St Andrew’s Day gets Renfrewshire running and reeling

St Andrew’s Day gets Renfrewshire running and reeling

Children from across Renfrewshire got running and reeling on St Andrew’s Day as part of the national Homecoming Finale Weekend Celebrations.

Renfrewshire school children were given a holiday so that they could get involved in events including a baby ceilidh, an alternative highland games and a digital tapestry project.
The day was a huge success with children from across the area getting involved in the fun.

Councillor Lorraine Cameron, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Education Policy Board, said: “This year as the year of the Homecoming we wanted to make it our biggest St Andrew’s Day celebration yet. In particular we wanted children to get involved and give them a special day to remember. The baby ceilidh and the highland games were fantastic fun and everyone really enjoyed themselves, including the parents.

“Things like the highland games and the digital tapestry project had children working together in schools during the weeks and months leading up to St Andrew’s Day. There was also a great programme of children’s reading and author events in our libraries across the area which were very popular.”

Little ones aged up to four enjoyed ceilidh dancing, a DJ playing contemporary Scottish rock and pop, traditional Scottish circle games, sing-a-long of Scottish songs as well as helping to make a mural of Nessie at the baby ceilidh.
While the alternative highland games saw primary school pupils compete in events including tossing the caber, three legged race in one large kilt, welly throwing, putting the neep, a relay race and tug of war. Pupils across Renfrewshire took part in school heats leading up to St Andrew’s Day and the top six schools competed on the day. Williamsburgh Primary school were the winning team.
Councillor Susan McDonald, Renfrewshire Council’s Sports Champion, said: “As part of our Active Renfrewshire campaign we aim to give people of all ages more opportunities to get involved and try new sports and activities. The alternative highland games gave pupils the opportunity to be active as well as having lots of fun.”
Schoolchildren have also been working on an innovative digital tapestry project exploring what it means to be Scottish in 2009.
Through workshops the young people explored varied ideas of Scotland and recreated them through fashion and photography. A vox-pop booth was also set up which allowed pupils to give their views on ‘Scottishness’ to the camera and the final production was

for more info see www.renfrewshire.gov.uk