Gorbals wins a world cup

Pupils at Blackfriars Primary School in Gorbals have become world cup winners.

Glasgow Education Services presented the school with a silver cup for their work in global citizenship and multi-culturalism.

Blackfriars has been forging links with schools in Russia and Ghana, and is about to make new friends in Sweden, Slovakia, Spain and Denmark.

The school is part of the Comenius Project, an international education programme where young people focus on international events, learn different languages and find out about each other’s cultures.

Principal Teacher, Lorna Conway, who co-ordinates the work said: ‘It has taken two years to get this up and running. Every member of staff has contributed to the success. Our Pupils’ International Team is delighted their hard work has paid off.’

Headteacher, John Lawson added: ‘The school is also contributing to the preparations for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Winning the cup will give everyone a boost to keep on providing excellent education.’

Retiring International Education Officer, Edna Paterson, presented it at her farewell party. The award follows an ECO flag for environmental education, a Diamond Award for enterprise education, a Health-promoting School award and gold medals in the Museum art awards.

 

Green flag for Gorbals

By Alieu Ceesay

A green conscious primary school in Gorbals got top marks after it excelled in an eco-quiz competition.

The school has outstanding green credentials and became the proud owner of an eco Green Flag awarded to schools which covers key green issues that involve parents and the local community, which bring about life long eco-friendly attitude and practice.
Green issues are embedded into the curriculum topics of the Blackfriars Primary School which has helped them triumph in the competition.

The school collect items for recycling, monitors its fuel bill, cut down waste and studies the world’s climate change. The pupils also created an outdoor classroom and now have their own local allotment to grow their own fruits and vegetables.
They were challenging the logic in boiling a full kettle when only making a cup of tea, what they should do to switch of lights and whether Mums and Dads should run the washing machine if its only half full.

Children drawn from primary five, six and seven got answers for these questions in the special inter active quiz game. The children were awarded with the hi-visibility vest donated by Laidlaw Scott, a leading repair business.

Head Teacher of Blackfriars, John Lawson thanked Laidlaw Scott for promoting green issues with the school children.

He said: ‘We are delighted to welcome the company to the school. The children enjoy the quiz and are enthusiastic about green issues and the donated hi-visibility vest will be of great use to the school.’
Chris Farmer, Commercial Manager of Laidlaw Company said he was very impressed with the youngsters.

He said: ‘It’s absolutely clear that these youngsters know a thing or two about green matters and the school is to be congratulated on its work in this area.’