Great Turnout for Cycle to School Day

Great turnout for the last cycle of the school session.

All the way to school on a balance bike. Fabulous!

MSP Cabinet Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change Listens to Pupil Views on Air Quality

P6A pupils and Pupil ECO Group reps were delighted to have an opportunity to meet with Ms Roseanna Cunningham, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, on Wednesday 14th June, just ahead of the inaugural National Clean Air Day on Thursday 15th June, to share what they have been learning about air quality.

Ms Roseanna Cunningham Cabinet Secretary for the Environment listens to pupil views on air quality

Mr Gregor Hutchison with his P6A class, members of the Pupil ECO Group and JRSO Josh

Pupil ECO Group member Faye leading the march for improved air quality and increased active travel

James being interviewed by STV News

Lucy being interviewed by STV News

Principal Air Scientist Colin Gillespie and Senior Specialist Air Scientist Ian Wager from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) worked with Sciennes' Science Specialist, Mr Mark McKenna, and P6 Class Teacher, Mr Gregor Hutchison, to deliver practical experiments designed to help the children understand how pollution and emissions can adversely affect air quality.

Principal Air Scientist Colin Gillespie, SEPA

Pupils from Mr Hutchison's P6A class have been learning about air pollution using SEPA's educational  resources

Raising awareness of factors affecting air quality through practical science experiments

P6A have been using Colin Gillespie's excellent SEPA materials in class and have been analysing data from an air quality sensor installed in our playground a few weeks ago by Ian Wager.

SEPA's Senior Specialist Air Scientist Ian Wager installed an air quality sensor two weeks ago

You, too, can monitor the air pollution outside our school on the website http://www.environment.scotland.gov.uk/get-interactive/data/air-quality-primary-school-sensor/

We were delighted to receive a handheld air quality sensor, courtesy of https://www.cleanairday.org.uk/

The pupils have also undertaken traffic surveys in surrounding streets to try to see and offer explanations for trends in air pollution at different times of the day. For example, the children noticed that raised levels occurred on two very wet days and hypothesised that could be due to more people taking to their cars. They were also concerned about the high levels of pollution that can be pinpointed to occur during their playtimes.

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You have the right to the best health possible and to medical care and information.

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You have the right to education which develops your personality, respect for others’ rights and the environment.


Hope as many as possible can join Ms Angela Christie who is leading another Cycle to School Day on Friday 16th June, as part of Bike Week.

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment to Visit Sciennes

We are looking forward to welcoming Ms Roseanna Cunningham, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, to Sciennes on Wednesday 14th June ahead of the inaugural National Clean Air Day on Thursday 15th June. Ms Cunningham will meet P6A pupils and members of our Pupil ECO Group to find out what they have been learning about air quality and how they have been analysing data from a recently installed air quality sensor, provided by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). Sciennes has pioneered and sustained active travel policies for more than twenty years and we hope to share our experiences and ambitions with the Minister during her visit.

Take the Pledge This Clean Air Day!

As you may be aware this Thursday (15^th) is the first National Clean Air Day which coincides with Cycle to School week. This is a perfect opportunity to continue the great work that Sciennes has done in promoting safer, healthier travel to school and of course to raise awareness about the dangers of air pollution. Thanks to the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) who have installed an air pollution monitor at the front of the school, you can monitor the air pollution outside our school on the website http://www.environment.scotland.gov.uk/get-interactive/data/air-quality-primary-school-sensor/ and use the drop down menu to visit Sciennes Primary School data. From here you can view the air pollution from each day, check the air pollution density times during each day, and track the air pollution to 5 minute intervals during school opening and closing times.

Please also check out https://www.cleanairday.org.uk/pledge to find out more ways to support National Clean Air Day. To get involved on social media please use the #NationalCleanAirDay

National Clean Air Day | Take a Pledge www.cleanairday.org.uk Latest. Free Resources for Scotland Download. Download free resources for National Clean Air Day in Scotland. Learn about air. Venturefest. Making the right choices ...

Another great website to check out at home is http://www.learnaboutair.com/  This is an interactive website with fantastic videos all about air pollution, the history, the causes and the solution to the problem.

Thanks for your continued support,

Gregor Hutchison (P6A)

Ian from SEPA Intalls Air Quality Sensor

Thank you very much to Ian Wager, Senior Specialist Air Scientist at the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) for installing an Air Quality sensor. We hope to see a drop in emissions when the road is temporarily closed for the Summer Fair on Saturday 3rd June and will analyse data from the sensor with pupils over the next few weeks in the run up to National Clean Air Day on 15th June.

ECO Schools Fourth Green Flag! and Earth Day Assembly 21.4.17

Fourth Green ECO Schools Green Flag! Well done Team Sciennes!

PUPIL ECO TEAM
P4 Bethan, Catie, Isla
P5 Jim, Nina, Sophie
P6 Michael. Faye, Ali
P7 Evelyn, Caitlin, Laura
JRSOs Amelia, Josh and Declan

Sciennes Earth Day Green Flag Assembly 21.4.17 from Sciennes Primary School

On Friday 21st April at the P4-7 Assembly we reflected on 'Earth Day' (22nd April) and watched a video "Man Vs Earth" to help us think about issues affecting the planet and how we can work together to make a difference.




We looked back at our ECO Schools journey since 2008 and what pupils, staff and parents have achieved together. Addressing issues facing the planet is not just the responsibility of the ECO Pupil and Parent Groups and our JRSOs. Each of us has a responsibility, individually and as part of the school community.

In the last few years we have been working towards our Fourth Green Flag, focusing on Litter, School Grounds and Active Travel. We were delighted to be able to announce today that Sciennes has just been awarded our Fourth Eco Schools Green Flag which Mr Hutchison unfurled ceremoniously during Assembly. Miss Gallagher, Mr Hutchison and Mrs Dickson have led the Pupil ECO Team extremely well throughout the year. We congratulated and thanked everyone throughout school who has contributed to Sciennes receiving this prestigious award. Well done Team Sciennes! Particular thanks to Phoebe Cochrane, Kirstin Unger, Laura Bird, Corinne Kirk and all the parents who support the ECO work of the school and commendation to the indomitable spirit and relentless enthusiasm of our wonderful Business Manager, Angela Christie, always a key driver in all things ECO.

We have already begun to plan how we can achieve our Fifth Green Flag, taking on two new ECO topics + Litter and continuing our focus on the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Global Goals.

Caspar, Jay and Henry spoke about their fundraising plans for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Appeal for Yemen and we reminded everyone about Pedal on Parliament, taking place on Earth Day, Saturday 22nd April.

Tremendous achievement and we thank Stephen Harland, Education Support Officer Keep Scotland Beautiful -Eco-Schools Scotland, Kerr McConnell, Education and Learning Co-oridinator and all at Eco-Schools for their support and encouragement. Read their kind report below:

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You have the right to education which develops your personality, respect for others’ rights and the environment.

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.

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Everyone under 18 has these rights.

P7 Comedy Book Launch in Support of Comic Relief

P7 Book Launch BaDUMtsh P4-7 Assembly 17.3.17 from Sciennes Primary School
 

On Friday 17th March we held a special assembly to launch our P7 Comedy Book "BaDUMtsh", professionally formatted and published by Sciennes' parent and published author, Mary Turner Thomson, through her Whitewater Publishing Company. Mary addressed the P4-7 Assembly and explained the significant achievement of our pupils officially becoming 'published authors' themselves. It was wonderful to welcome so many parents to the event and we were also delighted to welcome City of Edinburgh's Literacy Development Officer, Evelyn Love-Gajardo.

Mary Turner Thomson and Evelyn Love-Gajardo (CEC Literacy Development Officer)

This is the seventh book Sciennes' pupils have produced with Mary and we looked back at our involvement with her over several years. We gave Mary a small token of thanks with a Love Hearts Thank You cake and Fairtrade flowers.

We are thrilled that celebrated and much loved comedian Patrick Monahan (who came to an Assembly in August and joined us for a Daily Mile run) so kindly sent a foreword for the children's book. Laura took to the stage to read aloud Patrick's thoughtful and encouraging words to the children.

Laura reads Foreword by Patrick Monahan

Thank you to P7 teachers Mrs Jane Maguire, Mrs Fiona Barker, Ms Fiona Sellar and Mr Mark McKenna who worked so hard with their pupils to create and organise the content for the book.

Thank you Mrs Maguire, Mrs Barker, Ms Sellar and Mr McKenna

A group of pupils from each of our three P7 classes confidently 'took the mic' to deliver a selection of jokes, funny stories and cartoons from their book, with all P7 pupils supportively calling out "BaDUMtsh" at the end of each punchline. All our pupils from P1-P7 have been asked to 'Stand Up for Comic Relief' and deliver jokes or funny stories to their classes as part of a whole school Comedy Festival in support of Red Nose Day next week.

P7 pupils 'took the mic' and shared jokes, funny stories and cartoons from their book.

Richard Melvin, accomplished comedy writer, producer and comedian has generously offered his time to provide comedy workshops for our three P6 classes where they will also learn about different jobs and roles in comedy production.

In support of Comic Relief, P6 pupil Emily is leading a bake sale for her year group and P6 pupils Niamh, Faye and Amelia are organising a sale of bath bombs and keyrings. All pupils have been invited to wear red and bring a donation on Friday 24th March.

Niamh, Faye and Amelia share their plans for Red Nose Day fundraising

Thank you very much to all the parents and to Pupil Support Assistants Mrs Tariq and Mrs Wilkins who helped cut up and distribute celebratory cakes, printed with the children's book cover.

Celebratory cakes!

An additional box of books should arrive from the printers on Monday. Pre-ordered books can be collected next week and copies can be purchased for £5 each with profits to Comic Relief.

Mary with her son, P7 pupil Zach

The Eco Group and Mr Hutchison were congratulated on their successful Fairtrade stall last week which helps Sciennes to work towards FairAware status. Louis and Henry in P6 announced that their football match in support of the Fairtrade Foundation will take place for P6 and P7 pupils from 1.30pm on Saturday 25th March on the Meadows.

Participation in the annual SEET Euroquiz held at City Chambers is an interesting, fun and exciting event, worthwhile in itself, but we were extremely excited to share that this year's P6 team - Alice, Ali, Hamzah and James - won the Edinburgh heat! Congratulations to the team and grateful thanks to families for their support.

Winners of Euroquiz 2017 Edinburgh Heat!

P5A pupils, Rory, Isla and Ella announced that they will be organising an Easter Egg Foodbank appeal and asked for donated Easter eggs to be handed in to the School Office by 31st March.