep a hold of the ball on our tennis rackets whilst moving quickly around a circle.
Sunny McLindon P3G
We learned how to throw the ball up and hit it to serve. We played mini matches with a partner and had
lots of fun games to improve our fitness.
Rory Hagen P3G
Head Teacher’s News
Last term in Numeracy pupils were using a variety of different resources to support skills based learning
such as Big Maths, Tee-Jay, Heinemann, Education City, Top Marks, Heineman Active and many more.
These resources gave pupils an opportunity to see mathematical problems in a variety of different ways.
The Senior Leadership Team had a wonderful experience during the Numeracy Learning Walks when we
spent time in each classroom observing teaching and learning. It was great listening to all the
mathematical discussions during Number talks and witness the variety of peer and team work which
supports new learning.
All classes continue to develop pupil’s mathematical flexibility with number. This has allowed pupils to see
the variety of different strategies that can be used to solve a mathematical problem. This approach also
focusses on the huge power and value of mistakes as opportunities to learn.
The development of literacy continues to be a priority and the children’s reading challenge was met with
real enthusiasm. We raised hundreds of pounds which will be matched by Osborne Books, leading to lots
of new readers in our libraries. (The total is still to be finalised.)
We’ve also bought kindles for E-learning and the Travelling Book Fair provided us with a nice donation to
further purchase favourite books for children. Our recent school discos made £859 for our school funds.
This event was a great success with children dancing, socialising and having fun. In school we have been
doing our bit to develop the young workforce by investigating lots of jobs and professions. Thanks to
everyone involved in our Career’s Week – the school was buzzing!
Our term ends on Friday, 31st March at 2.30pm and as usual we will be having our end of term service in
Church at 9.45am. The collection is for UNICEF which the children support so well.
We hope Mrs McLeod has a restful maternity leave and look forward to hearing her news soon.
We will welcome children and staff back on 18th April so until then, take care, enjoy the break and read,
read, read!
Lost Property
We have a huge amount of lost property including hats, scarves, gloves and lunch boxes. If your child has
lost any items, can you please ask them to look in our lost property area. Lost property is available to be
viewed at any time by parents but will be put on display at the Parent’s Appointment Evening. Following
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this date all lost property will be removed. Can I once again ask all parents to please put their child’s
name on all belongings as hopefully then it will be returned to the rightful owner in a timely fashion.
Have a lovely holiday and a nice Easter weekend.
Best Wishes
Karen Butler
Head Teacher
Here are some important dates for your diary
31st March
31st March
18th April
24th April
1st May
3rd May
4th May
12th May
13th May
15th/18th May
*18th May
29th May
31st May
1st June
2nd June
8th/9th June
8th/9th June
9th June
12th June
13th June
15th June
16th June
26th June
27th June
28th June
28th June
Easter Service
Close at 2.30pm for end of term holiday
School Re opens
Gardening Week
May Day Holiday
P6 to Arran
In Service Day / Elections
Reports issued
Summer Fayre
P7 Inverclyde Visit
Parents Afternoon / Evening Meetings with the exception of P7C, P5R and P6T
Local Holiday
Evening Show – Tickets only
Evening Show – Tickets only
P7 Sport Day (Belmont)
P7 visits Belmont Academy
P1 & Nursery Induction
P6T Dolphin House visit
Health Fortnight
Nursery Sports
Sport Day
Dolphin House Visit
Nursery Moving on Ceremony
P7 Leavers Service
Prizegiving / Church Service
School Closes for Summer Holiday at 1.00pm
NB* Due to the late return from a Residential Visit involving some upper school staff – this date will be
rescheduled for three classes to 24th May. Parents should call the office directly for a suitable
appointment. (P7C, P5R and P6T only).
PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL
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Alloway Primary Parent Council Newsletter - March 2017
Dear Parents
It’s hard to believe it's nearly Easter and with the lighter evenings, the summer is nearly upon
us. Our fundraising calendar is underway, with our spring disco the latest successful event.
As with all these events, we can't organise them without the dedication of a small group of
parent council members, and the help and support of the wider parent community.
Our summer fair is approaching fast - this year it's on Saturday 13th of May and the organisers,
Alison Jones and Lesley Strain, will be looking for your help very soon. Get in touch using our
email address ([email protected]) or leave a message at the school office.
Our book fair was a great success and netted £250 for the school to buy books.
The Parent council has been holding regular meetings and it’s great to see many new faces who
have decided to join us and become involved in the running of our school. A reminder, any parent
can join the parent council or just come along to our meetings. We meet on the first Wednesday
of every month in the school staff room. If you want more information you can email me at –
[email protected]
Remember we've changed the way we sell our uniforms to you. Although we still have limited
stock at school, you can now buy uniforms from Trutex in Ayr on Dalblair Road, as well as
through the website border-embroideries.co.uk and click on Schools online ordering.
Finally, one subject we spend a lot of time talking about at parent council meetings is parking. I’d
urge you to park with consideration for other parents and children and our neighbours. Quite
often the school receives complaints that some residents near the school are having their drives
blocked at drop off and pick up time. Please don’t do this as it’s not only anti-social, but reflects
badly on the school. Please also respect the road markings around the school and remember that
the bus bay is for busses only. You may think you’ll only be a second, or dropping your child off
when you don’t think the school bus is coming, but the bus bay needs to be left clear at all times.
Also, respect the rules of the dropping off bay please and don’t park in it.
Best Wishes
Martyn Smedley
Chair, Alloway Primary Parent Council.
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