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Page 3 of 18 Primary News March 2016 1 + 2 Language Learning To further support the delivery of teaching French to primary pupils, Mrs Thomson and Mrs Cameron have trained as 1 + 2 coordinators for the Local Management Group. We have also been fortunate to have staff tutors visit the school to work with some classes to deliver French lessons and the infant classes enjoyed taster sessions in the library earlier this month. Throughout the primary, pupils can now frequently be heard developing their French speaking skills. Creative Learning Architect Visits P2/3 Some of our primary teachers attended a Creative Learning course after school recently. As part of it the participants were given a cardboard box with strict instructions that it should be opened with the pupils and nothing should be planned in advance for the day. There was a palpable buzz throughout the classes on the designated Friday as the contents were discovered and pupils directed the learning and tasks to be undertaken. The items inside varied from paintbrushes to a camera. The pupils carried out activities ranging from P6/7 making a spycam robot to P1/2 pupils writing to a wooden spoon and then baking with the aforementioned spoon. World Book Day On World Book Day the primary and nursery was transformed by the sheer number of book characters coming into school. Staff and pupils not only enjoyed seeing the effort made to dress up but also had the opportunity to learn about different book characters. We even had a special assembly led by Bilbo Baggins (also known as Mrs Boyd). Cross Country In February Mrs Jenkins accompanied competitors to the Perth and Kinross Cross Country Championships in Scone. Once again, the pupils did exceptionally well with Scott Logan coming second in the P6 boys' race and Judah Hannigan coming third in the P7 boys' race. Both pupils now have the opportunity to compete in the Scottish Schools Championships next month. SSPCA Once again primary pupils were able to benefit from input from the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This term P4-7 pupils participated in workshops about farming while P1-3 pupils had the opportunity to learn about the work of the charity. Jane Brewster from Keppie Design came to talk to our P2/3 class to extend our learning about homes. She gave a detail ed account of what her job as an architect involves, emphasising the skills she uses, and made particular reference to the importance of communication. She further enhanced our learning by showing a presentation to illustrate key aspects of the design process. The children could see computer generated images of a building being constructed and gained an insight into the range of projects the architects have undertaken at home and abroad. There then followed a most lively ‘question and answer’ session in which the children were able to share their existing knowledge from their studies to date and found out more about consulting with clients, materials used and Jane’s own projects.