Musical Minds – 14.12.2023

Written by Primary 5-7

On Thursday we went to An Roth. First we got sorted into cars and buses. When we got there, we had to be quiet because we did not want them to hear us coming up. We had to go up lots of stairs to get there. When we got there, we go into positions.

We sang three songs. The songs names were Aladdin / Some Things Go Together Perfectly / Just Three Wishes / A Panto Like No Other & We Wish You A Merry Christmas. After we finished singing, a man dressed in red appeared and had a sack filled with chocolate. He gave each of us a chocolate reindeer and we said Merry Christmas. All the adults were wondering where theirs were. We went to the bus once they were given theirs.

Article 14 (freedom of thought, belief and religion) Every child has the right to think and believe what they choose and also to practise their religion, as long as they are not stopping other people from enjoying their rights. Governments must respect the rights and responsibilities of parents to guide their child as they grow up

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.

Children In Need

On the 17^th of November 2023, Lochdonhead Primary had a Children in Need themed day. In the morning, I got dressed in a bright blue hoodie then got my face painted by my Dad. He painted a Pudsey bandana with red spots. (Tyler, P4)

Jenny brought some face paint and when people had their hands and faces painted, others coloured Pudsey pictures. When we had finished that, we looked at a Pudsey PowerPoint about Children in Need. (Leo, P6)

There was a PowerPoint about why Children in Day was so popular, and how he was invented. We did burpees. (Amy, P7)

We watched a BBC Live video about bearpees (basically burpees). We agreed to do the bearpees challenge and started doing some bearpees. I did 32, some did 50, and some did more. (Tyler, P4)

We all had a choice for our face or our hand to be painted by Jenny, Molly’s mum. I had my hand painted as a purple and black butterfly, it looked really pretty. (Hannah, P5)

We also did Pudsey colouring and then Amy and I decorated biscuits as Pudsey faces. (Anna, P5)

I liked being Pudsey Bear because my Dad painted my face! (Jayden, P3)

I liked making the cookies. (Harrison, P1)

I enjoyed doing the bearpees. (Derwyn, P1)

I liked having my face painted. (Molly, P1)

Well done to all of the children for their contributions, they managed to raise £18.00 for Children In Need!

Article 6 (life, survival and development) – Every child has the right to life. Governments must do all they can to ensure that children survive and develop to their full potential.

Article 12 (respect for the views of the child) – Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. This right applies at all times, for example during immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life.

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.

Halloween Community Café Blog

On the 27^th of October 2023, Lochdonhead Primary had a Halloween Community Café, at the café we all wore our Halloween costumes. (Tyler, P4)

The school hosted a Halloween Community Café, I was the greeter alongside Tyler, Harrison and Derwyn. (Anna, P5)

We had jobs, mine was pouring the tea, lots of people love tea, I’m not joking, people loved the tea that much, that their faces looked like this: J (Leo, P6)

There were lots of different types of cake, there was red velvet cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, shortbread fingers and tiffin. (Hannah, P5)

My mum and dad came to the community café, I picked a witch’s hat cupcake for my mum. At the end we had a cake and I sat with my mum and dad. (Isla, P5)

My mum came, she had coffee, it was nice to see her. Leo and I had a station called the drinks zone. (Amy, P7)

We had a community café. I served cakes, watched for people, took photos and had cakes. It was great. (Jayden, P3)

I really liked it. It was fun. (Autumn, P2)

At the café we had so much fun. (Layla, P2)

I was very happy at the community café. It was quite amazing. (Derwyn, P1)

It was fun. (Gracie, P1)

I loved my family being there. (Hope, P1)

The café was exciting. I liked my mummy and daddy being there. (Harrison, P1)

The cakes were brilliant. (Molly, P1)

I was really happy at the café because I liked the customers. (Grace, P1)

Article 13 (freedom of expression) Every child must be free to express their thoughts and opinions and to access all kinds of information, as long as it is within the law

Article 15 (freedom of association) Every child has the right to meet with other children and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.

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.

Author Visit

P1-7 went to Salen Primary School where there was an author called Alan Windram. Alan Windram is the author of One Button Benny and the illustrator is Chloe Holwill-Hunter. (Isla, P5)

When we went in, we walked into a classroom and Alan Windram was standing. Then we had a seat, the Ulva students took all of the comfy seats so we sat on the plastic ones, then the Salen students came into the room and we listened to Alan’s past jobs and when he started to be an author. (Tyler, P4)

We saw the progress of One Button Benny from start to finish. The progress was long, hard work and so we listened. (Anna, P5)

He showed us how he wrote his ideas on a note every time he got an idea. He then asked an illustrator named Chloe to make pictures. She made them better and better. (Leo, P6)

He showed us picture drawings of Benny, from their beginnings to the final character. One was scary, one was cute. (Lucille, P5)

Alan showed us the draft illustrations of Benny, his mum and all the bots. He also showed us his notes for his ideas that he got when he was Edinburgh. (Amy, P7)

Next, he read the book to us, then he let us look at the different languages the book was translated into. (Hannah, P5)

I enjoyed Benny and his button. (Jayden, P3)

I liked the music for singing. (Layla, P2)

I most enjoyed seeing my mummy and brother. (Autumn, P2)

I enjoyed watching the story. (Molly, P1)

I enjoyed the story. (Harrison, P1)

I enjoyed dancing. (Jessica, P1)

I enjoyed singing the song. (Hope, P1)

I enjoyed the dancing. (Derwyn, P1)

I most liked the singing, I loved it. I loved the stories. (Gracie, P1)

I enjoyed the singing and the dancing. (Grace, P1)

Article 13 (freedom of expression) Every child must be free to express their thoughts and opinions and to access all kinds of information, as long as it is within the law.

Article 15 (freedom of association) Every child has the right to meet with other children and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.

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.

Isle of Mull Tea Visit

On Thursday the 28th of September 2023, Lochdonhead Primary went to Liz’s Tea Plantation area. All of us, including P1-P3 picked off a bad leaf (to put in the compost) then two good leaves (to make tea) then P4-7 used secateurs to chop off a branch to put it in a plant pot. We went back to school then Liz came in and gave us two cooked tea leaves each to take home. My favourite part was cutting off a branch from the tea plant. If I could, I would go again! (Tyler, P4)

We walked to the Tea Plantation next door with our buddies. Liz told us we could pick a bad leaf and a good leaf. the bad leaf was practice in case we were going to break the plants. She said we could take them home. We were invited to help Liz with trimming her tea plants. It was a lot of fun using her secateurs, P3-7 could use them. Me and Leo wen first, then P5, P4, P3 and then P6/7 again. We said goodbye and thank you to Liz. At 3:14, Liz brought in the tea we picked (it was so yummy). (Amy, P7)

We walked to the tea company next door with buddies. Liz told us to pick a bad/old lead and a good leaf. We picked a bad leaf to practice how to pick them. This also helps new growth and stop infection. These are used for compost and good leaves make the tea. We used secateurs to cut a branch to make saplings for new plants. Then we walked back to school then Liz came back with cooked tea to take home. It was delicious. (Leo, P6)

Liz walked us to the Tea Plantation. Then we walked up a hill, when we arrived at the top, Liz said that we had to pick an old leaf and a good leaf. We had to cut saplings to make new plants. After we had each picked a tea plant, we went down the hill. When we reached the bottom of the hill, Liz said that she would come to the school when she had finished frying the leaves. When she did, she gave us a bag each of tea leaves to take home to make tea. It was good. (Lucille, P5)

Article 3 (best interests of the child): The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all decisions and actions that affect children.

Article 28 (right to education): Every child has the right to an education. Primary education must be free and different forms of secondary education must be available to every child. Discipline in schools must respect children’s dignity and their rights. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.

Article 29 (goals of education): Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and other cultures, and the environment.

Positive Imaginings Trip at Tiroran Forest

On Tuesday 26th September, Primary 4-7 visited Tiroran Forest for part one of an adventure workshop to explore ideas about climate change and the future or the planet.

We went on the minibus to get to Tiroran. We had a short walk to get there. First things first, we played a frisbee game called nature vs greenhouse gas and then we had a story about global warming and we were given a crystal ball to remember to look at things from a different angle. We made pictures and models of our future and looked at everyone’s thoughts of our future. We warmed up on the path then wen on the bus, had lunch and went back to school. It made me feel adventurous and happy inside. I’d go back anytime (Anna, P5)

On Friday 29th September, Primary 4-7 returned to Tiroran for part two of the Positive Imaginings experience:

On Friday P4-7 classes from Lochdonhead, Ulva and Bunessan went to Tiroran Forest. We went to a wooden shelter and ate lunch. After we ate our lunch, we took a walk in the forest on the path. Someone dressed up as a lady bug jumped out of the bushes, her name was Flo. She led us to Jay. Jay was in a tree, he gave us a fright. Jay said “you can help me find some pinecones and nuts”, nobody found any nuts but everyone found some cones. (Isla, P5)

Jay was worried about Flo so we went to Annam who was sitting on a tree stump. She asked us some riddles then she asked what our dreams were. We weaved our dreams using silks, some people wove and some people sang. Then we carried the weave to Flo but she could only see bad things happening to the Earth but then Jay said “why don’t you look at things differently, like upside down”. That helped a little bit, as well as spinning around and other things then we went back to the clearing where we first met Annam. We had a chat and Jay lit a campfire, we had some tea. We could drink it or we could give the Earth a drink. I felt happy. (Hannah, P5)

Article 3 (best interests of the child): The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all decisions and actions that affect children.

Article 6 (life, survival and development): Every child has the right to life. Governments must do all they can to ensure that children survive and develop to their full potential.

Tobermory Flower Show August 2023

Last week the children were busy focussing on creating their paintings for the Tobermory Flower show art competition. We like to be effective contributors to local community and island wide events. The section was titled “Under the Sea.” The P4 – P7 pupils researched for their own ideas and styles to enter and the P1-3 had materials to work with to glue, stick, cut and paint their designs. They all looked amazing and there were so many paintings in the Aros Hall from other island schools and we were proud to be amongst them.

We were delighted to visit and discover that Hannah came first in the P5 category, Tyler came second in the P4 category and Molly came 3^rd in the P1 category. Well done to them!

Hannah not only won a first for her painting but she also entered independently in the Children’s other sections and came third with her decorated biscuit and second with her miniature garden. Hannah also won a voucher for Tackle and Books for gaining most points in the children’s section! Congratulations to Hannah!

What a wonderful start to our first week of term! We are sure you will agree that they are all superstars!

Article 29 – Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full. It must encourage the child’s respect for human rights, as well as respect for their parents, their own and other cultures, and the environment.

Article 31 – Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.

Eco Committee Meeting

We had an end of term meeting for our Eco schools committee. We picked our chairperson, vice chairperson and secretary before discussing our next steps to helping the environment and our school.

Our aims are to:

• Make posters for using one paper towel at a time and only using another if necessary
• Create a chart to track how much we are recycling
• Create flash cards to help the new P1’s understand what the Eco committee is all about
• To finish our Eco committee draft plan to apply for an award

Article 13 – Every child must be free to say what they think and to seek and receive all kinds of information, as long as it is within the law.

Article 24 – Every child has the right to the best possible heath. Governments must work to provide good quality health care, clean water nutritious food and a clean environment so that the children can stay healthy. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.

Nature Trail Regeneration

Platinum award application

We have been spending a lot of time in school working on the regeneration of our nature trail for everyone to enjoy. We are now entering a competition in which we hope to achieve a platinum level award for all of our efforts.

Seven years ago the pupils of Lochdonhead created a nature trail leading from our school to a nearby landmark bridge. Over time pupils have used the trail for their learning and have had visitors from across the region walk along and enjoy it.

None of the current pupils were involved in creating the trail and it was felt that it was time to analyse and evaluate the trail and how we could refresh it for the benefit of the community and our learning.

These involved a variety of outdoor learning activities and skills. We researched what we had experienced in the past, where we are now and where we want to be. We invited other schools to walk the trail with us and feedback some ideas and suggestions for us to improve our trail. We discussed and designed new ideas for information boards and invited the community to a community café to share their thoughts about which boards they would like. We designed a survey to find out opinions.

We have used our nature trail this year for health and well-being, science, art, maths and literacy ideas. We are a gold awarded children’s rights protecting school and our nature trail and the activities being undertaken ensure the rights of our children are being met.

The pupils will be uploading their information to a self-designed virtual site where we will use scan codes and people can visit our trail for information through the site.

The evidence uploaded demonstrates our journey. We look forward to continuing to improve our trail so that we can learn more about our environment and how to look after it and appreciate it. We hope to build on our tour guide skills and add some more interactive experiences and activities.

we created our own woodland characters

We visit the trail several times a season to see how the environment is changing

We invited another school to visit our nature trail to listen to their ideas on how to improve it

keeping track on how our nature trail is progressing

we welcomed the wider community to have their say on the nature trail.

Show Racism the red Card

Children all over Scotland were asked to create a design for show racism the red card and we are delighted to announce that Autumn, one of our P1 classmates has been shortlisted for an award. Autumn can now attend a ceremony in Edinburgh where the judges will pick the overall winner of the P1-2 group.

“ I feel really excited because I have never been to a ceremony before” Autumn

Article 27 – Every child has the right to a standard of living that is good enough to meet their physical, social and mental needs. Government must help families who cannot afford to provide this.

Article 30 – Every child has the right to learn and use the language, customs and religion of their family, regardless of whether these are shared by the majority of the people in the country where they live.