ST ANDREW’SY DAY SCOTLAND’S NATIONAL DA
30 November is the day for celebrating our Patron Saint, St Andrew. This year is particularly special for a number of reasons as 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns and Scotland’s Year of Homecoming. This is also an important year for education as Curriculum for Excellence quickly becomes embedded in schools and early years settings across the country. Pupils have been exploring Scotland’s contribution to the world in a variety of creative and interesting ways. With the Homecoming year reaching an exciting finale on 30 November, St Andrew’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to showcase these fantastic activities. This leaflet provides a range of ideas for things to do and ways to get involved. I hope that you all enjoy the celebrations.
Fiona Hyslop MSP Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning
ST ANDREW’S DAY Last year, schools and early years settings across Scotland got involved in lots of exciting activities to celebrate St Andrew’s Day, from songs and stories, to craft work and ceilidhs. To find out more visit: www.ltscotland.org.uk/standrewsday. These are all great examples of what schools across the country are doing to ensure relevant, inspiring, engaging education for every child and young person – which is what Curriculum for Excellence is all about. This year’s celebrations provide a great opportunity to organise activities that will help children and young people become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. We hope that all schools, pre-schools, nurseries and playgroups will be able to take part in our national day of celebrations, a time for everyone to celebrate the best of Scotland.
HOMECOMING FINALE 2009 Homecoming Scotland 2009 is motivating people with Scottish ancestry, as well as those who simply love the country, to “come home” and join us in a celebration of our culture, heritage and Scotland’s contribution to the world. Schools and early years settings across the country have been participating in lots of different events and activities to celebrate Homecoming, from Burns suppers and ceilidhs, to blogs and adverts. You can join in the Homecoming Finale Celebrations, the biggest St Andrew’s Day celebrations ever. Learning and Teaching Scotland are providing support in terms of school resources, a Glow group and are monitoring good practice. To find out more and to share your experiences of Homecoming, visit: www.ltscotland.org.uk/homecoming.
TELL US WHAT YOU ARE DOING We are keen to hear about all the great things you are doing to celebrate St Andrew’s Day. Fill in our online form and we’ll add your school to our interactive St Andrew’s Day map. You can even send us your photos. www.ltscotland.org.uk/standrewsday. You can also e-mail us at: standrewsday@ltscotland.org.uk . Why not share your celebrations with parents, carers and your local community, or invite your local newspaper or radio station along to capture the event?
HOW TO FIND OUT MORE You can find out more about St Andrew’s Day and Homecoming 2009: www.ltscotland.org.uk/standrewsday www.scotland.org/standrewsday www.homecomingscotland2009.com www.ltscotland.org.uk/homecoming www.scottish-schools.gov.uk If you would like more copies of this leaflet, please contact Emma Fulker – Tel: 0131 244 0383 or e-mail: emma.fulker@scotland.gsi.gov.uk .
© Crown Copyright 2009 RR Donnelley B61231 08/09
ISBN: 978-0-7559-8103-8
Y A D S ’ W E R D N A T S ATIONAL DAY SCOTL AND’S N
IDEAS FOR EXPERIENCES St Andrew’s Day offers a fantastic opportuni ty for pupils to learn about Scotland in lots of different and interesting ways. To get you started, here are a few ideas of the many ways that children and young people celebrated St Andrew’s Day last year. We’re sure you will have many more ! Tell us what you’re doing at www.ltscotland.org.uk/standrewsday.
NURSERIES, PL AYGROUPS & PRE-SCHOOL CENTRES Children at Strawberry Hill Nursery in Edinburgh got involved with a whole week of activities including a visit from a piper, making tartan and flags and sampling traditional Scottish fare. They also spread the word internationally by writing to their link nursery in Ethiopia to fill them in on their celebrations.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS Fordbank Primary School in Renfrewshire got the whole school involved in a day dedicated entirely to Scotland, which helped pupils to develop team-working skills and their knowledge of Scotland. In a great example of Curriculum for Excellence in action, interactive and fun activities provided a variety of creative learning opportunities from working together to design tartan, to trying out traditional recipes prepared by fellow pupils.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS Pupils at St Columba’s High School in Inverclyde held a week-long project in which every lesson put one overarchi ng theme at its heart. From learning about Scottish saints in Relig ious Education, to the work of great Scottish minds in Maths, pupi ls explored Scotland’s influence in many different walks of life and gained a deeper understanding of the country’s culture.