Rothesay Primary School sent in the following details about its Homecoming activities...
Rothesay Primary School has always ensured that Scottish heritage is central to curriculum development. The curriculum is grown out of who we are and where we live. They believe it is essential that young people develop a sense of citizenship through learning more about Scotland's contribution on the world stage.
From pre-5 where the youngest pupils find out about the island they live on from people in our community through visits to Rothesay Castle and the local museum to primary seven pupils who take Scottish culture abroad and share it with our French twin school – the traditions and culture of Scotland are developed.
This homecoming year, they began with interdisciplinary studies throughout the school on different aspects of Scotland. Topics covered included Robert Burns, Scottish entrepreneurs, Edinburgh – our capital city, tartans, Scottish foods and exports, our patron saint and Scottish flags. Expert groups reported on their particular aspect of Scotland and classes rotated round the groups, which ensured everyone shared all their knowledge and we all learned a great deal.
Primary 7 went on to plan their own Burns Supper. They booked Chandlers Hotel and made invitations, menus and song sheets for the occasion. Pupils also wrote their speeches and learned about who should sit at the top table. They invited special guests, one to recite the Address Tae a Haggis and who also had the children spellbound with Tam O'Shanter. One group of children went to the hotel in the morning and prepared all the vegetables, laid table and learned how to fold the napkins. Everyone wore tartan and pupils played the bagpipes.
Primary 3 had a Homecoming Assembly. They learned about all things Scottish and sang many old Scots songs. They made a large bottle of whisky and a lively haggis and everyone enjoyed their fun approach.
The infant department have had a ceilidh to celebrate Scottish traditions. Classes were asked to prepare an act. These included Scots verse, the Scottish Alphabet from Itchycoo, Highland dancing, playing the pipes and Scottish country dancing. The finale saw everyone on the floor dancing to the music of the pipes, linking arms, twirlin' and birlin' and thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Rothesay Primary is twinned with L'Ecole Froment in Paris. They exchange visits and plan a real cultural exchange for the visitors. They took them to Inveraray Castle and Jail, held a bonfire on the beach in the twilight and invited them into the classes to share lessons in a Scottish school. They had a ceilidh on the last night where they taught them the Dashing White Sergeant, the Gay Gordons and the Eightsome Reel. They also made them fish and chips!
As part of their Scottish Enterprise work they have been working on a series of 12 booklets each describing the life and work of a Scottish entrepreneur. They have planned similar layouts for each booklet and are planning to have these published to mark the Homecoming Scotland year. Booklets include entrepreneurs such a John Logie Baird, Alexander Fleming and Alexander Graham Bell. The pupils were astounded to find out that so many of the world's most treasured items were invented by Scotsmen. They ran an inventor's week where children were to think up their most amazing inventions and teachers were amazed at the resourcefulness and imaginative approaches.
This year, for the first time, they have started an after-school club to teach the chanter. Twenty pupils signed up to learn and they plan to develop their own pipe band in the future. The local pipe bandleader takes the lessons and is delighted at the response. There is now a waiting list.
Shinty is also very popular in the school. They have about forty pupils who regularly attend training on a Monday evening. The local team are very successful and they want to ensure this tradition is maintained and that their young people see the value of this.
This session they are looking forward to puppet sessions that include taking a giant man to the top of Canada Hill to wave off the boats as they did long ago to the emigrants. This work will include art and drama projects that help pupils consider the reasons, emotions of helplessness and despair and finality of being forced from your home and sent to a country you had never seen knowing you probably would never return.
At the end of this school session they are holding a Homecoming Ceilidh for their parents, carers, pupils and staff. Together they'll celebrate their individual and school achievements, their contribution to the Homecoming calendar and their international partnerships in France, Sweden and Africa.
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