"The Voice Thief" Returns to Summerhall

"The Voice Thief" will be returning to Summerhall in August as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. P7A pupils were most fortunate to be invited to attend a preview show earlier this year and absolutely raved about this excellent production! (Anne Derricourt, of critically acclaimed Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, has asked us to pass on that it would be lovely to see some of them again and if any do decide to return, she has asked them to say hello in the queue.)

Welcome to The MacKenzie Institute for the Encouragement of Vocal Harmony, a darkly mysterious place where hundreds of girls' voices have been held captive for years. This is the first time the public have been allowed into The Institute and it may be the last… The Voice Thief is for everybody aged nine and over. ‘A fabulous fantasy you want to shout about’ ***** (Herald). ‘Everything a piece of theatre should be’ ***** (Guardian). ‘A wickedly enchanting promenade performance’ ***** (TVBomb.co.uk).

The innovative promenade style performance is suitable for 9+ and more information can be found here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/voice-thief 

The Voice Thief has been nominated for four CATS Awards (Critics Awards for Theatre in Scotland – chosen by the journalists and theatre critics). It has been included in the categories for Best Design, Best Female Performer (Beatrice), Best Production for Children and Young People and Best Technical Presentation. These are high accolades and we hope to hear news of celebrations after the awards are announced at the beginning of June.

Returning Hero Iain Henderson, Scottish BAFTA Winner!

Iain Henderson, Scottish BAFTA New Talent 2015

Wonderful to welcome back former pupil Iain Henderson to the P4-7 Assembly on Friday 29th May. Such an inspiring talk, perfectly pitched and striking many chords with the pupils as Iain recalled his time at Sciennes - at the Big Tree, in Nativity performances, meeting Santa and taking part in Sports Days before transferring to James Gillespie's High School and then Clyde Valley College. Iain always had a camera in hand as a child and used photographs very effectively in his presentation to tell the story of his journey towards making his mark as a film maker. His short film 'The Wee 'Hings', which was shown at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, deservedly won him the Scottish BAFTA for best New Talent 2015.

Iain got a returning hero's welcome from pupils and staff and it was a delight to celebrate his success. He was so generous with his time, visiting classes and talking with the children. He may even start a new fashion trend in shirt buttoning ;-)
Inspirational!

Iain at Assembly

Iain's P1 and P2 teacher Mrs Hogan

Iain's P4 and P5  teacher, Mrs McVicker

Everyone was also extremely impressed by amazingly talented sisters Samara and Alba who performed their own musical composition on the piano at Assembly.

Samara and Alba - talented musicians

Talented sisters Samara and Alba perform own composition!

Yet more talented performers took to the stage on Friday! Ilaya and May sang their own composition about the Rainforest beautifully and Iain complimented them on their confidence in performing.

We are all wishing Mr Scott a speedy recovery and sending him our love. Mr Howie explained how the Sciennes' Family is pulling together to support Mr Reid as Service Support Officer (janitor) in Mr Scott's absence.

There was a resounding chorus of "It's Mr Howie!" when we played the Parent Council Summer Science Fair video, having asked the children to guess the mystery dancer! Great moves, Mr Howie! Everyone is so excited about the Fair on Saturday 6th June 12.30pm-3.30pm. Don't miss it!



This was the last Assembly until our End of Term Assembly on Friday 26th June when we break for summer holidays at 12pm. Lauder is currently in the lead with House Points but there is still everything to play for because Sports Day - on Friday 5th June - can change the points dramatically. Keep collecting House Points and the winning House will be rewarded with an afternoon of Fun and Frolics on the Meadows on Tuesday 23rd June, organised by Ms Kennedy and our Active Schools Co-ordinator Jonathan Wallace. Thank you very much to our fabulous P7 House and Sports Captains who have taken a lead role in Assemblies and have been so responsible and dependable in helping run them. And of course grateful thanks to Mr Howie who has provided many excellent, thought provoking and inspirational presentations throughout the year (and a special thank you from me, for his thank you :-)

P4-7 Assembly 29th May 2015 from SciennesPS

 

Iain Henderson's winning short film 'The Wee 'Hings" Scottish BAFTA New Talent 2015

P4C Win Froglife Script Writing Competition!

Congratulations to Miss Gladstone and P4C who have won a fantastic prize in the Froglife script writing competition, as overall UK winners! Tremendous achievement P4C!

Plant Stall at the Summer Fair

The Summer Fair Plant Stall welcomes donations of the following:

- flowering plants
- bedding plants
- perennials
- vegetable seedlings
- herbs
- house plants
- cacti
- shrubs

Please could you pass on to friends and consider thinning out successful clumps in your own garden or windowsill. Hand in to School Office on Friday 5th June.

Thank you 

Laura Bird

Sciennes P2 Sending Good Luck Message to Andy Murray

Class of 2007 Flash Mob Dance 2014

Sciennes P7 Big Dance 2014 from Sciennes Primary School on Vimeo.

Can this really be a year ago, former pupils now in S1? In the summer term of 2014, our three then P7 classes performed this fantastic flash mob dance in the playground. Allan Irvine from Dance Base introduced the pupils to the Big Dance Pledge dance - choreographed by Scottish Ballet with a Commonwealth Games theme - at school.

We took part in a community outdoor performance on the Mound in May of that year and then Mr Howie, Mrs Barker and Ms French helped the pupils stage this surprise, impromptu performance in the playground, filming it from many different angles, including the Staff Room!

Great editing, Mr Howie, and we love how the rest of the - initially bemused, but fascinated pupils - fill up the space and begin dancing when the P7s have casually drifted off. It was a joy to see that entire P7 year group dance the steps at the Leavers' Party and again on the top landing on the last day of term. We hope to make sure our current P7s have an equally happy and memorable send off in the oh-too-soon forthcoming weeks.

Class of 2007 Big Dance on the Mound May 2014

Summer Fair Grand Raffle

Each pupil has been given an envelope containing 10 raffle tickets for the Sciennes Summer Fair Grand Raffle and tickets will also be on sale at the Fair.

Completed stubs, correct money and any unsold tickets have been handed back to class teachers. Thank you

Get Involved in the Sciennes Science Fair!

We are SO excited about this year's Summer Fair! It features many of the usual fun and attractions but as an added extra, there will be science activities, workshops and talks. This year, the fair is FREE - a big thank you to everyone for what has been an amazing year of fundraising. WE STILL NEED:

VOLUNTEERS - for many of the different stalls and activities. Please sign up as soon as possible by going to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MP795YQ or emailing Aileen Nimmo, (Fundraising Convener): aileenandstuart@btinternet.com

PLEASE BRING IN DONATIONS OF: home baking (the day before or on the day of the sale), toys, tombola prizes (bottles, jars and other prizes), plants, CDs, DVDs, books, school uniform that you no longer need. If you want to sell a second hand bike (you get a percentage of the sale) please email sciennesfundraising@gmail.com

COME FOR LUNCH ON THE DAY OF THE FAIR: BBQ, Papa Johns Pizza, Asian Snacks, Noodles, Ice Cream, Teas, Coffees and Soft Drinks will all be on sale. 

MAKEOVER STALL Face and nail painting

HOMEBAKING STALL - sweets and treats

TOMBOLA STALL -  will you be lucky and win a prize?

PLANTS AND FLOWERS STALL

BOOKS AND DVDs STALL

SECOND HAND UNIFORM

SECOND HAND BIKES

WIN FAIR BEAR: Guess Fair Bear's name correctly and you'll be bringing him/her home!

RAFFLE TICKETS: will be going home in school bags soon. Fantastic Prizes include an iPad.

COULD YOU (OR YOUR WORKPLACE) DONATE A RAFFLE PRIZE? Please email sciennesfundraising@gmail.com

Roll Up, Roll Up for FREE Science Fair Attractions!

All the Fun of the Science Fair, including...  

Camera Obscura and the World of Illusions in the Sensory Room

The Living World Zone featuring the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Scottish Badgers and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; 

The Neuroscience Zone - build your own cells and find out how your brain works

The Geology and Geoscience Zone - rocks under a microscope and the incredible, edible earth: make your own volcano and then eat it!

Computing and Technology Zone: sort balls like a computer and race your own dinosaur

The Physics Zone: sundials, bubbles and solids

The Maths Zone: magical maths and chess

The 'Break Out' Zone: bodies and bones;
Inventor Donald Naylor will be bringing his bike-powered kettle.

There will be a presentation by Dr Andrew Murray who has run from John O'Groats to the Sahara - find out about the creatures he met, the experiences he had and why exercise is SO good for the brain

Mercy Corps will be coming along to talk about how science can be used in world disaster zones.

So much fun and learning to be had. Don't miss out! 

Saturday 6th June, 12.30-3.30pm

Minnie and Ailsa Raise £45.50 for Water Aid

Very well done to P5 pupils Minnie and Ailsa. They had a tombola stall on The Meadows on Sunday and raised £45.50 for Water Aid! Minnie organised the stall and used her old toys and books as prizes in the tombola. She also sold her Dad’s homebaking. Super Citizens!

Teddy Bear at the Summer Fair

As we are on the run up to the Summer Science Fair on Sat June 6th, a beautiful teddy bear can be won by guessing its name.

“Summer Fair Bear” will be making its way around Sciennes for the next two weeks.
For 50p you can guess the name of the teddy bear. 

You might be the lucky winner!

Coming Soon....Sciennes Parent Council Presents ... "SCIENCE FAIR: THE THANK YOU"

Many thanks to the Parent Council for filming and editing this marvellous taster video to promote the Sciennes Summer Science Fair taking place on

Saturday 6th June, 12.30-3.30pm.

It will be a spectacular - and unmissable - way to thank all our fundraisers.

Can you guess who the mystery dancer is? Nice moves!

Everyone welcome - please come along to this great FREE event!

How Can We Begin to Thank You? How About a Free Science Fair?

SAVE THE DATE! SATURDAY 6th JUNE 12.30pm - 3.30pm

The Sciennes Parent Council has come up with a magnificent way to say THANK YOU to all our fundraisers. THE MOST AMAZING programme of FREE activities and events has been organised by Aileen Nimmo, Convener of the Fundraising and Events Group, assisted by Mr McKenna and the Parent Council. You will not believe the programme that Aileen has worked tirelessly to line up!

Look out for more information about this exciting event, coming soon!

Online Donations Top £10,000!

With Gift Aid, donations to our online BT Donate Swimathon fundraising page of £8,400.25 have now actually raised £10,000! And this is in addition to sponsorship money kindly handed in to the School Office. Staggering support! Thank you!

Mr Howie Captures the Moment Swimathon Amount Revealed!

Thank you to Mr Howie for capturing on camera the moment when an incredible £11,199 was revealed at the P4-7 Assembly on Friday 22nd May as the amount raised to date during our recent Swimathon Fundraising Event for playground improvements

We are grateful to the entire school community for supporting efforts to improve radically the playground experience not only for current pupils but for many years to come.

Thank you!

Swimathon £11,199!

Our Sports Captains did a superb job of announcing the winners and presenting the Swimathon medals at the P4-7 Assembly on Friday 22nd May. Grateful thanks to Fiona Denvir, Bethan McEwan and Tanya Boughtflower from the Sciennes Parent Council, and all the parents who helped make this year's fundraising event so enjoyable and such an outstanding success.

Pupils and staff were truly amazed to discover that the current total raised is a staggering

£11,199!

Grateful thanks to Mr Howie for capturing the announcement - and reaction! - on film, and for taking podium photograps. Thank you to everyone who has so generously donated and supported the playground fundraising efforts. Believe*Achieve!

Well done to all our P1-3 Swimathon Medallists who received their medals at the P1-3 Assembly.

P4-7 Swimathon Awards: Silver Medallists Left; Gold Medallists Centre; Bronze Medallists Right

Silver for Eilidh! Sorry for mix up, Eilidh!

 

Thank you to our Sports Captains for presenting and to Stella for announcing all the medallists. Great job, P7 Captains!

P4-7 Assembly 22.5.15

Diana Dalton, Department for International Aid

We are very grateful to Diana Dalton, parent of Joe in P7A, for accepting an invitation to present at Assembly on Friday 22nd May and providing us with an excellent explanation of the work of the Department for International Development. Diana helped everyone to think about inequality in the world, reasons for this and how we can make a difference. She explained how the government body for UK Aid is using British taxpayers' money to help people around the world, including tackling Ebola, providing assistance to war torn countries such as Syria, giving relief to countries prone to natural disasters such as Nepal and trying to make a difference to the lives of young girls by providing them with education and support.

Diana has worked for DfID for twenty years, including a four year stay with son Joe and her husband in Bangladesh. She told stories of the mangrove swamps in the Sunderbans and showed photographs of Joe looking for Bengal tigers! Thank you very much, Diana, for coming to present at our Assembly and providing such an interesting talk, with so many thought provoking and positive messages for our pupils.

Today was also Swimathon award day and our Sports Captains did a superb job of announcing the winners and presenting the medals. Grateful thanks to Fiona Denvir, Bethan McEwan and Tanya Boughtflower from the Sciennes Parent Council, and all the parents who helped make this year's fundraising event so enjoyable and such an outstanding success.

Pupils and staff were truly amazed to discover that the current total raised is a staggering

£11,199!

Thank you to everyone who has so generously donated and supported the playground fundraising efforts. Believe*Achieve!

P4-7 Assembly 22.5.2015 from SciennesPS

Lovely that Diana was able to see Joe receive his Silver Swimathon medal!