WEMYSS BAY PRIMARY SCHOOL

Christmas Cracker

On Saturday 18^th November 2006, Wemyss Bay Primary School held the annual Christmas Cracker in our gym hall and some of the classes. The Christmas Cracker has been going on for about sixteen years so that makes it a regular event for us.

There were lots of games such as Dart Ball, Santa Tombola, Beat the Buzzer, Treasure Hunt, Bottle Stall and a Raffle. There were also some stalls that would allow you to buy things. They was crisps and juice, Book Fair, Christmas Novelties, PTA 2007 calendars and last but not least the Primary 7 stall where we sold the different things to do with Christmas that we all had made, e.g. Christmas bookmarks, door hangers and pot pourri, Christmas tree baubles and tea light holders.

The primary sevens had to be at the school by 9.45.a. m. to help out at the cracker. We had to volunteer to see what stall we wanted to work at. Some people never got what they wanted and ended up in the kitchen washing dishes or serving tea or coffee to the guests.

There was also a raffle for a Christmas Hamper containing wine, cheese and biscuits and we also had guess Pudsey’s birthday to raise funds for Children in Need.

The Scholastic Book Fair was in our school on Thursday 16^th, Friday  17^th and Saturday 18^th at the Christmas Cracker. Lots of people bought books during the three days that it was here. Some teachers and parents were generous and bought suitable books for different classes which we thought was very nice of them. The Book Fair raised about £1,600 and the school gets to keep about £960 to buy book for all the classes.

We all had a brilliant day at the Christmas Cracker including the teachers and guests.

Altogether at the Christmas Cracker and the Fun Day we raised over £1,000 which we will use to buy resources for the school.

Michael Mulholland and Sophie Love, Primary 7

We asked everyone to fill the boxes with necessary items which were toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, hat and gloves. Other optional items such as toys, sweets, hairbrush, make-up, pens pencils, paper and tights could be included. They were also asked to wrap the shoeboxes in Christmas wrapping paper but the lid and the base of the box had to be wrapped separately. The checklist with what was in the box and the type of box, e.g. for a boy, girl, teenager or adult, was to be taped to the lid.

At assembly one week Jamie Roberts, Kelly Porteous and Sophie Leighton spoke to the school to tell them why we would like their support. They also showed a DVD called ‘Somebody’s Thinking’ which showed people receiving shoeboxes.                   

When boxes came into school we had to check them to see if they had the necessary items, the Christmas wrapping paper, checklist and no chocolate. We had at least 85 shoeboxes. Our teacher Miss Devine then   delivered them to the Blythswood Trust Shoebox appeal and we hope they get there for Christmas. We also hope they have a good Christmas like ours.

Jamie Roberts and Sophie McQueen, Primary 6

For Children in Need the Pupil Council organised several events. Our school cook Miss Wilson baked biscuits shaped like Pudsey Bear. We sold them at the Primary 7 Fun Day as well as chocolate and gingerbread Pudseys.

We made games for the Fun Day like:

• Guess the weight of the Tardis.
• See how many cold beans you can eat in 30 seconds using a toothpick.

The winner of the bean competition was Sophie Leighton who ate a total of 37 beans.

The winner of the Tardis was Mrs Cassidy, Primary 5 teacher, who guessed the weight of 865g.

 Saturday 

On Saturday at the school Christmas Cracker we had a game called Guess Pudsey’s Birthday. His birthday was 19^th September and the winner was Hollie Bain in Primary 1 who guess was 20^th September.

We also had a Pudsey scratch card competition and the winners were Mrs McCall one of the Primary 7 girls’ gran and Pryia Das in Primary 2.

Megan Neil and Caitlin Roberson, Primary 7

Mhairi Black and Dillon Kane, Primary 5 and Pupil Council members

The Christmas Fun Day has been running since 1990 – that’s sixteen  years!

All of the Primary 7 pupils make a game. This year the games were based on St. Andrews. We researched other countries besides Scotland who have St. Andrew as a patron saint.  Some of the counties are Romania, Greece and Sicily in Italy. Each game is 10p a go and all of the money we raise goes to the school funds.

The games this year were: The Greek Bang, Scottish Dance Mat, Fruity Flag, Pizza Smash, Hit William Claus, Lizard Fun, Golf Ro-Mania, Pasta Prediction, Guess Where The Greek God Is, Malta Duck, Olympic Fun Run, Nessie Bowling, Help The Chef Find The Food and Russian Hats.

Once we have decided what our game is we spent some time making them. Letters were sent out telling pupils and parents about the Fun Day and telling everyone about the games. Everyone was asked to wear blue and white or a touch of tartan.        

The afternoon before we set up all the games ready to start first thing on Friday. We had a timetable so that every class knew when it was their turn to come to the Fun Day. Primary 6 help by having a Nursery or Primary 1 pupil as a partner to explain what they have to do.

Everyone comes to play the games – even the staff. Everyone has fun but we think that Primary 7 have the most fun because we get to make the games and organise the day. It’s really fun to watch everyone enjoy themselves.

On the Monday morning we count the money and at assembly we announce the winners and hand out the prizes.

Fun Days are really good because it involves everyone in the school having fun and raising money. We hope that the fun days go on for many more years.

Gillian Love and Paul Craig, Primary 7

The Radio Station managers are Shannon Faint, Hope Lyden, Craig Anderson and Dale Mckechnie. These four people train the Primary 6 and 7 pupils to use the radio.

They organised a timetable to show who is in each group and when it is their turn to go on the radio. There are six people in a group – three in the morning interval and three at lunchtime. There is a request box which people put in requests for the songs that they want to be on the radio that day. Once a group has completed their training, they are allowed to go on air and play songs during the intervals or lunchtimes.

There are rules which everyone must obey while they’re in the radio room. They must sign a contract to prove that they have agreed to the rules given to them.

Every Monday morning, two of the radio managers inform the rest of the school about the events happening that week using the radio as there are microphones which you can talk through, and it will be announced throughout the school. We also fax this information to The Largs and Millport Weekly to be printed in the paper.

Our radio station is a privilege to have in our school as it can do many things. Our school would not be the same without it.

Shannon Faint and Melissa Murdoch, Primary 7

3 December 2007
The eternally enterprising Business Studies department had a very different classroom task to perform this week: presenting a business idea to the “dragons” of the Senior Management Team!!! Pupils had to make their presentation and try to convince them to accept their business ideas – no mean feat!! “Scary, but fun!” said one brave student.

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