P6 Benmore Meeting ... and Holiday Homework!

On Friday 12th December P6 met as a year group for a Question and Answer session ahead of our trip 9th-13th February. Almost all the green forms have been returned and we have requested that any remaining ones be returned next week. We have encouraged pupils to look at the Benmore 2015 blog with families and to work on being able to complete the poll over the Christmas holidays! Hoovers at the ready...

P5-7 Blaze Basketball Fri 19th December

Sarah Murphy from Blaze Basketball has invited Sciennes P5-P7 pupils to the Crags on Friday 19th December 1.30-4.00pm for a Basketball Game Day. Cost £2.00.

Below is a post from Blaze's website on 2nd December about the growing success of Girls' Basketball in the South Central Area:

Blaze Girls Basketball Beginning to Burn Brightly

This weekend was great for Blaze Basketball Club. The newly formed under 12 and under 14 Blaze Girls Clubs showed up in numbers to play.

On Friday evening The Crags hosted the first ever girls only fixtures in the South Central Primary School Basketball League. There were four Girls teams overall, which included a mix of St Peters, Sciennes Primary School and Blaze Under 12 Development Girls.

Under 12 and 14 Girls coach Sarah Murphy spoke of her joy at seeing so many girls come get involved in the League.

‘It was great to see the girls come along and give it a try today. For many of them it was their first ever competitive match, but everyone did really well. There was examples of really good sportsmanship, teamwork and a high level of energy from start to finish. All the girls that came along today definitely have what it takes to have a great future in basketball and there is a lot of potential in the South Central Area.’


P7 EPSSA BASKETBALL 
P7 Basketball Club players (6 girls and 6 boys) will receive a letter next week inviting them to participate in an Edinburgh Primary Schools Sports Association (EPSSA) Basketball Tournament at Meadowbank on Monday 12th January 10am-12pm. The success of Sarah and Eoghann's lunchtime Basketball clubs for girls has enabled us to enter the competition for the first time in many years, since rules dictate that at least five girls must form the team and previously we did not have sufficient numbers of girls keen to participate. Thank you to Ms Anstruther for suggesting a Girls' Basketball Club and thank you Sarah and Eoghann!

Playground Improvements Consultation

Sciennes Primary School is consulting with parents to gather feedback about the first draft of our playground plans. We would really value hearing from you. Please look at the plans online and complete the parent survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z2LWC6X. A larger copy of the plans is up on the noticeboard in the playground. A letter of commentary (which has been emailed to all families) from Alison Noble, Head Teacher, appears below to provide some context and additional information.

We ask that you fill in only one survey per household. All responses need to be in by Thursday 18th December.

Pupils and staff have been asked for feedback at school. Mrs Noble had already welcomed staff consultation through verbal feedback and notes made on the paper plans and has now also circulated a link to an online Staff Survey. Mrs Noble discussed the plans with the Pupil Council on Friday 12th December and these pupils will assist their teachers in conducting feedback sessions in class next week. (All 200 P1 families attending the P1 Nativity on Friday 12th December have been given a special homework task from Mrs Noble to review the plans and complete the survey!)

The Playground Improvement Group will be reviewing all feedback and will make recommendations to our Playground Architect. Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey.

 

CLICK HERE TO SEE FIRST DRAFT OF HARRISON STEVENS' PLAYGROUND PLANS 

Dear Parent / Carer, 

The initial designs prepared by HarrisonStevens Landscape Architects aim to improve the quality of the playground environment as a whole and to raise the expectations, opportunities and levels of stimulation available to our children across all ages and groups, through a programme of active play. 

It is envisaged that the scope of the project will include the south playground and landscape strip south of Sciennes Road, with potential future design development extending to the existing covered shed areas. 

With a mix of textures, materials, varying heights and enclosure the play landscape has been designed to offer greater variety and interest than is currently enjoyed. Through the introduction of loose, unbound, surface materials the design also seeks to reduce playground speed – often the primary cause of collisions and accidents. 

The proposals will fully support the curriculum for excellence in providing a canvas for taking the classroom outside. The playground will also provide a backdrop for the integration of ‘loose play’ items such as tyres, timber, drain pipes, etc. that will encourage imaginative play, den building, collaboration and social integration. 

The play environment will be appropriately challenging, aiding physical development within a landscape of natural materials that the children can traverse and explore, climb, step, hide, slide, run, crawl and jump. 

The design exemplifies best practice in play strategy, extended outdoor learning and active play and aims to deliver clear benefits not only to learning, but also to the physical & emotional health and wellbeing of our children. 

Our ambitions for the playground reflect the Scottish Government Play strategy and the City of Edinburgh principles for developing playgrounds. 

Kind regards,

Alison Noble, Head Teacher

Carols on the Stairs

In keeping with an age old Sciennes' tradition, our 640 pupils from P1 to P7 will congregate in the stairwell and on the landings for 'Carols on the Stairs' on Friday 19th December, which also marks the end of term. Pupils have been asked to bring along a torch and to wear some tinsel or something similarly festive!

Christmas Assemblies Wed 17th December

Christmas Assemblies will be held at St Catherine's Argyle on Wednesday 17th December. Please note that Parents/Carers are welcome but there is very limited space.

P1-3 Christmas Assembly 9.30am -10.15am

P4-7 Christmas Assembly  11.00am-11.45am

Orchestra will play at the P4-7 Assembly. (There is no Orchestra Rehearsal on Monday 15th December.)

Christmas Parties Next Week

Monday 15th December - P4 morning, P5 afternoon

Tuesday 16th December - P7 morning, P6 afternoon

Wednesday 17th December - P2 afternoon (special visitor 2.30pm in the Hall)

Thursday 18th December - P3 morning, P1 afternoon (special visitor 2.30pm in the Hall)

Sciennes - Boroughmuir Thistle Girls' Football Fundraising

 

Five P7 Sciennes girls (Manju, Eliza, Stella, Phoebe and Zoe) and one P6 girl (Rose) who are stalwarts of Sciennes Football Club, are hoping to travel with their other football club, Boroughmuir Thistle, to the Gothia Cup in Sweden, the world's biggest youth football tournament.

The parents of the Sciennes contingent have organised a movie night at the Dominion Cinema in early January to see Bend It Like Beckham, which seemed the most appropriate film we could find, as well as being a good fun night out.

Please come along and help us fill the cinema! 

Given that Christmas is only a couple of weeks away, you might want to consider giving Bend It Like Beckham tickets to family and friends. Or how about organising a girls' (or boys') night out with colleagues or friends? 

Tickets are only £10 (less than the normal Dominion price!) and include a glass of wine and nibbles. Please forward to friends and colleagues. Any support much appreciated!



Details of how to get tickets further down the email. Hope to see you there!
Clarissa (Manju's mum)



=======



As part of Boroughmuir Thistle's Gothia Cup fundraising efforts we are delighted to announce an exclusive screening at the Dominion of 

Bend It Like Beckham


Date: Monday 12 January

Time: Doors open 7:30, film starts 8:00


Tickets on Sale Now!


Tickets are £10, including a glass of wine/soft drink and a snack -  a better deal than the regular Dominion price of £10.95.


Please forward information to friends and colleagues. We have a big cinema to fill and we are aiming for a sold out show. 



How to buy tickets: 
email beckhamdominion@hotmail.com to book your tickets. We accept cash, cheques or BACS payments.




The small print: 
All money raised goes towards the BTFC trip to the Gothia Cup, the world's largest youth football tournament. Doors open at 7.30pm and the film will start at 8pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance and presented at the cinema prior to entry. The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry and cannot be responsible for lost or forgotten tickets. The film is rated 12A. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Gothia Cup Organising Committee

P7 Sportshall Athletics

Very well done to our wonderful P7 athletes who gained a highly respectable Third Place at the Sportshall Athletics Edinburgh Finals at Meadowbank on Monday 8th December. Our team narrowly missed being selected as one of the top two teams to progress to the East Scotland Finals, and we pass on our congratulations to the two successful teams at Dean Park and Bonaly Primary Schools. Thank you to Mrs Barker, Mrs Nowell and parent Mrs Kitchin for accompanying and to Mrs Walker for preparing the children so well and also co-ordinating the event. P7 pupils can be justly proud of great team work, trying their very best and showing excellent sporting attitudes. Each team supported a Commonwealth country in a parade at the start of the event. Sciennes was representing Scotland and Mark and Dante looked superb sporting their kilts!
More photographs on the P7 Class Page.

A message from Mrs Walker:

Thank you for bringing your team to the Be Part of It Sportshall Final on Monday 8 December 2014 at Meadowbank Sports Centre.   

Congratulations to Dean Park Primary School, winners of the Hope Trust Trophy and Gold medallists.  They along with Bonaly Primary School will represent Edinburgh at the Inter Area event in February 2015.

All teams performed very well with some outstanding performances on both Field and Track.

Three New Girls Records were established:

Cerys, Sciennes Primary School -  Speed Bounce 69 in 20 seconds

Iona, Dean Park Primary School - Triple Jump 5.90 metres

Gugu, St Joseph's Primary School - Long Jump 2.03 metres

The score sheet is attached and the point scores and places are listed below.

1st	Dean Park Primary School	206
2nd	Bonaly Primary School	198
3rd	Sciennes Primary School	167
4th	St Peter’s Primary School	164
5th	St Joseph’s Primary School	162
6th	Nether Currie Primary School	122
7th	Buckstone Primary School	121
8th	Pentland Primary School	99
9th	Longstone Primary School	81
10th	Colinton Primary School	77

There will be an article in the Scotsman on Tuesday 16 December 2014.

I hope everyone enjoyed The North Edinburgh Samba Band.   I certainly thought they added to our event.

Thank you to Edinburgh College students and staff for their support of our Sportshall Athletics programme.

Please pass on my thanks to your coaches and parent helpers.  I would particularly like to thank the school staff for their support of this event in December to end our Commonwealth year.

Happy Christmas!

Beth Walker

P1 Nativity

Ms Anstruther has arranged a Dress Rehearsal of the P1 Nativity for siblings and P4 Buddy classes on Thursday 11th December at 10.45am.

The performance to parents will be in the Hall on Friday 12th December at 11.15am. (Doors open 10.45am.)

P2 Winter Show

Ms Anstruther has arranged a Dress Rehearsal of the P2 Winter Show for siblings and P5 Buddy classes on Wednesday 10th December at 1.30pm.

The performance to parents will be in the Hall on Thursday 11th December at 1.45pm.

Marchmont Christmas Tree Lighting 6th Dec 4pm

MARCHMONT/SCIENNES:  Saturday, 6th December @ 4.00 pm
Marchmont Street, outside Scotmid on the corner of Marchmont Crescent and Warrender Park Road. Residents will be joined in carol singing by James Gillespies Brass Band and the school's Senior Choir. A choir from Sciennes Primary is also performing.  Master of Ceremonies for the switch on is Deirdre Nichols, a local sculptress and director of the Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust.  Jim Orr,  local Councillor, will be playing the pipes.  Refreshments will be served at 4.45 pm in the German Church Hall where local people can adjourn to a warmer venue to continue singing.

What's On in South Central

Mental Agility in P3C

 

Mental agility activities in Primary Three have so enthused the pupils that many have been seen continuing with the work in class during their break time in the playground. Great work, P3 pupil and teacher mathematicians!

Thank you, Erin!

Inspired by the spectacular success of the Christmas Fair, P7 pupil Erin organised her own fundraising event for the playground, raising a fantastic £26 with family and friends.
Thank you, Erin!

eJASS at Sciennes

Sciennes and Tollcross Primaries were part of the initial pilot for the Junior Award Scheme Scotland (JASS) wider achievement programme a number of years ago. Last year, we began working with

• Ian Forder from JASS
• software developer Steve Moore
• the Digital Learning Team
• Alice Brown, Headteacher at Tollcross Primary
• Barry Hewitt from Outdoor Learning
•  Claire Cooper from Drummond HIgh School

to help develop the online version of the programme called ‘eJASS’. eJASS will be piloted at Sciennes and Tollcross next term. Primary Seven pupils and one P6 class will be able to use the online version on their personal iPads to record their progress.

On Wednesday 6th December we were delighted to welcome back software developer Steve Moore from brawsolutions to meet with P7 pupils for some market research. Steve was very impressed with the pupils' feedback and ideas which he will incorporate into his software design. Thank you Zoe, Cerys, Laurence and Maxwell for your very helpful contributions! (Cerys and Zoe were part of the group of pupils who met with Steve last year and they were delighted when he showed them how he had incorporated their suggestions from their last meeting.)

Check Out Our New Science Blog

Mark McKenna expertly delivers Science and Technologies in P3-P7, as well as advising P1 and P2 with their Science programme. A practical, highly engaging and progressive programme has been fine tuned over many years and Mr McKenna has designed innovative assessment materials to accompany it. Most of the weekly classes take place in our well resourced Science Lab, but Mr McKenna can often be seen all around the building, using the stairwell for gravity and flight experiments, the landings for Robot programming, the playground for rocket launching and the swimming pool for powered water craft testing. We will try to capture some of the exciting learning opportunities in this new blog:

http://sciennespsscience.blogspot.co.uk

which can also be accessed from the main website Curriculum>Sciences.

Rose, Green Pencil Finalist

Rose, far right front row

Congratulations to Rose in P5A, who was a finalist in the Green Pencil Award. The award, which was launched in 2007, is run by Edinburgh City Libraries and Eco-Schools in Edinburgh and supported by the Department of Children and Families. It seeks to promote literacy and creative writing, demonstrate care and understanding of environmental issues and strengthen partnership working between libraries, schools and other partners.
Prizes were donated by a range of sponsors, including

• Scottish Book Trust
• Scottish Natural Heritage
• Scottish Seabird Centre
• Royal Scottish Zoological Society.

Planet X Bikes

Thurs 4th Dec, 5-7pm: Planet X Bikes Shop event for Sciennes families

A group of hardy Sciennes parents have committed to completing the Edinburgh Triathlon on New Year's Day to raise funds for the playground. So far they have raised £4.5k in donations (inc gift aid) and secured sponsorship from Planet X bike shop, 57-59 South Clerk St. To mark the launch of this sponsorship all Sciennes families are invited to visit the shop on Thursday 4th December from 5pm to 7pm. Offering a great selection of bikes, clothing, accessories and nutrition the shop has something for all and every purchase will see more funds raised for our Playground. Commencing on 4th December until 1st January all Sciennes families will benefit from a 10% discount in the store. Of the profits generated from this initiative 25% will be returned to the School as a donation to the Playground fund.

For more info about the  Sciennes Parents Triathlon Team go to
https://mydonate.bt.com/teams/sciennesparentstriathlon

PLANET X BIKES

Our Edinburgh store is now open. It's in a great location on South Clerk street and is easy to get to so drop in and say hi, take a look at the 40 bikes on display and have a delicious coffee while you're there. Full workshop and bike fitting facilities are in place plus a great range of clothing, parts, accessories and nutrition.

57-59 South Clerk Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9PP

Opening Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 10am - 6pm | Thursday 11am - 7pm | Saturday 9am - 5pm | Sunday CLOSED

Record Breaking £10,342 Raised at the Christmas Fair!

A phenomenal - incredible! - record breaking sum of £10,342 was raised on Saturday 29th November at the Christmas Fair, made possible by months of careful planning, with hour upon hour of selfless dedication and commitment by our army of talented and resourceful parent volunteers, superbly project managed by Aileen Nimmo (Chair of the Events and Fundraising Group) and Claire Wheeler (Chair of the Parent Council). Parent supporter Charlotte Herthelius deserves special recognition for having the idea of moving the time to 12noon onwards to catch lunchtime trade and supply lunches which resulted in an extra £1200 being raised. (Papa John's Pizza from nearby South Clerk Street gifted all sales to the school, accounting for half of this sum!) Charlotte also suggested and arranged the craft Saturdays in the Dining Hall and coordinated the Crafts Stall, resulting in a huge increase in community engagement which raised more than £600.

Tangible evidence of what can be ACHIEVED when everyone BELIEVES.

Thank you to everyone who donated so generously and who came along to the fair. To all the Sciennes Family who are supporting the playground fundraising efforts, a massive THANK YOU!

Chess Success

Sciennes, fielding four teams, made an excellent start in the first event of the new season, Lothian League Day One, run by Lothian Junior Chess at Wester Hailes Education Centre on 24th November. The season started with the highest number of teams entered for this event for six years and the Sciennes' teams performed extremely well.

P5 & Under A League

Sciennes A FIRST PLACE

P5 & Under B League

Sciennes B SECOND PLACE

 P6/7  A League

Sciennes A SECOND PLACE 

P6/7  B League

Sciennes B SIXTH PLACE 

Congratulations to our P5 pupils who played extremely well.
P5 & Under Graded

1st Place        Aidan Davis

P5 & Under Ungraded

3rd Place        Cole Turnbull                3.5 on tie break

Sara Ghafoor also scored  3.5 points and was awarded a medallion.

Fedor Chetsov (P6) came top in this section but was ineligible for the first place  trophy so instead he received a special trophy.

Thank you to Bill Platts and all the parents who helped with organisation, transport and supervision. 

More photographs on the Class Pages.

Blaze Girls' Basketball Tournament

14 girls from Sciennes took up the invitation from Blaze Basketball to attend a Round Robin Tournament at the Crags Sports Centre with 4 girls from St Peter's on Friday 28th November 4pm-6pm. Thank you very much to Sarah Murphy from Blaze for organising. The Tuesday and Thursday taster session clubs were a fantastic success and have now ended, however, we are looking into the possibility of running another lunchtime Active Schools Basketball Club on Thursdays next year and hope that many of our pupils - girls and boys - will take up the fantastic weekly coaching and playing opportunities always on offer from Blaze at the Crags.