Taste of high school for pupils finishing primary
Pupils from Kintyre’s primaries got their first taste of secondary schooling during three transition days at Campbeltown Grammar School.
In a bid to put them at ease and prepare them for attending the school in August, from Tuesday to Thursday last week, the P7s had an opportunity to meet their new teachers and their new classmates in the traditional house structure of Bengullion, Kilbrannan and Knockscalbert.
S3 leaders were on hand to answer questions, escort them to classes and give them a tour around the building, ensuring no one got lost.
The P7s attended a variety of classes to give them a taster of what it will be like in S1 and they especially enjoyed lessons they said were different to primary, such as technical, science, ICT and health and food technology.
Skills Development Scotland delivered a lesson about careers, AliEnergy had a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) stall at lunch, with a technology quiz where a pupil won a drone, and youth workers Mandy Robertson and Nona Ruesgen were on hand to chat to pupils over intervals and lunches.
At the end of the three-day programme, the pupils met as a year group for a ‘graduation ceremony’ where they were presented with a certificate and a Campbeltown Grammar School tie.
‘All the staff at CGS were delighted to welcome all of the P7s into our school for our transition programme last week, especially as it was in-person after two years of being undertaken virtually,’ said Elaine McGeachy, depute headteacher.
‘The P7s left behind some feedback and, as well as praising the school canteen dinners as “delicious”, they also described their week as “fun” and “amazing”!’
Headteacher David Mitchell added: ‘It was great to welcome our P7 pupils to Campbeltown Grammar School. They had a great time and were a credit to themselves and their primary schools.
‘I would like to thank all the staff for their efforts in making the transition week a success and I look forward to welcoming our new S1 pupils to Campbeltown Grammar School in August.’