Tong Primary School

School News from Session 2002-03

The children are busily preparing for the Local Mod, which is being held this year from 19^th – 21^st March.

The following pupils have been entered for competitions:

David Martin, Mairi Martin, Anna Mackenzie, Matthew Martin, Esther Smith, Lisa Macpherson

Marina Maciver, Jessica Macdonald, Ruth Macdonald, Christopher Morrison, Andrew Macleod

Mark Campbell

The school has also been entered for choral singing, a playlet and a group recitation.

In last month’s issue of the Loch a Tuath News a promise was made to keep our readers informed of the progress made with the school/community conservation garden.

It might be useful to give our readers some background information to the planned garden.

On becoming Head Teacher at the school in August 2000, I was in the most fortunate position of walking into a beautifully re-furbished school. in January 2001, the old school house was demolished which left an unsightly area of waste ground within the school precincts.

In February 2002, a group consisting of representatives from the school, local residents, a community group representative, a School Board member and the local councillor met to consider the development needs of this area. After consultation it was decided to seek funding to provide a landscaped conservation garden facility for use by the school and the community.

The group, known as "Friends of Tong Primary School", were very keen to ensure that local employment opportunities would be created through the project. The Council’s landscape architect, Robert Stubbington, drew up the plan.

The garden when completed will provide a teaching and learning environment for the pupils. It will provide the only public garden in the area and can be accessed by all members of our community, as it will cater for the needs of the disabled and the elderly.

Significant support has been given to the project from the Education Department and the local community:

"The plan to develop the conservation garden has the approval of this department and I would take the opportunity to wish you every success with this project which will greatly enhance the environs of the school" – Murdo Macleod, Director of Education, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

"All schools in Scotland are expected to consider the National Priorities from the beginning of session 2002/2003. Schools should demonstrate that they are taking account of these in their development initiatives. Tong School, through this exciting project is clearly engaging with National Priority 2, which states, " …. to enhance school environments so that they are conducive to teaching and learning". The project will contribute to the delivery of 5-14 Environmental Studies by being an excellent vehicle for assisting with the science component ‘Living Things and the Processes of Life’ and also social subjects ‘People in Society’."

"I think the school clearly demonstrates a high level of commitment and is very forward thinking with this ambitious project" – Joan M Mackinnon, Primary Adviser, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

"At a meeting with our group of senior citizens from Tong, we discussed your proposed development at the old school house site. It created a great deal of interest from our members, and all agreed it would be a splendid facility, which could be used and enjoyed by both the younger and older members of our community." " Ann McKerracher, Chairperson, Tong Caraidean Club.

"We recognise the benefits of such a project for the whole community. We would like to organise a bistro evening where the proceeds will be donated to the garden project". – Donna Macleod, Catherine Macdonald, Joanna Macrae. Maureen Macdonald, Angela Grant.

Friends of Tong Primary School look forward to this exciting development of which we will keep you informed.

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School News from session 2001-2002

The pupils in the school celebrated this day by writing poems on a variety of topics.

Primary 1 and 2 wrote a class poem titled Good Food, together with writing individual poems titled Numbers.

Apples, apricots,

Bananas, biscuits and bread.

Carrots, coconuts, corn, cakes and crumbs.

Delicious doughnuts and

Eggs, eggs, eggs.

Fish, French fries,

Green grapes and gammon.

Ham, honey and

Ice-cream, ice-lollies, ice-cream.

Jam, jelly,

Kippers and kiwi fruit.

Lemons, limes and lollipops,

Mince and melons.

Nuts, noodles and

Oranges, oranges, oranges.

Pizza, potatoes, plums, pineapple and

Quiche, quiche, quiche.

Rice, raisins.

Sausages, sweets and soup.

Terrific trifles and tomatoes too.

U V W X Y Z

We are all well fed!

By Primary 1 and 2

One, two, look at you.

Three, four, lock the door.

Five, six, playing tricks.

Seven, eight, shut the gate,

Nine, ten, a big fat hen.

By Loren Maclean, P 2

One, two, go to the zoo.

Three, four, get some more.

Five, six, I need bricks.

Seven, eight, clean your plate.

Nine, ten, find a hen.

By Alick Graham, P 2

One, two I like blue.

Three, four, knock on the door.

Five, six, play some tricks.

Seven, eight, shut the gate.

Nine, ten, where is Ben?

By Kathryn Merrilees, P 2

Primary 3 wrote poems on the subject of The Moon. Primary 4 wrote about The Stars and Primary 5 wrote about Night.

The moon shines

Like pirates treasure.

Gleams

Like golden dust.

It floats

Like a boat on the sea.

It lights

The whole world.

It hides

Like a crab in the sea.

The moon glows

Like the North Star.

By Domhnall Smith, P 3

Stars

Stars glittering like diamonds

In a nice glowing ring.

Twinkling

Like gems in a chest.

Flickering

Like a burning fire.

Sparkling

Like shiny glitter.

Glowing

Like golden coins.

Gleaming

Like the shining sun.

Winking

Like people on land

Stars scattered

Like silver coins.

Beautiful stars

Like flying sparks.

By John Malcolm Macdonald, P 4

Night is when

The sky is velvet blue.

The night sky

Is when the moon shows off its light.

Night is when

The trees are swaying.

Night is when

The animals creep through the trees.

The night animals,

Owl hoots like a horn.

The night bat

Is screaming in its cave.

The red fox

Is hunting for its prey.

Night is when

The wind howls down the streets.

The night wind,

Whistles through the trees.

Night is when,

The stars sing through the night.

The night stars

Glow right down to the ground.

By Andrew C Macleod, P 5

The title of Primary 6 and 7’s poetry writing was "Beyond the Open Door". A selection of the children’s work is printed below.

As the swirly purple door gently swings open

I can see a beautiful garden

With puzzling mazes, splashing fountains, green bushes and trees, rushing and gushing pools and streams I see,

As I watch this wonderful scene unfold before me.

Next a mint green door unlatches in front of me,

Where I see a beautiful palace,

With tall, high turrets, balconies and stained glass windows,

Large, blue lakes, café’s and funparks.

For all the guests to use.

Glittering gold passes by me,

As the next door opens wide.

I can hardly hide my excitement,

Underwater I find myself,

Passing by shoals of glittering fish,

Heart shaped shells, golden rocks and grey seals,

Beautiful seaweed, dolphins and sharks,

Near the surface cool as night,

On the seabed cold as ice.

As I pass by the sparkling aqua door,

I see golden sands and glittering seas of a tropical island,

Shady palm trees and exotic fruit trees meet my eyes,

Cruise boats pass by in the bay

Dolphins jump, sail boats sway,

Back to reality I must go.

By Ruth Mackinnon

Doors of Dreamland

As I open the old battered oak door

I see a grassy woodland.

There is an animal picnic taking place.

Glittering waterfalls, blue as the sky

Grass greener then even the best pastures.

A sky so blue, not a cloud in sight.

As I open the light blue and purple swirled door,

I find I am sitting on a pink cloud, high in the sky

I look down, how high I am

A soft melody flows through the sky,

My mind is at ease

Sleep clasps me in its gentle hands and takes me away.

As I open the aqua marine door,

I see dolphins, swimming merrily gliding and jumping.

Fish gossiping in a shoal.

Whales are twisting and turning round in the water,

Sharks chase the poor slow fish.

As I open the blue tiled door, I see a swimming pool.

Wild rides down rapids on rafts.

Diving boards one hundred thousand feet high,

Dark twisting chutes fifty feet high,

And sprinklers on the roof,

Wave pools fit for surfing, and one the depth of the sea.

As o open the rusty brown door with a wooden knocker,

I peer into the mansion,

Challenging my vision against the dim light.

A shriek then thunder.

I see rusty chains tied to a skeleton.

As I unzip the red door,

A see four pencils, chatting, five rubbers dancing.

A smell lead and wood.

The walls are plastic, red and white.

A hand reaches in, I run for cover.

As do the others.

Too late, a pencil is captured.

As I open the bronze talking door

"Watch your step, mind your head, Good Day" it says,

I see gold and silver trees, purple sky and yellow sea.

I meet a frog "meow" it said

A car went past, "s’cuse me, pardon me, coming through" it screeches.

A blue man walking an orange dog.

"Woof, the man says. "Good day", the dog called.

A loaf of bread walked past with a basket of bakers.

"Good morning, would you like a baker?" the bread said.

The sweet aroma of chocolate fills the air.

As I open the light blue and purple swirled door,

I find I am sitting on a pink cloud, high in the sky.

I look down, how high I am.

A soft melody flows through the sky,

My mind is at ease.

Sleep clasps me in its gentle hands.

And takes me away.

I sit up, realise I am back in the room

The cold, wooden floor is hard and unforgiving

The doors, have disappeared, I’m staring at a blank wall.

I wish the door would reappear but they don’t.

By Maryann Macleod, P7

Beyond the Door

As I open the old scraggy chip shaped door,

I can see a skyscraper made of chips.

It rained vinegar and salt

The people who ran by were bleeding sauce.

As I punched the keys to open the hi-tec door.

I see a computer island.

The people are robots,

The animals are cyber pets,

The food is hologramic

It rained software and hardware in the land.

As I open the big, heavy, gold door,

I can smell a musty odour,

I see gold and silver, the people were statues,

Money grows on trees.

The money like leaves hang from its branches.

As I open the big waterproof door

I can see a flooded island,

The people are in wet suits,

The animals are in submarines.

People from the lands where there are droughts were thankful for the water.

Finally, I was going to open yet another door,

The world spun me round.

I whizzed and whirled to the ground.

Suddenly there was a huge bang.

And I found myself on my bedroom floor.

By Christopher Morrison, P6

Beyond the door

As I open the grassy green door I can see a deep, dark, smelly jungle.

It looks like an old greenhouse, which has burst into pieces.

Wild animals secretly and as silently as mice creep by.

When I opened the brand-new bright orange-coated door.

I entered a field full of money.

A light yellow colour rose up to greet me.

Trespasses jumped snatching quickly the precious money.

A vineyard not of grapes but money.

As I look out of an old rusty door.

I can see a beautiful tropical island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Thee fresh smell of the salty water send me straight to sleep,

I am surrounded by the Island beauties.

I open the old, round waterproof grassy, grey door.

All I can see is an underwater scene.

Filled with tropical fish.

Surrounded by the coral reef

As I get further down I see whales ready to catch their prey.

Suddenly without warning the whales tail whips me.

Fast as a bullet the four doors shut forcefully in my face.

And I find myself back in the real world.

Back behind my own door, lying flat on the floor.

By Mark Campbell, P6

Beyond the door

As I slowly open the grassy green door.

I see

A vast jungle with its drooping trees and birds

As colourful as the rainbow.

The boggy green grass in swaying from side to side in a gentle breeze.

As I open the sandy yellow door,

I can see

The waves lapping against a glittering, golden beach.

Shells little the landscape and crabs crawl into rockpools for safety.

As I open the sea blue door

I see

A glowing ocean teeming with grey dolphins

That jump high in the sky.

Shoals of fish are zooming by

Seagulls fly overhead, scavenging for food.

As I open the rosy pink door,

I see

A girl about the same age as me.

With golden hair and big brown eyes.

She looks back at me in surprise and with a faint smile,

She disappears.

The final door is open

And in it lie my hopes and dreams.

How good it would be

For pace in this world.

For evermore.

By Noreen Macdonald, P7

The children in Primary 6 and 7, wrote letters of sympathy to the American people in wake of the recent horrific disaster. The letters were bound and made into a book, which was sent on to the American Consulate in Edinburgh.

The school and community hope to support this worthy charity again this year. The filled shoe boxes must be handed in to the school by Friday 9 November.

A most successful coffee evening combined with a Pre-Mod concert was held in the Tong Hall on Thursday 11 October. This gave the children an opportunity to perform their pieces for the community and also afforded them the opportunity to perform for an audience. The grand sum of £700 was raised at this event. All who helped in any way to make the night the success it was must be applauded.

A number of the children participated in events at the National Mod, held this year in Stornoway. Brittany Swart, David Nicolson, Christopher Morrison, Emma Louise Murray, Andrew Macleod, Sean Macdonald and Rachel Kennedy all took part in oral competitions. Sean gained second place in his sgeulachd competition – story telling, and Rachel gained third place in her poetry recitation.

Mairi Martin and Ewan Mackenzie both participated in solo singing competitions. Mairi sang "‘S minig a bha sinn" and Ewan sang "Toirt m’aghaidh ri Diura".

The school choir also took part singing "Eilean Uaine fo Chèo" and "Mo Chùn Ur Sìoda".

The Drama group staged "Am Bella a thog Sèoras" and gained third place.

We congratulate all the competitors on taking part in what proved to be a most successful and enjoyable mod.

The last afternoon of term saw children, parents and teachers donning wellington boots and gloves to plant daffodil bulbs and a variety of shrubs in the school grounds. We look forward to seeing them flourish.