RHUNAHAORINE Pupils do lots of GOOD learning
The children of Rhunahaorine Primary School and Early Learning Centre learned lots about local produce during their Growth On Our Doorstep (GOOD) project which has now come to an end.
Throughout the project, which was funded by West Kintyre Windfarm Trust, the children were inquisitive and kept notes as they found out about local produce first-hand.
From Gigha Halibut Farm to Campbeltown’s Fetcha Chocolates shop, workers were interviewed and honestly told the children about their jobs.
One of the questions asked was: “Which school lessons are of benefit in your workplace?”
A lot of answers came back about arithmetic, reading and writing which will help the children put meaning to their classwork.
Children were offered employment or work experience when they come of age at Skipness Seafood Cabin and Smokehouse or to help with lambing at Ifferdale Farm.
This too, opened up their thoughts about the future and, since taking part in the project, head teacher Catriona Brown is delighted that the children are now sharing ambitions of their future; two children are set on being farmers, another a chocolatier and yet another a waitress.
Due to health and safety, it was not possible to visit two of the chosen businesses but representatives were able to go to the school.
These visits from Kintyre Eggs and Murray Oxborrow Honey were just as informative and fun, with the children cracking double yokers one day and dressing up as a beekeeper another.
A particular recommendation of the windfarm trust committee is for their funded projects to involve finding out about renewable energies.
The children discovered every business they spoke to considered this within their work; the majority recycled packaging when possible or already used packaging which had been recycled.
The children discovered they all had a local market – with exception of the halibut farm which distributed further afield – for their produce and this too reduced excessive transport fumes.
As produce was purchased at the end of each outing and distributed to local elderly people, a closer link has been made across the community and school, with cards and letters of appreciation sent to the school and conversations between old and young enriched.
The school would like to express sincere thanks to the West Kintyre Windfarm Trust, without which the project would not have been possible, and all those involved, including: Kintyre Eggs, Gigha Halibut Farm, Skipness Seafood Cabin and Smokehouse, Ballywilline Farm, Arran Cheese, Murray Oxborrow Honey, Ifferdale Farm, The Kintyre Larder, Fetcha Chocolates, and No 42 Restaurant.