Tag: Ferryhill Primary School

‘INTOLERABLE’: Parents fighting at Ferryhill Primary School

Commenting on news reports of fights breaking out between parents at Ferryhill Primary School, UNISON has denounced the actions as intolerable and are demanding that more must be done to protect all staff, parents and pupils from the threat of violence at work.

UNISON Edinburgh City branch secretary, Tom Connolly said: “This is a serious situation, which we have been working with stakeholders to ensure all pupils, parents and staff are safe.

“It is not acceptable that staff regularly feel threatened at work. We can’t allow any aggressive behaviour towards anyone in our school.”

“UNISON, with other unions, has been trying to find a solution for some months. We are working together with the head teacher, who is extremely supportive, the police and local authority. We are doing everything we can to support staff and parents.

“The unions have met with senior leaders at Edinburgh Council and requested community police to support staff at the beginning and end of the school day when the behaviours are at their worst. We are also looking to see if a voluntary sector family support organisation can provide help.”

“UNISON will continue to work collaboratively over the summer, with the school management team, city councillors and others, to ensure pupils, parents and staff can return to a safe environment for learning.”

The Chair of Ferryhill Parent Council made this statement back on 1st June:

It is with a heavy heart that I must make this statement.

As parents, our top priority is always our children. We willingly sacrifice our free time and forego attending events in order to organize activities and provide treats for the kids at Ferryhill. We strive to ensure that every child is included and receives equal treatment. Over the past few months, we have taken days off from work and given up our personal time to address significant issues that were left behind by the previous parent council.

As the Chair, it is unacceptable for our members to be subjected to backlash, derogatory comments, and verbal abuse.

Regrettably, we have experienced two separate serious incidents today, which will be thoroughly investigated, and the police will be involved if deemed necessary.

Additionally, we have received negative feedback from parents about the selection of activities we have on offer. Taking all of this into account, I have made the difficult decision to suspend any upcoming events that we had planned, as well as future projects aimed at supporting the children at Ferryhill.

After the investigation concludes, we will assess the situation and make a decision regarding whether to proceed or not. Furthermore, we will seek support from the parent forum for any future decisions.

It is important to note that we are here to represent parents and caregivers. However, it is crucial to remember that we are also parents ourselves.

If there is any parent that witnesses the two incidents and would like to come forward please contact me on ferryhillparentcouncil@yahoo.com

Ferryhill kids clothing appeal

FERRYHILL School are looking for any children’s clothes you may have that you would happily donate to school. Particularly socks/tights or trousers/joggers.

We are encouraging all our pupils to be outside for breaks and lunches but are finding that if children are wet from the rain, we have run out of clothes for them to change in to.

Please hand any donations to the school office.

Coming up at Ferryhill:

Ferryhill Christmas fair is different this year:

Adult raffle tickets will now be sold every morning Between 8:30am to 9.00am look out for a parent council member in the playground (with the quality street tin) starts Monday the 21st November until Friday, 2nd of December.

Prizes Include: various bottles of alcohol, Family Day tickets, Child care vouchers, list goes on … watch Facebook page for more updates

Ferryhill children put their Thinking Caps on

Exhibition now on display at the Museum of Edinburgh

The Put Your Thinking Cap On Exhibition, a collaboration between youth Samba band Pulse of the Place and Ferryhill Primary School, is now on display at the Museum of Edinburgh.

Inspired by the drumming sessions hosted by Rohan Seilman at Ferryhill Primary School and spurned on by an invitation to perform in a music video for the Edinburgh Festival Carnival, the exhibition shows portraits of students wearing their ‘thinking caps’ that were used at the Pulse of the Place performance. 

The headgear was designed and fashioned by students with guidance and oversight from teacher and art specialist Dr Anke-Beate Stahl. The materials used were papier mâché, paper, wire, straws, pipe cleaners, pompoms, and glue. This provided an opportunity for pupils to express themselves creatively and experiment with different designs.

Many more pupils performed for Pulse of the Place than those whose portraits are displayed at the exhibition and their contribution should also be recognised. The portraits were shot in the school dining hall with this being the first experience of its kind for many students.

Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener said: This exhibition represents an important addition to our collection of community-led displays and showcases the innovation and talent of our young people here in Edinburgh.

“I am sure this exhibition will be well-received by visitors to the Museum of Edinburgh. I would like to thank the pupils and teachers of Ferryhill Primary School and Pulse of the Place for undertaking this dynamic project, Councillor for Inverleith Ward, Hal Osler for her brokering and championing of this exhibition and to Museums & Galleries colleagues for their ongoing hard work.

Dr Anke-Beate Stahl, art specialist and teacher at Ferryhill Primary School said: “This exhibition highlights the creativity that our pupils can demonstrate when given the extra time, space, and specialist support.

“Connecting music and visual arts with the bonus of a public display is a great learning experience for the children.”

Inverleith councillor Hal Osler said: “I am so unbelievably proud of the pupils of @Ferryhill_PS who are presently appearing in an exhibition at the Museum of Edinburgh. Thanks to all involved – the exhibition looks fantastic and it’s well worth a view”

The exhibition runs until February 26, 2023 and is located in the community display area of the Museum of Edinburgh on the ground floor. 

Maths Week Scotland returns for sixth year

Maths Week Scotland returns for its sixth and biggest-ever annual event from 26 September to 2 October 2022. This week, pupils, community groups and families in Edinburgh and the Lothians will be enjoying an exciting range of maths-themed activities and events across local schools, science centres and museums.

Part of the Scottish Government’s drive to encourage positive attitudes to numeracy and maths, Maths Weeks Scotland is developed and delivered by National Museums Scotland. This year, the Small Grants Fund – a partnership between the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, the Glasgow Mathematical Journal Trust and the Scottish Government – has supported 67 different classroom activities for schools across the country to encourage pupils to think about maths in a creative way.

The theme for 2022 is the beauty of maths, focusing on the creative and inspiring side of the subject, and how maths plays a vital role in art, music and design. School pupils across Edinburgh and the Lothians will be encouraged to think about maths in a creative way through activities such as art and sculpture exhibitions, budgeting projects, and outdoor learning.

Science centres and museums across Scotland have also received support from Maths Week Scotland for large-scale family activities and workshops as well as programming for schools and community groups that encourage innovation and participation while linking maths with the arts.

Alongside in-person events, Maths Week Scotland has created a fun online programme to inspire and intrigue people of all ages, from schools and educators to families and adults. The virtual programme includes using coding to create art, ideas for hands-on classroom activities, and a mathematical art workshop by mathematician Lucy Rycroft-Smith with a free kit posted to participants.

The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh is organising an exciting programme of maths-themed family events, including free art exhibition (2 October) and a schools programme of renewable energy workshops.

Lauriston Castle in Edinburgh is launching the ‘Maths Attack’ trail around the estate to teach pupils about how to use and make their own set of Napier’s Bones – a calculation device for multiplying large numbers.

Edinburgh’s National Galleries of Scotland is showcasing Scotland’s art through a mathematical lens with an online resource for schools and gallery visits to Modern One.

The University of Edinburgh is organising an exciting programme of events, with a display of geometric illuminations and optical illusions at James Clerk Maxwell Building (1 October) as well as virtual (27-28 September) and hands-on (1 October) maths activities for families. The university is also providing workshops for teachers and educators to inspire ideas for practical maths activities in the classroom.

Museum on the Mound is hosting online and in-person ‘Money Maths’ workshops to explore different money around the world.

On 29 September, Surgeons’ Hall Museum is arranging school workshops on using investigating bones and surgical equipment as well as a drop-in session for the general public on 1 October.

Stockbridge Library and Moredun Library are hosting Bookbug sessions and art activities for individuals and families.

Katie Oldfield, Maths Week Scotland co-ordinator, said: “We are thrilled to be launching Maths Week Scotland for its sixth consecutive year with such a bang.

“Mathematicians often refer to the subject as ‘beautiful’, and our aim is to inspire families, schools and community groups in Edinburgh and the Lothians to view maths in a new way and to find it in unexpected places, such as art and music.

“We are so excited to be bringing back more interactive, in-person events at schools and public venues across the country. It’s brilliant to see that so many schools have devised fun and engaging activities for pupils to discover how creative maths can be.”

The schools programme is core to Maths Week Scotland. Schools and community projects receiving grants in Edinburgh and the Lothians are:

Edinburgh:

·       Ferryhill Primary School – Skatepark Maths: Pupils P1-7 will create their own skateparks for finger skateboards

·       Edinburgh Council Libraries: Three primary schools exploring outdoor space at Newington Library

·       Bruntsfield Primary School: Creation of an exciting outdoor learning space

·       Gilmerton Primary School – Financial and Budgeting: Pupils will be given a budget and go shopping for ingredients to create a nutritious meal

·       Number Berries Maths Play Club: Mini Exhibition of art and sculptures inspired by manmade structures and nature

·       Corstorphine Primary School: Beauty of Maths exhibition

Lothians:

·       Cedarbank School: Exhibition of numeracy themed artwork created by pupils and their families

·       Polkemmet Primary School: Beauty of Maths art exhibition for families

·       Pinewood School – Maths Week Scotland Sale: Materials will be purchased to craft items to sell at a Maths Week Scotland sale to practice recognising coins and budgeting 

Maths Week Scotland is supported by winner of The Great British Bake Off 2020, Peter Sawkins.

Maths Week Scotland has a supporting year-round programme for schools, families, adults, and community groups. This is part of an ongoing drive to transform Scotland into a maths-positive nation through raising the profile of maths and encouraging enthusiasm for maths across the country.

National Museums Scotland is working with a wide range of organisations and collaborators to support and deliver Maths Week Scotland activity across Scotland.

For a full list of contributors and to view the whole programme, visit:

www.mathsweek.scot

Ferryhill pupils pour themselves into water efficiency learning

Edinburgh-based water retailer Business Stream partnered with local school, Ferryhill Primary School, on Thursday, 12 May to deliver an interactive water efficiency session and enterprise challenge activity to pupils.

During the day the primary six students at the Drylaw school were taught all about the importance of saving water. They were tasked with designing their own water saving posters and to take on the challenge of becoming water champions for their school.

In addition, the Business Stream volunteers, led by an external expert in enterprise education, James Tindell, also ran an enterprise challenge to help educate the children about the world of work.

The children made origami toy frogs and were then coached to help develop a business plan, create their own brand name and logo, and ‘sell’ their finished products to their peers.

The purpose of the session is to help inspire the children about working in business and teach them new skills such as team building.

Douglas McLaren, Chief Operating Officer at Business Stream said: “We had a brilliant day at Ferryhill Primary School and it was great to see the children’s enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit in action.

“We really enjoyed the opportunity to increase awareness of the importance of saving water for our planet and are looking forward to running more of these sessions in the year ahead”.

Business Stream’s school volunteering programme supports the company’s vision to Make a Positive Difference to local communities and the environment.

Following the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions, the retailer has re-started its school programme and plans to deliver further water efficiency and enterprise challenge sessions to schools in Scotland.

Jack Knott, Primary Six Teacher, Ferryhill Primary School, added: “I’d like to say a big thank you to both Business Stream and James Tindell for running this really exciting volunteering day.

“The pupils were given a fantastic insight into how a business is set up and run, from product design through to selling and making profits. They really developed their teamwork skills and it was great to see them so engaged in the tasks. 

“Given the current importance of tackling climate change, teaching pupils about the importance of saving water was extremely worthwhile. Our eco rep for the school will be taking forward what we have learned with our eco-committee so we can share some key water saving tips with the rest of the school!”

Road safety fears in Wester Drylaw as schools return

A scheme being introduced to make the journey to school safer may have the opposite effect, local residents fear.

The city council has pushed ahead with plans to close Wester Drylaw Avenue to through traffic and ‘Roads Closed’ signs were introduced at the weekend.

The placing of those signs has caused some confusion, however, and there are fears that the uncertainty may endanger Ferryhill schoolchildren when the school returns today. The situation has not been helped by the temporary signs being knocked over.

Inverleith Lib Dem Councillor Hal Osler said yesterday: “The confusing message on Wester Drylaw Avenue is exactly what locals were concerned about. The barrier has already been breached & cars are driving over the pavement. Instead of ensuring safe passage for vulnerable users, this is doing the opposite.

“I’ve Been up to Wester Drylaw Avenue to have a look at the “barriers” as it had been reported to me that met had already been “moved”. Whilst standing there two cars drove through one slightly over the pavement I was standing on.

“This is really poor and is exactly what we were all concerned about. I have reported this to officers as it’s supposed to be “monitored” and it deeply concerns me with pupils returning on Monday.

“If this continues please email me (Hal.osler@edinburgh.gov.uk) or the other ward councillors & we will pass all comments on to the Spaces for People team.”

Drylaw Telford Community Council is appealing to motorists to be extra vigilant in the area around the school.

The Spaces for People plan for Wester Drylaw Avenue was approved on 19 February. THe scheme was to be discussed at the community council’s regular meeting last month but the Zoom meeting had to be postponed.

Make us, not break us: Ferryhill plans for life post-Coronavirus

Schools will close today for all children and staff. The Council are working on the emergency arrangements that will be put in place from Monday, 30th March 2020.

We hope to be back in school by the end of June but this will be under the direction of the Scottish Government.

Should this not be the case, we will organise an event to bring our school and community together again.  The current P7 children will be invited and at that event we will celebrate their time at Ferryhill.

This will include the opportunity for the signing of the sweatshirt as well as other celebrations to give them a proper send off from Ferryhill. It may take place in an evening. We will ask parents across the school for help with this.

This situation will make us, it will not break us !