Red Nose Day 2017

Sciennes Red Nose Day P4-7 Assembly 24.3.17 from Sciennes Primary School

 

On Friday 24th March 2017 Sciennes celebrated Red Nose Day with a whole school Comedy Festival, designed to develop confidence in public speaking and as part of our Health and Wellbeing programme, in support of Comic Relief. We watched a film about 12 year old Hassan from Sierra Leone and found out how Comic Relief has supported him return to school following the Ebola crisis.

Generous donations and support for P6 led bake sales, friendship bracelet, bath bombs and key ring sales as well as P7 Comedy Book and Red Noses sales have helped our school communitycome together to make a difference to others, in the UK and abroad. Thank you.

Some of our pupil jokers took to the stage at Assembly to share funny stories, knock-knock jokes, slapstick and one-liners. Thank you to everyone who took part and all will receive a special Red Nose Day certificate next week.

Our P7 House and Sports Captains celebrated many recent pupil achievements and P7 Sports Captain, Robert, reported on recent runaway Cross Country success.

The Evening News took a photograph yesterday which is on Page 17 of today's newspaper (see below) and another photograph taken today will appear in tomorrow's edition.

Article 1

Everyone under 18 has these rights.

P2 Pupils Address CEC 1 in 5 Child Poverty Conference

Confident Individuals, Emma and Bella, with Ms Anstruther

Audience at Faith Misson, Edinburgh 1 in 5 Child Poverty Awareness Conference

Sciennes is one of six city schools taking part in a City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) pilot project to raise awareness of 1 in 5 Child Poverty and explore ways to reduce the cost of the school day. Depute Head, Ms Carolyn Anstruther, and Headteacher, Mrs Alison Noble, accompanied P2 pupils, Emma and Bella, to the Faith Mission in Edinburgh on Tuesday 22nd March. In front of a huge gathered audience of Headteachers and school leaders, the P2 girls spoke about their award winning idea to 'Make a Difference.' They realised that events like World Book Day can cause expense for families so cleverly suggested that school could keep a 'dressing up' box of costumes for pupils to borrow and their idea was awarded £250! Ms Anstruther has invited everyone to donate any old, grown out of, costumes to school to add to the collection for borrowing.

Everyone is immensely proud of the terrific confidence shown by Emma and Bella and they were congratulated at the P1-3 and P4-7 Assemblies on Thursday 24th March.

Article 12 The right to be heard
Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living

Make a Difference Award of £250!

Sciennes is one of six city schools taking part in a City of Edinburgh pilot project to raise awareness of 1 in 5 Child Poverty and explore ways to reduce the cost of the school day. Depute Head, Ms Carolyn Anstruther, accompanied five Sciennes Pupil Council members to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 14th March and she announced at Assemblies on Friday 18th March that two of our P2 pupils, Emma and Bella, have won an award for their idea to 'Make a Difference!' They realised that events like World Book Day can cause expense for families so cleverly suggested that school could keep a 'dressing up' box of costumes for pupils to borrow and their idea was awarded £250! Ms Anstruther invited everyone to donate any unused costumes to school to add to the collection for borrowing.

Sciennes Pupil Council at the Scottish Parliament

Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living

 

Making a Difference

Sciennes Make A Difference and Sport Relief Assembly 18.3.16 from SciennesPS

Pattie Santelices and Ms Anstruther present at Assembly

 

Pattie Santelices, City of Edinburgh Principal Officer Health and Wellbeing, joined our Assembly on Friday 18th March to share information about City of Edinburgh's 1 in 5 Child Poverty Awareness project. Ms Anstruther accompanied five Sciennes Pupil Council members to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 14th March and she announced that two of our P2 pupils, Emma and Bella, have won an award for their idea to 'Make a Difference!' They cleverly suggested that school could keep a 'dressing up' box of costumes for pupils to borrow and their idea was awarded £250! Ms Anstruther invited everyone to donate any unused costumes to school to add to the collection for borrowing.

We were all absolutely delighted when Pattie announced that P6B pupil Asma's poster, highlighting 1 in 5 Child Poverty, has been selected as overall winner and will be used in campaign literature throughout Edinburgh! Pattie presented Asma with a framed copy of her artwork and a certificate. Runner up P6C pupil Samara also received a framed copy of her artwork. All the children who entered the competition received special highlighter pens for their contribution in highlighting 1 in 5 child poverty. Thank you to Art Club Teacher, Heather Lucchesi, and to Ms Anstruther for helping the pupils express their ideas so well visually.

Overall 1 in 5 Poster competition winner, Asma, with Pattie Santelices

Great achievement, Asma!

Runner up Samara

Highlighting 1 in 5 Child Poverty

All the pupils were congratulated for helping to Make a Difference by dressing up in sports gear and P.E. kit and donating to Sport Relief. Our end of day total was £450! Congratulations to Ella, Ailsa and Sarah for showing great initiative in organising their own bake sale and raising £14. Very well done to P7A and P5C girls who raised an incredible total of more than £400 rollerskating across the Forth Road Bridge! We look forward to hearing about any other personal fundraising efforts from our pupils since many are taking part in local run, swim or cycle events this weekend.

Extraordinary Sport Relief fundraising P7A and P5c girls!

Ella, Ailsa and Sarah baked to raise £14 for Sport Relief. Great initiative!

P7 Sports Captains congratulated pupils for their achievements this week and led everyone in singing the Sport Relief song, "Step It Up".

Special commendation to Alex, Rory and Alex for their initiative in Making a Difference by organising a school collection of Easter eggs for Foodbank. Outstanding citizens! Thank you to everyone who donated.



Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living

Angela Burdett-Coutts' Philanthropy

Mr Howie led our P4-7 Assembly on Friday 11th March, cleverly linking recent learning in P5 Old Edinburgh, P6 Jacobites, World Book Day and International Women's Day with Rights Education in his tale of the mightily impressive Victorian philanthropist, Angela Burdett-Coutts. Her philanthropy and influence were even more remarkable at a time when women could not yet vote.

Mr Howie encouraged everyone to keep thinking about how we can each make a difference and praised pupils Alex and Rory for their initiative in organising donations of Easter eggs for Foodbank at school.

P7 Reader Leader, Toby, explained how everyone can help keep the Playground Reading Shed organised and Lena told us about the Eurochild Drawing competition. 

Sport Relief is on Friday 18th March and our P7 Sports Captains demonstrated Out of the Ark's "Step It Up" Sport Relief dance. They informed pupils about signing up online to local Run, Cycle, Swim events next weekend and invited us to dress up in sports gear or P.E. kit on Friday. Sports Captains will collect any donations on the day.

Philanthropy P4-7 Assembly 11.3.16 from SciennesPS

Article 2 The right to protection against discrimination
Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living 

 

  

How Would You Make a Difference?

Sciennes 1 in 5 Make a Difference Award from SciennesPS
 

1 in 5 Raising Awareness of Child Poverty in Edinburgh – The Make A Difference Award 

What would you do with £250 to help Make a Difference? 

Sciennes' Pupil Council have planned a school wide launch of City of Edinburgh's 'Make a Difference Award'. Pupils are taking the lead in encouraging fellow pupils, classes, staff and parents to submit ideas of how they would use the award money to help make a difference to children and families living on or below the poverty line in our school community. 

Your ideas might involve:

• Raising awareness of the realities of living in poverty in the UK.
• Contribute towards reducing school costs e.g. uniform, trips, books and resources for those most in need.
• Support income/benefits advice and management for families.

Any other ideas you might have to Make a Difference? 

Schools will submit their top three ideas for judging by an independent panel. the winners from each school will then be invited to present their idea at the 1 in 5 Launch and Roll Out event on the 22nd March before receiving the £250 award money to take forward their idea in their school.

Who can enter?
Individual or groups of staff, parent councils, individual pupils or classes/tutor groups.

Submission dates for ideas?
FRIDAY 12th FEBRUARY 2016

How do I/ we enter?
Contact your school to receive a Make a Difference Award submission form. Pupil ideas will be collected in class.     

Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living 
Article 28  The right to learn

1 in 5 – The Make A Difference Award

1 in 5 Raising Awareness of Child Poverty in Edinburgh – The Make A Difference Award 

What would you do with £250 to help Make a Difference? 

Sciennes' Pupil Council met on Friday 29th January to plan a school wide launch of City of Edinburgh's 'Make a Difference Award'. Pupils will take the lead in encouraging fellow pupils, classes, staff and parents to submit ideas of how they would use the award money to help make a difference to children and families living on or below the poverty line in our school community. 

Your ideas might involve:

• Raising awareness of the realities of living in poverty in the UK.
• Contribute towards reducing school costs e.g. uniform, trips, books and resources for those most in need.
• Support income/benefits advice and management for families.

Any other ideas you might have to Make a Difference? 

Schools will submit their top three ideas for judging by an independent panel. the winners from each school will then be invited to present their idea at the 1 in 5 Launch and Roll Out event on the 22nd March before receiving the £250 award money to take forward their idea in their school.

Who can enter?
Individual or groups of staff, parent councils, individual pupils or classes/tutor groups.

Submission dates for ideas?
FRIDAY 12th FEBRUARY 2016

How do I/ we enter?
Contact your school to receive a Make a Difference Award submission form. Pupil ideas will be collected in class.     

Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living 
Article 28  The right to learn
 

1000 Pre-Loved Books Donated

Throughout December, our Pupil Council worked with our Librarian, Mrs Katherine Peace, to sort and categorise over 1000 quality, pre-loved books which were donated before Christmas to Foodbank and other local charities.

Grateful thanks to everyone who supported our Hungry for Books appeal with City of Edinburgh Council.

Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living
Article 28  The right to learn

Book Week Scotland Assemblies

On Friday 27th November 2015, Sciennes' Patron of Reading - celebrated author Janis Mackay - presented at both P1-3 and P4-7 Scottish Book Week Assemblies. Thank you to Ms Bethan Owen for leading our school wide Book Week celebrations with Janis so successfully:

P3 WORKSHOPS

P5-7 BOOK LAUNCH- "Wild Song"

JANIS AT ASSEMBLIES

MEET THE AUTHOR BOOK SIGNING

There will be an opportunity to meet Janis and buy signed copies of her books at a special discounted price for Sciennes' families between 11am and 12.30pm on Friday 27^{th November}

Sciennes' Pupil Council thanked everyone for supporting City of Edinburgh's 1:5 Child Poverty Awareness project throughout Scottish Book Week by donating preloved, much loved and gift condition books to a child via Foodbank and other organisations.

Please note that the project has been extended at Sciennes and we will still be collecting donated books until Wednesday 2nd December. We hope to see you at the Winter Fair on Saturday 28th November 12pm-3pm. Coming along? Could your child select a favourite, high quality book to bring to gift to a child in need?

Sciennes P4-7 Scottish Book Week Assembly 27.11.15 from SciennesPS
 

Article 28  The right to learn
Article 26 The right to have help if you are poor or in need
Article 27 The right to have a good enough standard of living

1:5 Hungry for Books - Gift a Child a Preloved Book during Scottish Book Week

Sciennes' Pupil Council is leading a 'Hungry for Books' campaign, launched at House Assemblies on Universal Children's Day 20th November and taking place ONLY throughout Book Week Scotland from Monday 23rd November to Friday 27th November. We have been asking our pupils how they can make simple acts to bring about change and highlighting the Global Goals at our Assemblies.

Sciennes Primary School is proud to be one of six schools in Edinburgh working with Pattie Santelices (City of Edinburgh Principal Officer Mental Health and Well Being) and committed to raising awareness of children in poverty.

The aims of the project are:
* To highlight the scale and impact of 1:5 child poverty.
* To explore cultural and structural explanations of child poverty.
* To consider the costs associated with the school day at Sciennes
* To reflect on how we can make education fairer and equitable for all 



Last year, P3 pupils successfully organised a whole school Harvest appeal leading our school community to donate food items generously to Foodbank. This year, we are asking everyone to feed minds by donating at least one 'preloved', much loved, quality children's book which will then be redistributed by Foodbank and other organisations.

Sciennes is one of six school hubs for the city - Central Hub - and our Pupil Council members will work with volunteer Librarians to help collect and deliver donated books.

Hungry for Books 23^rd – 27^th November ‘Gift a child a pre-loved book’

Did you know that 1:5 children live in poverty or have at some time in their lives? This is shocking to us in Sciennes’ Pupil Council. And we want to help. So we have decided to do a book collection. Please give a child in poverty a book to pass the time and make them feel like an ordinary child. And try to think how many hours are really in a day when you don’t have the money to buy expensive video games and other things. So please bring a book for the book bank.

Hamish Croft, P7 member of Sciennes Pupil Council 


1:5 children living in poverty leave school unable to read well. These children are also less likely to have books in the home and read for pleasure. During Book Week we are seeking donations of high quality children’s books which our Pupil Council will then redistribute to children in need through Foodbank.
I would also like families in school, who would welcome an opportunity to select some books, to please contact me directly. I can assure you of my utmost discretion and confidentiality.

Alison Noble, Headteacher

Sciennes House Assembly 20.11.15 from SciennesPS

Article 28  The right to learn

Cost of the School Day Global Goal 1 End Poverty

Sciennes Primary School is proud to be one of six schools in Edinburgh committed to raising awareness of children in poverty and exploring ways in which we might reduce the ‘Cost of the School Day’. 

We are offering parents the chance to hear from Pattie Santelices, a member of the Health and Well Being team at City of Edinburgh Council, talk about the implication of children living in poverty in Edinburgh. 

The aims of the session are:
* To highlight the scale and impact of child poverty.
* To explore cultural and structural explanations of child poverty.
* To introduce the wider ‘1 in 5’ Project.
* To consider the costs associated with the school day at Sciennes
* To reflect on how we can make education fairer for all 

There are many costs associated with school and education (e.g. uniforms, materials, trips, meals etc...) and together we would like to explore ways to reduce these costs where possible in order to make education fairer for all. 

The presentation will be held on:
Tuesday 6th October 6.30-8.30pm and is repeated on
Wednesday 7th October 1.30 – 3.20pm 
If you would like to attend please email the school: admin@sciennes.edin.sch.uk 

Complementary sessions are taking place with staff and pupils in school. Feedback from everyone will contribute to new Council recommendations and guidance for schools. 

Council plans to beat child poverty

Published Friday, 2nd October 2015

 

Tackling child poverty is the focus of a new awareness drive being spearheaded by the City of Edinburgh Council.

A report going to the Education, Children and Families Committee next week (Tuesday 6 October) shows that just over 21% of children in Edinburgh live in poverty and this figure is forecast to increase significantly by 2020.

Every area of the city is affected with each Council ward having child poverty rates of over 10% and it’s estimated that the cost of delivering services to address the impact in the Capital is around £156m a year.

Next week’s Child Poverty report outlines various actions being taken by the Council to lessen the impact. 

Key areas identified include:
*Developing more flexible and affordable good quality childcare to meet the needs of families on low incomes
*Improving attendance at schools and early years establishments, and the attainment and achievement of young people
*Reducing the attainment gap between lowest achieving pupils and their peers across the city
*Identifying and developing more safe places to play

Other actions include increasing breakfast club provision, working in partnership with food banks to better understand why families in poverty are using their services and further developing family engagement with a focus on strong home-school partnerships.

A major school project – the ‘1 in 5: Raising Awareness of Child Poverty in Edinburgh’ - has already started in five primaries and one secondary school. It aims to identify best practice and changes that can be introduced to make school more affordable for families on low incomes. The project involves working with children, staff and parents to challenge the stigma that affects children living in poverty.

The report also highlights the importance of income maximisation to raising attainment. Research has shown that the level of household income plays a major role in attainment levels with more initiatives needed to increase wages, encourage take up of unclaimed benefits and other finance-related poverty costs.

Councillor Paul Godzik, Education, Children and Families Convener, said: “Child poverty matters to us all as it damages childhoods, damages life chances and damages society as a whole. Children from poorer backgrounds lag behind at all stages of education so it’s important we do all we can to close the attainment gap.

“We have developed a range of actions to challenge and mitigate the impact of child poverty in the Capital and will continue to work closely with our partner agencies to ensure everything is done to ensure children given every opportunity to have the best possible start in life.”

Alison Noble, Head Teacher at Sciennes Primary School, is one of the schools taking ‘1 in 5: Raising Awareness of Child Poverty in Edinburgh’ project.

She said: “This project provides a valuable opportunity for Sciennes to make a difference and ensure the outcomes for our children are not undermined by poverty and inequality. By taking part we can focus our efforts on addressing the barriers that exist within our community and help us to begin to fulfil one of the objectives in the Scottish Attainment Challenge - to close the attainment gap and provide every child with the same opportunity to succeed.

Our ward includes an area of multiple deprivation so raising awareness of the issues surrounding poverty may contribute to our children making a positive contribution to the school, local and wider community.”