Sunshine and smiles in Rattray
Sunshine and smiles at Rattray primary
Pupils at Rattray Primary School enjoyed a programme of dedicated activities as part of the school’s‘health week’last week.
Staff at the east Perthshire school devised a special timetable of events for the whole school that enabled the children to enjoy lots of health and wellbeing-themed activities while continuing to stick to Covid-19 related restrictions.
Those restrictions mean that the school is unable to hold its traditional sports day event, but pupils and staff more than made up for it.
Children enjoyed activities such as dodgeball, football, rounders, running races and completing a daily mile challenge.
They also learned about various aspects of health and wellbeing such as exercise and keep fit, tracking activity levels, changing bodies, mindfulness and meditation.
Head teacher at the school, Joanna Robertson, was delighted with the success of the week’s activities.
She said: “Obviously sports day can’t take place in the traditional way this year but we are still able to do lots of activities.
“Many of those activities are based around Olympic themes and classes are collecting house points throughout the week.
“We’re disappointed that parents, carers and grandparents can’t be with us in person for a traditional sports day again this year but are pleased to say that we will be sharing a virtual experience with them by pulling together videos and photos from throughout the week and releasing it on our YouTube channel.
“The YouTube channel we created during the first lockdown has proved to be very popular. It features, amongst other things, our Christmas show, Easter celebrations, and our primary sevens leavers assembly.”
Mrs Robertson went on to praise the children in what has been a difficult year.
She said: “The children have been very resilient once again.
“After the second lockdown it was really evident that they were on the whole desperate to get back to school and we have tried to ensure the pupils have had as much normality and as much of a routine as possible.
“We’re trying to recreate an in-school experience that is as similar to before as it can be while adhering to the Covid guidelines.
“We’re also trying to include parents as much as possible.
“Although it is challenging in these circumstances, we are working creatively to achieve that.
“The whole school community has been really fantastic and has supported the school in every decision we have had to make around Covid - even the hard ones.
“They know we have the children’s best interests at heart.”