1B1 have been promoting Fairtrade as part of their PL challenge.They now hope to work towards Preston Lodge becoming a Fairtrade school.This will require pupils from other year groups and staff getting involved over the next year. If you would be interested in this, please let Ms. Duthie know. You can find out more information here.
1B1 have set up a website and a Twitter account to encourage everyone to get involved with Fairtrade. Take a look and join us / follow us!
www.fairtradeprestonpanspl.webs.com www.twitter.com@FTPrestonpans

A group of intrepid s2s braved the December weather to take a tour of the Surgeon’s Hall museum-full of objects, samples, stories and interpretations of the history of medicine. Tony, the guide gave an intriguing hands-on (off!) guide to amputations , anaesthetics and dentistry-from Hippocrates and the Four Humours to the barbaric Barber surgeons and inventor of Listerine.

After a quick bite to eat we headed down into the depths of Mary King’s close for a claustrophic taste of life in the Old Town of Edinburgh. Katy P donated a teddy bear to ‘Wee Annie’-her ghost is said to wander the close. To prove that PL pupils’ generosity knows no bounds another one of the group donated a foosty orange she found in her bag-Wee Annie should be having the best xmas ever!

Thanks to all the S2s who behaved so well, asked probing questions and were generally a credit to the school.

S3 history students enjoyed a day out along the M8 to Glasgow in a visit to several of Scotland’s most important cultural hotspots. First stop was The Riverside Museum-a reworking of the old Glasgow Transport Museum- which gave pupils a fantastic insight into the former glory days of Scottish industries like shipbuilding and car manufacturing. For those of us who are more ‘chronologically advanced’ the highlights were seeing old childhood favourites such as the ‘Chopper’ bike and cyclist Graham Obree’s ‘Old Faithful’ built from a washing machine. The striking architecture of the new building allowed stunning views along the Clyde basin encouraged us to visualise the old industrial landscape.

A short hop along the Clyde and next stop was the People’s Palace which tells the story of the city’s social history through film, artefacts, photos and computer displays. Our students were able to experience first hand the constrast between the beautiful Victorian ‘Palace’ itself and the claustrophobic nature of ‘single end’ living in Glasgow tenements. A pat on the back to PL pupils who showed how inquisitive, mature and generally great company they can be.

Student Council Election Results 2011

Class Representative Election Results 2011

In the last week of August, over 80 S1 pupils took place in a community excavation at Newhailes in Musselburgh. They joined archaeologists from  Archaeology Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland as they were looking for the lost cascade and pool from the 18^th century pleasure garden at Newhailes.

All pupils had training supplied by archaeologists –  how to measure out the site to be excavated;  how to excavate a piece of ground; how to record finds and the opportunity to handle, and clean , finds which had been buried for .300 years. The archaeologists were most impressed when some pupils uncovered the side of the pond –buried for 300 years- and shells which came from the Caribbean 300 years ago.

Pupils also visited a full scale Viking encampment. They saw displays of armoury and had the opportunity to handle  replica axes , swords and spears . They also visited workshops, a smithy and saw displays of Viking violence !!!

This visit provided pupils with the opportunity to participate in a range of other activities – ‘Poos from the Past’ and CSI Musselburgh – how did he/she die ?

Pupils had many opportunities to develop their skills of enquiry and analysis.

The archaeologists  also commented on the excellent behaviour , attitude and enthusiasm of the pupils ! Well done to everyone – a great day out which was enjoyed by all.