Another splendid week at Dalguise was had by some our Primary 7 pupils. Meeting all the challenges thrown at them, as well as a mighty lack of sleep, meant that all pupils came away with experiences they will be able to talk about for years to come. Some of the challenges included the Giant Swing, Tree Climb, Jacobs Ladder and Raft Building.

Some of the primary 7 pupils attended their Community Week activities, taking part in a number of exciting and interesting events including print making at the DCA and McManus Galleries, making pizza, a visit to the gym, a visit to the Verdant Works and an insightful presentaion on habitats and plants at the Dundee Botantic Gardens. One of the highlights was rescuing a stick insect (an unfortunate pest) from the botanic garden greenhouse. Eddie is now an honourary member of the P7 team and became an unofficial mascot of Community Week.

It was a successful world book day with all classes taking part. Many children dressed up as their favourite character. These included everything from Horrid Henrys to hairy Gruffaloes and pouting princesses to posing pirates.

Below are a selection of pictures from P1s efforts.

P5 had a wonderful time performing their short play at the REP. They devised the play themselves using a suitcase full of props given to them by another school. P5 also filled a suitcase with interesting items and gave it to another school. With two other performances to watch on the night, it was great fun to see how the other schools had used their props.

This week Primary 7 pupils from across the Harris cluster have been invited to take part in a morning or afternoon of European themed modern language games. The event, hosted by the Modern Language department at Harris, took place in Menzieshill Community Center. Our Primary 7 pupils enjoyed all the activities on offer, and two were even part of the winning team and received trophies for their efforts.

Being part of mixed groups was really beneficial to all the pupils involved. They have made some new friends and spoken to pupils from other schools that will potentially be in their classes next year. There will also be an opportunity to expand on this when we have an informal cluster gathering in Victoria Park next month.

This week Primary 7 and Primary 7/6 recieved a visit from pupils from Harris Academy, including some ex-Blacknessers. Both classes took part in activities aimed at easing the transition from primary school to secondary. All the pupils enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions about their move to secondary, coming away with clearer pictures about what secondary education might be like for them.

Fun and games as the pupils of Blackness got dressed up as their favourite book characters.

This week our Primary 6 and Primary 7/6 classes were given the opportunity to experience the new gymnastics facilities at the freshly re-purposed Dick McTaggart Center, Old Glamis Road. A great time was had, with free rein given to try most of the equipment as often as they wanted.

"We got to on the equipment and everything," said Reinards (P7/6). "We got to jump in the foam pits, and it was also fun jumping off the trampoline into the foam pits as well. It was like the best school trip we have been on!"

The sweat was certainly flowing when all the pupils came off, with all of them making the most of their time on the equipment.

Triple fun with Leona, Asto and Eugene.

"Higher than it looks..."

Road Runner sound effects please!

This week saw two Blackness pupils being presented prizes from Dundee REP.

Pupils are invited annually to submit a piece of artwork themed around the winter show at the Dundee REP. This year pupils were asked to create a new potion for the Witches to use. Three pupils were chosn to recieve prizes, two of which were from Blackness Primary School.

Lytisha Ismail and Asto Tanaka, both from P7/6, were presented with their goodie bags after the performance of the Witches on Thursday.

Primary 7 pupils were given the opportunity to take part in a competition run by the Apex Hotel in Dundee. Pupils were each given a pumpkin by the hotel and were asked to submit it, carved and decorated, to be displayed in the foyer of the building at City Quay. The pupils rose to the challenge and pumpkins were returned sporting wicked grins, evil stares and haunting lights.

Going for the more tradition route, many of the pumpkins came carved, using the carving alone to create the design. Others, however, used some less conventional methods to decorate their gourds, including cocktail sticks and LED lights.

The winning pumpkins were created by Zainab Rizwan (3rd), Reinards Strouds(2nd) and Xanthe Brewster-Black (1st).