Author: Amy Dunnett

Our Sensory Garden

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We were overwhelmed by the response we had to our sensory garden appeal. The donations of resources, time and money have helped to make a unique and already well loved area for our pupils to enjoy and explore.

A huge extra special Orchard Brae thanks to:

  • The Little City Garden – design and landscaping
  • Gerbera Designs – landscaping
  • James Gettka – landscaping
  • Morrison Construction – access path
  • Mike Bruce – path
  • James Millerby – boulders
  • Jenna Killoh – pallets
  • Dobbies Aberdeen – compost
  • Trees Are Us – logs
  • GI Cladding and Joinery – posts
  • Clan Miller Construction – slabs and posts
  • Bissett and Ross – tarpaulin
  • Alpha Fencing – new gate and fence
  • MB Landscapes – boulders
  • Karen Underwood – fruit tree
  • Karen Robertson – fairy house
  • James Polson Garden Creations – woodwork sculptures
  • BFLABDN – art work
  • Round Table Aberdeen – sponsorship for artwork
  • Linda Lovie – tactile sensory display
  • Dulex Paint Aberdeen – paint
  • Khyber Pass Association – donation
  • Unison Union – donation
  • Mrs Ann Thain – donation
  • Betty Craig – donation
  • Evelyn Drennan – donation
  • And last but not least our amazing fundraising families, the Simons and the Cruikshanks.

Marble Runs In Room 8

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Marble runs are great for open-ended building. They’re an example of using Science, Technology, and Math. And, they’re a lot of fun, both for the kids and the adults.

The boys and girls in Room 8 discovered so many benefits of building their two marble runs.

Everyone in Room 8 sloped, bent, twisted, turned to make building a marble run challenging, but it was fun.  So, engineering or building something is one of the benefits.

So many questions as ‘Will it work if I ….?’ The benefits are problem solving and trial and error.

Everyone from the box and the other people building the marble run. Next benefit – following directions.

It took a LONG time to build a big marble run. It can also take time to make something new work or figure out how to successfully connect different pieces. There’s not a lot of instant gratification with a marble run. So, the patience was the key.

Building a marble run wasn’t easy. But, sticking with the process and not giving up helped build patience and perseverance.

Marble runs are open-ended activities. There are lots of ways to build and construct marble runs, so the possibilities are endless. Being creative, wewere building two marble runs.

We needed everyone participating while building our successful marble run. So, we have been cooperative.

Weincorporated a lot of Math naturally when we were building our marble run. For example, counting how many pieces are needed to complete the marble run. Predicting which one will be fastest or estimating how long it will take to complete the marble run.

Precision and care were needed when we were connecting pieces of a marble run. So, building a marble run helped us to develop our hand-eye coordination.

All the colours, shapes, and different types of pieces, combined with constructing a marble run that’s long, tall, superfast, had many starting points, gave plenty of opportunities for children to use their imagination.

Friends Of Orchard Brae Kiltwalk

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Our fabulous fundraisers have been busy again, participating in the Kiltwalk. While the official event was cancelled due to Covid-19, the virtual event held last weekend was a huge success!

Everyone met at Tesco car park in Banchory on Sunday afternoon and set off on their walk through the woodland paths to Crathes Castle. It was a dry warm day and everyone enjoyed our walk, with a pit stop at the castle grounds for snack and drinks of juice for the kids and coffee for the grownups. Everyone then headed back to the car park and reached the finish line of their walk.

So far the team have raised over £900, plus there will be a further 50% matched from Hunter foundation.  If you would like to contribute, please follow the link below.

https://edinburghkiltwalk2020.everydayhero.com/uk/team-orchard-brae

Making Friends In Room 4

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Children and adults in Room 4 have been getting to know each other through fun activities and games!

We have been learning through the much loved book “The very hungry caterpillar”. We have had a lot of fun doing sensory activities, fine motor skill activities, music and art!

World First Aid Day

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Today is World First Aid Day and the pupils in Room 5 have been very busy learning about first aid and helping others.

We are very boisterous and full of fun at Orchard Brae and sometimes we have bumps and falls when we are playing.  We had fun learning some first aid to treat our bumps.  We also celebrated World First Aid Day and found a free British Red cross App that our Mums and Dads can download so they know what to do if we have an accident. 

Here’s the link for the app: https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid/first-aid-apps

We also made a video showing some of the First Aid skills we learned. We hope you like it

Welcome To Room 10

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The children in Class 10 are settling in after their long break.  There are lots of new people in the room for us all to get to know and so we are taking things easy and doing some relaxing activities. We have done some big painting onto boards and windows.  We have done some very friendly activities, such as playing games and taking turns.

A Happy Return To School In Room 11

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We can’t believe it has been almost a month since we returned to school. But we are very happy to be able to see our friends and teachers. We, in Room 11, have welcomed three new pupils who have brought to our class laugh and mischievousness.

All children have been happily participating in activities in class and learning new routines. We have been having lots of fun completing number activities, enjoying art and online music sessions.

Fantastic Fun In Room 3

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The boys and girls in Room 3 have made a fantastic start to the school year.  We have welcomed some new Primary One pupils into the class as well as some old friendships being re-established.  All of the children have been extremely enthusiastic about trying new activities as well as familiarising themselves with some they have not done for a while.  Everyone is adapting so well to new routines and beginning to get to know their friends in class.   These photos show just some of the fun we have been having!

Settling In To Room 7

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The boys in Room 7 have been enjoying getting to know each other and settling in to our new classroom and outdoor space. We have been doing lots of art activities and have had fun exploring the feel of paint, glue, felt, wool and paper. We also looked at our reflections in a mirror to make little self portraits.

Covid-19 – Know The Symptoms

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Thank you to all our families for their continued support and understanding throughout our return to school with regards to Covid-19.

We would like to remind parents and carers of the common symptoms and that pupils should not attend school if:

  • They are displaying any of the symptoms associated with Covid-19 such as a high temperature (37.8C or above), a new continuous cough or a change in sense of smell or taste.
  • A member of the household has tested positive or is displaying symptoms.
  • They have been contacted as part of the Test and Protect programme.
  • If a pupil is returning from a country from which as are required to quarantine for 14 days. An up to date list of countries affected by this can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-public-health-checks-at-borders/pages/exemptions/

Should you require to arrange a test for a your child or a member of your household, please follow the guidance given on the NHS Inform website and book a test via https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk

We recognise that accessing a drive through test site or a home test kit may be extremely challenging for some of our pupils and if this is the case, you may be eligible for testing to be carried out at home by the NHS. If you require this, please email gram.staffcovid19testing@nhs.scot giving the pupil’s name, date of birth, full address, GP information and a brief explanation for special circumstances which require the need to be tested at home rather than through a home test kit or drive through test site.

We kindly ask that parents and carers keep the school informed of any testing being undertaken and the results by phoning the school on 01224 788950.