Riverbank School

A number of children from Riverbank applied to be a YLL – Young Leader of Learning! Approximately 8 children were chosen through a volunteer and selection process. Our YLL went to a training session with YLL from three other primary schools. We were paired up with Greenbrae Primary at Bridge of Don and the aim was for the children from each school to visit each other and look at ways of improving things in their respective schools. It didn’t mean that there was anything wrong with what was happening in their school it just meant that we might be able to do things even better.

The children met with Mrs Jolly from Education Scotland and Matthew Reid from ACC, who were in school to lend support to the VOICE of the pupils.

Our pupils shared with the Greenbrae pupils how they felt about the school and showed them the Riverbank DVD. They chose a project they were proud of to share with our visitors. The children chose to share the work carried out by last year’s P7s on the Friendship Bench. They explained its purpose and also that the P7s had been part of BBC’s Newsround. We even showed them clips from Newsround.

The Friendship Bench in situ in the playground.

The Greenbrae pupils interviewed and asked some tricky questions of two focus groups of staff which included teachers, PSAs, the school counsellor and a RADS coach. They also interviewed two focus groups of pupils with representation from P1 to P7.

The two groups of YLL children lunched together and also had time out in the playground together. During their time in the playground, the two YLL groups visited the Friendship Bench and tried it out!

Two fantastic groups of Young Leaders of Learning! They worked hard and had a great time together!

The feedback at the end of the session was led by Mrs Jolly and Mr Reid and we got some great ideas from the children which we will do our best to put in place in the very near future.

What an excellent learning experience this was for all the pupils. Everyone…..YLL pupils and interviewees alike, said how much they had enjoyed the event, not to mention how excited many of the children were about being given the chance to express themselves and have their ideas listened to and acted on.

Well done to everyone!

UNCRC / RRSA

Article 12 – Every child has the right to have a say in all matters affecting them, and to have their views taken seriously.

Article 13 – Every child must be free to say what they think and to seek and receive all kinds of information, as long as it is within the law.

Article 15 – Every child has the right to meet with other children and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.

I’m sure all visitors to the school have seen our Wider Achievements Board. This is a display where we like to share the personal achievements, outwith school, of our pupils.

Recently, we have had a ballerina and a footballer. Now we have two more additions to our board.

Our young footballer is showing his Player of the Week Trophy!

Another of our pupils came to tell us of his footballing success. As part of the Glentanar Community Football Club, this young man was awarded the Player of the Week Trophy. He was telling me that you have to attend your training sessions and participate in all the skill drills that the coaches are teaching. Our budding footballer must have been working very hard as his coach presented him with the trophy. He has told me that he enjoys being part of a team, meeting and making new friends and playing against other teams, as well as learning and practising his new football skills. Well done, sir, and you keep up the good work at your football!

Our second wider achiever was a young lady who came to show me her

This young lady was showing her certificates for cheerleading.

certificates for attending and participating in cheerleading. She has to learn her routines and practise them with the cheerleading troupe and then perform them for an audience and judges in competitions. She informed me that she enjoyed the physical activity and working as part of a team or troupe. Learning new routines and practising them so that you can carry them through without mistakes was another of the things that she enjoyed. Obviously a young lady who enjoys a challenge. Like her footballing peer, she also enjoyed meeting and making friends with new people. Well done, and I hope I’ll see you cheerleading at some big event in the not too distant future!

We are always amazed at the range of activities our pupils participate in out of school, so please, share your Wider Achievements with us!

UNCRC / RRSA

Article 15 – Every child has the right to meet with other children and to join groups and organisations, as long as this does not stop other people from enjoying their rights.

Article 29 – Education must develop every child’s personality, talents and abilities to the full….

Article 31 – Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.

New technology is moving on at a great pace. This session’s innovation has been the use of Google Drive. This allows documents to be shared and worked on collaboratively.

Small problem…sometimes you don’t know that something has been shared with you!!!

I have just found some Hallowe’en Party photographs which had been shared with me on Google Photos. So…a wee bitty late…. but here they are!

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UNCRC / RRSA

Article 31 – Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.

Christmas Party Time has hit Riverbank….BIG TIME!

The Primary 1s kicked off the party run last Thursday and were closely followed on the Friday by the P2s.

Monday and Tuesday saw the P3s and P4s, respectively, partying with great enthusiasm. Corners, musical bumps, pass the parcel, the macarena and general dancing.

Today, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday see the upper school…..P5s, P6s and P7s enjoy their party time.

The children also enjoy some party food and a thank you to our PSAs for setting up the dining room for the eating part of the party.

Mrs Ullah sent me some pictures of her class enjoying their party food.

UNCRC / RRSA

Article 31 – Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural and artistic activities.

Cinders talks to the P1s.

In keeping with Christmas Panto tradition, Riverbank had a very special performance of Cinderella on Monday 3 December.

Cinders with Buster rather than Buttons.

Cinderella was performed by M&M Productions and it was a spectacular success. There was super scenery, great characters and great music. This provided a fantastic opportunity for audience participation by both pupils and staf…YES!…STAFF too! Mrs Lade and Mr Flanagan showed off their dancing skills by joining in with the Macarena, Gangham Style and flossing!

There were lots of chances to boo and cheer as well as the customary ‘Oh, no there isn’t and Oh, yes there is!’

It was a great afternoon’s entertainment and we could tell by the smiling and excited faces how much everyone had enjoyed themselves…and that was just the teachers!!! Seriously everyone had a great time, especially the children and the closeness to the actors made the atmosphere electric.

UNCRC / RRSA

Article 31 – Every child has the right to relax, play and take part in a wide range of cultural activities.