05.03.2020     Fairtrade Fortnight: Storybombing

This morning 4 members of our Fairtrade Pupil group spent the morning “hiding” the stories of hard working Fairtrade chocolate farmers around Drumnadrochit.  The first 2 people to find each story get to keep a special Fairtrade Fortnight bookmark!  The idea is that people keep re-hiding the stories, so that as many people as possible find out about Fairtrade.  Keep an eye out for them around the village over the next few weeks!  We also included a letter about our work in school.  You can read it here: Fairtrade Fortnight letter to community FF2020 blog

Particular thanks to all the lovely library staff who made us very welcome.  🙂

02.03.2020     Fairtrade Fortnight: Forest Friendly Farming activities in P7

If you would like to watch the short film, the link is below:

https://schools.fairtrade.org.uk/resource/guardians-of-the-rainforest/

27.02.2020     Fairtrade Fortnight: Hunting for the Fairtrade Symbol

This morning 3 of our P1/2 pupils went a visit to our local Scotmid.  They took vouchers which Scotmid have awarded to the school to buy some items for our Fairtrade Fortnight activities.  They were very good at spotting the Fairtrade symbol on some of the products.  They had to buy different types of Fairtrade chocolate for a chocolate tasting in P1/2, as well as buying several Fairtrade chocolate eggs for end of term prizes.  We also had a look at sell by dates on fresh produce.  Well done to our amazing trio!

26.02.2020     Fairtrade Fortnight: Visit from Lynne Ogg (Scotmid)

This afternoon, Lynne Ogg came to visit us to help us to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight and showed us how the chocolate supply chain works.  Each member of the Fairtrade Group was a different person/company in the chain, arguing for their income.  There are so many people involved, and often it’s the farmers that get the worst deal.

Lynne also brought us a list of all the Fairtrade items in our local Scotmid, a Bala Fairtrade Football to try out next term, and lots of chocolate goodies for our “Pirates of the Curry Bean” raffle.

We are grateful to Scotmid and especially to Lynne for driving all the way from Dundee to visit us!

12.02.2020     Fairtrade Fortnight: Protecting People and Planet

UNCRC Article 2 
The Convention applies to every child, regardless of race, colour, sex, language, place of birth, religion, politics, disability, and status.

UNCRC Article 24 
All children and young people have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help them stay alive, healthy and safe.

This afternoon, we presented a role play which told the story of cocoa farmers working at the edge of a rainforest in West Africa.  We wanted to show everyone how Fairtrade can help to protect both people and planet.  In the roleplay, the rainforest cocoa farmers showed us that if farmers do not earn enough money, they have to make difficult choices to survive.  If we want to protect the rainforests of the world; it is important that we make sure the people that live there are paid fairly.

We explained that Fairtrade Farmers get an extra payment, called the Fairtrade Premium, which they spend on education or healthcare for their families.  This helps their children to claim their rights.

When you buy Fairtrade chocolate, you are helping farmers to support their families and protect the places where they live.

Fairtrade Fortnight is from Monday 24 February – Sunday 8 March 2020.  During that time each of the classes will hear more about Fairtrade Farmers.  The RRS group will be hiding their “storybombs” throughout the village, so lots of people in our community can learn about Fairtrade Farmers too!

The official website for Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 is here: Fairtrade Fortnight 2020

05.02.2020     RRS Group Meeting: Fairtrade Assembly Preparation

Today we sorted out who will do what in our assembly next week.  We had a read through the script and worked out what actions to do.

Now that we can play the laptop sound though the speaker system in the hall, we have decided to use a song called “We’ve all got rights” when it is our turn to present assemblies.

You can listen to the song here: UNICEF UK “We’ve all got rights” Youtube link

22.01.2020     RRS Group Meeting with Pupil Council

We worked with the Pupil Council to match children’s rights with our Curriculum Rationale.  (This describes the learning and teaching activities that go on in our school.)  Each group looked at a different area of the curriculum: Literacy, Numeracy, Gaelic and French, RME, Sciences, Technologies and Social Subjects.  (We looked at Health and Wellbeing at the start of January.)

Now Miss Mullin needs to explain the links that we found to Mrs Laird, so that she can update the document!

15.01.2020     Citizenship Groups Assembly

Today we explained the links that we made between the articles of the UNCRC and the aims of HWB week (Please see our post below.)

08.01.2020     RRS Group Meeting: Matching children’s rights to HWB week aims

This afternoon we looked at the aims of Health and Wellbeing Week, and matched them to the UNCRC articles.

The whole week supports UNCRC Article 24 (health and health services)
Every child has the right to the best possible health. Governments must provide good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food, and a clean environment and education on health and well-being so that children can stay healthy. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.

Here is how we matched the individual aims of the week with children’s rights:

“To understand more about how our emotions work” links with UNCRC Articles 12 and 13

Article 12 (respect for the views of the child)
Every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. This right applies at all times, for example during
immigration proceedings, housing decisions or the child’s day-to-day home life.

Article 13 (freedom of expression)
Every child must be free to express their thoughts and opinions and to access all kinds of information, as long as it is within the law.

“To drink more water throughout the day and understand how this supports good health” links with UNCRC Article 24 (health and health services)
Every child has the right to the best possible health. Governments must provide good quality health care, clean water, nutritious food, and a clean environment and education on health and well-being so that children can stay healthy. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.

“To increase our physical activity including time outside” links with UNCRC Articles 27 and 31

Article 27 (adequate standard of living)
Every child has the right to a standard of living that is good enough to meet their physical and social needs and support their development. Governments must help families who cannot afford to provide this.

UNCRC Article 31 (leisure, play and culture)
Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.

“To learn about staying safe” links with UNCRC Article 28 (right to education)
Every child has the right to an education.  Primary education must be free and different forms of secondary education must be available to every child. Discipline in schools must respect children’s dignity and their rights. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.

“To learn ways of relaxing” links with UNCRC Article 31 (leisure, play and culture)
Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.

“To understand the importance of sleep” links with UNCRC Articles 28 & 31.

Article 28 (right to education)
Every child has the right to an education.  Primary education must be free and
different forms of secondary education must be available to every child. Discipline in schools must respect children’s dignity and their rights. Richer countries must help poorer countries achieve this.

UNCRC Article 31 (leisure, play and culture)
Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.

We will explain these links at our Citizenship Groups assembly next week.

11.12.19     RRS Group Meeting: Planning Fairtrade Fortnight 2020

Today we looked at the Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 campaign which is all about sharing stories.  The children were very enthusiastic about the idea of “storybombing.”  The idea is that we will hide Fairtrade stories around the village, for people to find, share and hide again for someone else to find.  We made a HUGE list of places we could hide them.  We are going to write to different places in the village to tell them we are doing this.

06.11.19 & 27.11.19     RRS Group Meetings

09.10.19     RRS Group Meeting: Fairtrade Schools

Today we talked about what Fairtrade means and all the different products that carry the Fairtrade mark.  We are aiming to achieve the Fairtrade Schools FairActive Award this session!  Next term we will write a FairActive action plan together.

We made a list of the different products that we knew could be Fairtrade: bananas, chocolate, sugar, tea, coffee, clothes and footballs.  We voted to choose two to campaign about in February and May 2020.  We chose chocolate and footballs!

We watched a short film by the Fairtrade Foundation called: Playing Fair: The Story of Fairtrade Footballs

It was a really interesting film ~ we talked afterwards about all the people we could speak to about it.

We decided it would be best to split into 2 research teams next term, so that we can find out as much as we can about Fairtrade chocolate (to present in February) and Fairtrade footballs (to share in May) and try to do something to take action on both!

02.10.19     Different Families, Same Love Assembly

UNCRC Article 2  (non-discrimination)  The Convention applies to every child without discrimination, whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities or any other status, whatever they think or say, whatever their family background.

UNCRC Article 18  (parental responsibilities and state assistance)
Both parents share responsibility for bringing up their child and should always consider what is best for the child.  Governments must support parents by creating support services for children and giving parents the help they need to raise their children.

UNCRC Article 20  (children unable to live with their family)
If a child cannot be looked after by their immediate family, the government must give them special protection and assistance. This includes making sure the child is provided with alternative care
that is continuous and respects the child’s culture, language and religion.

This afternoon, pupils from our group presented a Powerpoint and read a Twinkl ebook called “Part of the Party.”  These helped us to recognise the similarities and differences between different families.  One of the things that all the families had in common was that they all loved each other.

18.9.19     RRS Group Meeting

This afternoon we discussed the #Activate Your Rights campaign.

“Young Scot, Children in Scotland and The Scottish Government want to work with a group of children and young people to take the lead in helping to promote their rights and shape the way Scotland understands and supports the rights of the child.

In November 2019 it will also be the 30th anniversary of the UNCRC being created so this is a fantastic time to get involved with this exciting project! That’s why we’re recruiting volunteers for #ActivateYourRights – a children and young people’s rights team that will help promote the The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) for children and young people in Scotland.” 

https://young.scot/get-involved/national/activateyourrights-promoting-the-uncrc-across-scotland?dm_i=LQE,6H9UC,HOR7AW,PPMIU,1  18/09/2019

Several P4-7 pupils were interested in applying for this.  The closing date is Monday.  The official website (including the application form) is here: Activate Your Rights Campaign

We also started to prepare for our next assembly, which we will deliver on Wednesday 2nd October.  We listened to and discussed a Powerpoint presentation called “Different Families, Same Love” and then an E-book called: “Part of the Party.”  We decided to use them both in the assembly.  Five people will present the assembly.  A group of P5-7s looked at the UNCRC articles which the story ties in with.  A group of P1-4s started to make colourful lettering to update our RRS Group noticeboard in the hall.

Miss Mullin will meet with the presenters again tomorrow, so that we are all happy with what we are going to say and read!

18.9.19     European Day of Languages Assembly

UNCRC Article 2  Every child has the same rights regardless of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, politics, nationality, social class, place of birth or disability.

UNCRC Article 30  Every child has the right to practice their own culture, language and religion.

This afternoon, we co-presented an assembly with the Celebrations Committee.  We explained what, when and why we are celebrating the European Day of Languages next week.  We were really impressed with the number of different languages that people can say “Hello” or “Good afternoon” in.  Lots of pupils have already decided which European flag colours they are going to wear for our school sponsored walk next Monday afternoon.

Our assembly is here: european day of languages assembly 18.9.19

The official website is: European Day of Languages 2019

9.9.19

Look what arrived today!  We’re very proud to display our certificate and banner after all our work towards achieving this.

28.8.19     RRS Group Meeting

Miss Mullin welcomed our new committee group members.  We played team building games to get to know each other better.

We are going to present an assembly on the European Day of Languages in 3 weeks time.