This Monday the 2nd of December we are celebrating St Andrew’s day! Don’t forget to dress up is something Scottish & bring some food to share. For more information download the note below.
St Andrew’s Day!
We have our Bronze Green Trees Award!
Drakies received this award because of the hard work of P6/7 & P7 they all need to be congratulated. We are well on our way to silver
After school support on Tuesdays
Every Tuesday from 3:15 to 4pm I am offering extra support for anyone in P6/7 who feels like they need it. This is not a homework club. But rather aimed at anyone who would like extra help with their numeracy (maths) or literacy. If you have any questions please call the school or email me.
Class PE every Tuesday morning!
Please be aware that form next Tuesday the 19th we will have Class PE from 9:30 to 10:45 (morning tea). So please bring your PE kit & indoor shoes.
Drakies Woodland Development
We are developing a small woodland on part of our school grounds. P6/7 & P7 are having a design competition, where they are designing a woodland for our school using a program from the Woodland Trust. The children are not just adding trees but also thinking about other things they think are important such as dens, tree-houses, ponds, walls, outdoor classrooms & fire pits. All this can be represented on their plan. It has been great to see their excitement & wonderful ideas.
The final PDF plans are due this Friday or early next week the top 10 will be submitted to Mr Callander & Mr MacKenzie to choose 1st, 2nd & 3rd. The finalists will then use their ideas to work with myself (Mr Knox) & Miss Burnside to develop the final school woodland plan. P6/7 & P7 will cost the project & then it will be presented to Mr Callander, Mr MacKenzie & the school.
Once the woodland plan has their approval, it will be presented to the parent council & also the local community. We also aim to involve all the other classes in helping us to develop the woodland. Attached is an example of what the plans they are making look like.
Here is the Woodland Trust “tools for schools” website below. P6/7 & P7 used the Planting Planer tool.
RoE Our first visit from baby Hali
Last Wednesday we had our first visit from Lou (the RoE teacher) Jay & baby Hali. The children had a wonderful time. We were discussing some of the predictions we had made the week before about what Hali is able to do & how much she has grown.
Roots of Empathy
This year P6/7 will have a Roots of Empathy (RoE) lesson every Wednesday until the 3rd of June 2020, run by Louise Kineer (from the Highland council) . The mother (Jay) & baby (Hali) will be coming in every few weeks, preceded and followed by a visit from Louise.
If you could have a brief discussion with your child on a Wednesday afternoon, asking them questions about what they learnt and observed during the lesson. This would reinforce their learning and help them to reflect and gain a deeper understanding of empathy.
RoE focuses on raising levels of empathy, resulting in more respectful and caring relationships, and reduced levels of bullying and aggression in children. It also aims to build children’s emotional literacy as well as improving understanding of infant development and safety. Additionally it prepares children to be responsible citizens & starts to inform them on what is involved in being a responsible parent. Bellow are attached the initial info as well as the RoE program outline.
Abriachan Trip
Here are some photos from our P6/7 & P7 trip to Abriachan Forest Trust on Monday 4th of November. The children had a grand day building bug hotels, identifying, planting trees & exploring the woods & roasting apples over a fire.
I am…
In circle time in P6/7 will often be using “I am…” cards as well as a variety of other cards. The “I am” cards all have positive statements about who the children really are (even if they don’t feel like it). They read out the statement (hopefully with gusto) and the class repeat it to them using their name. This is to reinforce the statement and help your child to believe it. They then share their thoughts about the card & ask any questions they may have.
We will use a variety of different affirmation cards including the “I am’s” The children will also use emotion cards & stones that help them to identify their feelings and acknowledge them, as well as cards relating to team work, education & more.
Far too often children and adults don’t live from their “I am’s…” (e.g. I am; good, clever, intelligent, lovely, wonderful, valuable, glorious, amazing, fantastic etc.) but rather from their “I am not’s….” (e.g. I am not… clever, good, nice, able etc.). Which leads to fear, anger and self-loathing.
Living and acting from your “I am’s… is like seeing the world with perfect vision, you see all its amazing brilliance, clarity and wonderful colours. When you look at the world from and through your “I am’s…” you are able to see wonders and positives that come from even your worst mistakes or challenges.
Living in and from your “I am not’s…” is like looking through cracked dirty glasses, you can’t really see what is happening clearly, all you can see are shadows and lots of cracks. This causes you to become fearful, to start avoiding new challenges and experiences, and prevents you from seeing yourself, others around you and situations clearly. These negative beliefs stop you from becoming who you truly are.
My aim with this simple regular activity is to teach the children gradually to take off their “I am not… glasses” and to start seeing themselves, challenges and the world around them from their ” I am’s…”
Term 2 Newsletter
Download the P6/7 term 2 newsletter by clicking the link below.
Drakies Primary 6/7 - Mr Knox 