Sciennes Class of 2008: May 2015

Sunday, 24 May 2015

P7A Pupils Help Launch New RME Website

P7A and Mr Howie recently helped launch Greyfriars Kirk's new Religious and Moral Education resource for Secondary and Primary pupils and teachers. The website can be found at www.greyfriarslearning.uk The Moderator of the General Assembly Right Reverend John Chalmers not only attended but was paraded into the Kirk with a piper from George Heriot's, four Skye Terriers, as well as P7A! Mr Howie often provides excellent presentations to pupils about the fascinating history of Greyfriars and it was lovely to be invited to the launch.

The launch included a welcoming speech from Richard Frazer, Ken Coulter and the Moderator followed by some historical drama by Fiona Stewart who played the part of William Hare's wife, recounting his gruesome murders with William Burke. Renita Boyle also contributed with some story telling of her own. The morning ended with the children giving the website a go and the adults enjoying some freshly made sandwiches, tea, coffee and biscuits prepared by the Grassmaket Community Project.

More information on Greyfriars Kirk Facebook Page

Wednesday, 20 May 2015

Author Nora Chassler Writes With P7!

Author Nora Chassler

Primary Seven pupils were so privileged on Wednesday 20th May to have an opportunity to work with American author (now based in Edinburgh) Nora Chassler. They gained an incredible insight into the processes of writing as she planned a joint story with all three classes! Nora carefully guided our pupils in moulding a composition, verbalising her thought processes about the key elements of story writing as she worked with them : creating an effective opening; making sure there is a hook to engage the reader; developing character; describing setting; plotting a storyline; finding resolution. By evening, Nora had worked up all their ideas into a finished piece that will be a wonderful inspiration for our pupils' own follow up writing.

Nora is currently working with all cluster primary schools, as part of an innovative creative writing Transition project set in place by Faculty Head of English, Allan Crosbie, and his colleagues at James Gillespie's High School. She has already provided a stimulating workshop for all P7 staff, as part of a morning of inservice from Allan and his staff on Thursday 7th May. We are very pleased to be able to work closely with our secondary and cluster P7 colleagues on this exciting scheme which also involves visits from JGHS English teachers to meet and work with the pupils. The English Department look forward to reading their finished stories which will be on display during the Three Day visit to JGHS 16th-18th June.

Thank you, Nora!


Grandmother Divided by Monkey Equals Outer Space

Miss Thing

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

Ruyuan Wins Second Prize in National Galleries Competition!

Congratulations to P7 Lauder House Captain Ruyuan who has won second prize in the P4-7 category of the National Galleries Children's Art Competition, sponsored by Tesco Bank on the theme of 'Flight'. Ruyuan is a member of Sciennes' brand new after school Art Club and we are grateful to Heather Lucchesi for entering eight pieces of work from her club. There were over 6500 entries in total so it is a fantastic achievement for Ruyuan!

Ruyuan will attend a prize giving ceremony in June and her work will be on display in the gallery until October. She has won a folder of art materials as a prize and her artwork is also going to be 'October' in the galleries calendar for 2016.

Thank you, Heather, and very well done, Ruyuan!

Sunday, 17 May 2015

Music@JGHS

Grateful thanks to James Gillespie's High School staff Rachel Millar (Performing Arts Co-ordinator/Music Teacher), Deirdre O'Brien (Faculty Head, Performing Arts) and Hazel Kinnear (Depute Headteacher) for providing our pupils with a fantastic presentation on musical opportunities as well as a tour of the new high school on Thursday 14th May. Our pupils - and our staff! - were completely bowled over by the amazing new facilities, as well as the many exciting opportunities that await them in S1.

James Gillespie’s High School has many clubs and organisations for pupils to become involved with during the school year. Each year JGHS offers to lead a presentation to present the wonderful opportunities in Performing Arts available to Primary 7 pupils when they enter High School. The presentation includes pupils from S1-3 bringing their instruments along to the assembly, telling the Primary 7 pupils about the experiences they have had beginning a new instrument, or continuing their primary instrument at High School. The intention to inspire the Primary 7 pupils to pick up an instrument at High School and become involved in the many concerts which are provided for pupils to showcase their talents.

The Music Department offers new S1 pupils the opportunity to learn an instrument if they have not already taken up this opportunity at Primary School. Pupils who have been learning at the Primary School will continue to receive instrumental lessons from the City of Edinburgh Council at the Secondary School, as outlined in the school primary to secondary instrumental policy.

Music Provision at Sciennes (including Instrumental Music Guidance)

James Gillespie's High School Cluster Instrumental Music Policy

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Our Radios Work!

P7C Prisoners of War

We're at the castle today learning about WW2 Prisoners of War.

This is what British Prisoners of War would have worn:

They had very little food and sometimes ate raw potatoes and even grass.

Now we're beginning to make crystal radio sets:

Sunday, 10 May 2015

Save the Date, P7, for an Official Welcome Back!

Our new playground will be a community facility, so will be open to our P7 pupils even when they are at secondary school, but we would like to invite them all to come back and celebrate our new playground improvements with us at a special 'welcome back' event on Friday 28th August at 1pm. We want to say thank you and recognise all your fundraising efforts that have helped to make this project a lasting legacy of your time at Sciennes.