A briefing for councillors has highlighted three activities at Portlethen Academy which are well worth sharing more widely.

PUPILS CELEBRATE GARDEN SCHOOLS AWARD
Portlethen Academy’s gardening group recently received certification and recognition of their efforts with the receipt of their Stage 1 Sprouting Award from One Seed Forward Garden Schools.

The students have been responsible for the project management timeline which included construction of planters, fundraising, purchasing soil and equipment, painting the planers, filling the planters, and sowing the seeds. The group returned to a very fruitful crop after the holidays, with special thanks to the local Out of School Club who kindly continued watering over the summer.

More recently, the group enjoyed a networking session with fellow horticultural enthusiasts. The pupils are currently looking forward to visiting and working with their new contacts out in the local community to build on their learning.

Tom Jennings (the ASL teacher who oversees the gardening group), shared that “many members of the group can struggle in a traditional classroom environment. For me, it has been so incredible to see them in a completely different light: they have been more relaxed and enthusiastic and there is a genuine sense of them being invested in where the group is going and how we can get there.”

PAIRED READING
This year’s paired reading has just re-started at Portlethen Academy. Twenty S5 and S6 pupils volunteered and have undergone training to carry out a paired reading programme with S1 pupils who struggle with or lack confidence in reading. The pairs meet twice a week in the library during Clan time. The senior pupils help the S1s choose a book that they will enjoy, and the pairs read together, discussing the text, improving reading skills and chatting about books in general. This will carry on until Easter and will help the S1s feel more confident that reading is something that they can enjoy. At the same time, the Senior pupils develop their communication and mentoring skills.

RUNNING CLUB (PAHH3)
We would like to share the successes of the Porty running club (PAH3). We have an average of about 20 runners each week some of whom are now taking on the extra responsibility of laying the trail that the pack follows and doing a really good job at it! They are very much ‘#GettingInvolved’ and showing their ‘#RespectForAll’ which are two of our core school values, in the way that they look after each other on trail. It is also a great support to their own health and wellbeing during these challenging times.